Thursday, September 17, 2009

Glenn Beck on TIME magazine


I've followed Glenn Beck since his days on 970 WFLA here in Tampa. I didn't (and still don't) always agree with most of his rantings, especially his efforts at comedy or "duping the morons" during afternoon drivetime.

His recent success is, in my opinion, due to his transformation to seek a more universal truth through criticism and skepticism of both political parties. Like Beck, I railed against President Bush, especially the last three years or so of his administration. There wasn't a home between the Bush-haters and the Republican loyalists.

Unlike many conservatives, especially talk radio hosts like Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity, Beck ventures off the Republican reservation to attack the hypocrisy of "conservatives" as well as the Democrats.

The coverage of ACORN and Van Jones have really advanced his cause by establishing credibility. I don't think of any of these talking heads as "journalists", but Beck partnered with Andrew Breitbart to out ACORN's incredible corruption and illegal activities discovered by two inidiviuals posing as a pimp and prostitute.

The networks have only now begun to embrace the story.

Likewise, Beck was "way out in front" on the Green Czar Van Jones, outing his long history of self-proclaimed radical history and controversial comments. Jones resigned over a long weekend skirting criticism from the media.

Gracing the cover of TIME will raise the question from those in the media: is Beck sincere with his comments and stances against so many officials and governement policies? I personally think the media and journalists have become so fake, blinded by their own political bias and an industry likemindedness, they simply don't understand Beck.

It's just simply easier to dismiss him as crazy than review the stories and have the results contradict their own personal beliefs.

For me, Beck is just another face in the crowd, but deserves some unique credit for carving out a niche in calling out both sides and running stories no one else will present.

3 comments:

  1. I mostly agree with your thesis. Even if Beck is not totally committed to the cause of freedom, his radio and TV shows are so large that people who only knew Hannity, Limbaugh, et al, are getting to hear of differing point of view, not just R is good D is bad or vice versa. I hope Beck continues his personal study and I hope this transformation is real.

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  2. He's ventured of the "Good Hat, Bad Hat" approach to politics long ago. I'm not a fan of the crying fits and his efforts at sentiment, but he's separated himself from those you mentioned.

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  3. Hi Brandon,

    Every time I call my mother in, "The Villages" Florida, she raves about Glenn Beck as if he's some kind of genius. I also remember Beck from 970 WFLA Radio and was never a fan of his. I'm a registered Libertarian and I understand that Beck is also a fellow Libertarian.

    He appears by my perspective to be nothing more than an updated version of Rush Limbaugh. The one thing in Beck's favor over Limbaugh is the ACORN debacle. Excluding that (which was brought about by Beck's dogged persistence and a bucket load of good luck), he mostly expounds what are half-truths at best and vicious rumors at worst, hoping all the while that one of his little tidbits is revealed as fact over time so he can say, AHA!, I told you! He pretends to be the barometer of truth in politics. He does a wonderful job of espousing Rupert Murdoch's political leanings, hence his $2M annual salary. So too, does Bill O'Reilly.

    Only time (and for Glenn Beck much more luck) will tell how long he lasts in his present role. But as far as Beck being Libertarian, he sure doesn't act like it and it may be a ruse to fool the citizenry-at-large.

    By the way, I like your blog! It's about time! :)

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