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Some views on Glenn Beck

By Lynda Kohn

There are many opinions of Glenn Beck. These sites not including his official one are mostly enthusiastically pro or rabidly against. It was very difficult for me to find objective information on the conservative Fox News commentator. I wanted sources, resources that were factual, not opinion. I believe I found them in www.factcheck.org, www.snopes.com, www.truthorfiction.com www.polifacts.com and other related web sites.

Glenn Beck is certainly in the news with his 08/28/10 rally "Restoring Honor" at the footsteps of the Washington monument in the US capital. It was officially t restore America's values. Whose American values I wonder. It was claimed to be above politics yet it featured many second amendment rights speakers. The 2nd amendment is the right to bear arms. What of the 75 percent of US citizens who want restrictions on semi automatic assault weapons. Is the Beck rally crowd for the men who carried semi automatic weapons at Obama Health Care rallies. NRA supporter Ted Nugent will be a key note speaker. Sarah Palin, former Republican Alaska governer, Republican John McCain's running mate 2008 is a gung ho supporter of the NRA too.

The Beck rally denounced by some civil rights leaders because it was on the same date, and site , Lincoln Memorial, of the Rev. Martin L. King speech 47 years ago. . My source is the Washington Post. One of the main protesters is Al Sharpton who in his own way, as controversial as Beck. He held a "Restoring the Dream" rally. One thing I say is I am definitely for free speech. In my opinion one doesn't stop any free speech. The way to counteract any demonstration is to stage or be part of a counterdemonstration. Free speech no matter how heinous is protected by the US Constitution. I support Sharpton's right to hold a counter rally. I don't necessarily mean I support his views or Beck's for that matter. The emotional conservative pundit claimed the event was nonpolitical in nature. It was quite Christian with many of the speakers urging a turning back toward Christ. It was reported in the Washington Post that Beck claimed the date of his rally was a mere coincidence. It was a divine intervention. Is it just me or does that statement hinge of grandiose in terms of religiosity? The conservative pundit is a Mormon. I am in no way criticizing Mormonism. I am merely stating a fact.

One recent rumor is that the right wing pundit raped and murdered a young woman in 1990. Yes you read that correctly. Please note I wrote it was a rumor. In other words it wasn't an established fact. Well as I checked it out at urbanlegends.about.com this is an internet hoax, joke. Not to worry no matter what your opinion of Beck is he is NOT a rapist and/or murderer. This urban legend started as a takeoff from a roast of a Comedy Central roast of The brash comic Gilbert Gottfried was kiddingly saying that fellow comedian Bob Saget in 1990 raped and murdered a young woman. He kept repeating this line as if it were a mantra. Please believe me if you saw and listened to the tape, you could tell from his tone of voice he was joking. However the web site claiming Beck did this horrible crime is down. I wonder if Glenn Beck and/or his followers took it down. Speaking of freedom of speech what of the web site creator's right to free speech. It seems Beck can't take or doesn't recognize a joke.

However there are people who think the commentator is problematic. There is a site sponsored by Glenn Beck that is known as 912project. There are nine principles outlined. The first one is America is good. I think this can be interpreted in at least two ways. America being Americans are good. That is they are hard working people who love freedom. The second interpretation is the US is full of major problems such as in no particular order, racism, poverty, pollution, poor economy etc. In other words Americans are basically good but there are major problems in this nation. There are folks who are of the opinion that principle 2 and principle 7 are contradictory. These principles are listed on Beck's 912.project.com site. It's named in reference to the first day post 9/11/01. You can see the full list of what Beck and his 912 supporters are urged to believe in at www.912project.com. The arguement is if you believe in the LORD then its only right to give money to charities. As I see it the pundit isn't saying not to give to charities. I believe principle #7 is related to US govt. spending, ie taxes. However the fact is taxes are how the US public pays for US govt. services. As much as many of hate the IRS we need to pay for services somehow. Plus the reality that with the tax cuts going to the most wealthy, this leaves the heaviest tax burden to the middle class. He is on record saying he is not for Christian churches that espouse social justice. He states social justice is a code word for Communism. Reverand Jim Wallis of the Christian group, Sojourners. He believes social justice is the heart of Christianity. Wallis mentions Martin Luther King, Desmond Tutu and Mother Theresa as shining examples of doing social justice, ie helping those less fortunate. Reverend Cannon Chemberlin, president of the National Council of Churches of 100,1000 churches, 45 million members strongly felt Beck was wrong too.
Here is the official mission statement from the Sojourners web site. Our mission is to articulate the biblical call to social justice, inspiring hope and building a movement to transform individuals, communities, the church, and the world.

I wonder how compassionate Glenn Beck is when its on record he said the victims of Katrina were "scumbags." Please note the vast majority of people effected by the Katrina hurricane were poor blacks. I realize its presuming Glenn Beck called the New Orleans Katrina victims "Scumbags" because they were poor and black. He says in his own words he's referring to the one's who didn't get out. Well its pretty difficult to leave with not enough money, resources to leave. The rightwing pundit said "Of those who decided to stay." Did he ever consider they couldn't leave?
There is a site that closely resembles the 912project.com. It is www.912project.us. It includes info on the 912project plus some information on Beck and editorials mostly critical of Obama. It is an official site for Glenn Beck.

Lastly Polifact.com did a scorecard for Glenn Beck's statements. They wrote what was true, partly true, half truth and "Pants on Fire" lies. You can check it out at www.politifacts.com that shows what G. Beck statements are totally true. Statements that are barely true. What ones are half or partly true. The ones that are lies and the ones that are lies of the "pants on fire" type. http://www.politifact.com/personalities/glenn-beck/statements/
Or if unable to get to the link just go to the polifacts.com site and click on Glenn Beck. In essence some of what he says is true. While others are half truths, lies and pants on fire lies. You can see the detail of the specific remarks.

I am a disability advocate in Phila, PA. My blog entree on the Medicaid Safety act was listed in 2008 number one in the Google blog directory under that topic. Plus I've shown my artwork in various galleries in Phila, local suburbs and NYC. I've been doing disability advocacy since the late 70s in Philadelphia, PA and suburbs. My mental health stigma Squidoo site can be seen at http://disabilityinfo.hostcell.net/MHStigma.htm My disability site is at http://disabilityinfo.hostcell.net/index.htm Blog http://societyfordaintydamsels.wordpress.com Two self proclaimed etiquette experts, dear friends,Auntie carol and Lady Lynda. Lady Lynda's gentleman friend is Seymour Toze who loves Lady Lynda in her open toed spiked heels. With exotic, sensual Black Orchid and earthy Wanda Lust. I work as a disability advocate for Chestnut Place Rehab. This Sept. 2011 we plan to be celebrating our 20th year.

Ugh, can't believe you're giving that creep airtime here on Qondio. He's not important, just another ignorant weirdo on Fox.

Dear POL
I wrote on Glenn Beck because he was in the news. Plus my goal was to write an objective piece. Please believe me I am certainly no fan of the demagogue. Besides like anybody else I can write what whatever topic I choose as long its doesn't go against Qondio guidelines.
mugwort

Really enjoyed reading this piece. I first saw Glenn Beck on CNN some years ago. To be perfectly honest, I thought his was a satire news program. Imagine my surprise to learn otherwise. I think, however, that his radical views are probably not real, and that he says the wild things he says for nothing more than his own self interests... MONEY

CrazyFoxes Marketing Sep 6, 2010 10:29

I for one would definitely not find a "joke" stating that I was a rapist and a murderer particularly humorous. Would you? Why should Beck?

This is really an argument about values and which set of values that one supports - liberal or conservative.

When one disagrees with someone, the easiest thing to do is to attack them. Although I do not always agree with Mr. Beck, his views are always thought-provoking. He scores points. I do not view him as a radical, or a creep, or an ignorant weirdo.

From my understanding of the site it was suppose to be an obvious put on. I think what Beck did was censorship. OTOH if that incident happened to me unsure what I would do.
Most likely I'd be hurt but if I later understood it to be a joke well that's may be a different matter. Beck used to be a shock jock doing practical jokes big time. Now the table are turned and now he sees how it feels
mugwort

Andrew Goulding Sep 6, 2010 18:38

Thank you for sharing these views, Lynda. This is well researched and well written.
Kudo's to you.
Best wishes.
Frederick

frederick Sep 13, 2010 15:04

Very thought-provoking and well written article, Lynda. I'm a Canadian so won't say anything here about the subject. I'll just read and learn.
Best wishes to you,
Laraine

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