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Here's audio of Beck's comments:On July 22, Anders Behring Breivik went on a shooting rampage on Norway’s Utoya Island. At the time of this blog post, the most current reported number of casualties is 68.Strangely, on his July 25 radio program, Glenn Beck smeared the victims of this tragedy by comparing them to Hitler youth, saying:As the thing started to unfold and there was a shooting at a political camp, which sounds a little like the Hitler Youth. Who does a camp for kids that’s all about politics? Disturbing.Needless to say, Beck’s smear was wildly off base. A former press secretary of Norway’s prime minister explained toThe Daily Telegraph:Young political activists have gathered at Utoya for over 60 years to learn about and be part of democracy, the very opposite of what the Hitler Youth was about. Glenn Beck’s comments are ignorant, incorrect and extremely hurtful.
As disgraceful as this comparison was, Beck refused to walk back from his comments. On today's radio show, he rationalized that if he cannot use comparisons to Hitler in "logical conversation” then “we are going to be a society of gas chambers.” Here's the audio:
Beck's history shows a long record of controversial remarks, even claiming that "reform Judaism" was akin to "radical Islam!" There is a reason that Beck's biographer, Alex Zaitchik, subtitled his book Glenn Beck and the Triumph of Ignorance. Beck says things that are profoundly ignorant, which begs the question: why?
Beck obviously knew very little about that youth camp where Anders Behring Breivik killed so many young people, so why would he compare it to a Nazi youth camp? Why? Beck's road to success has been controversy. Controversy leads to publicity and that has lead to more listeners and higher ratings. One answer is that Beck is exploiting this tragedy to reasons of personal gain, another opportunity to get people's attention.
It is only a "secret" to his gullible and believing followers that Glenn Beck is a propagandist. Beck may have exploited this tragedy to score propaganda points against the Norwegian Labor Party, but why would Beck care about what happens in Europe? Profoundly nationalistic, even to the point of "hating" soccer, Beck would not use this terrible event unless he wanted to spark controversy. Beck may, nonetheless, have exploited the murder of children for the purpose of political propaganda.
self-promoting propagandist, mentally defective or both?
One more possibility is that Beck has a mental defect. Most people think thoughts and ideas that we hold back and not articulate in order to not make an ass of ourselves. We refrain from saying whatever crosses our minds in order to not make enemies of friends, family and associates, in order to keep our jobs or peace on the home front. Beck's filter may be defective. It seems that he has a reactionary version of Tourette Syndrome. He doesn't spit profanities, but he says whatever crosses his mind. That could explain his initial comment, but he then rationalized his disgraceful, horrific, ignorant and news-making comments today.
This begs another question: how horrific, sleazy and disgraceful does Beck have to get for his loyal and loving (cult) followers realize that he's not far enough along as a "recovering dirt bag," his appropriate phrase, to take him seriously as anything more than an arrogant, ignorant, disgraceful and shallow entertainer and deceitful propagandist? Based upon the comments on his website, that threshold will probably not be met. Part of Beck's genius is earning the seemingly unconditional love of his followers. Glenn Beck, the cult of personality, can do no wrong in the eyes of his adoring fans. They seem to have no idea the extent to which Beck manipulates them. "Disturbing" indeed!
If you find Beck's exploitation of this horrible tragedy unacceptable and intolerable, then sign the petition to have the radio stations that host his reactionary propaganda hold him accountable for his ignorant and irresponsible commentary.
Update, 7/29/2011: According to a post on a NewYorker blog entitled "Glenn Beck and the Seven Norwegians," "Beck himself...has helped out a Tea Party camp." Author Amy Davidson noted the hypocrisy, and that makes for 26 examples of demonstrated hypocrisy on the part of Glenn Beck, a propagandist either deceitful or self-deluded enough to call himself a "principles and values guy."
Update, 8/02/11: If there is still a question regarding Beck's hypocrisy on this matter, it was obvious to his critic, Keith Olbermann to warrant being the worst person in the world on August 1st. Via Current TV:
To all but Beck's adoring fans, who turn blinded eyes and deaf ears toward Beck's most pronounced character flaw, his knack for demonstrating blatant hypocrisy alone would be more than a sufficient reason to ignore Glenn Beck and his reactionary movement. Unfortunately, millions in Beck's cult of personality see no hypocrisy, hear no hypocrisy and speak of no hypocrisy. That just happens to be their character flaw, one that needs to be stressed when interacting with someone spouting some version of Beck's ideas, false claims, conspiracy theories or ideals.
Before more people start tuning into Beck's reactionary, yellow propaganda,get involved!Sign the petition to hold Beck accountable.Help support the Fox boycott.Post a comment------------------------------------------------------Please get involved for 10 minuteshttp://sharethisurlaboutglennbeck.com
