Today, Glen Beck’s hoard of crazed sheep will descend on Washington,DC, spewing hate, lies, and Kool-Aid. While searching for sources for this message, I found a single article in Think Progress that said virtually everything I had intended. Here it is:
This Saturday, right-wing protesters will gather in Washington, DC for a march to oppose health reform, President Obama, "corruption," and "an overall conversion to a socialist style government." The event, scheduled intentionally on Sept. 12 to coincide with the anniversary of the day following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, was conceived largely by Fox News’ Glenn Beck. Beck, the McCarthyite Fox News talk show host who has lost dozens of advertisers for calling Obama a "racist," is a relentless promoter of his 9/12 Project. However, most of the day-to-day organizing has been orchestrated by a now familiar set of lobbyists and Republican operatives who have helped plan anti-Obama "grassroots" tea party events since February. In addition, a set of far-right groups are supporting the event, bringing along self-described "American mob members" to join in on the Obama-bashing.
BECK EXPLOITS 9/11: In the past, Beck has said he "hates" the families of the victims of the Sept. 11
terrorist attacks. In 2007, Beck criticized the supporters of the Ron Paul "Revolution" who did a fundraiser on Guy Fawkes Day: "It’s really not the way I would go, tying my movement in with a historical terrorist attack, especially in post-9/11 America." Nonetheless, Beck hosted a special program earlier this year announcing his initiative called the "9/12 Project" — an effort to ostensibly recreate the patriotic unity after the September 11 attacks. In addition to standing for Sept. 12, according to Beck, "9/12" stands for nine principles — beginning with "America Is Good" and "I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life" — and 12 values — including "Reverence" and "Personal Responsibility." But far from calling for common ground, Beck explained that the purpose was to demonize his political opponents and declared that his movement would "surround them." He has also implored listeners to attend the rally because they "may be the only thing that stands between freedom and slavery." Members of the 9/12 Project have become a vocal — and sometimes violent — presence at townhall meetings and political protests. The 9/12 project website, owned by Beck’s media company Mercury Radio Arts, directs readers to his radio newsletter.
CORPORATE GOP FUNDING: While Beck and his allies in right-wing media have provided a platform
of constant publicity and coverage for the event, FreedomWorks, led by corporate lobbyist and former Republican Majority Leader Dick Armey, is coordinating the march and running its official website. The FreedomWorks organizers tell participants that "it is imperative" to "maintain the populist imagery," including a logo that invokes the Black Power salute. Starting in August, Beck began directing viewers to the FreedomWorks website at the end of his Fox News show. Billed as a "grassroots" rally, the event is actually sponsored by Republican political action committees and corporate front groups. The top sponsors are the right-wing think tank National Taxpayers Union. Another top sponsor, Tea Party Patriots, is an astroturf website run by FreedomWorks staffers who have rebuffed members objecting to the march’s logo. Our Country Deserves Better — a Republican PAC that has compared Obama to Hitler — operates the Tea Party Express, a bus tour arriving in DC for the 9/12 march. Other sponsors include the Heartland Institute and the Competitive Enterprise Institute, corporate front groups that claim smoking is good for you and global warming doesn’t exist. Both organizations have received millions of dollars from Philip Morris, ExxonMobil and Koch Industries, the largest privately-held company in the United States. The American Conservative Union, another sponsor, is run by David Keene, a lobbyist for a firm that represents private health care companies, including the insurer HealthFirst. Many of these groups — each of which paid up to $10,000 to FreedomWorks to participate as sponsors — were pivotal in providing assistance to attendees of rowdy town halls in August and anti-Obama tea party protests. Part of their strategy was encouraging anger and intimidation against lawmakers supporting health care and clean energy reform was part of the strategy.
RADICAL UNDERGROUND EMERGES: The official sponsorship list of the rally reveals a subterranean, extreme element of the American right in attendance. One of the top sponsors is the extremist organization Grassfire.org, which runs ResistNet.com for "Patriotic citizens who are opposing the Obama-led socialist agenda." Members of the ResistNet — who promote anti-semitic Nazi propaganda, claim Obama is a Muslim, and praise the assassination of doctors — are organized on Grassfire against health care reform ("Government-Run Socialized Health Care"), clean energy reform ("Cap-and-Trade Tax"), and immigration reform ("Amnesty for illegals"). Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) — who is sponsoring and speaking at the 9/12 rally — has praised Grassfire.org for its "great service to the American people." The National Association for Rural Landowners, a bronze sponsor, references the incidents at Waco and Ruby Ridge to call for attacks on "government entities" and liberals. In a YouTube video posted in July, the group makes the case for a secession, followed by a violent civil war. Similarly, another 9/12 cosponsor, FreeRepublic, is a forum for various radical right causes. As ThinkProgress reported, the shooter at the Holocaust museum found a welcome audience for his writings on the website. Despite the inclusion of such anti-government extremists, Rep. Tom Price (R-GA), Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA) all plan to attend and speak. [emphasis original]
Inserted from <Think Progress>
Frankly, I prefer not to support any company that helps keep him on the air with advertising, and although dozens of companies have already dropped him, here’s a list of those that remain.
- Lear Capital
- Legacy Publishing Company (The Total Transformation Program)
- The Foundation for a Better Life
- News Corp. (The Wall Street Journal)
- Carbonite
- LifeLock
- Mortgage relief hotline 1-888-336-5967
- Ashley Furniture (Which previously stated it had "pulled" its advertising from Beck)
- Rosland Capital
- National Review
- Conservatives for Patient’s Rights
- Merit Financial
- Superior Gold Group
- Loan modification helpline 800-917-8549
- IRSTaxAgreements.com
- Clarity Media Group (The Weekly Standard)
- Roche Diagnostics (Accu-Chek Aviva)
- Zero Technologies (ZeroWater)
Inserted from <Media Matters>
I urge you not to patronize any of those companies. Color of Change has a campaign to contact Beck’s advertisers and petition them to pull their support from his show. I added my name. Please add yours. To do so, Click Here.
35 Responses to “Action Alert: Let’s Put Beck Out of Business”
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Good Job.. I signed the first petition and have signed everyone since…lol I also signed the one at Democrats.com.. I also think we should target his radio show.. Not sure who his sponsors are on there.. but I think they should be added to the mix also..
I don't know if it would work to get him off the radio or not.. but I think we should try.. I would also like to target Rush.. I don't think we would ever get him off radio, but I would like to get him off Armed Forces Radio.. Why do we pay for his hate speak to be broadcast all over the world to the military and to everyone else who can pick it up.. that's just wrong.
I'm surprised Stormfront isn't one of the sponsors.
Why is Marsha Blackburn speaking? She is part of the problem. Why are any politicians speaking?
Economic Stimulus. H.R. 5140, the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, passed 385-35 on January 29, 2008 (Roll Call 25). It would provide about $150 billion in economic stimulus, including $101.1 billion in direct payments of rebate checks (typically $600) to most taxpayers in 2008 and temporary tax breaks for businesses. Creating money out of thin air and then spending the newly created money cannot improve the economy, at least not in the long term. (If it could, why not create even more money for rebates and make every American a millionaire?) The stimulus has no offset and thus increases the federal deficit by the amount of the stimulus because the government must borrow the rebate money. A realistic long-term stimulus can only be achieved by lowering taxes through less government and by reducing regulatory burdens. Marsha Blackburn voted FOR this bill.(Source: The New American – July 21, 2008)
Marsha Blackburn is my Congressman.
She is no conservative.
See her unconstitutional votes at :
http://bluecollarrepublican.com/blog/?p=614
Mickey
This is all about the underlying, hideous factor of the racism that is so deeply ingrained in the American character. The attempt to portray this president (Of all people!) as a socialistic, left wing extremist doesn't even pass the giggle test for people who have bothered to pay attention to their times and their history. Let's face it – Franklin D. Roosevelt, he ain't! They can't obstruct his agenda with a manufactured scandal regarding his personal life, as they did with Bill Clinton. eleven years ago. Their only hope is for enough of the American people to become really frightened by the Big, Bad Negro Commie. An ironic description when one takes into consideration how boringly moderate Obama really is.
Think about this: In the last presidential campaign only one of the nominees of the two major political parties was born in the United States – Barack Obama – John McCain was born in Panama. Do you find it as revealing as I do that it was the black guy had his citizenship called into question? How much more proof do we need of the overt racism that is inherent in that party – or in our own country for that matter? Honestly, this isn't rocket science, folks!
Joe Wilson and the nincompoops on the far right have opened a Pandora's Box that may very well prove difficult to close. What they are now doing – consciously or unconsciously – are prompting their brain-dead masses toward violence. and intimidation. Who can forget the knucklehead who showed up outside one of the president's Town Hall meetings in New Hampshire last month with a gun strapped to his leg? My biggest worry is that that little incident is merely a small illustration of worst things to come. If you are not seriously alarmed by what is now happening to our beloved country, you're not paying attention.
And now Glenn Beck is all set to become the Martin Loony King of the Far Right with his March on Washington today.
Isn't life interesting?
http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com
Tom Degan
Goshen, NY
To those who want to “get people off the air”:
Don't you see the danger posed by people who want to silence those who disagree with your views or the government's direction? Ask yourself “What would our world be like if this approach became standard operating procedure?” Americans’ cherished freedom of speech would be only a memory, and fascism, whether leftist or rightist, would have the fertile soil in which to grow. If what the public protagonists and protesters have to say is so ridiculous and contrived, why do you feel compelled to suppress it? The truth has a way of resonating with people, and it can only be defeated by a nation propelled by propaganda from the powerful and by political restrictions on free speech. Political speech in this country must be free of limits imposed by political ideologues. It's a sad commentary that actually proves the point made by those “Tea Party” marchers who fear big government intrusion and the potential loss of our freedoms. If you want to impose your beliefs on free citizens, you act in opposition to your own professed ideals. If you feel compelled to shut down those with whom you disagree, please step back and look at the big picture of the road you are traveling. You’ll see a wide angle view of the highway to totalitarianism.v
Glen Beck is a moron and didn’t start or invent these protests. They have been started at the grass roots and Beck, being as self-involved as he is, jumped on and is taking credit for them.
The point and message of these protests should resonate beyond party lines. It is inherently American to want a smaller government with less taxes and more freedom and that is what these protests are about.
Thanks Annette. Good point about Rush. I agree. Are you aware of any solid efforts bin that direction?
Thanks Randal. You just demonstrated that I've been gone. Who is Stormfront?
I see we have three new visitors commenting. Thanks and welcome to each of you.
Mickey haver for forgotten that when people spend money it multiplies as it passes hand to hand through an economy? At least part returns to the government in the form of taxes on the wages and profits the spending generates. Your solution sounds nice in theory, but it has been tried before with memorable results, by Herbert Hoover.
Tom, I fully a agree and fear that this hatred will end in violence, as I just commented on your blog. Folks, it's worth the read.
Craig, Beck has the right to speak his own mind. I have a right to refuse to support the broadcast of his speech by patronizing his advertisers. I also have the right to inform those advertisers why I refuse to patronize them. I also have the right to encourage others to do likewise. I have no desire to restrict Beck's free speech. I just think a soap box in a park would be a more appropriate venue for him.
Sorry I missed you, Adam. You commented while I was composing my last reply. Welcome. I'm afraid that the "grass roots" to which you refer are pure astro-turf, funded, organized and directed from the top down.
thanks Tomcat! Oh yes we will win this, the power is all ours!!
I don't even know where Glenn Beck came from and I wish he'd go back to wherever it was. Although of course I support free speech, that includes our right of free speech to let sponsors know how we feel.
Thanks Sue. I liked your blog!
Hi Maui,have you noticed that whenever the left exercises free speech, the right says we're denying it?
It seems like Beck's sponsors are little more than mini-infomercials now.
@ Randal and TomCat: If Stormfront were to be involved, I guess it would use a name like "Citizens for Fairness and Real Progress" or some other manifestation of Orwellian doublethink. 🙂
I just hope we can find a way to round all these people up and put them in a camp soon! Maybe Cass Sunstein can figure out a way to sterilize them at least! I mean of course we're right, so what does it matter what we do to them. Sucks we're all gutless cowards and they own all the guns….damn
I rest my case.
Nobody kicks a dead dog. Beck must be doing something right!
By that logic, Nancy, if the SWAT Team is sent then a crazed gunman on a roof must have been "doing something right".
Why bother trying to stop an entertainer spewing his opinions. YOU should watch the "ACORN Pimp" Videos on Youtube and YOU decide if this story is not deserving more media coverage.
Do it fast before Google pulls these videos off their network. You will not believe what you will hear. Go to Youtube.com and search for ACORN Video.
Why is it that progressives can't stand it when people disagree with their position?
When you talk about shutting up Glenn Beck you're only proving his point!
You guys just don't understand freedom or diversity, though you claim to "own" them.
To all the Beck-worshipers and apologists here–
I, personally, am a Progressive, and can not only 'handle it', but welcome those that disagree with me.
Y'all can't see the forest for the trees. I don't have a desire for 'shutting up Glenn Beck'; much to the contrary, I hope he continues spewing his idiocy. What I would like to see though, is intellectual and emotionally-challenged people to wake up and quit buying into his rabid and nonfactual nonsense. I mean, come on, you should be literate enough to check out his false gobbledygook.
Pretty much as I expected, them with the exception of Gigi are tied to dead links. Caraigweide, peter adam, nancy
Brother, that's about it. All the household names are gone.
Welcome Stimson. I checked out your blog and found it quite appealing. I checked out Stormfront and I agree.
Welcome Peter. I'm sorry, but I completely disagree with you. Putting people in camps or sterilizing them because of the views they express sounds more like a tactic of the right to me than one of the left. Bush and the GOP imprisoned Americans and held them incommunicado with no charges filed against them. I support their right to speak their mind, even though I disagree completely with them.
Craig, I see what you were saying, but the offensiveness of what Peter said pales in comparrison to some of Beck's statements, like his suggestion, in feigned humor, that the Speaker of the House be assassinated.
Welcome Nancy. I'd answer your argument, but Stimson beat me to my answer. What a stinker he is. 😉
Welcome Jay-jay. I've already seen them and found them offensive. Please see my comment to Gigi that follows.
Welcome Gigi. First, let me commend you for being the only conservative who replied here without doing so under the cover of a blank profile. Thank you.
Gigi, and all, we've really been arguing the wrong issue, as this is not a freedom of speech issue. To properly place it we need to shift to another important aspect of the First Amendment, freedom of the press. That is a quirky freedom, because, in order to exercise it, one must have (or have access to) a press or a modern day equivalent, such as a news network. Today this freedom is dependent on advertisers. They pay the cost of utilizing the press, based on whether or not people will like the content enough to respond by patronizing their businesses. In a free market, ideas that the public supports will get more coverage than ideas that offend the public, because they will generate more business for the advertisers. Beck supporters are just as free to contact his advertisers and express their support, as I am to contact them and express my disgust. Since the majority of Beck's advertisers have dropped him, it appears that the free market is working in this case. I haven't made any attempt to shut-up those who disagree with me and will not do so as long as those views are not personal attacks against me or people who comment here. Please don't tell me that I don't understand freedom or diversity, because more than one left-wing blogger refuse to post comments here, because I deleted their personal attacks against conservatives who shared their views.
Brother and Mark, I didn't forget you. You posted while I was replying. Thanks.
You guys crack me up. A change is a comin' and it's not what the President is hoping for.
@Norris: You crack me up. A change is a comin' and it's not what you and the other teabaggers are hoping for.
As I see it, it's time for change we can believe in. The tea baggers want to maintain the status quo of the GOP Reich.
What a surprise – the so-called progressives can't stand the heat of full discussion and close analysis, so they have to shut it down.
Your weak, administrative dunce of a leader can't seem to explain – as rhetorically skilled as you all claim he is – can't seem to explain how he is going to spend less on Medicare and Medicaid, insure 30M more people, and not spend one additional dime.
But the problem is all Glenn Beck.
Big, bad, mean, Glenn Beck speaks, and Obama falls over and needs to be helped back to his feet by you guys.
Wow! Exactly how brittle and unsupportable are your policies?
"Why bother trying to stop an entertainer spewing his opinions. YOU should watch the "ACORN Pimp" Videos on Youtube and YOU decide if this story is not deserving more media coverage."
When that entertainer's "opinions" include inciting mob violence in our capitol, you shut them down for inciting a riot. No one has the right to shout Fire in crowded theater.
Yes I agree Obama's racist administration is hideous!
After all they shouldn't spend one cent of medical care money on us 'old white crackers', should they?
It should all be given to ACORN!!!
Seriously, there was NO one organizing this march, we all went on our own. There is no funding and no direction.
It's truly 100% grassroots and we WILL prevail!
@Quayle: They need a leader to attack Alinsky-style and because there isn't one, they flounder.
Their arguments are otherwise fraudulent, and the attack the head tactic isn't working.
So now what?
name calling and cliches… that's all you hear.
Welcome Quayle and webmaster. You two evidently skipped right to the bottom to dispense your Kool-Aid without bothering to read the intervening discussion. There has been considerable discussion and analysis from both sides right here, and nobody has tried to shut it down. May I suggest that Obama has explained how he intends to do that. Your side of the aisle, which the voters of this country so wisely choses to reject in 2008, chooses not to hear. I have nothing personal against Glen Beck. I do object to his using his platform to incite violence. Nobody in this discussion has called each other names. If they had, you would see deleted comments. Here we discuss views, not personal attacks.
Welcome CJ. Good point.
Marchers came to DC from all across the country, from Sun City to Leisure World.
See:
http://notionscapital.wordpress.com/2009/09/17/march-of-the-disgruntled-in-dc/
Hi Mike. It's pretty discourteous to post a SPAM ad for your blog without even stopping to say hello.
I am a proponent of free speech that signed the petition against boycotting Glenn Beck I also wrote letters to all the advertisers that boycotted this show and informed them that I am boycotting them until they advertise on the show again.
Welcome Zactech. I disagree with you, but recognize and support your right to do so.