Are Americans this fucking stupid?  Is this the type intelligent discourse they crave?  Why do some of us presume to be more enlightened than others?  Clearly we are not, judging by this idiot’s disrespectful banter.  [editor's note:  I have broken my unbreakable vow not to comment or post anything about the messiah Glenn Beck.  I feel so cheap.]

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Late last year I wrote a piece about the vilification of ACORN, and their work in impoverished communities.  Some weak-kneed Democrats capitulated to Republican demands to ban federal funding for the group– effectively initiating a modern day witch hunt which succeeded in dissolving the community organization.  Today brings word that ACORN has been absolved of all wrongdoing–which included voter fraud, and the misuse of federal funds:

The GAO found in a report released Tuesday that nearly $40 million in contracts awarded ACORN by a myriad of federal agencies was spent properly. The report also revealed that the group had not violated any federal campaign laws related to voter registration, an oft repeated claim of the right wing media critics like Beck and Limbaugh.

The report was commissioned by Congress as both parties voted to ban federal funding for the group after selectively edited videos were released depicting ACORN employees counseling two right-wing provocateurs posing as a college student and a prostitute.

This report buoys the argument that Republicans consciously tried to neutralize ACORN’s efforts to register poor and minorities to vote.  Not shocking, considering the poor have been scapegoated and vilified in the political process for years.  The trumped up charges against ACORN just prove that.  The insidious war against the poor will continue unabated without the help of organizations like ACORN, that seek to empower those who do not have it.

Some in Washington and conservative talk radio discourage this type of civic responsibility.  Glen Beck, Rush Limbaugh, et al. have managed to savage the reputation of an organization that had been doing what most others could not or would not do for 35 years.  They’ve managed to sow enough mistrust and anger to suppress democracy, and silence the dissent of the lower class.

This report is welcome news.  Unfortunately, it comes too late for ACORN.

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The hits just keep on coming.  In a follow-up post to my Glen Beck-Malia Obama story, Beck issued an apology for dragging eleven year old Malia Obama into a political debate regarding the president’s handling of the BP oil crisis:

(sic)… “there is absolutely no excuse or reason to ever, ever, ever, ever even come close to the line of dragging somebody’s family into the debate. I’ve never done it. I’ve never done it until last Friday.”

Media Matters has uncovered evidence to the contrary.  On several occasions dating back to 2009, Beck routinely harangued and smeared Obama, as well as members of his immediate family.

Here are some examples of Beck never dragging some one’s family into the debate:

Beck on Obama’s aunt: “I took this cane from her earlier”; “[I]t’s like little Tiny Tim.” During the April 2, 2009, edition of his Fox News show, Beck discussed Obama’s aunt visa status and stated, “Obama’s aunt, you know — and I took this cane from her earlier. I — it’s like little Tiny Tim. Oh, I’d like more. please. Please. God bless us, every one.’ She has a limp, didn’t you know that? She should be able to stay.”

Beck: “What scar is left when the mom leaves a son who’s been abandoned by his father for Marxism?” During the March 17 edition of his Fox News show, Beck stated: “Here’s a sad thing that I don’t think anybody will really ever say about Barack Obama, because it sounds mean, and I don’t mean it to be mean.” He continued:

BECK: This is truly a sad, tragic story. But the only way to understand — first of all, all the people around him — and then his thinking — I don’t think he’s an evil man. I don’t think he’s trying to do evil things intentionally.

He really does believe Marxism is the way, is the answer, it is the future. He believes that. From the moment he was born, he had contact with nothing but socialist, Marxist, communist radicals. His father abandoned him. Why? So he could go off to a Marxist school in New York. Then his father left the country to go try it out.

How tragic. What kind of scar does that leave on a boy?

Then his mother: I mean, this is — you tell me. What scar is left when the mom leaves a son who’s been abandoned by his father for Marxism — leaves the son with his grandparents so she can pursue critical theory, which is Marxist? Both parents leave a boy for Marxism?

And then he goes to his parents — or his grandparents. His grandparents attended the little red church, which was known for its communist teachings. Grandpa introduced him to Frank Marshall Davis. Frank Marshall Davis is now his teenage mentor. Frank Marshall Davis has an FBI file this big.

Beck launched sexist attack on Michelle Obama. As Media Matters previously documented, Beck launched a sexist attack on Michelle Obama, saying: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen the first lady with her — excuse the expression — but with her breasts all smooshed up, sort of. I mean, what is that?” Beck later commented on Michelle Obama’s dress and makeup during the same program.

Beck pointed to Obama’s parents, grandparents to say Obama “didn’t have a chance to actually think anything but radical thoughts.” Later during the same April 6 show, Beck pointed to pictures of Obama’s family and said: “This kid didn’t have a chance to be rooted in the Founding Fathers. This guy doesn’t have a chance to actually think anything but radical thoughts. Based on everybody in his life so far, who’s defending capitalism?”

It is quite possible that Glen Beck never listens to, nor watches his own broadcasts.  That would be the only way he could possibly be ignorant of his inane rantings.  Of course Beck invites this type of critique and examination, because it does nothing but embolden him against perceived unsavory mainstream media attacks.  But his circus shtick is getting old.  And his depraved obsession with the president and his family is odd and frightening.

ht/media matters

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UPDATE:  Beck’s apology:

In discussing how President Obama uses children to shield himself from criticism, I broke my own rule about leaving kids out of political debates. The children of public figures should be left on the sidelines. It was a stupid mistake and I apologize–and as a dad I should have known better.

It’s been established that I don’t like Glen Beck.  I honestly loathe writing about him as much as I do.  But he continues to do mind-numbingly silly things, that practically force my hand.  It’s one thing to impugn and mock the president of the United States.  Obama is fair game.  But  leave the man’s children out of your insipid rants.  You only make yourself look intellectually small and cowardly.

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“…Based entirely on non-facts, spin and outright lies?” You ought to know about those things Mr. Beck.  Listen to the ranting of a loon.

Of course he understands the Declaration of Independence more.  After all, no one else other than Beck could have figured out that God wrote it.  That leads me to ask this question:  If God did write the Declaration, how do we have the right or the power to amend it?

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I sat riveted in my chair for a good 20 seconds before I realized this was one of the most futile exchanges I’ve seen in a while.  Debating whether or not American citizens should have Miranda rights is anathema to American ideals.  Throwing the baby out with the bath water.  I’m amazed that conservative fervor toward combating terrorism, blinds them to the very tenets of freedom they champion so strenuously.  Anyway, watch Beck and O’Reilly have at it:

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People will die!

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unfair, and equilibrium-challenged.

According to liberal bloggers they are. Fox News is reportedly pulling the plug on selective clips provided by the News1News Channel, a progressive news channel on YouTube. YouTube has now shut News1News down, effectively blocking a pipeline of information pertinent to many in the liberal blogosphere. News1News was a popular channel on YouTube– that provided clips from mainstream media outlets– but focused primarily on Fox News, and their blustery political commentators.

Fox News issued an amazing 150 take-down notices to the channel under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. To put that in perspective, YouTube is obligated to shut down any station that receives TWO take-down notices. Apparently, Fox wasn’t fucking around.

Here’s where this story gets screwy. Fox doesn’t seem to have any issue with the many conservative channels currently occupying space on YouTube. In face, The Glen Beck channel and Conservative Nation, have a large number of clips that were left untouched by Fox’s cyber rampage. Coincidence?  Nope.  Is there an overt agenda to stamp out liberal rants by Fox nation? As a liberal ranter, I say HELL YES!  Most of these outlets for news and information are of vital importance to bloggers, liberal or conservative. By trying to limit information, Fox News is engaging in Operation: Dissent Smother. Problem is, for every News1News they shut down, ten more will be up and running– playing the same obnoxious clips of Glen Beck playing with dolls, or Brian Kilmeade just being a plain jackass.

The “fair and balanced” spin machine keeps getting dinged by their own lame softballs.

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Eric Cartman channels Glen Beck.

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