Just when I thought Glenn Beck couldn't get any lower, he manages to reach a whole new depth. On both his radio and TV programs on June 14, Beck aired an edited audio clip of President Obama in order to paint Obama as being racist against white executives.In the clip below, Cenk Uygur (host of The Young Turks) breaks it down:
If you don't believe the remaining part of the quote read by Cenk was real, below is a link to the 1995 interview Obama did with Bill Thompson (host of the online series Eye On Books). The clip is almost 13 minutes so if you only want to hear the portion where Obama talks about responsibility on the part of blacks and whites, go to the 12:24 mark.
1995 interview
I've heard some conservatives accuse liberals of divisiveness and race baiting, yet these same conservatives are reluctant to call out anyone they feel is on their side such as Beck. If you believe Beck is on your side, stop snoring and start paying attention because he's playing you. His brazenness in airing the cropped clip shows that he feels his core audience is either too dumb to do any research or that they simply don't care. Although I think President Obama was wrong not to talk to BP CEO Tony Hayward sooner than he did, Beck's injection of race into this matter is a reach to say the least.
For all of you in the anti-Obama camp, put down your Haterade for just a moment and look at this objectively. Can you honestly say that Glenn Beck was playing it straight by saying President Obama didn't want to talk to Hayward because he's white? If so, I'd love to hear your argument(s). If you think Beck is the greatest thing since Sen. Joe McCarthy, but feel he's wrong in this case, there's no shame in saying so.
18 comments:
Posted on my Facebook page by a FB friend: I read and watched the video on your blog. I believe GB knows he is entertainment for money; I'm not as convinced his viewers realize this. The question remains how could anyone find this remotely believable?
I think the Glenn Beck fans who frequent this particular blog would be more than willing to eat one of their own if the same enthusiasm for truth and justice was shown for others in the business who do worse (before we start quibbling, I find it worse to paint millions as racists instead of just one, but that's just me).
It becomes a matter of pride, more than anything, when someone wants you to put your people on blast when they won't put theirs.
That aside, I'm on record at about 200 locations calling Beck a loon.
I respect him on the level that he's unafraid to step in and give valuable information about Soros and the phony Chicago Climate BS and the crooks involved with that.
That's stuff that has not been disproven and stuff that you will not hear in liberal media.
And I say "respect" because Beck could make a fantastic living off of just lying or taking things grossly out of context like here (I'm taking the poster's word for it, as blog videos never want to load on my PC).
But I view the guy as genuinely wanting to expose a massive and dastardly plot, but feeling he needs more shock and awe to do it.
He doesn't. For fair minded individuals not concerned with loving or hating progressives or conservatives, etc, it truly is enough to put the pieces together and say "This is wrong; we're being misled."
But to start in on the misleading is just ridiculous and it certainly stinks of a personal beef with the President.
If you have to make up shit about Obama, then you haven't been paying attention. Like ALL politicians, there's enough truth about Obama to turn you off if you feel like looking past the art of speech making and a few other factors.
This is hilarious to me. I think there's a trend on both the left and the right to imbue the "hate heads" on television with far more power and influence than they actually have. I remember your being surprised when I said that Olbermann, Maddow, and (now to a far lesser degree Matthews) are the MSNBC equivalents of our Beck, O'Reilly, and Rush. I think that the truth is that people on the right don't put half as much stock in Beck and Co. as you lot seem to believe. Likewise, a lot of conservative blogs (mine included) post on one of the three leftie loons quite often, but they're hardly ever mentioned on the leftie blogs I read (ditto our three on conservative blogs). This is all just paranoia--on both sides.
Josh: Before I address the entirety of your comments, can you specify to whom you are referring that painted millions as racists? Thank you.
Joanna: I don't know if you heard, but Rupert Murdoch recently formed a rich white men's support group. :-)
Fuzzy: Based on the number/size of the Tea Party protests and what I read in the conservative blogosphere, right wing pundits have more influence over your side than you think.
In case I haven't been clear, I don't think conservative pundits are all useless. As I've mentioned to you before, I can handle someone like Joe Scarborough. The same goes for Bill O'Reilly. Although I have my issues with him, he can be be fair and rational when he wants to be.
Besides the major ones such as Huffington Post, do you read any liberal blogs by everyday people? If you do, please send me the link(s) because I'd like to check them out.
By the way, in regards to the opening sentence of your comments, what did you find hilarious? Also, what is your definition of a "leftie loon"?
Umm... the editing done by MSNBC with the "white people want black president dead" angle is more than enough. No sense getting into another quibble fest over interpretation of further commentary.
I know the deal here and won't be playing this particular game again.
Address or don't. Waters continue to flow unparted regardless.
Oh, Malcolm, I don't find racism funny at all, so that's not what I meant. I meant the fact that you posted this at all is hilarious (for the reasons I listed). I didn't watch the video (or see the show when it aired, so I have no comment on whatever Beck did or didn't say--as I said, you on the left hang on Beck's every word far more than we on the right do).
Beck was just pointing out the fact that Obama did say "white executives" and not merely executives. I don't consider Beck to be a racist when he points out that our President did mention the word white. Obama included inner city kids in the statement when referring to taking responsibility but that doesn't mean Obama isn't focused on identity or race based politics.
I hardly even watch Glenn Beck but I do agree with probably half of the stuff he says. He exposes the truth. He is whacky but that's partially his personality and partially for show.
Josh: As I've said to you before, you seem to enjoy creating friction when it doesn't exist. Since I didn't know what you meant by "paint millions as racists", I simply asked for clarification. Your comments about "knowing the deal" and not playing a particular "game" weren't necessary.
I have no problem defending a conservative if I felt they got a raw deal or calling out anyone on the liberal side for shady tactics/questionable comments. For example, although I despise Rush Limbaugh, I said the people who attributed unverified racist quotes to him were wrong. If I don't cover topics that have a racial angle, the reason is simply a lack of time. Because of my schedule, I've recently missed out on posting incidents on both sides (for example, Norah O'Donnell needlessly injecting race into Newt Gingrich's comments about Pres. Obama and the flap over Sen. Jake Knotts' "raghead" remarks). Even when I'm unable to cover a topic here, if another blogger does, I'll visit the comments section and criticize the offending party (MSNBC over the incident you referred to, Janeane Garafolo for saying all Tea Party protesters are racist, etc.)
If conservatives who read this blog are reluctant to call out one of their own based on what I do or don't do, that's their choice.
However, I hope I've made myself clear in saying I have no time for playing partisan games.
Fuzzy: I didn't think you considered racism funny. However, thanks for clearing it up. :-)
It's nice that you commented here, but how about watching the video and then answering the following question: Was Glenn Beck guilty of dishonest race baiting when he cropped President Obama's comments?
As for the left hanging on Beck's every word, that isn't even close to being true. Based on your logic, the people on the right who blog about liberal pundits like Keith and Rachel are hanging on their every word. I don't think that's true either. Sure, the left calls out Beck for his many offenses. However, the people who hang on his every word are the ones buying his books and purchasing tickets to hear him speak.
Teresa: For the record, I don't feel Beck is a racist for pointing out that President Obama used the word "white". Since he was talking about responsibility on the part of blacks and whites, I think it was fair game for the president to use the term "white executives" in his example. However, Beck was being a dishonest race baiter by playing only the "white executives" portion of President Obama's comments. If you don't feel Beck is guilty of dishonest race baiting, why do you think he didn't play the second portion of President Obama's comments about black and white responsibility?
Why wouldn't I comment here?
And no, really, I've got a lot to do and don't have time to watch Beck (haven't caught his show in almost two weeks, alas). What I am interested in is why you care if Beck is or isn't a racists (you say you don't believe he is)? I'm sick to death of people pointing and screeching RAAAAAACIST at every little thing and just don't care who is a racist or who isn't. They're free to hate as they wish (as long as they don't break any laws), just like many on the left are now publicly displaying their vile hatred of Jews. Hate away. Whatever.
Malcolm say it aint so?? You would defend a conservative??? See, when I see you do that my cyber crush on you is going to have to come to an end.... LOL...
You will NEVER find me DEFENDING a conservative. If he says/does something decent, I may keep my mouth shut, but actually speak up to defend someone who spits upon everything I believe in?? Hell naw!
Fuzzy: The question isn't why wouldn't you comment here. What I'm wondering is why you bothered to comment without watching the accompanying video clip and listening to the full portion of Obama's comments about black and white responsibility.
Regarding your question, I care whether or not Beck is or isn't racist because if he is, who's to say how far he'll go to get his minions even more worked up than they already are. Although I'm not losing any sleep over Beck, I don't like the games he plays.
Your comments about anti-Semitism on the left and your inability to watch Glenn Beck because of your busy schedule have nothing to do with what I'm talking about here in this post. If I didn't know better, I'd think you were ducking my question. :-)
If there isn't anything preventing you from doing so, watch/listen to the clips I included and answer this question: Was Glenn Beck guilty of dishonest race baiting when he cropped President Obama's comments?
Joanna: Although it doesn't always seem like it, there are some good conservatives around. :-) Having said that, I don't consider Rush Limbaugh to be one of them. Hopefully, the arrow on the cyber crush-o-meter doesn't drop too far. lol
Malcolm:
One of the problems that I am trying to point out is that the word racist is being thrown around too easily these.
I don't see what Beck did as racist and you do. Racism tends to be in the eye of the beholder.
I personally do believe that President Obama has issues with race. Now, having issues is not the same thing as being a racist. I don't think that.
Obama brought color into that interview, it shouldn't have mattered if the ceo was white or black, and it shouldn't matter if the low income kid is black or white. We have stop looking at color in every scenerio. Color isn't everything. His statement still would have made sense if never used color as a descriptive, he choose to add that.
I have called out Beck and Rush before. I have no problem calling out a conservative. We need to police each other. I have taken a lot of crap for standing by my own beliefs. I have a twitter follower who is simply evil. I have never met the person.
But the biggest thing that we MUST stop doing is using the word racist when it is not necessary. It is harming people, not helping.
It also is being used like a club to silence people. Don't speak out or you will be labeled a racist.
And for you information, many on the right don't like Beck.
JACG: One thing I find troubling is people accusing others of labeling someone or their actions as racist. This is exactly what you did to me. I didn’t say nor did I imply that I felt what Beck did was racist. However, I will say that Beck was being a lying weasel by playing a cropped clip of Obama to make him out to be a racist.
Obama was being interviewed about his then new book “Dreams of My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance” so it would stand to reason that he’d bring color into the discussion. The interviewer asked him whether or not a future 34 yr old offspring of an ethnically mixed couple will find it easier to deal with race issues than Obama did at 34 (his age at the time of the interview). As part of his response, Obama said that what we do in the present would determine whether or not black and white children of the future would face the same race-related issues. The reason Obama used “the white executive/inner city child” analogy is because he was explaining how blacks and whites both need to take responsibility if we are going bridge the divisions we face. Can you now understand why it made sense for Obama to use the analogy?
Since you didn’t answer the questions I posed to you in comments I left on your blog, I’m going to ask you again.
1. Do you think Beck was being dishonest by only playing the “white executives” portion of Obama’s comments?
2. Do you feel Beck was race baiting by saying President Obama didn't want to talk to Hayward because he's white?
It’s good to hear that you’ve called out Beck and Rush in the past. Let’s see you put your money where your mouth is. :-)
Also, I am well aware that there are people on the right who don’t like Beck. This very fact gives me hope that your side hasn’t gone completely over the cliff. :-)
Umm, Malcom. Excuse me for thinking you were saying Beck is a racist when the title of your post is Plays the Race Card.
You and I have very different views on what Obama means when he says takes responsibility. To me, those are more words. His actions and policies don't back that up. He is still trying to create a nanny state that is good for no one. Especially the poor.
I don't give Obama credit for much, but one of the things that I will give him credit for is that he protrays a postive family image. Something that is severly lacking in poorer and many minority communities. Where I am disappointed is that he doesn't speak out about it often enough. I would have liked to see Michelle take on the issue of single motherhood in poorer communities. She has a real chance of making a difference. They may be much more willing to accept it from her, because heaven knows if I say it, it doesn't go over well. The stats speak for themselves, if woman wait to have children after getting an education and at least starting out with a husband, the child does better in life. They are less likely to live in poverty. Lets fix that problem. I think both sides can agree on that.
In case you didn't know, I am in an inter-racial marriage, so I do have insight into the black community, and not all of it is good. I have had a great deal to deal with, the names that I have been called are simply stunning. The things that people say about Justice Thomas' wife, I hear right to my face. Not pleasant to say the least. This experience clouds my judgement to a degree.
See this is where I have problems. We are constantly talking about race in this country. Why is it only Americans hyphenate? There is no such thing as a African Canadian or African Frenchman. They have issues with race in those countries as well. They are just dealt with differently. That is why you won't see me use African American. Unless you were born there or are first generation, you are an American. It should be a source of pride.
Maybe, if we stop injecting race into every single conversation things will start to heal. Little children don't know anything about race, they learn that. One of the ways they learn is hearing their parents conversations.
My little boy has had to hear some pretty awful things when out with both of us. We have no choice but to explain it. It should be my decision when I started having those conversations with him, not some strangers. And before you ask, yes we hear much more from the black community than the white. That is just the fact. I honestly expected it to be the opposite, but it didn't turn out that way.
As for Beck, I didn't see a difference when I heard the end of the comment so no. It wouldn't have mattered to me. Again, racism, playing the race card is a matter of perspective. You see something that I simply don't.
Also, Glenn is mainly an entertainer. Especially on his radio show. He is doing commentary, if he believes that then it is his job to say so. That is what he is paid for. Same thing with Olbie at MSNBC. He is paid to say those things. Now, I am sure that he believes them. I am 100% convinced when Garafolo was sitting next him calling me racist and he was saying yes in the background he meant that. To him I am nothing but a racist. I couldn't possibly disagree with Obama for any other reason in his world.
JACG: I don't think a person is automatically a racist just because they play the race card. Although they are being intellectually lazy and dishonest, they aren't necessarily a racist. Do you believe a person who plays the race card is automatically racist?
Your defense of Glenn Beck is (for lack of a better term) interesting. I'll leave it at that.
Since most of your previous comments aren't really related to the topic of this post, I'm going to hold off on addressing them here. That's not to say you didn't raise some thought provoking points, I just don't want to get off into off-topic territory. I will let you in on something. I have been in more than a few interracial relationships so we may have more in common than either of us would think.
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