What no one has really pointed out about Glenn Beck's upcoming pep rally on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial is that, in claiming he's following the example of Martin Luther King, he's actually positioning this gig as a civil-rights event. But whose civil rights? Well, judging by what we've seen at the Tea Parties inspired by Beck, it's gonna be pretty damned white.
It is thus, in essence, a civil-rights march for white people. Or more particularly, for right-wing white people who feel threatened by the growing presence and power of the nonwhite population.
Of course, they don't put it that way. They know that race talk will just get them called out for what this is all really about. So they talk about "government oppression" and "taking away our freedoms" and "preserving the Constitution" and "what it means to be American". Strip these down to the bare bones -- especially when you peel away the layers of illogic required to support these claims -- and what's really at issue here is a black man leading nonwhite minorities to power, which is always perceived by authoritarians as a sign of their loss of power.
So that's what it's really about. If the rhetoric all seems terribly vague to you, that's why.
And what's really bizarre and Orwellian about this whole spectacle is that it's part of Beck's larger campaign to demonize progressives -- even though the civil-rights movement was always a progressive phenomenon, and indeed Martin Luther King Jr. often proclaimed some of the very themes, such as "social justice," that Beck loves to demonize as part of progressives' eeeeeevil plot to destroy America.
Moreover, as we've said previously and often, there's a reason conservatives like Beck should never, ever try to claim his mantle or his legacy: Because it was conservatives who attacked and demonized and opposed King at every turn in his career.
Indeed, having grown up in conservative Mormon Idaho in the 1960s, I recall the visceral hatred and fear with which King was widely regarded in those quarters. I remember seeing sheets like this:
This was a flier that was distributed nationally as part of a campaign to discredit King as a Communist. Among the foremost leaders in that campaign, especially among Mormons, was none other than the Church's future president, Ezra Taft Benson. And Benson, in fact, was close friends with Glenn Beck's guru, W. Cleon Skousen -- who was also known to smear King.
And when I watch Glenn Beck, I'm reminded of those days. Because just like the Bensons and Skousens, Beck is one of those guys who is always eager to point the finger and call someone a "communist" or a "marxist" or a "socialist".
Indeed, Media Matters put together a lovely compendium of the many ways Glenn Beck would have demonized King had they been contemporaries -- and were Beck not eager to try to claim some kind of cultural mantle from him.
Also, be sure and check out Glenn Beck Is Not Martin Luther King.
Meanwhile, Justin Elliott at Salon points out that Beck stands to make a pretty penny from this shindig.
Plus, this statement from People for the American Way:
“Forty-seven years later, Glenn Beck is trying to appropriate Dr. King’s legacy in order to push his agenda of intolerance, fear, and division. Beck says he’s ‘reclaiming civil rights.’ In fact, he’s insulting exactly what Dr. King and his movement stood for. Beck has made himself famous for his attacks on progressives, Muslim Americans, union members and even churches who preach the social justice values to which Dr. King dedicated his life. He claimed that President Obama has ‘a deep-seated hatred of white people.’ Beck is not ‘restoring honor’ to our country; he’s just fanning the flames of tired old prejudices amplified and enlarged for political gain.
“Beck’s histrionics and his deeply cynical appeals to bigotry are anathema to Dr. King’s legacy. In honoring the life work of Dr. King, Americans should stand for justice and equality for all people, and against hate and those who speak, teach and promote it.”
[H/t The Other 98% and Nicole.]
Tweety tonight said the same thing. "I have a nightmare." It was in his last segment. He really did well. We give Tweety a hard time very often here but he really has been better lately and tonight he was really good. I feel we need to give him props when he deserves it.
...regarding the ground zero fiasco, but yet ignore how this psychopath and his mob of bigots are attempting disgrace MLK.
While Beck and others would argue that the mosque would defile Ground Zero, it is my contention that Beck defiled the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
For pete's sake--how on earth could anyone think otherwise? Look at the man! Beck's rhetoric is violent, while King's never was. And Beck is seeking to restore the reserving of civil rights only to white people. What a jerk.
MyMy
I think what the whole thing is going to be about is some kind of Dominionist, we are a Christian nation kind of thing. And he will insist it is non political in his land of freedom without choices.
needs support when he's not so agreeable too.
Glenn Bleck can't buy a legacy.
glen beck has a dream of rounding up the extreme right. the right wants the votes but will keep it's distance from beck.
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We're not going to get very far if you keep injecting logic into the conversation!
that Glenn feloow has overcome quite a bit to command the following he has today. Lots of folks envy his success.
I hope whomever he picks as the Miss Honor America Twirler of the Year lives up to his fine example.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
This is the same guy who called Obama a racist. he said Obama has a deep hatred for white people. Beck is insane and a liar. Beware of anybody who follows him.
I Have a Dream:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X0SWf347zA&pl...
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
You grew up a Mormon too?
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
My mother apostacized. She came from a jack-Mormon family. She raised us Methodist.
I did attend the LDS Seminary at our high school because back then you could get credit for it and I was curious. (Also, my friends and I could smoke on the seminary lawn because it was off school property, so we went there for our cig breaks.) Personally found the BOM laughable, a la Twain: "chloroform in print".
I fled upon reaching college age.
My mother was a Baptist from Arkansas, but until she was six she was in the Ozarks, which to her was heaven. So she had an act nice, Walden's Pond kind of approach to religion. She was the one that probably turned me on to thunder storms,
They were always an event in Texas anyway. All of a sudden on a hot day we'd have a cool breeze plunging us down into the 90's, all the kids playing in the yard, and the old folks sitting in lawn chairs on the front porch watching the approach of a storm. Then everyone would gather on the porch and watch the lightening and thunder like it was a firecracker show. Sometimes these were the only times we would see our neighbors, running from yard to yard, we were like skittering leaves in the gutter.
My father came from a theosophist family. He had an odd combination of curiosity about other religions, but a tendency to preach at the same time. I remember getting so sick of hearing about Alan Watt and Krishnamurti, particularly since I was more interested in Ramakrishna and Kali Durga.
We were usually on loggerheads about everything. But I remember at one occasion starting a conversation at 9:00 pm, and then after what seemed a short time looking up to see it was 2:00 am.
We were Mormons because my mother liked the nice young men who visited our house. When she learned that everyone served the missionaries roast beef on their best china, she started cooking chilies, lasagnas and other such dishes served on our more run of the mill plates, so they didn't have to feel the burden of being honored guests.
If I remember aright she even had them help her set the table or clear it, and take off their ties, since they were essentially homesick 19-20 year olds.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
who was simply growed up from Catholic seed spilt in the night and nurtured with holy water by some nice bachelors in black dresses.
“Why would anyone with a functioning brain believe this guy?”
Some guy with an eating disorder
First the legacy Bush, and then this idiot? Was he a legacy, too? Yale, Yale, Yale. How the mighty have fallen.
Beck got in because he was a radio host. His sponsor was none other than Joe Lieberman. Seriously. Then Beck blew it off.
It's all in Zaitchik's book.
.
Always loved the episode of NCIS where Ziva David and Tony DiNozzo were captured by the terrorist Saleem, and after the terrorist admits he went to Yale, Tony busts his balls after Saleem admits the last national championship won by Yale was 1927.
Yale must have really lowered their standards to even admit boobs like Bush and Beck. Old money talks.
Democratic Party progressive, Vietnam veteran and proud Union member for 41 years
comparison of achievements. I use the term 'achievements' quite lightly in reference to the Beck column.
Now if the skin colours of these two men just happened to be reversed...methinks that the bottom-feeders, who live for American Idol & The Bachelor & The Housewives of whatever & the Enquirer & the Globe & Fox etc., having read this 'simple to follow fact guide' would be screaming bloody murder.
Hah, if I ever wake up one day with super powers...I would be giddy wanting to change the skin colour of all of these prejudiced blowhards. tea partiers, and rednecks into black or brown. Heck...I think I'd add being gay into the mix!!! :)
Considering the fact that the Lincoln Memorial is so close to the Pentagon that was attacked on Sept 11th, I think Beck should cancel this event. After all, Beck has said that he HATES the 9/11 victim families. Shame on him and his employers (Murdoch and Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal al-Saud).
What a douche.
without compensation the heavy lifting of that black gentleman MLK . That is old school isn't it? And it' s consistent with the Mormon plan for hijacking souls post mortem to populate their idea of heaven. Betcha MLK doesn't make it through that gate though. It's only King's life work they want. Not king.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
My signature is not valid on posts involving Glen Beck.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
(From an MSNBC headline. Maybe from Hardball. And I agree.)
EDIT: Ooops. From John Stewart's show. Getting old. See too much to remember! Anyway, Stewart's right.
We're not going to get very far if you keep injecting logic into the conversation!
...he had been dead for three years.
(h/t to Tom Lehrer for the quip, originally about Mozart)
http://www.newscorpse.com/ncWP/
David Neiwert is apparently suffering from Beck Derangement Syndrome. It manifests itself as a mind consumed with immaturity and ignorance. He should do some research before posting untruths. Here's some facts about Democrat bigotry . Learn something
Franklin Delano Roosevelt: Franklin Roosevelt, the long time hero and standard bearer of the Democrat Party, headed up and implemented one of the most horrible racist policies of the 20th Century – the Japanese Internment Camps during World War II.
Roosevelt also appointed two notorious segregationists to the United States Supreme Court. Roosevelt appointed South Carolina segregationist Democrat Jimmy Byrnes to the court. Roosevelt later made Byrnes a top advisor, where the segregationist earned the nickname “assistant president.” Byrnes was Roosevelt’s second choice behind Harry Truman for the VP nod in his 1944 reelection bid. Roosevelt also appointed segregationist Democrat Senator Hugo Black of Alabama to the court. Black was a former member of the Ku Klux Klan with a notorious record of racism himself.
Hugo Black: A former Democrat Senator from Alabama and liberal U.S. Supreme Court Justice appointed by FDR, Hugo Black had a lengthy history of hate group activism. Black was a member of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920's and gained his legal fame defending Klansmen under prosecution for racial murders. In one prominent case, Black provided legal representation to Klansman Edwin Stephenson for the hate-induced murder of a Catholic priest in Birmingham.
Senator Robert Byrd, D-WV: Byrd iwas a former member of the Ku Klux Klan and was the only national elected official with a history in the Klan, a well known hate group. Byrd was extremely active in the Klan and rose to the rank of “Kleagle,” an official Klan membership recruiter. Byrd once stated that he joined the Klan because it was effective in "promoting traditional American values"
Senator Ernest Hollings, D-SC: Hollings is liberal Democrat Senator from South Carolina who is also notorious for his use of racial slurs. He rose out of the Democrat Party's segregationist wing in the 1960's as governor of South Carolina. While in office as governor, Hollings personally led the opposition to lunch counter integration in his state. The New York Times reported on March 17, 1960 that then-governor Hollings "warned today that South Carolina would not permit 'explosive' manifestations in connection with Negro demands for lunch-counter services."
The complete list of the 21 Democrats who opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 includes Senators:
- Hill and Sparkman of Alabama
- Fulbright and McClellan of Arkansas
- Holland and Smathers of Florida
- Russell and Talmadge of Georgia
- Ellender and Long of Louisiana
- Eastland and Stennis of Mississippi
- Ervin and Jordan of North Carolina
- Johnston and Thurmond of South Carolina
- Gore Sr. and Walters of Tennessee
- H. Byrd and Robertson of Virginia
- R. Byrd of West Virginia
Jesse Jackson: Jackson was the featured prime time speaker at the 2000 Democrat Convention. Jackson has a history of using anti-Semitic slurs and derogatorily calling New York City “Hymietown.” Jackson, a prominent self proclaimed "civil rights leader," is himself guilty of the same bigotry he dishonestly purports to oppose.
This is just the tip of the proverbial racist Democrat Iceberg. A liberal mind is a terrible thing.
Hmmm... not used to this new system.
This is for the bloviator who went on and on about the racist Democrats. You've fallen into the ClusterFox trap of thinking that the polarization between the parties we have today is the way it's always been.
Almost all the racist Democrats you mention were CONSERVATIVES. Yes, amazingly enough, there used to be conservative Democrats and liberal Republicans. In fact, we had a liberal Republican Vice President as recently as 1976. George Wallace, Lester Maddox, Orval Faubus et al were part of the "solid south" and they were conservative Democrats. It wasn't till Nixon got the idea of stirring up racism to win elections that the Republican policy of using hate as an election tool really took off.
Clearly, you don't know doodly-squat about American history, and as long as you keep getting your information from other historical illiterates you'll never learn doodly-squat about American history. Don't be pointing a finger and making accusations of ignorance unless you're pointing at a mirror.
Do you think this is part of the Right's new Southern Strategy? This year they've attacked gays, Mexicans, African-Americans (via Sherrod), and , of course, Muslims.
were the forunners of today's bluedogs, democrats in name only. today, we know them as "republicans".
really, as jon stewart so aptly noted, this is beck's "i have a scheme" rally, designed to seperate the rubes from their money. goldline will probably have a booth set up, where the participants can be quickly robbed, without having to wait until they get home.
the Thug Ice Planet of White Fake-Christian Racism, Bigotry and Intolerance.
Robert Byrd: In later years he recanted his segregationist views and his membership in the Ku Klux Klan, saying in 2005:
It passed with the DINOs from the south shaming themselves
And Lyndon Johnson said:
Your side is still behaving the same, nearly half a century later, with regards to gay rights, and rights for women. Don't come here and try to shame lefties with shit fake lefties did 50 years ago, when you are still doing it. You're a creep.
A Thug troll mind is a terrible hypocritical projecting thing, and you are proof of that.
me-oww!
Do you realize that you are going back over 4 decades to find this list of racist Democrats? Conservative Democrats. Why not go back further in time, and list the Dixiecrats, or further back and list the Democrats that fought to preserve slavery?
Do you know why Americans hate you filthy little weak fearful lying sack of shit fat lazy draft dodging right wing half-wits so much? It's because of the ignorance and complete lack of knowledge that you exhibit above. Your fake conservative far right wing radical ideology is a great threat to our nation. But of course you're well aware of that and revel in it since the truth is you hate what this country stands for and will do all you can to bring about it's collapse. You really make me sick with your spewing lies that even most 1st graders can recognize for what it is.
Do you suppose Beck has made arrangements to be "martyred" by someone who will swear he or she is a liberal when caught?
I don't know what it is about white right-wingers. They certainly try and have it both ways, first by saying that they are the majority and then second by saying they are a persecuted minority.
Glenn Beck would never have praised Dr. King while he was alive. He shouldn't be allowed to co-opt him now that he's dead.
As for Palin, what can you say? She is the reincarnation of Lucretia Borgia.
CaliforniaMike blogs at All Voices and at his own blogs, http://www.mikerappaport.net/onevoice and at http://oneminutewithmike.blogspot.com.
One of the most mystifying things about Beck is his fetishization of MLK. By any yardstick, MLK should be at or near the top of Beck's progressive hate list, but for some strange reason he singles out this lone progressive for idolization.
Al Waleed bin Talal must be laughing so hard that his sides hurt .
Insanity , it is what it is , there is no understanding it .
Diabolic Laugh Out Loud (DLOL)
Here is an email I just sent to beck. Unfortunately, his mailbox is full, but I also copied Bill O'Reilly and yourcomments@foxnews.com. I will try beck's email later.
"Hey, look, beck.
This old newspaper clip shows Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Highlander Folk School. I know you can't believe everything you read on the internet, but a number of different links say that that Highlander Folk School was a commie school.
And, if you read this newspaper clip, it states that one Karl Prussion, FBI spy, claimed that MLK was a member of some 60 groups fronting for commies, "more than any communist in the United States"! Wow. The article also makes a point that the Kennedys "promoted and encouraged" MLK. Wow, again!
Now I have never heard of this Karl Prussion, FBI spy; I don't know if he ever existed. But maybe you can prove otherwise.
What I do know, however, is that J. Edgar Hoover, in his long reign, investigated many subversives and radicals, including, and especially, those filthy, dirty commies! Out of those commies, MLK was considered to be one, as this newspaper article clearly shows. That's why RFK felt pressured to wiretap MLK, because of pressure from J. Edgar Hoover. You know, I've also heard that J. Edgar Hoover was gay.....have you heard that, beck? I've got to hand it to you, though, I’m glad you are not against gay marriage. That’s the first decent thing I’ve ever heard you say. Maybe that’s why…..the man you probably admire as going after commies….well, I’m not going to go there.
I’m wondering about another connection, beck. You are “The Man” when it comes to connections.
I understand that J. Edgar Hoover was a Freemason. I don’t know much about the Freemasons, but I think some Freemasons were the original founders of the Mormon Church. I think that Joseph Smith, in fact, was a Freemason. Is that why you converted to the Mormon Church, beck, because a man you probably admire (J. Edgar himself) was a Freemason, and Freemasons helped to start the Mormons? Just curious.
Well, anyway, I’m just wondering about the Obama-commie connections right now. Maybe you can explain that at the “Restore Honor” rally! Because, after all, MLK apparently was a commie!
By the way, beck; if you think I’m drinking or on drugs, I am not. I don’t do either. I’m just curious about things after having seen so much of you on the internet the past couple of days."
"...what's really bizarre and Orwellian about this whole spectacle..." is how the MSM studiously ignores what a shameful spectacle it is, and how they're intimidated by the FOX axis.
Our Village elders stare straight at Beck's Big Con, and totally miss the point of how ridiculous and destructive the Tea Baggers are. If they can't bring themselves to call Beck a fraud, the traditional media has been rendered useless.
it hurts! I wonder how Beck's followers would react if they really saw his early years on the morning zoos -- this guy that thy think will lead them ito the promsed land was just another jerkoff am DJ...
they would credit the saving power of jaysus.
42. Just let out of the nut-house after shock therapy.
The countdown's on to Glen Beck's reclamation of the Soul Train dance line.
all good propaganda has a kernel of truth, whether that truth has any relation to the matter at hand or not; goebbels seized upon the fact that the jews were different than the average german, which they were, they were following a different faith, they were not christians.
watching becks rally, he is presenting it as more christian than racial, he has had a rabbi show up, as well as native-americans, and has attractive african-american singers and such. maybe more judaeo-christian than christian, haven't seen any imams.
the mistake being made here is conflating becks insanity with racism, although i am sure some racists listen to beck, and are willing to go along to a certain point, i think his schtick is more dominionist than racist. just because the ancien regime here in the usa was racist (slavery, jim crow) does not mean that the current crop of theocrats are motivated primarily by racism.
identity politics can be a tricky thing, a double edged sword that can turn in your hand.
witness pim fortuyn in the netherlands, an openly gay right-wing politician, who was rabidly anti-muslim; but still, openly gay, doesn't fit the left/right mold.
witness alan keyes, who detests our current potus as much as anyone i've seen, hardly white.
stockholm syndrome?
nevertheless, witnessing this travesty on c-span, looks like a great big injection of opiate for the masses.
on second thought, crack for the masses?
Glen Beck is a true patriot and a genuine undercover Liberal. Good man! He has set out to gain the trust of all the white supremacist, anti-democracy, bigoted, constitutional revisionists, the dangerous hyper-paranoid militants, the too-stupid-to-live idiocrats. Now he leads them all to Washington DC, home of everything nefarious, where they can gather and be filmed by the NSA, watched by the FBI, and televised generally so that true Americans can know who their really neighbors are. Well done GB!
I'm left wondering whether Beck doesn't just intend to break from his career on Fox, and instead pursue his life-long dream of being a faith healer.
Please remember that most of the conservative talking heads beat the negativity drum against the first Black Democratic nominee for President of these United Staes of America by parceling out distortions, half-truths and downright lies to instill fear into the hearts of 'middle America". All during the months prior to the election they attempted to sell an assortment of stories, one more preposterous than the next. Let me see if I can remember a few of them... Obama was a terrorist, a closet Muslim, a racist, a Marxist communist and NOT a natural born citizen.... Unfortunately, for them the majority of Americans didn't believe this hogwash and a monumental and glorious moment occurred in my country- i cried tears of joy in relief that Barack Obama, a black man was elected President. It should have been a paradigm shift in the political mindset and in the conscience of America, but alas, i'm said to report NOT. Because deep down they can't stand that a black man is our Commander in Chief. It goes against the very grain and fiber of their being because racism is alive and thriving in America, and especially in the conservative media, the mouthpiece for the Republican party. The election of Obama did not change their backward thinking, not in the least. In fact, it has emboldened them. This farce that Glenn Beck is creating would make me laugh if it wasn't so insidiously filled with a malicious undercurrent. What enormous gall and chutzpah must he possess to insinuate himself into the civil rights movement. Restore Honor??!! You have got to be kidding me.
Budsgirl11954
Dear Mr. Beck, Please sit down and be quiet. The adults are talking.
That chart says everything that needs to be said about that cretin Beck
Is he running for President?
When I commented that Beck's rally was Hitleresque, it was not printed by AOL!
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