There are some obvious Glenn Beck fans out there who think that he stands behind what he says and is a man of convictions who stands behind the people who support him.
Watch this clip of Beck on the O’Reilly Factor.
http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/200910090052
After railing on his show about how the Swine Flu epidemic and vaccine is some kind of government conspiracy, Glenn Beck suddenly waffles when asked directly by Bill O’Reilly if he is going to get vaccinated. When O’Reilly asks about the millions of viewers who listen to listen to him and do what he advises, Beck says with a small chuckle, “They’re zombies.” O’Reilly didn’t stand up for Beck’s fans or dispute Beck’s statement; he just let it stand.
Did you understand what he said? Beck thinks that the people who watch his show and act on what he says are, according to Random House Webster’s definition of the word zombie, an automaton or the body of a dead person given the semblance of life, but mute and will-less, by a supernatural force, usually for some evil purpose. I think of a movie like 28 Days Later or Night of the Living Dead, where mindless, malevolent creatures whose only thought is to eat ot attack others in a swift and violent manner with no thought of consequences go on a rampage that threatens the existence of mankind. I don’t know which definition of zombie Mr. Beck had in mind, but mindless and easily controlled was definitely a prominent part of it.
To the supporters, fans, and acolytes of Glenn Beck, how does it feel to know what your pundit/idol actually thinks of you? And knowing that, is it a far stretch to think that he would have no qualms using you to pursue his own political agenda, or the one he is paid to pursue? It’s obvious he has been using you at the very least to make money and create popularity for himself.
I, and others, have tried to tell you that you are being used and to encourage you to think and act for yourselves. Don’t just look where these people ask you to look, also look at what is standing behind them and what they are pointing away from. Those things tell you as much as anything else.
Glenn Beck, and those like him, have been laughing all the way to the bank, along with those who have been paying them. It’s time to have the last laugh and hit these people where it hurts by switching the channel or turning the TV and radio off. Stop being zombies and become the vital, active citizenry that you truly aspire to be. It will take work because you will actually have to gather information and to come up with answers for yourself, but they will be YOUR answers and YOUR solutions based on the way things really are. Take responsibility for yourselves and your government by participating in a democracy that relies on an knowledgeable and proactive citizenry in order to remain relevant and successful.
The movies are full of the images of the dangers of a zombie population gone wild and it ain’t pretty. The scariest thing of all is that it isn’t just happening in the movies; it’s here and it’s real.
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
While I understand what you are saying, I think what an elected official says to his constituant bears more weight. Especially if it’s deragatory to the constituant. Rabid fans? I think you give these people more power then their fans. You give them something to villanize. As they you. Like you say, change the chanel. I would add, change your vote. Same thing.
When a “talking head” places themselves in the political process by starting a political action committee and takes an active role in guiding that committee (The 912 Project), then he has removed themselves from the arena of mere entertainer and placed themselves in a new role of accountability and responsibility. The 912 Project is not a mere fan club and Glenn is no longer a mere commentator. He can’t pick and choose anymore when he wishes to take or evade responsibility- he made his choice. He can’t expand his influence, and the corresponding dollars that come with it, and be allowed to hide behind the “I’m only a guy with a TV show, don’t blame me…” line. Unlike politicians, we can’t vote Glenn out of office, censure him, or impeach him. As long as he has a rabid enough fan base that watch his show or buy his crap, we are stuck with him and he wil continue to meddle with impunity until the public itself slaps him down.
Bill, Rush, and the like know better than to step over the line; they may walk it from time to time but Glenn has stepped firmly and publicly over it. But at least he will have lots of money to mute any possible repercussions of his actions, money given to him by his fans and followers to shield him from the full extent of culpability for the actions he has set in motion.
The First Amendment gives him the right to air his opinions and the free market gives him the pulpit, but neither absolve him from responsibility should he choose to act on those views or inspire others to.
Just a reminder that the general public has been called racist, evil, war mongers. By their own representatives, not a talking head. It would do more good to focus on the politicians than the talking heads since they actually have the power to change laws.
My last take on this issue, a trifle really, is that the libs started calling Limbaugh and Becks audiences “mind numbed robots and zombies”.
He’s just returning a humorous lob from the other side of the net.
I love that you quote CS Lewis, but finish the statement; “There are two great dangers concerning demons. First that they are not beleived to exist, the second is having a facination of them”.
But I must admit to the correctness regarding the other commentators conserv abd lib.
Maddow and Olbermann do not have their own political action committes that disseminated material to those who went to Town Hall meetings in protest that contained inaccurate material but predigested talking points. Maddow and Olbermann, along with Bill O’Reilly and Neil Boortz, do not create deliberate and malicious campaigns to oust public officials from office. None of them peddle conspirarist theory as truth and yet step behind the disclaimer of “entertainer” to remove themselves from responsibility for their actions. Maddow and Olbermann are not continually listed as influential people in the media- probably the only non-frightwingers that have that kind of streetcred are Jon Stewart and possibly Colbert. But they make fun of everyone and ask more questions than posit theories or opinions.
So what are you saying, that no one is listening to the guy? That no one takes him seriously? That no one takes his ramblings as the truth? Then you don’t read much of what’s out there, nor what’s posted on this site. The people I am friends with think for themselves, whether conservative, libertarian or liberal. As far as Maddow and Olbermann and their take on Beck- I am not a regular viewer of their shows, so how could I take Maddow or Olbermann’s view on Beck or anything else?
Not everyone is you. Not everyone examines or questions what is placed in front of them. Take a look around- you might be surprised by what you find.
“They take what he says as gospel and his version of the world as truth.” Who are “They”? How many of “them” have you actually spoken to one on one? Or is it possible that you are taking Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann’s word for it?
“Glenn Beck, and those like him, have been laughing all the way to the bank…” Again, please refer to the aforementioned Maddow and Olbermann (Chris Matthews, Media Matters, MoveOn.org, etc.). These are all people and/or organizations who capitalize upon the intentional ignorance of their audience as well. People get so addicted to focusing on the Linbaughs of the world that they can’t see the hypocritical forest due to the proverbial trees.
Whether you or I think his whole schtick is a joke or not is beside the point. There are millions of listeners, veiwers and readers of Glenn Beck who are not in on the joke. They take what he says as gospel and his version of the world as truth. The fact that he can offhandedly call them zombies shows that he knows this.
Two phrases come to mind. One is “Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absoltely.” The other is “The greatest trick the devil ever played was convincing people he doesn’t exist.” You can go ahead and laugh at the joke; I’m keeping an eye on the ones who are listening but not laughing with you.
Are you serious? Please tell me this is a lampoon! Ms. Bramble get a sense of humor for crying out loud. This shouldn’t need to be said, but here it is, “IT WAS A JOKE”.
Libs, remove the “I can’t understand a joke from a conservative chip” out of your thick skulls and laugh sometimes, maybe even without a sacastic edge. It feels good, really.