CNN Hires Right-Wing Radio Bozo Glenn Beck

The other day in the fifth installment of my “Adventures In Amplitude Modulation” series I included a clip of “The Glenn Beck Program” and briefly discussed my general dislike of Beck’s radio persona and my aversion to his show. Apparently, some of the bigwigs over at CNN found Beck's glib schtick a little more charming than I did.  He just signed a contract with the cable news network and will soon have a show of his own on their “Headline News” channel.

While I don’t really watch television, it saddens me that Beck’s sleazy radio work has advanced his presence in the media. Under fire from the Fox News ratings juggernaut, CNN (from what I’ve read) has made a number of compromises to their programming to make their content more glossy and Republican friendly. But this might be new low.

Along with right-wing talk stars Rush Limbaugh and Dr. Laura Schlessinger, Beck’s program is syndicated by Clear Channel’s “Premier Radio Network.” Now based in Philadelphia, Beck is widely heard (on about 200 stations) in the U.S. Nationally, he made his biggest splash as the ringleader and keynote speaker for Clear Channel’s pro-war “Rally For America” gatherings around the country in 2003.

While Beck political spiel falls in line with the armies of right-wing talk hosts who infest the American AM dial, he’s best known in talk radio circles for routinely making outrageous and psychopathic offhand remarks and discussing world issues in a rather cheeky jingoistic manner. A reformed alcoholic, Beck is reminiscent of a barstool loudmouth with a mean streak. However, instead of just being a tavern nuisance, Glenn Beck is broadcasting to a national audience. And now, the once respected cable news giant CNN has seen fit to add Beck’s flip sophomoric hyperbole to their prime time line-up.

Like the mannish and reckless Ann Coulter, Beck becomes another flaky political TV pundit who will say anything to pollute a debate and get a cheap laugh on behalf of the Republican party. The coarsening and dumbing-down of TV and radio political coverage has created a glut of news and information programming in moral free fall. It seems that the checks and balances in our media system, like accountability and public outrage are irrevocably broken. I suppose Rush Limbaugh made irresponsible, unsubstantiated and vicious right wing commentary acceptable and marketable in the name of “entertainment,” but today making offensive remarks about the unempowered, and calling for the torture and death of people you disagree with now passes as hilarious satire. And CNN wants to join in on the fun.

While it might not be fair to judge Beck's upcoming CNN program before its launch, there's no reason to believe he'll be any more reflective or thoughtful on TV than he's ever been on his radio show. Over the last couple years on his program Beck has called Cindy Sheehan a “tragedy pimp,” and said the victims of Hurricane Katrina are "scumbags." And it only took him a year to start really hating some of the families of 9-11 victims. Chances are the same kind of chuckle-nuggets will flow from his television show too.

Talk host Lionel has a somewhat similar history to Glenn Beck, having also launched to fame from WFLA-AM in Tampa, and spending some time on cable TV as well as being one of Premiere/Clear Channel’s crew of talk hosts for a while. But while he can be as flip and silly as Beck, Lionel ultimately respects the power of "the word" and the responsibility of being a national radio voice. Instead of using easy insults or crafting an emotional attack, Lionel sticks to the facts and makes his argument with logic and compassion for all concerned when the topics are serious. On Tuesday night Lionel weighed in on the announcement of Beck’s new TV show, and I thought you might like to hear it. You can download MP3's of Lionel discussing CNN’s decision and the stupidity of Glenn Beck here, and right here.

A personality like Glenn Beck is representative of the pornification of media. Rather than edify or really entertain, Beck stimulates. He stirs up the bloodlust and mook-hormones of his fans, and angers the hell out of some people who think or care or stand against violence. But unlike Limbaugh, O’Reilly or Hannity, Beck doesn’t come off a chiding chirping Republican talkbot. He has a disarming "ordinary joe" grin on his face as he advocates death, despair and torture. The rise of Glenn Beck is just another victory in the neo-conservative media campaign to get common folks to vote against their own interests and morals. Perhaps his detached goofiness is even more dangerous than the growing media pantry of more strident neo-con voices.

Comments

[norelpref]

ugh. to quote from I, Claudius : "Let all the poisons that lurk in the mud hatch out..." Psychosocial entropy on parade.....

[AJ]

This would be the same "once respected" CNN that was censoring itself so that it could have access to the Iraq while Saddam was still in power? (see: http://mattwelch.com/archives/week_2003_04_06.html#000975)

Or the CNN that has just "apologized" to Iran for offending the mullahs so that they still have access?

This is not a defense of Fox or of Glenn Beck - but let's get over this "CNN is so very, very much better than the others" nonsense. CNN, like all the others, is a business. They see their profits decline as the power of Fox waxes. They've decided to stay in business.

While it would be nice if the news channels were only about news it is silly to think that is actually what is going on. CNN is a business.

[zoe]

I am mesmerized by that extremely ugly sweater.

[Jeff T]

Man, I'd kill to own that sweater and wear it ironically.

[Godfrey Daniel]

Your depiction of Beck is hilarious. And, entirely ridiculous.
Didn't know about the CNN gig. A bit surprising. Guess their
ratings are forcing them to consider appealing to the mainstream.

Congratulations to Glen Beck. Funny. Insightful. Creative.

[ick]

Beck got his description of Sheehan ("tragedy pimp") from DailyKos, where there was long thread on it.

[McKinley]

Glenn Beck did not say that all Katrina victims were scumbags. He was referring to the ones that were looting, raping, and shooting at people. And he reiterated that it was those people he was referring to. The same with the 911 families, it was a small group, not all, and he clearly stated that and stated which ones he was refering to and why he felt that way!! So please if you are going to say something don't twist words around.

[The Professor]

Okay McKinley, I grant you this. Beck didn’t say ALL the Katrina victims were scumbags. But he DID say that all the victims in the worst hit area (where all the flooding occured)-- New Orleans, ARE scumbags. Here’s the quote:

“We're not hearing anything about Alabama. We're hearing about the victims in New Orleans. This is a 90,000-square-mile disaster site, New Orleans is 181 square miles. A hundred and -- 0.2 percent of the disaster area is New Orleans! And that's all we're hearing about, are the people in New Orleans. Those are the only ones we're seeing on television are the scumbags -- and again, it's not all the people in New Orleans. Most of the people in New Orleans got out! It's just a small percentage of those who were left in New Orleans, or who decided to stay in New Orleans, and they're getting all the attention.”

See? He said that those who couldn’t leave New Orleans or “chose” not to leave the city were scumbags. And apparently he’s upset that he had to see all those unfortunate people behaving poorly on television.

While there were victims all along that part of the Gulf Coast, the hardest hit area, the city that filled up like a cesspool, the place where thousands died, WAS New Orleans. And indeed, Mr. Beck did say that the predominantly African-American population who remained after the storm were “scumbags.”

He did NOT say that the victims in other areas, which have a far lower black population, are scumbags. I’m sorry I didn’t make that clearer.

However, as far as the 9-11 victims families, if you read the post I said “it only took him a year to start really hating SOME of the families of 9-11 victims." The families who aren’t complaining about government inaction in preventing the 9-11 attack, or who continue to ask for further investigations into the attacks, are A-OK with Glenn Beck.

Glenn Beck gets angry when victims get on his TV and say negative things, especially when they make not-happy comments about our president, or maybe any Republican. After all, Glenn Beck has feelings too. All the white folks out there who keep their mouth shut, no matter how negligent this administration’s behavior, should be heartened to know that Glenn Beck will probably never hate you.

[McKinley]

If you were listening to the radio show that day (which obviously you were not) you would understand that he was calling the looters being shown on TV scumbags. You are reading only part of what was said not all of what was said. But thats what you get when reading information from the Media Matters site. Those crazies love telling half of the truth to get you to dislike conservatives. I would suggest listening to Beck for at least a week before considering him a hate monger. Really-

[Michael J. West]

I have to tell you, McKinley, that I have listened to Glenn Beck at least 20 times over the past two or three years. And any way I look at it, the man is an irresponsible jerk. He says incredibly crass and frankly cruel things with no substantiation whatsoever. His commentary on the Schiavo thing last year plumbed the depths of disgusting and reckless.

I'd use the term "hatemonger" in a heartbeat, except that I don't think he actually wants to spread hate. He doesn't think about it seriously enough to give a damn whether hate gets spread or not; he just wants people to pay attention to him. Regardless of who it hurts, what it means, how it affects the media and the larger political discourse. Which makes him worse than a hatemonger; it makes HIM the scumbag.

[hollabaugh]

He is on the whole, much more responsible than those on Air America.
Have they ever paid back the money they stoled?

[right-winged monkey]

Huh! Limbaugh, Hannity, and Beck: The top three listened to radio shows in the country. And not just on AM, but FM, XM, and in some cases TV. Why is that? Are that many Americans stupid? Not hardly as we're talking about major numbers behind these ratings. Instead, maybe conservatives just want what is morally right for America.

[Greg]

I find it compeltely hilarious that folks are "outraged" over this, seeing as the "media" belongs to folks that hate any kind of republican agenda. Free speech is only available if YOU agree with it, eh?

Virtually everything in this post is more vitriolic than anything Glenn does.

[James]

I'd have to agree that this post was very irresponsible. When referencing "hatred" for 9/11 victims, he was specifically referring to those complainers who were sitting on 1.5 million dollar "settlements" and saying it is not enough; further, the statements were made at a Hurricane Katrina victim benefits dinner. His reference to certain Katrina "victims" as "scumbags" were referring to those who were shooting at helicopters, looting, and otherwise taking advantage of the *real* victims, those who were stealing money from those who really need it. If you were indeed a real victim, stealing a television does not give you relief; taking bread and water does, and he made a clear differentiation between those who were stealing food and those who were stealing electronics. I don't honestly believe the author has listened to 20 shows, I doubt he has the patience to sit through 20 minutes of one show without having a mild stroke, given the level of his voracity and clear hatred.

[Goon]

"Huh! Limbaugh, Hannity, and Beck: The top three listened to radio shows in the country. And not just on AM, but FM, XM, and in some cases TV. Why is that? Are that many Americans stupid?"

yes.

31% still support bush and will always vote republican no matter how corrupt, irresponsible, hateful and just plain stupid their leader is. its 'us vs. them' and they will always find an excuse, and need the Limbaughs Hannitys and Becks to spin bad news for them.... so they can live with themselves and all the blood they have on their armchair patriotic war hero hands.

and yes, that includes you.

[Tami]

What an astounding spin. It's painfully obvious that whomever gave you your research on this topic has never listened to Beck.

[Glenn Fanboy]

If you want to make a judgement on Beck, you have to give him some time. The first week is murder, and you'll hate him, usually to the fact that you're way too sensitive. The second week, you really start to loathe him. After about two and a half weeks, your hate for him will be a blinding white hot hate reserved for very few people. After that, you'll "get it" and love him. Or, you won't "get it" and continue to despise him while you whallow in your political correctness.

Have a nice day.

[Goon]

oh the 'political correctness' excuse. I've got a Bill Hicks CD catalogue that says to shove your "lol you're just PC" excuse up your ass. Theres stupid-funny, ironic-funny, hell i can sit through hours of Christian programming sometimes that is telling me things I dont believe.

But a dickhead like Beck is the equivolent of a Limp Bizkit record. Retarded content for retarded people.

[Sean Dawson]

I get it, I get it, you can't stand Glenn Beck. Mostly because you hate all conservatives amd you love to misrepresent the things that they say or take them out of context.

As a previous poster pointed out, Glen started the segment about New Orleans and 9-11 families with a story about some in New Orleans looting and shooting at helicopters, and tied it with the families after 9-11 complaining that we should pay them more than the 1.5 million dollars we had already paid them. THEN he specifically said what you posted.

Why is it that you hate these talk-show hosts so badly? Is it because all of your liberal talk-radio are in the toilet and no one listens to them? Why are you listening if you hate them so badly? If you are not listening, why do you care? I absolutely could not care less about what Alan Colmes says on his radio show. I'm assuming it is a lot of the same liberal drivel, so I do not listen, and most importantly, I DON'T CARE!!

Would you like Glenn Beck more if he were more SENSITIVE? More CARING and UNDERSTANDING about people who loot televisions and shoot at helicopters or blow through 1.5 million dollars that the country gave you to ease the financial burden of your loss in 4 years then demand more? Would you like him more if he decided that it was a good idea to give more of everyone else's money and citizenship away to foreign nationals that have decided to spit on our national soveriegnity? Do I need to go on?

Beck has a voice in America, the same as all Americans. He can voice his opinion as loudly as he wants and you are free to disagree with him. Hell, you can even tell lies and half-truths on this spiffy blog. I even read it before deciding it was bullshit. I actually think that it is not his show you are so mad about, it is that so many people agree with a lot that he says, and not many people agree with liberal philosophy anymore.
I ABSOLTELY LOVE how anyone who does not agree with you is stupid. That is just precious. PLEASE OH PLEASE continue to believe that conservatives are stupid. That will win another election, but this time with maybe a REAL conservative president.

[Jonny]

The very sound of his voice makes my skin crawl.I usually last about 15 minutes or so when listening to him on the radio.He constantly changes the pitch of his voice when talking,which is extremely irritating.The content of his message is bad enough. A very right-sided view of the news. I caught his T.V. show last night.I thought it sucked.He looks like he is trying too hard.I guess CNN is jumping on the FOX bandwagon,with more conservative shows($$$$$$$$$).

[Brent]

Thank you for posting this. I had no idea who Beck was until hearing him on CNN. He's utterly awful. My first though when hearing him was that CNN was trying to cast this guy as a conservative Jon Stewart. But he's more like Bob Sagget. I can't listen to him without feeling a sad sort of disgust.

[James]

It's easy to see why you're so upset. Liberal pretty boy John Smiley (oh I'm sorry, AL FRANKEN!) fails miserably to make it in the radio world, yet people like Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh suceed it's nothing but a conspiracy by the evil neo-conservatives!

[George Spanos]

I watched him last night and I was taken aback by his ignorance and total lack of education. Has he graduated from primary school?

[T J Sawyer]

Thousands died in New Orleans? Where have you been getting your news, professor? You should try listening to Glenn Beck and Rush to find out what happened. Or just hit Wikipedia under Katrina.

[Wheatex]

Obviously, Glenn Beck is not out to please everyone, but he has enough of a following to ensure his continued success for some time to come. I have to take issue with your misunderstanding of the very quote you use to support your anti-Beck tirade. Let's look at it again: ”Most of the people in New Orleans got out! It's just a small percentage of those who were left in New Orleans, or who decided to stay in New Orleans, and they're getting all the attention.” Doesn't that say "It's just a small percentage of those who were left in New Orleans” and NOT that it was ALL those who were left in New Orleans? Yet here is how you interpret it: "See? He said that those who couldn’t leave New Orleans or “chose” not to leave the city were scumbags."

I think we can all be excused for mispeaking once or twice in our lives, however. In this case, it was not Glenn who mispoke, but you. I forgive you.