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Glenn Beck, Community Organizer
Michael Caulfield, WireImage / Getty Images
The Fox News star’s plunge into political activism is more than rank hypocrisy. It’s the work of an unprincipled propagandist who’s draining his followers’ bank accounts.
Remember when Glenn Beck accused President Obama of winning followers like a totalitarian demagogue, warned against the nefarious tendencies of community organizers, and was himself defended against critics by Jonah Goldberg, who called Beck "a libertarian populist?”
Now the cable television host is touting a "radical," details-to-be-announced mass movement that promises to save the United States.
Even if Mr. Beck adopts my every political position, however, I'd still count him a man that all principled people should denounce.
Its name: "The Plan." It includes a series of adult education seminars where citizens will be taught political activism, self-reliance, and the dread community organizing. The often tearful Fox News personality also promises a book that will include more specifics. "We need to start thinking like the Chinese," Mr. Beck said at a recent rally. "I’m developing a 100 year plan for America."
• Benjamin Sarlin: The Man Who Beat Glenn Beck
• Watch Glenn Beck’s Craziest Moments At long last, prudent conservatives and libertarians are growing uncomfortable with Mr. Beck's rhetoric. I hope Mr. Goldberg is among them, as there isn't anyone better to write a National Review take-down of The Plan, titled Libertarian Fascism: How Glenn Beck Got Cover from the Right Until It Was Too Late to Stop Him. It wouldn’t require much work. Large excerpts could be copied and pasted from the paperback version of Liberal Fascism, Mr. Goldberg’s recent bestseller:
And then something funny happened. A self-proclaimed ‘transformative’ leader formed a self-declared 'movement,' powered in large measure by a sense of historical destiny ('This is the moment!'), yearning for national restoration ('We will make this nation great!'), demanding national unity at all costs, and glorifying itself for its own youthful energy. At times his most conspicuous followers were blindly devoted to a cult of personality with deeply racial undertones and often explicit appeals to messianic fervor.
• Reihan Salam: How Glenn Beck Saves Lives Lucky for us, the change that Mr. Beck most desires is the kind his followers give the Barnes and Noble cashiers. Earnest revolutionaries sometimes lay out first principles in written manifestos, but I've never known one to sync the revolution itself with Simon and Schuster's book release schedule. It is nevertheless unfortunate that this "crazy-as-a-Fox-News-personality" blowhard will continue his outsize influence on public discourse, and continue to deplete Red American bank accounts in increments of $29.99 plus sales tax.
If the best overall account of Mr. Beck is the three part profile in the online magazine Salon, the most concise distillation of his style belongs to the libertarian scholar Charles Murray: "Beck uses tactics that include tiny snippets of film as proof of a person’s worldview, guilt by association, insinuation, and occasionally outright goofs like the fake quote," he writes. "To put it another way, I as a viewer have no way to judge whether Beck is right. I have to trust that the snippets are not taken out of context, that the dubious association between A and B actually has evidence to support it, and that his numbers are accurate. It is impossible to have that trust." What Glenn Beck does "is propaganda," Mr. Murray concludes. "Maybe propaganda has its place, but let’s not kid ourselves."
So long as Mr. Beck aimed his propaganda at the left, too many on the right were content to refrain from criticizing him in public. What they failed to appreciate is that he has always been a mercenary entertainer intent on maximizing his audience—and that folks disgusted with the Republican Party are a huge and growing demographic.
As it happens, I’d be perfectly happy to blow up America’s two-party system, so the newest incarnation of Mr. Beck puts him closer to my political preferences than he's ever been. How tempting to fantasize about all the good this charismatic entertainer could do by bamboozling America into trusting him, were the effect a politics freed from the pernicious distortions of the Republican and Democratic party machines.
Even if Mr. Beck adopts my every political position, however—lobbying to end the War on Drugs, stop the most pernicious aspects of the War on Terror, and implement my own idiosyncratic immigration reform package, among many other things—I'd still count him a man that all principled people should denounce. A political movement built on the rhetoric of a mercenary propagandist is a bit like a house built on a flatbed truck: once you've built it up all nice and strong, the driver is liable to move it somewhere you hadn’t any intention of going.
Alas, that isn’t an argument that’s going to persuade a subset of Mr. Beck’s audience, so I’ll try to conclude with words more likely to appeal to them:
I've been studying history lately. And I'm shocked by how many orators I've found who manipulate people through propaganda. They play on nostalgia, feign emotions for rhetorical effect, and hold themselves up as someone to be trusted in a scary world of far-reaching conspiracies.
It is only because I care so much about America that I want you to be careful of men like this. You'll know them by the millions of dollars they make from media corporations and the machinery of established political movements, even as they denounce the media and political establishment. The anti-Christ, Godlessness, atheism, Richard Dawkins, Simon and Schuster, Glenn Beck, Fox News, Karl Rove, George W. Bush, Medicare Part D, huge budget deficits. Don't you see the connections!!!
Today I am announcing a one year plan to radically diminish Glenn Beck's malign influence: stop buying his books!
Conor Friedersdorf, a Daily Beast columnist, also writes for The American Scene and The Atlantic Online's ideas blog.
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gazhaulr
Say what you want to about Glen, but the fact remains he has been in front(not behind like MSM) of every issue and has accomplished 3 times more than the current Administration. Not too shabby for an ole Alcoholic!!!
johnmcenroe
That's actually the funny thing with loud "conservatives" such as Beck: he hasn't accomplished anything, unless of course you want to call mobilizing anger, fear and ignorance an accomplishment.
parke47
yeah,just like the democrats did with bush,but you called that patriotism.
hkjonus
Parke, the difference lies in telling the truth. what anger, fear and ignorance did democrats stir up over Bushs lies about iraq, and his unsound fiscal policies? No one suggested someone kill bush, or that he wasnt really an american citizen, or any number of the stupid and dangerous ideas the neo-con media machine has been suggesting. Once you start living in the Factual World of Reality, it forces you to behave more responsibly, but it also sets you free....come along and join us parke, free your mind and stop hating everyone that doesnt agree with you.
susa1957
Yeah John.... The funny thing about LOUD liberals is that they don't accomplish much either...You know, your President Obama that you got elected... Hmmm... Cash for Clunkers??? FAILURE....Stimulous package....FAILURE....Timeline for Iraq??? Oh yeah, he doesn't have one...Just like the conservatives said he wouldn't. Not that easy.... Hmmm.... Let's see.... Should I go on?
nightdragon09
"Mobilizing anger, fear, and ignorance"... funny, I could say the same exact things about the cult of Glowbull Worming led by the Goracle himself! Also funny that there's no mention of "ClimateGate", potentially the biggest scandal in the history of science, anywhere in sight on TDB.
As for Glenn Beck... this isn't hypocritical of him at all, because he's not using his "experience in community organizing" as his entire platform for running for public office... specifically, the Presidency... like Obama did (oh, and he was a half-term junior senator who mostly voted "present"... big whoop!) The day Glenn Beck does all that will be the day we can all call him a hypocrite.
jarussell
No one called him a hypocrite, but hey, if the shoe fits.....
Also, the guy is an entertainer, like his compadre Rush and all the other right wingnuts. The more he's talke, written, or thought about, the more money he makes for himself. He's definately a hard-working, driven individual.
The question is, what is the hard work and drive accomplishing for anyone other than Glenn Beck?
His fans (not constituents) love him, others hate him, but what has he done for the American people other than entertain them?
Picachu
You, however, are still obviously drinking heavily.
BeckTruthTeller
Glen is a low down dirty tool.
He could fool morons, but if you graduated from high school, you shouldn't be fooled.
MrRecall
Becktruthteller? what school did you go to ? Some one as simple minded as you should know that GB is acurate and far in advance of all the alfabet talking heads.
If you weren't so gullible and went to the sorce and not the opinions (and you don't have an axe to grind) you would see GB may be a "sick freak"sure, but his info is spot on.
Warehouseone
MrRecall,
Wait a minute.
You admit he is a sick freak, but his info is "spot on"
Personally, I try not to take my advice from sick freaks.
Speagle
Sooner or later, some patriot will reveal Beck to be what everyone knows him to be: a closet queen with a bad haircut.
BeckTruthTeller
He is way behind in every area. The dude is crazy!
What is the matter with you?
osea65
Crazy like a Fox you mean!!!! What is the matter with you morons? Beck is calling it like he sees it and I'm glad he's there to offer his perspective on the liberal brainwash!!!!!
debbieqd
Name one thing Glenn Beck has accomplished to improve the life of just one American. One.
parke47
he informs his viewers to the truth.hows that for one?
magoo363
Truth? Perhaps truthiness: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truthiness
Lukifer2112
Well, he's improved his own life by a few million. Does that count?
sundownarises
The exposure of a lot of leftwing individuals and organizations like SEIU and ACORN. These organizations exist only for the agenda of those at the top of them. If Van Jones believes in Communism then let him live in a Communist country and see how long he still likes it. If it were not for Glenn Beck and others like him (he just happens to be the spokesperson for those who believe in our Founding Fathers and the principles of the Constitution) this administration and his cronies would have passed much more legislation that would ruin our country even faster. For all of Obama's promises of transparency and openess of his administration, they have been lies, one after another. As he said recently about another leader in another country, don't watch what he says, watch what he does. Because Glenn Beck is willing to expose his true tactics, you call him hypocritical. The only true statement that Obama made that I can be sure of is when he said, "We will transform this nation". Only his transformation and those of most Americans is completely oposite of what they thought it was going to be. Following to the 2010 elections I pray that someone will have the guts to stand up and call for Obama's impeachment. He along with many other Congressman have no idea what it means to uphold our Constituion. Do you? It is only the true and living God that can heal our land. Even with the removal of many of the present Congress in 2010 he will still have his Czars staff at his side. He has done this so that we can't really "touch" him. I also pray that after the next election the new Congress will put a stop to the ability to have these so called Czars by any president now and in the future.
roxymlb
Glenn is wonderful. I love the way liberals just dismiss him. He is accomplished, and has persevered through adversity and speaks facts. You know, those things that are on video, written, DOCUMENTED. You spew snide comments on alcoholism as a weapon to shut him up. But wisdom comes through adversity, and Glenn is an honorable man. More than I can say about President Blackheart who has done NOTHING for this country but hate it in all he says and all he does. To attack Glenn Beck for exposing this horrible president for who he really is and the marxists that bho surrounds himself with, is just more liberal smokescreen and propaganda. You divert the attention from what is happening to something else ...... and I can tell you this, most Americans are sick of it. You take your political correctness and use it on someone to shut people up. I am done with it. The climate change is a farce..... only a very useful tool to make some people very very rich. Wake up already. God gave you a brain. Now sit down, take a deep breath, and use it. God Save America.
jarussell
"...wisdom comes through adversity..."
Says who?
But, if it does, does a black man who rises up from a family of modest means to become a part of the political system, achieve his goals, and become leader of the free world, dedicate an entire life to the people of this country, then do what he sees as the best job possible, does that count as part of your post that says he has done nothing?
What Americans are you talking about when you say "..most Americans are sick of it."? Which ones are you talking to? The ones in your room with the padded walls that you can't see but know are there?
Keep debating climate change too. All those scientists and biologists and them people are tools to make others rich?
I love it when the wingnuts say things like "Wake up!"
Warehouseone
for the record foxymlb,
just because something is on video or tv doesn't mean its real.
You probably think the Loveboat was a documentary too huh.
Just because something is written doesn't make it true. You are a sheep.
The people who are against climate change are very very rich.
Most of the things you can do to prevent climate change
will end up saving YOU money! Using less resources doesn't profit anyone except the person doing the conserving. That is why some people don't want you save and to start using alternative sources of energy.
Maybe you are the one asleep.
ewilliam
Truth? Does anyone remember when Beck accused Barack Obama of being a racist on the god-awful "Fox and Friends" ?Oh for sure he was raised by his WHITE mother and his WHITE grandparents, and filled his presidential cabinet with white politicians, but, none the less, a racist.
BULLLLSHITTTTT !!!!!
If any of you missed it;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxLJVVhcDqE
TruthisT
When he said his grandmother behaved "like a typical white woman". That was a statement a racist would make. Case Closed. Also, Obama attended a racist church for over 20 years. Can't dispute that. Case Closed.
susa1957
Oh he isn't a racist ewilliams? Obama ABSOLUTELY is a racist and so is his ugly wife. Gee.. doesn't know the full story behind the cop/professor incident in Boston but immediately blamed it on the white cop? Maybe you should start listioning to some of Obama's own words. Like his speech back in 2001 about the people he hung with in college... Let's see he said he seeked out the marxist professors and black activists to hang with... HMMMM.... Oh yeah... THAT speech.... Oh that's right... Wouldn't hear that on CNN would you. You go BECK!
osea65
The jury is still out on Obama's agenda, no one gets this guy, he's a mystery even to his own party!!!!! No one knows where he really stands, and I don't think we will ever find out. Where's the change by the way? I think, given his obvious charm, he should, at the most, have been appointed assistant secretary of state!!!! He just wants to please everybody, and of course he's not succeeding in pleasing anybody!!!! The uncertainty he brings to the White house is very disturbing!!!!
nightdragon09
You're right about that osea65... when it comes to Obama, the jury's still out out on a lot of things... like when he'll come to a decision on Afghanistan, when Gitmo will actually be closed, whether or not justice will truly be served in the KSM trial or if it will be just a propaganda circus for Al Qaeda and their sympathizers.
But then again, we can't really expect much from a guy who took months to finally choose a dog for his kids... and they gave Bush shit for sitting in a classroom for 7 minutes reading to elementary school kids instead of... what... leaping out of his chair and proclaiming he's on top of things when the terrorists had already carried our their plans and killed almost 3,000 people?!? And he should have stopped Katrina too... cuz, you know... Presidents have the power to alter the weather at the wave of a pen... or something.
jarussell
I'm sure you meant to say 3000 Americans, not 3000 'people'.
If you were concerned about people, you'd be concerned about the hundreds of thousands that have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan since we invaded those countries for no reason other than Bush2's pipe dreams about avenging his father.
nightdragon09
Yeah jrussell... the war in Afghanistan was just W's "pipe dream"... that's why Obama has repeatedly stated that it's a war of necessity, right? So you're telling me that Mr. Hopenchange is now sharing pipe dreams with W?
By the way, not all of the PEOPLE murdered on 9/11 were American citizens... there were plenty of international businessmen and women on those flights and who worked at the WTC representing just about every nationality, race and creed there is... 9/11 affected not only us Americans, but the entire world by proxy. Apparently most of the world has forgotten about that these days, but we haven't.
wingsflyhigh
Glen is calling the left out. whats the big deal????
shag11
"Accomplished" what? To get a bunch of low-hanging fruit to rally against their own best interest? It's amazing how people when defend capitalism, while wrailing against the corporations that have this country in such screwed-up shape. Don't you idiots get it: They companies that pay the Becks, Palins, Limbabughs, et al, to lead you, are the same corporations that are screwing you. Wake the eff up!
osea65
Please shag11, don't wake up!!! Stay in that Lala land of yours. I'm sure you are happy in your cabin high up in he mountains, living from hunting and planting your own fruits and vegetables!! Meanwhile we'll just continue to be screwed over by those big corporations and living our senseless empty lives, LOL.
gameon
Friedersdorf paragraph,my version;(Michael moore) uses tactics that include tiny snippets of film as proof of a persons worldview,guilt by association,insinuation and occasionally goofs like the fake quote.To put it another way,as a viewer I have no way to judge whether (Moore) is right.I have to trust that the snippets are not taken out of context,that the dubious association between A and B actually has evidence to support it and that (Moore's) numbers are accurate.It is impossible to have that trust"."What (Moore) does is propaganda".
I couldn't have said it better myself.
csledbetter
I was thinking to use (Al Gore), but your idea is better. I have been thinking about the global warming smoking e-mail story all day, and (insert favorite global warming advocate here) certainly is impossible to trust, and is most certainly a propagandist. But for pure lying-when-his-lips-move propaganda, no one beats (Moore).
I am surprised that Friedersdorf is learning from history lately (or perhaps that he is finally studying it). His description of those who "play on nostalgia, feign emotions for rhetorical effect, and hold themselves up as someone to be trusted in a scary world of far-reaching conspiracies" sounds like every elected office holder in Washington DC. Think Barney Frank, Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama...it fits. Who, Mr. Friedersdorf, do you listen to?
gameon
Not only did Al Gore create the internet,he also created the Global warming scam.The gig is up,the truth is out.The "Global Warming Crisis" is nothing but a political tool of the Democratic Party.It's the biggest fraud in history.A money grab by the likes of Al Gore and fake scientists in search of grants.
Tucson138
That's nice. Do you construct straw men as a hobby, or are you just a crappy professional?
gameon
The fact that your politics can't stand up to the scrutiny of one man ,on one network tells me that you don't have a leg to stand on when it comes to backing up your ideas.
mightyCW
Umm...so? Friedersdorf dislikes Beck, therefore he likes Michael Moore? How can you function in such black and white terms? Are you even aware what people on the left actually think about Moore? Even ones who like his movies (like myself) generally think he's manipulative and careless with facts. He's good for a laugh and some rabble-rousing, but nobody educated really takes him seriously as a liberal thinker. Just read the reviews on Capitalism; some of the most negative ones come from dedicated liberals. The difference is that Moore is a fringe figure for the left while Beck is mainstream in what passes for conservatism nowadays, with very few prominent conservatives willing to stand up to him. And even if your point were somehow valid, are you really content with an argument that's essentially, "I know you are, but what am I?" Of course it's a moot point, because Friedersdorf didn't say a thing about Moore, so I'm left to doubt your capacity to understand nuance in any form. Good luck with that.
vulgrin
"Moore is a fringe figure for the left"
I think Beck is a fringe figure too. The problem is that the damn media is so @#$#@ fascinated by the train wreck that they keep him in the news. We need to do with Beck what you should do with any bully, ignore them.
amanda07070
Thanks for putting that so succinctly. I can't count how many times I've had to say the "I know you are, but what am I?" phrase when countering the people on this post.
gameon
I never gave any "black and white terms.I never supported Beck.It's merely a red herring (not a straw man) to point out hypocrisy.The point is Moore is the darling of the left.When Bush was in office his propaganda was rarely criticized and often praised by the left,Oscars,Academy Award nominations.His movies effected politics in this country and you Dem.s were only to happy to let him get away with it,the ends justified the means.But now that he's put out a movie that is equally offensive to Dems./Repubs he's all of a sudden become "a fringe figure" on the left,when in reality he's a useful idiot for the "mainstream" Democratic party.Trying to revise history has little effect on those with a good memory.Nuance?Nuance is a term that liars use to justify their deceit,which is why it's very popular with politicians , lawyers and hypocrites.
Having said that,I think we need people like Moore and Beck to keep the spotlight on their respective opponents.It helps to keep the powerful in check,however sloppy they may be.
As for newswoman;Comparing Beck to Hitler is the typical ,liberal, kneejerk exaggeration.And you hope Obama does something to stem the tide of hatred? Like what?Perhaps he should round us all up so that you feel a little bit safer.And where were you during all the hatred and dispair during Bush's term?I'm sure there's a Hitler comparison I could make to you,but that would be childish,right?
Lay off emotional exaggerations and focus on fact checking what Beck is actually saying, that's how you win in the arena of ideas.
sonofrobinX
i dont consider michael moore an authority on the subject matter of his films however, if you listen to him speak or read any of his publications he is quite often not far from the actual truth, give or take a few punchlines. much closer then glen
SimonSaize
A republican Acorn, no, say it isn't so, you mean they hated Acorn for more than one reason and wanted their business? Shocking. Original.
andygirl
Couldn't have said it better myself
mfkpadrefan
Moore...i like his movies, not for factual input but for sheer energy...of course he's a propagandist, but he's not crazy and/or dangerous. Beck is crazy and he could be dangerous. The dangerous and threatening folk are on the right now...In the 60's they were of the left. Hell, some of them could be the same folk, they're just dangerous period!...Example...when you bring guns to presidential events, you scare me so I think you're dangerous. Beck encourages such behavior. Do we discuss the limits of political behavior after the tragedy? That's what happened at Fort Hood!
connie47
A straw man is a fallacy in which an irrelevant topic is presented in order to divert attention from the original issue.
newswoman
Beck has a cult following, just like Hitler, Jim Jones, etc. Scary. This type of thing happens when the economy is tanking just like Germany in the '30s and Father Couglan in the U. S., also in the 30s. This is a very dangerous time for our country and I hope Obama does something to stem the tide of hatred and despair, on the right, particularly. It's getting ugly.
bhavanibbana
Actually, that's a red herring. A strawman fallacy occurs when one constructs a false assertion to attack in order to discredit their opponent.
crypto
HEY!! That's what the whitehouse people do. And if anyone on here says anything negative about Obamason somebody immediately jumps in and says " Welll it's Bush's fault cause, well it just is. Bush was there and he was the problem. Obamason hasn't made any mistakes. Does that qualify for "straw"??
Rawk5tar
Uh, no. Because a lot of what's going on is remnants of Bush's administration. There's no denying that, seeing as he got out of office ten months.
SimonSaize
A Republican Acorn, no, say it isn't so, you mean they hated Acorn for more than one reason and wanted their business? Shocking. Original.
All that time and effort destroying a community of poor under paid street team activists wasn't a total waste, now you can steal the show. Bravo.
go to www.outfoxed.org
BipartisanCurious
Crypto I believe what usually happens is a republican will throw out a strawman argument against Obama and a dem will respond with a red herring about bush. Or vice versa, if the article in question is about Bush's administration.
escomments
Rawk5tar-
Uh, when you come into office making stupid decisions, and the result, convoluted as it may seem to sort out, leads to a worse economy then probably would have been had Keynesian economic theories not been employed, you have to draw the line at remnants and start to apply blame to the administration making those stupid decisions.
They have no clue how the economy actually works, only how they would like to make it work. Unfortunately reality and theoretical wishful thinking may never meet. The rest of the world including of all places, Communist China, the holder of a trillion dollars of our debt, think that we are being totally irresponsible with our fiscal and monetary policy!
Although Bush started this mess, all Obama has done is make it worse and he is to blame for that!
hkjonus
i thought i had caught a straw herring but it turned out to be a red man. so i chewed it and now i quit smoking.
connie i love you man...
UsneakydevilU
If anyone has a cult following it has to be Mr.Obama! People voted for him and had no clue of what his politics were. That's why gays, women, blacks are starting to question him on political promises owed. But if we were listening, he didn't promise, they just assumed, now that's cult-like. You just follow because of the luster, that's dangerous.
SimonSaize
A republican Acorn? No, say it isn't so- how original- you mean they hated Acorn for more than one reason and wanted their business?
Farmatty
Why don't you lump Upton Sinclair and Jonathan Swift in there too, gameon? Moore is much closer to them then to Beck. It is possible to use media (book or film) to point out one's position on social ills without turning into Lonesome Rhodes. Looks like Rhodes is Beck's role model, but he forgot how that film ends.
andygirl
Absolutely.Media is media, but a propogandist, satirist, and muckraker are entirely different things. It's all rhetoric, yes, but the tools are vastly different.
LeftCoastRightBrain
Soo...Michale Moore's in the same league as Jonathan Swift? Wow.
BTW, have you read Swift?
connie47
I didn't think there was anybody at TDB who knew the names Upton Sinclair and Jonathan Swift, much less had read them. I celebrate !!
Natural-Selection
Isn't this what B. Hussein did long before lying his way into power? Wow, a liberal writer on this site calling Beck a hypocrite...he must then NOT be a hypocrite!
admiralj
Hey Natural-Selection, your white sheet is showing. Next time show less racism, instead of the "B. Hussein" use Obama or Mr. President. But then you can't do that can you? Your too full of hate that a black man is sitting in "your White House". Maybe you and Beck can be locked in the same prison cell and have "jail sex". Now that's natural selection.
Mariafrania
The only thing more pathetic than Glenn Beck are his followers. He's just a big baby blabbering about and crying for attention. Why can't all the adults just ignore him until he learns to behave?
crypto
I don't care for Beck. But the one thing I have noticed is that the democrats pay more attention to him that anyone else. He must have a pretty good investigative team because he comes up with the problems before some of the other reporters do. Like Acorn. He dug that out loooooooong before everybody else got on to it. He's kinda flaky but his information is usually good.
bgeasyas123
Actually, most of his program isn't information so much as him arbitrarily connecting dots to make assertions.
SimonSaize
A Republican Acorn, no, say it isn't so, you mean they hated Acorn for more than one reason and wanted their business? Shocking. Original.
All that time and effort destroying a community of poor under paid street team activists wasn't a total waste, now you can steal the show. Bravo.
go to www.outfoxed.org
Farmatty
Like what about ACORN? That when they discovered they had a few of their hundreds of signature collectors forging forms they let the proper authorities know, or that two idiots out of the thousands who have worked for them were not doing the job they were hired to do, and not following ACORN's mission and guidelines for carrying them out? When you get some evidence of organized fraud by those in charge, not just stupidity by a few minions, get back to us.
danderu
I think the Dems pay attention to Beck to make sure he and his ideas stay front and center and are considered "Republican", just like they do with Limbaugh. If you make those two the poster boys of the GOP, then the Goldwater and even Reagan Republicans will be moving towards the left, and maybe even left of center. As long as these two spout their 'wisdom,' and the Reps in congress follow in lock-step, the GOP will be looking at an even bigger disaster in 2010, and maybe 2012... Palin-Beck? Really? I'm sure there are serious discussions going on right now in teabag circles.
groverdog
Here ya go Formatty:
http://www.judicialwatch.org/news/2009/sep/judicial-watch-files-two-new -foia-lawsuits-obtain-information-acorn-scandals
Demsdisorder
"The only thing more pathetic than Glenn Beck are his followers" is the BOman and his followers...
SimonSaize
A Republican Acorn, no, say it isn't so, you mean they hated Acorn for more than one reason and wanted their business? Shocking. Original.
All that time and effort destroying a community of poor under paid street team activists wasn't a total waste, now you can steal the show. Bravo.
go to www.outfoxed.org
gak001
I would disagree - our leader has power and is actually doing something proactive, regardless of whether you agree with him or not.
ennakili
Obama's followers are the majority of Americans who put him in office. For the supposed guardians of liberty, you are all quick to forget liberty means accepting election results. Now go home and cry and come back in a few years
admiralj
At least most of the people here do not attend your church. The "Church of Cheney", he and pastor Bush almost destroyed this country. And you still haven't learned? I guess it is true, inbreeding does remove all higher thought processes.
osea65
Ennakili, the majority of Americans put Bush in office twice, and you never stopped crying!!!! Talk about hypocrites!!!!
gak001
Actually, they only elected Bush once - the majority of voters voted for Gore in the first election, the electoral college voted for Bush after a Supreme Court decision.
SimonSaize
A Republican Acorn, no, say it isn't so, you mean they hated Acorn for more than one reason and wanted their business? Shocking. Original.
All that time and effort destroying a community of poor under paid street team activists wasn't a total waste, now you can steal the show. Bravo.
go to www.outfoxed.org
LeftCoastRightBrain
Give it up.
This is, what, the 8th post you've copied and pasted?
Probably representative of your intellectual capacity.
gameon
Simon must have lost his job as madame at the Acorn brothel.
Curiouser
I still think the followers of Palin & Beck have Obama envy.
amanda07070
True. They're the only ones on this post who refer to him as the Messiah.
crypto
AAaaaaaH. You're stretching now. How did Pailin get in here anyway??? We were talking about Glenn Beck.
Downriver
EXACT same demographic: Caucasian 45 to 65, and rural white trash.
daveinboise
This is The Daily Breast. You must have at least three blog with Palin references in them or else no one will read it.
Let's all of us give it a break. Let's move on to more important and bigger issues than a celebrity 'politician' (on either side) with nothing to say.
JustinTimberwolf
I actually think Beck and Palin have a lot in common in that they're both outrageously polarizing figures who both have ability to magnetize the attention of people, particularly people who vehemently disagree with them. They are political rabble-rousers, and I can't imagine many people with serious views on politics (left, right, or center) taking them seriously.
The funny thing I noticed with this Palin/Beck 2012 sideshow that sprung up last week is that the two should really be political enemies. Palin was the gov. of the most socialistic state in the nation, where the government literally "shares the wealth" of oil and natural gas revenues with the people, and Alaskans receive much, much more federal tax money than they put in. Also, Palin's national security "ideas" should terrify and outrage anyone claiming to be a libertarian. And a libertarian's social policies should terrify and outrage any neocon like Palin. Of course, those points are moot since neither Palin nor Beck has any sort of consistent, plausible policy views.
And the reason they both hold so much appeal to so many people can be summarized in Downriver's condescending -- dare I say -- elitist dismissal of neoconservatives as "rural white trash." That's just the kind of close-minded assessment that loses middle America for the liberals.
hkjonus
If you are going to keep referring to whites with racial slander, then someone is bound to whip out the N word. Stop the anti-white non-sense here please. I personally dont have a problem with either, but im sure if someone writes "Nigga" on this forum, TDB Editors will wack their post. And im equally confident that "Cracker" and "White Trash" are completely %&$$#$ OK!
osea65
Downriver, rural white trash voted for Obama!!! All trash did actually, so what's your point???
merlin1246
Curioser - You must be living in November, 2008. Obama's popularity has sunk faster than any other newly elected president in the 20th and now, 21st century. More people scorn Obama than applaud him. What's to envy?
Failure? Obama's leftward lurch is being met by a rightward lurch. Palin and Beck are, to the Right, what Rock The Vote, ACORN, SEIU, and the Hollywood. Remember; in politics as in physics, every action has an qual and opposite reaction. So, Palin and Beck are "reactionaries" catering to the
ever-growing reactionaries throughout the nation. Like it or not, Obama is destined to leave office with an even lower approval rating than his predecessor. His policies/politics may thrill you, but you're in a small minority, so now that the center of American poliical philosophy has learned what the "Change" was all about, they are rejecting it in droves, and it has much less to do with Beck, Palin, and the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy than it has to do with Obama himself. And I voted for "Him" My bad.
elites (to name a few) were to the Left,
hkjonus
To compare Non-Profit and other social organizations to Beck and Palin is insane. You may not agree with their goals or their approach, and loath the fact that they lean Left, because thats who supports them. But to say that Beck and Palin are the equal opposing force is ridiculous. Stop creating your own pseudo-physics and stick to reality based arguments. The only Lurch in the Right was Dick Cheney. LOL!
blastthepast
Well, the competion is over. Carter is officially not the worst president in history. Move over Carter, make room for Obama!!! This guy makes Carter look like a genius and a straight forward conservative!!
SimonSaize
A Republican Acorn, no, say it isn't so, you mean they hated Acorn for more than one reason and wanted their business? Shocking. Original.
All that time and effort destroying a community of poor under paid street team activists wasn't a total waste, now you can steal the show. Bravo.
go to www.outfoxed.org
crypto
Somebody reach over and kick Simon'sass. I think his brain froze.
jimors
I too missed how Moore came into this but whatever. Beck's writings lack the tears and snivelings but pack more unsubstantiated bravado for the readers pleasure. And bless his heart, there is a market for that as there was for the Pet Rock. IMHO, He is noting but a shit disturber in a tumultuous time. I feel we would be better off without him.
SimonSaize
A Republican Acorn, no, say it isn't so, you mean they hated Acorn for more than one reason and wanted their business? Shocking. Original.
All that time and effort destroying a community of poor under paid street team activists wasn't a total waste, now you can steal the show. Bravo.
go to www.outfoxed.org
LeftCoastRightBrain
How do we ban this moron?
gameon
Simon has unleashed a shock and awe campaign of stupidity.
Lilli917
I agree that this isn't about Moore or Acorn. You can argue or debate the weaknesses of each but they don't compare to Beck. Beck is trying to fire up the unstable and he is trolling for an assassin! That's pretty scary but if that happens, he will be on TV crying and emoting about how he tried to tell us and that he is just an innocent victim. He is a dangerous man and appears very unstable.
Demsdisorder
Lilli917,,,I don't think i have ever laughed so hard in my life.... you are one demented cookie. but don't ever change... dam that was funny
crypto
He would sure fit right in on here.
LeftCoastRightBrain
So...Beck's listener are unstable.
What does that make Olbermann's and Maddow's? Patriots?
LOL!!
goffbum
Izzlum is very unstable and much more dangerous than Beck.....dont believe he's blown anyone up lately.....
maccabea
With Beck's political activism, how can he possibly stay on Fox News?
newswoman
Money and viewers, Maccabea.
crypto
Newswoman: Careful with that Hitler stuff.. You're getting closer to your guy when you do that.
oldpunk
As long as he is making money For Mr Murdock he can do what he wants.Do not forget Murdock would change Fox News in to a Communist Propaganda channel if he thought he would make enough money from it.
Murdock is already making noises about making money out of news on the internet.Perhaps he might make Fox News pay per view when he feels he has enough people willing to pay for it? We will probably see in the not to distant future,when they see how much cash they can get out of Becks $29.99 Plan.
"We need to start thinking like the Chinese," $29.99 for Communist Propaganda. The party faithful will have their own little red book to waive.
andygirl
Think about that question a little longer and you'll have your answer.
UsneakydevilU
Just as Keith Oberman, Chris Matthews or Rachel Maddow does on MSNBC.
Mixpixlix
Beck's lunacy spawns other's to follow his demented lead and that's the worry. As O'Reilly will someday have to face his maker and accept his responsiblity for the death of Dr. Tiller, so, to, will Beck have to face responsibility for the hate, mistrust and fear he generates.
He is the Joe McCarthy of the 21st Century. I only hope a Murrow surfaces soon to exposure just how dangerous and deranged he is.
vulgrin
"Beck's lunacy spawns other's to follow his demented lead"
Just like most cults, and Scientology. Oh, and most religions.
"I only hope a Murrow surfaces soon to exposure just how dangerous and deranged he is."
There will be no more Murrows. The american people have chosen. We'd rather have entertainment than real reporting and news. Sure, we all wring our hands and moan and groan, but then we click back over to CNN, MSNBC and Fox. You'd think that all of these "hard news" advocates would be at least donating to NPR. (not that NPR is non-partisan and perfect either)
SimonSaize
A Republican Acorn, no, say it isn't so, you mean they hated Acorn for more than one reason and wanted their business? Shocking. Original.
All that time and effort destroying a community of poor under paid street team activists wasn't a total waste, now you can steal the show. Bravo.
go to www.outfoxed.org
crypto
Come On Virgin: so far you folks have said Beck is deranged, dangerous, stiring people up, demented, lunatic, cult leader, and so on. But every dam one of you are watching his show or you wouldn't know what he's doing.
newswoman
Beck's followers don't listen to reason. It is all emotion, no thinking.
crypto
LOL, you guys are sure as hell keeping up with him. I've learned more on here in the last ten minutes about Beck than I ever knew.
SimonSaize
A Republican Acorn, no, say it isn't so, you mean they hated Acorn for more than one reason and wanted their business? Shocking. Original.
All that time and effort destroying a community of poor under paid street team activists wasn't a total waste, now you can steal the show. Bravo.
go to www.outfoxed.org
TinkerBrendie
Yeah... why can't they be all fact-based and level-head like the Obamaniacs that had to be led by ACORN to the polls...
Hippievet
I actually watched a Beck show, finally. I was not impressed. He's hard to watch. Disjointed, with no point, he comes off as someone trying to fill an hour of TV. Beck is worshiped by sheeple who have no ability to think for themselves. How will a book help? Won't his snippets of information be exposed as such?
But that's just my opinion. I'm sure there are sheeple now waiting to shart on my shimple analyshis.
crypto
NAAAAAAaaaaah. I think you're lying. I believe you watch the show all the time. You couldnn't have formed an opinion from one show. Yep. You're a fan and just won't admit it.
getkicksonrte66
Beck reminds me of a wanna be southern preacher, and omg the way he starts to say something then stops puts his index finger on his upper lip and does his stupid ponder is so f ing ridiculous. Sheeple that actually buy into his garbage are pathetic at best.
SimonSaize
A Republican Acorn, no, say it isn't so, you mean they hated Acorn for more than one reason and wanted their business? Shocking. Original.
All that time and effort destroying a community of poor under paid street team activists wasn't a total waste, now you can steal the show. Bravo.
go to www.outfoxed.org
escomments
I do lean to the right but I actually have to agree with you on his on air antics. I don't watch him because he is forever pausing for effect. "I will tell you what I wrote on this blackboard, but first, I need to reiterate (Insert blah, blah, blah,)" "Now I will unveil what is on this blackboard after a commercial break" The only effect it has on me is to bore me to death. He never gets to the point. Well never before I change the channel anyway.
Maybe they are sheeple because your average person isn't going to sit through all of that. He is allot better on his radio program.
Hippievet
@crypto - I couldn't have formed an opinion from one show?
What did you just do with one post?
Carole65
What do you suppose happened with Kennedy when he met his maker?
A person like Glenn Beck or Sarah Palin don't get any traction if the majority of the American public are happy with the direction of this country. The people are pissed at both parties and the fact that both parties are beholden to the lobbyists and big business for lining their pockets and ignoring middle America. The elitists, whether they are conservative or liberal, have little ability to connect with middle America, because they eloquently say one thing when they want their votes, and then fail to act on their campaign promises. The arrogance of our public officials give rise to the Becks and Palins of the world, and to dismiss them as "nuts" and "crazies", instead of refuting their rhetoric with facts, only continues to demonstrate just how out of touch the elites are and how vacuous the news media is.
Tim Russert was the one journalist in our time who had the ability to cut through some of the bullshit of the politicians - our loss and his maker's gain.
sonofrobinX
"A person like Glenn Beck or Sarah Palin don't get any traction if the majority of the American public are happy with the direction of this country" false
there have always been and will always be agitators like beck. he gets light because of how desperate and ridiculous he is.
SimonSaize
A Republican Acorn, no, say it isn't so, you mean they hated Acorn for more than one reason and wanted their business? Shocking. Original.
All that time and effort destroying a community of poor under paid street team activists wasn't a total waste, now you can steal the show. Bravo.
go to www.outfoxed.org
hkjonus
Carole, I agree with you 95%. The problem is that if someones listening and believing PalBeckBaugh, they have a limited grasp of reality & facts already. Point being you cant use logic and reasoning to change the minds of idiots.You can only attempt to out number and diminish their threat. Educate their children if its possible....LOL
SimonSaize
A Republican Acorn, no, say it isn't so, you mean they hated Acorn for more than one reason and wanted their business? Shocking. Original.
All that time and effort destroying a community of poor under paid street team activists wasn't a total waste, now you can steal the show. Bravo.
go to www.outfoxed.org
Carole65
Did you just learn how to cut & paste?
LeftCoastRightBrain
Troll.
This site need higher standards.
I'm not an elitist but in this case I'll make exceptions. Ban this clown.
jds8181
If Glenn Beck wants America to be more like China, maybe he should move to China. Could the fact that he is advocating that America act more like a communist country prove that he is a communist? You know who else wanted to think in terms of 100 year plans? The Nazis. I'm not saying Glenn Beck wants to round up Jews and gas them, but there are strange similarities between Glenn Beck and Adolph Hitler. We can no longer afford to ignore the facts America!!! Both wrote manifestos in which they laid bare their desires for a nation, and just like Hitler, GB delights in using mass media propaganda to fire up his base. Stand up America! Take your country back! RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE!!!!!!
crypto
Told ya. Watch that Hitler stuff. You're getting on your on guy there.
bgeasyas123
guess you missed the irony, eh crypto?
camfield
I believe it was a master plan, for a master race, that Adolf was touting back as early as the mid-1920s. Few in this country that one could actually compare to his Nazis (other than scattered Klan members and Skinheads)--but there seems to be no shortage of conservatives eager to throw the rest of us off the Ark and create a society where everyone looks just like them! Envision it, a "master race" (so to speak) of Glenn Becks and Rush Limbaughs--maybe Sarah Palins.
crypto
Camfield that's exactly what the dems have tried to do. Rangle, Dodd, Pelosi, Frank, Reid, Obamason. and about a dozen on here. If you read some of this dribble it sounds like all of you were put in a room and rehearsed until you all sound alike. Downriver said on a previous post that I "parrot". He should read some of his own post. The point is of course that both sides have plenty to throw.. And most of it is either lies or just a comback not to be outdone. I've voted democrat begining with, and ever since Kennedy. But I darn sure wont ever do it again. This crowd in D C has taught me something. I just hope we survive it.
hkjonus
Crypto, no one believes you've EVER voted Democrat in your life. The Straw Herring argument ain't working man, and ain't causing anyone to think "wow he used to vote democrat but wont anymore, hmmm maybe i can change too. I think ill vote republican from now on".....LOL just aint happening man. try some other useless, clever tactic... that ones tired...
LeftCoastRightBrain
What?
Beck wants the USofA to be like China?
WTF did that come from?
Hitler?
Gimme a break.
stabs31
Haven't most politicians written a book about what they want for America? It's not like Hitler was the first and only guy to do it and then Glenn Beck came along and did it. Have you read Audacity of Hope? It does something similar. All the "hope" and "change" stuff from Obama and the media could be considered propaganda. The definition of Propaganda is: biased communication designed to influence people's thoughts and actions. The White Houses attack on Fox News is just the same as Glenn Beck writing a book. By saying they need to be like China, he is saying they need to plan. He even says that in the video clip if you actually watch it instead of just listening to what everyone tells you. If more people actually researched instead of listening to what others tell them to think there would be fewer problems in the world. It seems like many of you don't watch or listen to him, you just know that he is to the right and you don't like that so he must be bad.
jds8181
LCRB and stabs...then why hasn't Mr. Beck denied wanting to round up Jews and gas them? He has never denied having this desire as far as I know.
Why don't you two morons get a clue. It was a fucking joke, and you're both obviously too stupid to get the irony that outlandish accusations and guilt by association are two very transparent ruses that GB uses to demonize his opponents. You're obviously not South Park fans (RABBLE RABBLE!!!)
RedJeep
Ok, Conor, you write that Beck is "...draining his followers' bank accounts." How so? You never explain. Is he urging people to donate money to him? What? Or do you just throw out lies to smear people?
angst7
I am sure that your question will be answered in Connor next up and coming article, "How I just blow smoke up my ass" and you people believe it".
bgeasyas123
Uh....by paying $30 bucks a book. He is pointing to the irony that the reason GB is creating this plan is to reverse what he believes is happening...the bankrupting of america, but intends to sell the plan at $30 a pop. In case you didn't realize, conor's article was pretty rhetorical with its' examples.
RedJeep
So how is buying a $30 book, "...draining his followers' bank accounts." Guess this is liberal logic.
bgeasyas123
No one on hear buys how dumb you're pretending to be redjeep. just like you didn't care to pay attention to the literary devices used in the article, you don't care to actually read my response.
So you don't think it is wrong in principle to use the "bankrupting of america and socialism" threats as the basis for creating a plan, but then selling it to the victims of the bankruptcy and socialism to line your own pockets. you want to focus on conor's rhetoric, go for it, but I think mainstream media has ruined any interpretation skills you have.....as well as any real intelligence
admiralj
Red Jeep, if you could read, he said "draining red states bank accounts $29.99 at a time." He was referring to the price of "his book". You know each sale costs it's purchaser (their bank account, wallet, credit card) $29.99 for each book. Clear enough! I'm not siding with him, or against you. I'm just reading the posts.
bobj72
"Beck-boy's" Strategy is all about "Jealousy & Greed." "Jealous" of Ex-Governor Sarah Palin having the termerity to "Go Rogue" and enrich her "silk purse" milking the Dollar$ from the "grimy paws" of HIS LEGION of "T-bagger" followers. The "Greed" is This Sleaze-balls insatiable appetite "for the buck!"
dcbooknurse
Beck thinks the US should be like China. Have a 100 Year Plan. Hm. Sounds an awfull lot like Chairman Mao's Five Year Plan. Didn't Fox just go nuts recently because one of Obama's advisors made a joke about having Mao as a role model? I'm sure they will have the same fair and balanced approach to Beck's plans.
camfield
Too bad he can't come up with a useful 100-year-plan, like one dealing with Global Warming.
LeftCoastRightBrain
"like one dealing with Global Warming."
Your serious, right?
Been asleep and missed the emails from the UK global warmist "scientists" (researcher, more like it), or did the NYT not cover that?
magoo363
LeftCoastRightBrain - Did you actually read the article or just hear the talking points? The scientist were just wanting to sex up their presentation, none of the actual data was falsified.
gameon
Cherry picking experiments and excluding contrary opinions is falsifying data.The "Global Warming" scam has set back the responsible enviromental movement many years.
Bhakti
Sounds to me like someone has a case of the Monday's. Of course if you're muslim its okay to lie. Your lying to infidels. Looks like the infidels woke up and now your scared. Oh my! The infidels ARE organizing, and all those angry mobs ARE organizing. Thanks for the idea! I think I'll be giving Mr. Becks books as Christmas (yes I used that awful word) Christmas gifts!!!
sophia5
Three years ago this "crazy" man Beck
predicted a collapse in the housing market,
and overall economy that would lead
to devastating unemployment,
and massive
unsustainable growth in Government.
Like that would ever happen.
What a whack job, a "crazy" man.
Downriver
Most all economists except the FOX corporate hacks and the partisan administration clowns saw it coming
Carole65
Really? Ron Paul warned about the coming housing disaster in 2003, and Bush echoed the warning in 2005. The Democrat Congress chose to ignore it. vis a vis Frank, Waters, Dodd, et al.
Downriver
Bush tried to save us?? You are deluded. You seem to forget the party that held the oval office and the Congress for eight of the last ten years.
Carole65
Downriver: Did you forget the Democrat Congress that was in power since 2006? Try again
crypto
Downriver: Please get off here. You're so fulla schittenden you're gonna explode and get it all over everybody.
Downriver
Crypto......You are nothing but a parrot moron........the proof is in every one of your inane posts.
Carole65.....Do you REALLY think it took only two years to create this disaster?
LeftCoastRightBrain
Down-the-tubes is a one note band. Well..two notes: Fox and Bush.
crypto
Sophia5: Now what did you do that for?? I just casually mentioned Acorn. But you have blown the whole show for these folks who have spent so much time with the criticising. SoK though. There'll be more.
varmint
Beck has this brilliant way of saying anything and everything he hears and reads about America. Then later, could be a few months or years later he goes to back to his data banks and.., pulls up his own quote... of how he predicted something that is now happening. Of course he could have pulled out a quote of him saying something just the opposite. Predict everything and you have a pretty good chance of being right on one of them.
I use to listen to his talk show, when it was funny, time after time just months before the crash he was giddy explaining how the market was over 14 and only going higher because that's what happens when you let people keep their money and the republicans are brilliant etc.. Then he would mention that some people think there may be a housing crash and he wonders if it was possible (like he does, index finger to mouth I'm sure) but he never connected the two. Until, guess which quotes he pulls out when the crash comes. I stopped listening to him when he talked on air about his drinking and twice having a gun in his mouth ready to pull the trigger. I stopped because he had two kids time. Alcoholism is rough but ultimately he's a coward.
cbeenthere
sophia-
Remember you claimed you predicted the collapse of the housing market too? Guess anybody could if you could.
Demsdisorder
I love it.. listen to you liberal slobs.
crypto
Hey you Demwits. Big ears is on TV. Get over there and listen. He's about to tell everybody how HE made friends with the Indian people and how if not for him (Obamason) they would hate us
Downriver
There is a great deal of VALID criticism due the Obama administration. But you never hear it from the fringe loonies.
djanimaequeen
Just the racists jerks who get mad when you call them on it.
DrumsAlongTheMohawk
They should name a ship after Glenn Beck. They could use the "garbage skow" that takes President Obama to work and which Oprah uses to ride to Manhattan and which is filled with the corpses of mutilated babies.
Thank you.
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