ADL report on tide of anti-Obama rage calls out Glenn Beck as 'fearmonger in chief'
By David Neiwert Tuesday Nov 17, 2009 7:00am
It's nice to know that we're not alone in raising concerns about the increasingly unhinged nature of the kind of rhetoric right-wing talkers are unleashing in the name of their jihad against President Obama -- in no small part because such rhetoric inevitably produces acts of horrific violence.
Yesterday, the Anti-Defamation League confirmed that these concerns are anything but groundless, with a devastating report titled "Rage Grows in America: Anti‑Government Conspiracies":
Since the election of Barack Obama as president, a current of anti-government hostility has swept across the United States, creating a climate of fervor and activism with manifestations ranging from incivility in public forums to acts of intimidation and violence.
What characterizes this anti-government hostility is a shared belief that Obama and his administration actually pose a threat to the future of the United States. Some accuse Obama of plotting to bring socialism to the United States, while others claim he will bring about Nazism or fascism. All believe that Obama and his administration will trample on individual freedoms and civil liberties, due to some sinister agenda, and they see his economic and social policies as manifestations of this agenda. In particular anti-government activists used the issue of health care reform as a rallying point, accusing Obama and his administration of dark designs ranging from “socialized medicine” to “death panels,” even when the Obama administration had not come out with a specific health care reform plan. Some even compared the Obama administration’s intentions to Nazi eugenics programs.
Some of these assertions are motivated by prejudice, but more common is an intense strain of anti-government distrust and anger, colored by a streak of paranoia and belief in conspiracies. These sentiments are present both in mainstream and “grass-roots” movements as well as in extreme anti-government movements such as a resurgent militia movement. Ultimately, this anti-government anger, if it continues to grow in intensity and scope, may result in an increase in anti-government extremists and the potential for a rise of violent anti-government acts.
Just as we have frequently remarked here, this rage is being fed to a remarkable extent by mainstream media pundits on the right, particularly Glenn Beck, who has a long history of promoting extremist ideas and rhetoric:
Though much of the impetus for anti-government sentiment has come from a variety of grass-roots and extremist groups, segments of the mainstream media have played a surprisingly active role in generating such segment. Though a number of media figures and commentators have taken part, the media personality who has played the most active role has been radio and television host Glenn Beck, who along with many of his guests have made a habit of demonizing the Obama administration and promoting conspiracy theories about it. Beck has acted as a “fearmonger-in-chief,” raising anxiety about and distrust towards the government.
It devotes a whole section to exploring this:
The most important mainstream media figure who has repeatedly helped to stoke the fires of anti-government anger is right-wing media host Glenn Beck, who has a TV show on FOX News and a popular syndicated radio show. While other conservative media hosts, such as Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, routinely attack Obama and his administration, typically on partisan grounds, they have usually dismissed or refused to give a platform to the conspiracy theorists and anti-government extremists. This has not been the case with Glenn Beck. Beck and his guests have made a habit of demonizing President Obama and promoting conspiracy theories about his administration.
On a number of his TV and radio programs, Beck has even gone so far as to make comparisons between Hitler and Obama and to promote the idea that the president is dangerous.
The ADL report was issued that same day as Sam Stein's devastating examination of the extremists Beck has historically promoted on his programs:
The Huffington Post took a look some of the bombastic host's past guests and found names steeped in controversy. Beck has hosted, and even occasionally praised, a renowned white supremacist, a devout southern secessionist, a defender of slavery, and a 9/11 skeptic.
... If Beck were a self-avowed journalist -- which he's not -- these guests could be chalked up as an effort to foster intriguing debate, whether about immigration policy, constitutional principles or the strength of the dollar. But, taken as a whole, the roster reflects the host's partiality to an ideology that is far-right if not outright extremist.
Of course, this is a subject C&L readers are well familiar with. But the evidence keeps piling up: Glenn Beck is perhaps the foremost conduit for extremist belief systems and ideas to infect our mainstream conservative in the history of the mass media.
And he's just getting started. God only knows to what effect.
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The only question is why would such an extreme jerk have a M$M platform to spew?
Sadly that is a question only the M$M could answer and it is too busy fearmongering to inform.
Where are the reasonable and thoughtful opposition?
This is Faux Spews we are talking about. Ginning up rightwing rage among the rabble is what they do. It is actually what Murdoch wants as part of an effort to block any kind of progressive legislation in this country.
"Sadly that is a question only the M$M could answer and it is too busy fearmongering to inform."
Are the cable "news" networks part of the MSM? I didn't think so. I thought that label was reserved for the Big Three (in television at least).
And let's remember that for what it's worth only around 3 million tune in to Beck, and probably some are there just for the laughs.
I hope this gets some traction. I read dismissive comments about Beck, how only the rabid wingers listen to him, but I live in a mostly white suburban community and the feedback I hear at work is all Beck, practically word for word. People listen to him, they like him, and what's worse, they believe what he says. He is their new voice, and between him and Limbaugh, they are listening to him and taking notes.
The brief clips of Beck I have seen give me the answer to this.
It is easy to pass off a blohard like Rush or a kid like Hannity. I've worked in radio for years. To be successful you need to be unique. Have a "shtick". Becks shtick is "sincerity". It's the WAY he presents it. Sure, its the same ol defense of the corporatocracy if you dig just below the surface but again if you want to counter these people you must understand what makes them successful.
..and short of a club against the head or an education, I doubt there's much one can do. Its amazing the number of people who listen to beck who are educated to some degree (that's why the inclusion of the club to the head which may not work either on blockheads). Its the fears, its the racism, its the nostalgia that beck is ladling to his listeners and they just eat it up.
And when you hear it, you've got to stand up and say something, like the truth. Argue with them, watch their arguments fail, happens every time I argue with them. One conservative acquaintance claimed we were #1 in health care and said people come here for medical attention (a beck-ism) and was absolutely stunned with disbelief that I would say, sorry, #38 in the world & infant mortality #30. Same thing with health reform, does not believe that 44,000 people die every year. Tax reform, does not believe the Obama tax cut ever went into affect (trust fund baby who might not have made the cut). This all from someone who supposedly studied economics, has a degree, ran a semi-successful business until he started blaming everyone (e.g. Jews) for his business sliding, works for pin money painting houses, doesn't own real property now but still manages to take lavish vacations whenever the spirit moves him. That's who we're battling; people who are not like us in any way shape or form, who lack compassion for their fellow Americans.
say things like, "He sort of makes sense" or "He's right about a few things."
No, he's not. That's like saying "Jeffrey Dahmer spent most of his time not murdering gay men."
that's just unconscious knowledge......Perry Farrell
i say fight fire with fire. we vastly outnumber them.
As you and the ADL observe, this will not end well. Sadly, Beck and the other empowering enablers are unlikely to ever be held to account for their actions. I also think they let Limbaugh, Hannity, and company off too easy in this.
And let him take his flying monkies Beck and Hannity with him. Oreilly can just fly out on his falafel broomstick with Greta.
..the privilege of owning multiple media outlets in the same market.
because if he gets what he's obviously asking for, isn't he officially living on borrowed time?
in the event of an assasination, insurrection, etc., i don't see him or rush lasting thru the night.
..of it not happening and believing that the free speech thing in that piece of paper they seem to hate, the Constitution will protect them if someone does.
It's the Neo-cons and their "Christian" allies who have the agenda..
They're the ones who to trample on the rights on everyone else..
And there is no "mainstream" conservatism..it has always been like this..
It's the end result of Schrodinger's Cat. The cat is both alive and dead until you open the box and force the two possibilities to collapse into one.
So the GOP has, for a long time, been both 'sensible' and 'radical' - then someone opened the box and let Rush out.
End of story.
.
It's just out in the open now, and why not? They (the christo-fascists) have been getting away with it for years.
They're in the minority, but you'd never know it cuz, you know the dam librul media don't pay 'em no attention.
has been going on since at least 2004. During the Bush/Kerry presidential election, I had a bumper sticker that said, "Vote Kerry." Well, a Bush supporter followed me into Home Depot screaming, "Vote Bush." That was certainly intimidating and I felt threatened. Later, this same man often seemed to pop up around me at various times and places. I think that these people are unhinged and are a threat. I cannot understand how intimidating and threatening behavior can be justified as free speech! Isn't there such a thing as responsible free speech.
The right wing has been emboldened for 30 years.
Ruby Ridge, Columbine, Oklahoma City, the latest shooting in DC...all have their roots in the extremist paranoia of the right.
our old buddy Joe McCarthy - he, like Reagan, has a whole "ism" named for him.
Fear mongering and encouraging 'Hate' of the "Other" (based on whatever the difference: skin color, religion, language, politics, geography,) is a game played by sick, sad, sociopaths. It is unfortunate that they seem to get so much attention and access to the masses.
Fear is a very powerful emotion/force. It can be overcome by education, to some degree, and we see how nicely the US education system has been left to disintegrate. Rational thinking must be learned and cultivated.....gonna be a long, hard road back.
... implies an agreement and mutual respect.
Think of it this way - the First Amendment guarantees us freedom of speech, because our founding fathers knew how easily it could be taken away, and not just by a crazy monarch.
But as I don't see us achieving a world where we can freely express ourselves in a rational and polite manner, we have laws against hate speech and end up fighting battles for things like the Fairness Doctrine and Net Neutrality.
It amazes me that the right wing populace is so worried about Obama. This after the Bush/Cheney/Murdoch administration screwed this country more than any other single administration in the history of the U.S. They destroyed the economy to the point where it is going to take ten years to bring it back to where people are employed and can afford to own houses again.
The Bush/Cheney/Murdoch administration took us to two wars (arguably one was needed). One of which was an ego trip and a vehicle for George W. To show his daddy that George W. could do what his daddy didn’t do. In the meantime this war of ego has brought the U.S. to its knees because of the cost in treasure and life.
The Bush/Cheney/Murdoch have enriched their friends, broken numerous U.S. and international laws, stashed
billionstrillions $$$$ offshore because they could, stole hundreds of billions of $$$$ so that their friends at Wall Street institutions because the rulers of those institutions gambled all their money and money they did not have and lost it all, so that the institutions could do it all again. The list goes on and on…All this and the right wing loons Joe Sixpack and Betty Winebox are worried about Obama? Because a manipulator or three, Glenda Beck, Limbaugh and Hannity and O’Reilly told them to be afraid. Be very afraid. This country is in ruins and Obama has had nothing to do with it. Obama has shown more concern for the country in the first ten months of his presidency that the Bush/Cheney/Murdoch administration showed in the eight years it was in power.
The real question is how come these Joe Sixpacks and Betty Wineboxes are letting themselves be so used and manipulated and punked!
..the becks, hannity, et.al. are all ladling fear, racism and nostalgia like its a buffet line at a wedding. They have what they have and no one, especially someone not like them, should have it.
Joe Sixpack and Betty Wineboxes are afraid because (1) they are stupid, and (2) they are threatened. The traditional white 50 year old is seeing America change and they do not like it. More international competition, more of a mixed cultural make-up in a position of power, questions of religion, fear of muslims, etc. etc. The traditional white male in this country is losing his power and he does not like it. These hate monger media personalities play up these fears, as does the Republican party. However, the contradictions are staggering. There is not a lot of logic when your brain is run on fear.
The young, the minorities, and woman continue to support the government and Democrats. The demographic trends do not favor this fear/Republican crowd. They are a dying breed. The problem is they may go down fighting. More Timothy McVeighs are possible. American probably has more to feel from these threaten people than Muslims.
What gives him the right to spew this shit? Why doesn't the FCC do something about these hate mongers? They do more damage to the PUBLIC AIRWAYS than any 4 letter word ever could. I want this POX nooooz OFF the air!
response for Glenn is to trot out the Protocols of the Elders of Zion.
What did you expect from the ADL?
Ya know...there are times when you simply shouldn't speak.
are capable of anti-semetic response to the source of this criticism? You don't think it will be their natural inclination?
I don't find your comment helpful. And pleae don't engage in the same type of tactics by trying to switch the focus to me.
Self parody is often sufficient.
beck will consider it legitimate
(he loves to pull out the thunkin' glasses)
I predict he will go to his blackboard and start to explain to his "pupils" why linking Obama to Hitler is not appropriate and that he, Professor Gleen, has always favored the more correct Communist "manifesta... manifesto...Mao infestation" approach.
Damn Dude, that sounds exactly like Beck's way of thinking. Is that you, Glenn?
in Rodeoology and Quantum Clownics, so I know the mindset. I will work on linking you to Chao En Lai if you like....
It's almost lunch time here so sure hook me up with chow in line.
I'm impressed. Quantum Rodeoology, sounds so Texas-ie.
education here in our state which offers rodeo
scholarships (or at least did at one time). I don't know if you could get a PhD if GoatRopery though.
Update: God Bless teh Google. For the financially challenged, bull riding may still be your ticket to a college degree:
http://www.sulross.edu/docs/rodeo/rodeoschol.pdf
Ridin'
Roping'
an
Redneckin'
There, now you done gradgeated
YeeHawYou!
GoatRopery sounds like more fun than BullRidery.
The rodeo theme was lacking but there was all kinds of horsing around.
Exercising your major in GRopery often resulted in sudden postgrad studies in BRidery.
The mystery of the firstborn often coming into the world with calluses on their hands was found to be the result of hanging onto the cord until after the reception.
Strange that.
That's funny! Seriously!
17+ minutes if GB is inhumane! I couldn't get through 3 minutes without wanting to claw my eyes out.
How do people do it?
I wouldn't know. I don't watch him, and watch the clips here in 30 second snippets...taking time out to allow my brain cells to recover.
http://www.capitolhillblue.com/files/111709dr...
Oh Dave, why do you torture us so?
After feeding us 17 minutes of shithead on a shingle, I was anticipating an extra yummy dessert.
A big slice of prime Beckinstienian hammy goodness glazed over with a crispy but vacant pseudopatriotic schmaltz topped off with crocodile tear sprinkles.
Oh yes, we loves us them sprinkles.
For those of us waiting for the crazy with the cherry on top. Enjoy!
Urrrrp.
That's better now, ought to hold me till lunch ;)
Jeez paging Patsy Cline:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRf_JI7hAzU&fe...
I cant listen to this tool anymore ..
Cocaine and meth should never be mixed.
During the 1950's the Cincinnati Reds, temporarily renamed themselves the “Cincinnati Redlegs” to avoid the money-losing and career-ruining connotations inherent to being ball-playing “Reds” (communists).
Interesting how the circle just keeps on "spinning" isn't it.
showing baseball traditionalists outrank fear mongering right wingers.
If only they had done the same thing with the designated hitter.
now days then people were for the most part back then. Of course people didn't have a sea of media, junk, and entertainment engulfing them 24/7 either.
number that was laid on the owners of the Cincinatti ballclub
(was Marge in charge then or the late Mister?) did not stick.
On the other hand, the efforts to get people to change mascot names deemed offensive to Indians (Native Americans) was more successful, although not at the level of major league baseball.
did they have to include that?
Back to the main topic; My ex-liberal-60's-hippy sister in law and her husband think Beck is the next prophet. It is amazing to me how their politics have flowed so far in 40 years.
dropped too much acid?
flowed or flawed?
Too much acid, I suspect, in the 60s. Put her right in with Jon Voigt.
I have to wonder if a left winger had a show and had talked about bush the exact same way Beck talks about Obama, would the public have stood for it and allowed it to go on? I just don't believe so and the right would have cried, How can you talk about the president like that when our country is at war?
The thing with Beck is he keeps repeating the same things over and over as he brainwashes the brainless. Those who cannot think are enabled by him as he gives them their very own thoughts. Rotten as they are.
Not the Bushbots - they would have gone apoplectic.
There would have been gnashing of teeth and rending of garb.
The M$M would have run 24/7 supporting their president in a time of war.
"We are 4 Square 4 43 24/7 Post 9/11."
The more tI think about this, the more it makes sense. Without a villain, there can be no controversy. Without controversy, the news becomes bland and viewership diminishes. FOX is without a doubt producing these whacked out commentators who stir the pot, of that there is no question. However, WHY do we allow it to continue? Me thinks that Fox is the catalyst to controversy. Controversy is what Network news depends upon for profit.
line that is essential to the cable news format to attract the Soap Opera Challenged viewer away from alternative day time programming.
Game shows require too much math.
Or is it anti-government-if-the-Democrats-are-in-charge anger?
I tend to suspect, for many of the wingnuts, it's the latter.
This may change soon enough, as events in NY-23 and Florida lead me to suspect that the contingent of wingnuts who believe that "the right isn't far enough to the right" is growing (leaving the number of sane members of the Republican party small enough to fit into a one-room classroom with enough room left over for a Joanie Loves Chachi fan club meeting and a Michael Richards autograph signing). But by and large, the people who are now SO distrustful of the government seemed fine and dandy when an actual dry-drunk-borderline-retarded-draft-dodger-with-daddy-issues halfwit was in charge. They felt God was in the White House back then. Not a lot of teabag gatherings the first 8 years of this century, as I recall.
Beck is an extremist. Finally the KKK, the separatists, the white supremists, the far right, etc. etc. have gotten their man into a position to push, sometimes subtle and sometimes not so subtly, their agendas. These extremist groups got their MSM guy in place now. Shame on FOX. They should have their license removed for promoting extremism in this country. Someone needs to sue Beck and FOX.
Do advertisers really want to be attached to a guy who the Anti-Deformation League has basically called an extremist? ie. hate monger. The advertisers need to be made very clear that they are supporting a guy the ADL thinks is bad for America.
"Do advertisers really want to be attached to a guy who the Anti-Deformation League has basically called an extremist? ie. hate monger. "
Do you have cable TV? or Satellite TV? Like me, I bet that you do. Then, we the Progressives and the Liberals and everybody else who does not want to be attached to this media slut pays to keep FUX on the air. Murdoch is laughing at us all the way to the bank. Not only do they get money from advertisers, they get money from the cable companies who have to pay them to run their programming. They are double dipping. Every time that you pay your TV bill, you are supporting FUX.
How ironic that an accompnying DK thread has O'Reilly asking Lou Dobbs if Obama is "the deveil" and "satan".
The only way to get these nuts to back off is for the electorate to punish them in 2010. Here's hoping we realize who the real threats to this country are and keep them out of real power.
Some thoughts on the where Rage comes from and how it festers
published in TipsFromTheQueenOfRejection.oom - March 2009:
'Rage' is a powerful word describing a powerful emotion.
Let's look at 'rage' and how is it is different from 'anger.' We can then see if 'rage' is what we're really feeling. Or is it what the media says we should be feeling? Next we can look at the connection between rage, anger and fear.
First I want to give you my definition of rage based on over 25 years as a psychotherapist, communication coach and workplace trainer.
Rage is 'Anger with a History'
In my writing and speaking programs I define rage as 'anger with a history.' Rage is an emotion beyond anger. The way I see it, anger relates to something happening in the present and reflects “now” feelings. By contrast, rage arises from overwhelming, sometimes unbearable feelings from the past.
A distressing event in the present can become unbearable when it reminds you of past painful experiences. These negative events collect in your memory. Before you know it, you’re overreacting and feeling out-of-control.
Old injustices stockpile into a repository of rage, just waiting to be disgorged.
When a similar event happens in the present, the stockpile ignites and you are having an intense reaction against those past injustices.
These strong feelings arise from perceived mistreatment at the hands of others. Perceived injustices. Betrayals. Disappointments and Loss...
Read more
http://www.tipsfromthequeenofrejection.com/20...
Until this guy came around, I thought idiocy was confined to the NeoCons.
That glen and his buddies at fox are the first ones to take a bullit!
Now that is change to believe in.
republicanism/conservatism is a mental illness that is killing America!
Where's that Colbert clip?!? :-D
We are headed for real trouble. The dollar seems headed for rock bottom, and as inflation arrives, it will be ever more worthless. This would not be too terribly problematic except that it sets up the same conditions that existed in Germany throughout the Thirties. For Hitler, it was a "beer hall putsch," but for us, it may be Mr. Beck. He certainly has mastered the histrionics and the use of Goebbels-inspired lies. The far right wingnuts love to exacerbate existing difficulties into insurmountable problems, and a foregone conclusory mindset moves us closer and closer to almost exactly the same philosophical disagreements and failures of understanding that led to World War Two.
The rage is real. The paranoia is real. We've seen trillions of value vacuumed out of the poor and middle classes and siphoned to the rich at the same time our leaders signed agreements that weren't even Congressionally-approved treaties to move all our jobs to China. What has Obama done to oppose these trade agreements? Anything? Really? I thought I heard him say, "Those jobs are gone." Where's the bailout money going: Wall Street or WPA programs? Come on, ADL. Don't come across as clueless Yuppies.
The question was, and remains, who will channel this rage? If the Democrats fail to provide their own action, if they crap on these people because they are a good eight years slow and are just figuring out that the country has been raped and are blaming the wrong guy, well, that snottiness won't buy you anything. The truth is that _enough_ Democrats _have_ been bought out by the same corporations that sponsor the Republicans that the functional difference is vague. They are all to be mistrusted -- in the main. There is a real failure of the Congressional Democrats to sponsor a viable vision for America. And Obama's "bipartisanship" is stupid. This country has been ideologically just left of Mussolini for years. From that starting point, bipartisanship is moronic for someone who would claim to be a constitutional lawyer, much less a force for change. Obama delivers a good speech, but where is the real change?
In this vacuum of leadership where 59 votes in the Senate "just isn't enough," don't blame the corporate-manipulated white trash movements. They are just a _symptom_ of the disease. And plenty of Democrats are feeding the disease.
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