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Confronting the Five Smears in Time’s Glenn Beck Cover Story

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
Confronting the Five Smears in Time’s Glenn Beck Cover Story
2009 September 19

by David Swindle

With having been credited for pushing out 9/11 Truther and admitted communist Van Jones from the Green Jobs Czar position Glenn Beck is now the man to beat. Everyone from Media Matters to Color of Change to Keith Olbermann is looking to collect a Beck scalp.

With this exposure came a recent cover story in Time Magazine (see David Horowitz’s discussion of it here.) Despite Beck’s embrace of the story, Media Matters’ condemnation of it, and NewsBusters’ correct judgment that by and large it’s a fairly balanced piece there are still numerous smears in David Von Drehle’s article in need of rebuttal.


Smear #1: Beck is a conspiracist nutjob!

The old American mind-set that Richard Hofstadter famously called “the paranoid style” — the sense that Masons or the railroads or the Pope or the guys in black helicopters are in league to destroy the country — is aflame again, fanned from both right and left. Between the liberal fantasies about Brownshirts at town halls and the conservative concoctions of brainwashed children goose-stepping to school, you’d think the Palm in Washington had been replaced with a Munich beer hall.

Smear #2: Beck is akin to a revival of the John Birch Society!

Like William Jennings Bryan whipping up populist Democrats over moneyed interests or the John Birch Society brooding over fluoride, Beck mines the timeless theme of the corrupt Them thwarting a virtuous Us.

These two smears are really one in the same. Time is trying to associate Beck with the fringe elements of the Right which William F. Buckley Jr. sought to exclude from reasonable, respectable conservatism. I’ve blogged about how leftists frequently do this. Take the kook right elements and parade them around as though they represent Conservatism as a whole. All the while the “mainstream” media ignores when people like Ann Coulter and Mike Huckabee call out trends like the Birther Movement as “crank.” And then, of course, figures like Howard Dean try and rationalize and defend the kook elements within their own movement, like Jones.

At least Time has the decency to admit that sometimes Beck gets it right:


This flexible narrative often contains genuinely uncomfortable truths. Some days “they” are the unconfirmed policy “czars” whom Beck fears Obama is using to subvert constitutional government — and he has some radical-sounding sound bites to back it up. Some days “they” are the network of leftist community organizers known as ACORN — and his indictment of the group is looking stronger every day.

There’s that evenhanded element that NewsBusters affirmed. The difference between Beck’s “conspiracy theories” and fringe right conspiracies is that the ones he focuses on aren’t any big secret. The Left is quite open about its desire to radically change our government and our society. As such, it does not fit the definition of “conspiracy theory” that’s widely accepted.

Never the less, Beck in his enthusiasm will occasionally over-reach — as we all do from time to time. And when he does then it will come to centrist conservatives and intellectual conservatives to rein him in a bit. (One example that Time rightfully identifies is Beck’s fear of President Obama’s volunteer efforts as something sinister. Another that Time fails to mention is Beck’s probable overreach in criticizing Cass Sunstein.)


Smear #3: Conservative pundits are just in it for the money!

How can we trust each other, though, when the integrated economy of ranters and their delighted-to-be-outraged critics are such a model of profitability? A microphone, a camera and a polarizing host are all it takes to get the money moving.

So much of the Time article focuses on Beck the entrepreneur. It talks about how much money he’s made and all the different avenues he has explored to get his ideas out. Why is this part of the story?

This is a classic smear of conservatives. Many leftists cannot understand how anyone could advocate for capitalism if they weren’t bought and paid for by greedy, evil corporations. Horowitz has dealt with this smear from his old leftist friends and his newer progressive opponents like Joe Conason.

Who really thinks this way, though? What moron would think to himself, “I’m going to make a ton of money by becoming a conservative pundit.” Sure, in the upper echelons of the punditocracy there are some millionaires and superstars. But if one’s objective is to whore out one’s talents for money there are far more profitable avenues than marketing books and publications to a comparatively small niche market of conservative enthusiasts.

Beck bills himself as “the fusion of entertainment and enlightenment.” There’s plenty of money in entertainment — not quite as much in enlightenment. If Beck was really just chasing a bigger bank account then surely he would have never made some of the controversial statements which have scared away advertisers. It would have been bad business.


Smear #4: Conservative pundits are not genuine in their concerns. They’re just polarizing because extremism sells!

This is a potentially fair point — until you did deeper. Why are critics of Obama stepping up the intensity now when many were more optimistic earlier that the administration would pursue a more centrist agenda? Well, because thoughtful conservatives adapt and change positions as the facts emerge. When Obama was first shaping his team and laying out his agenda the potential was certainly there for America’s political culture to transition into a post-partisan, profoundly centrist era. That’s not really the case anymore — unless Obama chooses to change course.

We’ve had to deal with the Jones appointment. There’s been the revival of prosecuting the CIA for the previous administration’s policies. And Obama’s surrendered to hyper-partisan Democrats (Spider-Woman Nancy Pelosi?) to push through an increasingly unpopular health care plan. Conservatives are shifting into a more aggressive mode because the president is pulling further to the Left to appease his base. If he takes a more moderate, unifying approach and checks his party’s radicals then the MSM will see the Right’s rhetoric and intensity relax a bit. Our demands are not outlandish. Obama does not need to adopt Ronald Reagan’s policies. He just needs to act on the centrist, moderate platform which he sold to the American people in November. Is demanding “truth in advertising” really so unreasonable?

Smear #5: Beck’s brand of conservatism just makes people angry and does not contribute to constructive debate. He’s bad for the American dialogue!

The trouble with this prophecy is that we never find out what happens to the people watching Beale [the figure from the movie "Network" who inspires Beck]. Do they stay mad forever? Does their screaming ever lead to something better? Does the rage merely migrate, sending new audiences with new enemies to scream from more windows? And if the time comes when every audience is screaming, who, in the end, is left to listen?


This conclusion to the Beck story ultimately reiterates the magazine’s headline of “Mad Man.” In all honesty, though, it’s really not a fair assessment of Beck’s programming. Is rage and anger really the main contribution Beck puts out there? Absolutely not. Beck’s program runs the gamut of tones and emotions. Sure, sometimes he’s angry but he can frequently be inspiring, upbeat, informative, and even intellectual. If he was all about stoking anger then he would not have featured a restrained, intellectual interview with Horowitz:

The Soros Connection - The Czars And Their Place In The White House
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJdsZqImdV4

Part 2 - The Soros Connection,Glenn's Interview With A Reformed Communist
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oof0GFChp-I


These five smears are ultimately fairly mild in comparison to the ad hominem attack directed at Beck and Horowitz by the leftist internet magazine Salon. Come and join us tomorrow afternoon at NewsReal to see my rebuttal to this much nastier, more dishonest radical assault.

http://newsrealblog.com/2009/09/19/confronting-the-five-smears-in-times-glenn-beck-cover-story/
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
reader (the Second) said:
I think BMR said it all. David Brooks, Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck simply don't matter :lol: :lol: :lol:

Beck seems to matter to the White House.

This administration seems to like to direct the MSM news, but will not contact Beck, when he gives them the opportunity to refute what he is going to report.

Chris Wallace:

"These guys [the Obama administration], everything is personal...They are the biggest bunch of crybabies I have dealt with in my 30 years in Washington."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jy9YDUC-bnw
 

commonsense

Well-known member
reader (the Second) said:
I think BMR said it all. David Brooks, Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck simply don't matter :lol: :lol: :lol:

Tell that to van jones or acorn whom both had their sights on billions of dollars just go poof. :D
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
reader (the Second) said:
commonsense said:
reader (the Second) said:
I think BMR said it all. David Brooks, Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck simply don't matter :lol: :lol: :lol:

Tell that to van jones or acorn whom both had their sights on billions of dollars just go poof. :D

Hey, don't blame me. This is what BMR said. He doesn't think commentators "do anything" or "create anything" and dismisses them.

I think he mentioned the distinction between facts and opinion also.
 

Big Muddy rancher

Well-known member
hypocritexposer said:
reader (the Second) said:
commonsense said:
Tell that to van jones or acorn whom both had their sights on billions of dollars just go poof. :D

Hey, don't blame me. This is what BMR said. He doesn't think commentators "do anything" or "create anything" and dismisses them.

I think he mentioned the distinction between facts and opinion also.

"reader (the Second) wrote:
I guess that means that Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh are in the same category as David Brooks?


You said it. Cowboy

Some report the news and some put forth their own opinions. Did someone say you can have your own opinions but you can't have your own facts?

Beck and Hannity produce facts as well as give opinion. Prove their facts wrong reader and you discredit their opinion. Some of these guy don't bother with facts they thrive on opinion.
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
reader (the Second) said:
Facts are in the eye of the beholder BMR. It turns out that a lot of the so-called "facts" that Glenn Beck states are incorrect. Certainly if you asked many people who had more credibility Glenn Beck or David Brooks, they would answer Brooks hands down. So you are being disingenuous claiming it's all about "facts".

Glenn Beck "facts" about cap and trade -- incorrect

http://mediamatters.org/research/200909170036

Glenn Beck "facts" about various issues -- incorrect

http://www.examiner.com/x-3629-Phil...wsthe-lies-of-Glenn-Beck-the-Great-White-Dope

Reader, did you take a look at the report? I posted it the other day.

Instead of using somebody elses opinion to make your point, why not read the documents themselves and form an opinion.
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
reader (the Second) said:
Glenn Beck's facts are in many cases refutable.

And in other cases they are not facts but are opinions.

He pretends to be an investigative journalist whereas those with more credibility do not, they are commentators and frankly I for one value their informed and well thought out "opinions" more than many of his muck raking "facts".

reader did you look at the documentation that I provided the other day, from the administration themselves?
 

Tam

Well-known member
Reader would you like to comment on Van Jones leaving his Green Jobs Czar appointment after his background was checked and aired by Glenn. While you are at it would you like to comment on ACORN's lack of funding do to votes in both the Senate and House after the videos of them hit the Glenn Beck show? If Glenn only provides OPINIONS then why is Washington reacting in such a way to his OPINIONS? :? :wink:
 

aplusmnt

Well-known member
Funny that the DNC finds Beck such a threat that it has spent its campaign money on an add against him even though he is not running for any office! That is proof that the Democrats are scared to death of him and his following!
 

nonothing

Well-known member
aplusmnt said:
Funny that the DNC finds Beck such a threat that it has spent its campaign money on an add against him even though he is not running for any office! That is proof that the Democrats are scared to death of him and his following!

Or that he is telling lies.....and his lies are being suck up like a sponge by his so called followers...

Look at how you fools are lead around by the nose from hypo....you acaully buy into his crap so much Aplus,you let him trash your country repeatedly and he is Canadian...You have been fooled by an agenda Aplus..
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
nonothing said:
aplusmnt said:
Funny that the DNC finds Beck such a threat that it has spent its campaign money on an add against him even though he is not running for any office! That is proof that the Democrats are scared to death of him and his following!

Or that he is telling lies.....and his lies are being suck up like a sponge by his so called followers...

Look at how you fools are lead around by the nose from hypo....you acaully buy into his crap so much Aplus,you let him trash your country repeatedly and he is Canadian...You have been fooled by an agenda Aplus..

Nonothing, what is this agenda, that I have fooled so many with? And what evidence did you use to form this opinion?
 

burnt

Well-known member
Tam said:
Reader would you like to comment on Van Jones leaving his Green Jobs Czar appointment after his background was checked and aired by Glenn. While you are at it would you like to comment on ACORN's lack of funding do to votes in both the Senate and House after the videos of them hit the Glenn Beck show? If Glenn only provides OPINIONS then why is Washington reacting in such a way to his OPINIONS? :? :wink:

It appears that this post was overlooked.

Would someone care to answer the question?
 

Ben H

Well-known member
Agenda? That must be in the liberal play book, my co-worker tries to use that one. The agenda is quite simple, we believe in the Constitution and more importantly what the founders had in mind when they wrote it. This movement is to protect the Constitution. The further we get away from it, the more tyranny we will be forced to accept.

The opinions of Glenn Beck from people like this article, or people like you Reader, really are worthless and mean nothing to us. It's not that your opinion is worthless, it's that we listen to him on a frequent basis. We know the context of how things are said, we know the bigger picture of the discussion. Comments made by people who listen to him for such short amounts of time, and with a bias, are simply not worth listening to.

What violence at town halls is this author referring to? The only one I can recall is when some SEIU thugs beat up a black conservative handing out flags.
 

aplusmnt

Well-known member
nonothing said:
aplusmnt said:
Funny that the DNC finds Beck such a threat that it has spent its campaign money on an add against him even though he is not running for any office! That is proof that the Democrats are scared to death of him and his following!

Or that he is telling lies.....and his lies are being suck up like a sponge by his so called followers...

Look at how you fools are lead around by the nose from hypo....you acaully buy into his crap so much Aplus,you let him trash your country repeatedly and he is Canadian...You have been fooled by an agenda Aplus..

I guess Becks agenda fooled congress and others in Washington since they cut funding to ACORN and Jones resigned. For all that to have happened in a couple short weeks what he told must not have been lies eh?

Ps. you are one jealous Canadian of hypo eh? :wink:
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
Ben H said:
Agenda? That must be in the liberal play book, my co-worker tries to use that one. The agenda is quite simple, we believe in the Constitution and more importantly what the founders had in mind when they wrote it. This movement is to protect the Constitution. The further we get away from it, the more tyranny we will be forced to accept.

The opinions of Glenn Beck from people like this article, or people like you Reader, really are worthless and mean nothing to us. It's not that your opinion is worthless, it's that we listen to him on a frequent basis. We know the context of how things are said, we know the bigger picture of the discussion. Comments made by people who listen to him for such short amounts of time, and with a bias, are simply not worth listening to.

What violence at town halls is this author referring to? The only one I can recall is when some SEIU thugs beat up a black conservative handing out flags.


Fallacies and "Rules for Radicals", they go hand in hand.

A fallacy is a misconception resulting from incorrect reasoning in logical argumentation. Fallacies often exploit emotional triggers in the listener or interlocutor. For example, an argument may appeal to patriotism or family or may exploit an intellectual weakness of the listener. Fallacious arguments may also take advantage of social relationships between people. For example, citing an important individual's support for a view on any other subject than the one discussed in order to encourage listeners to either agree or disagree with that person.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
nonothing said:
aplusmnt said:
Funny that the DNC finds Beck such a threat that it has spent its campaign money on an add against him even though he is not running for any office! That is proof that the Democrats are scared to death of him and his following!

Or that he is telling lies.....and his lies are being suck up like a sponge by his so called followers...

Look at how you fools are lead around by the nose from hypo....you acaully buy into his crap so much Aplus,you let him trash your country repeatedly and he is Canadian...You have been fooled by an agenda Aplus..

Would you suggest I cancel my order of HYPO FOR PRESIDENT IN 2012 pins . t shirts and yard signs.

Please dont tell me he will disapoint us like obama has disapointed the left, the right, and the middle.
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
Pig Farmer said:
nonothing said:
aplusmnt said:
Funny that the DNC finds Beck such a threat that it has spent its campaign money on an add against him even though he is not running for any office! That is proof that the Democrats are scared to death of him and his following!

Or that he is telling lies.....and his lies are being suck up like a sponge by his so called followers...

Look at how you fools are lead around by the nose from hypo....you acaully buy into his crap so much Aplus,you let him trash your country repeatedly and he is Canadian...You have been fooled by an agenda Aplus..

Would you suggest I cancel my order of HYPO FOR PRESIDENT IN 2012 pins . t shirts and yard signs.

Please dont tell me he will disapoint us like obama has disapointed the left, the right, and the middle.

Dang, that reminds me, I need to do some photoshopping on my COLB.

Note to self:

remember to include the raised seal on the first copy.

remember to include the raised seal on the first copy.

remember to include the raised seal on the first copy.
 

Whitewing

Well-known member
hypocritexposer said:
nonothing said:
aplusmnt said:
Funny that the DNC finds Beck such a threat that it has spent its campaign money on an add against him even though he is not running for any office! That is proof that the Democrats are scared to death of him and his following!

Or that he is telling lies.....and his lies are being suck up like a sponge by his so called followers...

Look at how you fools are lead around by the nose from hypo....you acaully buy into his crap so much Aplus,you let him trash your country repeatedly and he is Canadian...You have been fooled by an agenda Aplus..

Nonothing, what is this agenda, that I have fooled so many with? And what evidence did you use to form this opinion?

The fact that there is no evidence of the conspiracy simply means that the conspiracy has been well-crafted. And fortunately for us, it also means that further investigation is warranted. :D
 
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