My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally
 

One of the greatest, well two greatest, things about living in Washington D.C. is we're home of the Washington Redskins. The other being Washington D.C. is the epicenter of American politics. Anyone or anything that matters has to come through D.C. to get the attention of the nation.

This weekend I attended one of the two MLK rallies, but not the Glenn Beck rally. However, a couple of my friends went to the Beck rally. They went not out of any allegiance or genuine support for Glenn Beck or his ideology, whatever that truly is, but out of curiosity and to get a sense of the pulse of the crowd. One friend sent me a text message from the Beck rally, as I was listening to Al Sharpton speak at the other one, whom I no big fan of either, saying they were singing the Black National Anthem at the Beck rally on the Mall. I knew right then and there that this guy is about to explode in a way unimaginble. Anytime a white man in America can gather African Americans to sing that song, he's tapped into something worth paying attention to. But that's a thought I don't want to explore right here and now.

A couple of things I noticed while riding Metro and observing those who attended Beck's rally, there wasn't the usual hateful signs and, for the most part, these seemed like your run of the mill concerned citizens, not your angry Tea Party types. Now I know that a large segment of the crowd certainly identifies with the Tea Party, and there were undoubtedly some good old boys there who don't like Obama, but the rally didn't have a strong Tea Party or political overtone from what I understand.

What I'm starting to realize, irrespective of my personal views of Beck's politics, is that he matters. The National Park Service have yet to release any official crowd size estimates gathered at the Mall, but I've heard numbers ranging from 87K to north of 100K. So basically, if you watch Fox news they'll report the crowd size around three hundred thousand and if you watch MSNBC they'll report a hundred thousand! Surely you know the drill by now, but that's not really the point here. Whatever the number, and it was a lot, Glenn Beck is suddenly a very influential figure in American politics. I suppose in a way that he wasn't prior to this large gathering and I dare say in a way that may thwart the liberal and progressive agenda in the future. That remains to seen.

In fact, Beck, and very cleverly so, neutralized partisan politics by talking about faith and God. Personally I'm not buying it, but guess what I don't need to. That's a subject that all Americans, regardless of political leanings or ethnic persuasion, can relate to and quite frankly stomach during a toxic political environment such as the one we're seeing in Washington right now.

Here's the thing, Genn Beck can talk about faith and God in a way that say, Tim Pawlenty as a presidential candidate, cannot. He can gather a crowd and rally thousands that Mitt Romney wouldn't even dare dream about. Ben Jealous, President of the NAACP, and Al Sharpton combined barely filled a high school football field of supporters just ten minutes away in a tribute to MLK. Even Sarah Palin and all of her groupies wouldn't have mustered a crowd that large.

What I'm getting at is that you don't gather that many thousands on the hallowed grounds of the Mall and still don't matter. It's going to be more diffucult for the liberal media types to dismiss Beck and portray him as some right wing loon who just wants to stir up hate and divide the American people. And as many of us on the left would hate to admit, this guy is starting to fill a void that has existed in our country for the past ten or fifteen years. That being the American people simply want nuts and bolts leadership and they want to feel they identify with their leaders. I think that's the void that has been left by the the previous Administration, the current Congress, Democrats and Republicans, and has proven to be a very difficult task even for President Obama, who just two years ago generated a Kennedyesque buzz across the country.

Now I don't expect this thread to go anywhere after, say, the third page or so I just wanted to voice my thoughts on this weekend's events after some reflection. I think we're experiencing a real political and cultural shift in our country right now and I think the ride is just beginning.

Re: My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally
 

Glenn Beck is an absolute jackass...give me an effing break. U watch his show? Ive never heard anybody try to re-write and twist history to support his cult-like views. Jesus christ he is a looney. I turned it on like a year ago and he was crying on TV saying he wanted his country back...a grown man crying on TV?...p*ssy comes to mind. Then one time I turned it on and he was talking about NYC, showing pictures of buildings and crap stating that it was really marxist, socialist symbolism. That NYC was built and fueled on those idealogy. I thought good lord this guy entertaining as sh*t...move over McCarthy. What a complete and utter jackass, Fox finally found their Rush. Glenn Beck is absolutely perfect for people who are too stupid to think on their own.

Re: My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally
 

Dude, did you even read my post? I might or might not disagree with you on all of those points, but that's still not THE point.

Re: My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally
 

What leadership does Beck provide? He has a big mic on his TV/Radio show to pimp his rally and some takers who love him and Palin. I'm sure if Rush wanted to get into the act he can do it bigger and badder. The fact that these clowns have that kind of pull says something about the sad state of the Republican party. If people like Beck were electable I would take notice and be worried. They are not.

With all his talk of faith and God I think he is trying to fill a void left by Jerry Falwell and the ever decreasing relevance of James Dobson and Pat Robertson. I'll give him props for being one hell of a showman.

Re: My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally
 

[quote=12thMan;725645]Dude, did you even read my post? I might or might not disagree with you on all of those points, but that's still not THE point.[/quote]

Sure did, you start talking about Glenn Beck and faith...I freakin couldnt resist. Obama is a racist right? Well that man of faith believes it.

Re: My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally
 

[quote=saden1;725655]What leadership does Beck provide? He has a big mic on his TV/Radio show to pimp his rally and some takers who love him and Palin. I'm sure if Rush wanted to get into the act he can do it bigger and badder. The fact these clowns have the kind of pull says something about the sad state of the Republican party. If people like Beck were electable I would take notice and be worried. They are not.[/quote]

You'r spot on. But I don't think it's about Beck being electable or about him being a leader. He's stated on numerous occasions that he's not interested in running for office. And why would he? He's much more powerful selling Beckology to conservatives day in and day out.

Like I said his rally wasn't about big government v. small governement, Obama bashing, or all the other issues he tends to twist and contort on a daily basis, but something a lot of folks in the center of the electorate can relate to. I'm telling you something is afoot and we can't dismiss this guy because we feel, and rightfully so, that his message is outside the mainstream.

I met a man on the Metro, probably in his early 40s, with his young daughter headed to the rally. Nothing scary about him and he seemed, after talking to him, pretty level headed. All I'm saying is when people like that start paying attention to guys like Beck, something is shifting and we should take notice.

The genius of Glenn Beck, I'm starting to realize, is that he's a bit of chameleon and is able adapt to the political and social landscape.

Re: My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally
 

[quote=Chico23231;725666]Sure did, you start talking about Glenn Beck and faith...I freakin couldnt resist. Obama is a racist right? Well that man of faith believes it.[/quote]


This is so weird, I'm actually defending Glenn Beck. Lawd, what is the world coming to!?

For what it's worth, Beck has back away from that statement and said he just has a big, fat mouth and doesn't believe Obama is a racist.

Re: My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally
 

As far as comparing Beck to Rush...hmmm, I disagree. I don't think Rush could resist bashing Obama and liberals every chance he gets, so his rally would definitely be more political and more hateful.

Re: My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally
 

I think I'll let you liberals debate this one. Its kind of funny reading your post.

Re: My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally
 

Thanks 12th I really enjoyed reading your account of the weekend and your observances. I agree with you, I think we are beginning to see a shift in how we view our government and its role in our lives. It doesn't matter if you are Republican or Democrat, black, white, latino or purple with polka dots. We should all be paying attention to what is going on, afterall we are going to be bearing the burden of these decisions our Congress is making.

Re: My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally
 

Wait, what was the point of singing the Black National Anthem? And though not the point of what you were saying, were they there because they supported Beck or just there out of sheer morbid curiosity?

I dunno. Seems like the singing thing is just trying to pander to minorities to say, "HEY, I'm really not that bad of a guy."

Re: My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally
 

[quote=12thMan;725671]This is so weird, I'm actually defending Glenn Beck. Lawd, what is the world coming to!?

For what it's worth, Beck has back away from that statement and said he just has a big, fat mouth and doesn't believe Obama is a racist.[/quote]

Hey Im just giving my thoughts on the Glenn Beck and his rally. The man is flat out liar who twist historical record as an attempt to legitimize his dillusional conspiracy theories and constant fear rhetoric. Im a fan of such entertainment. His theatrics are very similar pro wrestling.

yeah I know he backed off that statement, he gets a little excited and emotional...I mean nobody's that stoopid to believe it, just like Obama a muslim and he wasnt born in this country...only the ignorant

Re: My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally
 

[quote=Chico23231;725718]Hey Im just giving my thoughts on the Glenn Beck and his rally. The man is flat out liar who twist historical record as an attempt to legitimize his dillusional conspiracy theories and constant fear rhetoric. Im a fan of such entertainment. His theatrics are very similar pro wrestling.

yeah I know he backed off that statement, he gets a little excited and emotional...[B]I mean nobody's that stoopid to believe it[/B], just like Obama a muslim and he wasnt born in this country...only the ignorant[/quote]

"Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups."

Re: My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally
 

I'm not entirely clear on the point of this thread, but I am extremely uncomfortable watching someone spout that level of insanity and actually have an audience of the numbers being reported. That there are 6 digits of simpletons willing to spend their Saturday listening to a pandering moron, spout mythology and c-grade spirituality is a sad, sad commentary on the public and the state of our collective grip on reality. I would like to believe that we, as a modern society, are past the point when we give rapt attention to someone claiming divine inspiration ( I mean, really, ****ING DIVINE INSPIRATION?), presenting convenient scapegoats along the way... but clearly, that is not the case. How sad is it that there is such a leadership void in this country that people are turning to Glen Beck in his Jimmy Swaggart costume, as a source of guidance?

Re: My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally
 

It was my understanding there were a handful of people who sang Lift Every Voice and Sing (the Black National Anthem), more like hummed it since they didn't really know the words, when Alveda King (the Doctor's niece) spoke at the rally

Re: My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally
 

[quote=SmootSmack;725735]It was my understanding there were a handful of people who sang Lift Every Voice and Sing (the Black National Anthem), more like hummed it since they didn't really know the words, when Alveda King (the Doctor's niece) spoke at the rally[/quote]

I never even knew we had a black national anthem. That could be another thread on its own.

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[quote=firstdown;725741]I never even knew we had a black national anthem. That could be another thread on its own.[/quote]

Why don't you start it:)

Re: My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally
 

[quote=BleedBurgundy;725730]I'm not entirely clear on the point of this thread, but I am extremely uncomfortable watching someone spout that level of insanity and actually have an audience of the numbers being reported. That there are 6 digits of simpletons willing to spend their Saturday listening to a pandering moron, spout mythology and c-grade spirituality is a sad, sad commentary on the public and the state of our collective grip on reality. I would like to believe that we, as a modern society, are past the point when we give rapt attention to someone claiming divine inspiration ( I mean, really, ****ING DIVINE INSPIRATION?), presenting convenient scapegoats along the way... but clearly, that is not the case. How sad is it that there is such a leadership void in this country that people are turning to Glen Beck in his Jimmy Swaggart costume, as a source of guidance?[/quote]

I was just giving my own personal perspective, peppered with my own opinion of the rise of Glenn Beck. I guess you take it in many different directions.

Re: My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally
 

[quote=firstdown;725741]I never even knew we had a black national anthem. That could be another thread on its own.[/quote]
i grew up surrounded by blacks, being in the lower class. i have never heard of this. and it has to be one of the most ridiculous things that i have never heard about. you want your own anthem, start your own country

Re: My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally
 

Okay, so the thread isn't about Lift Every Voice And Sing - which is often referred to as the Negro National Anthem. Anyway, it dates back to 1900. It was orginally written as a poem and later set to music.

It's not a [I]new [/I]song, it's hardly controversial, and I've seen it sang by whites, blacks, and everything in between since I was kid.

Re: My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally
 

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]The only things I watch on tv regularly are news, sports and…… Glenn Beck. Every now and then ill watch other tv programs, but I don’t really follow anything, too much of a commitment for me. Ive mentioned I watch Glenn Beck on thewarpath before but otherwise I rarely talk about it. Ive noticed that people are quick to lump Bill O’Rielly, Rush and Sean Hanity in with Glenn Beck. I honestly don’t like either of the aforementioned personalities besides Beck, their shows are garbage mixed with bashing while I believe Beck’s show is not. His show comes on at 5pm so its pretty inconvenient to watch. I think his radio show comes on at 3pm, so most people don’t listen to it either. In my observance most people have already made up their mind about Glenn Back without ever watching or listening to him. [/FONT][/COLOR]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]There are 2 sides to his show; one where he presents factual backdrops for events and adds his “insight” into what he thinks the motives/ideas/decisions/considerations on why those events happened, the other has less objectiveness and is him ranting about something he doesn’t like. The vast majority of his shows are the factually musing type, those are the ones that I really like and watch. Glenn is also a very colorful guy and he gets very passionate and emotional about certain things and has a self described “big, fat mouth” so he says stupid things without always thinking them through. He really isn’t that great of speaker, he often trips up on what hes saying, but he tells a really great story and is extremely engaging.[/FONT][/COLOR]

[FONT=Verdana][COLOR=black]A lot of people say Glenn Beck lies……. But when you ask them for specific examples of what he lied about there is nothing to back it up. You may be able to research things and say he mislead or lied about X, but ive never seen a good example. He also regularly asks his viewers to dig deeper into what he is saying, to prove him wrong or to get a better or different perspective of what he is talking about. [/COLOR][/FONT]

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Also as a note I would define myself as fiscally conservative and very socially liberal. I disagree with him on things but he also makes great points without ridicule and to me its nice to see the other side of things. I encourage people to watch a few episodes of his show and do their best to watch it without already having their minds made up about what his intentions are before you just dismiss him. Clips from Olberman or thehuffington post don’t count. [/FONT][/COLOR]

Re: My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally
 

[quote=firstdown;725741]I never even knew we had a black national anthem. That could be another thread on its own.[/quote]

We already had [URL="http://www.thewarpath.net/parking-lot/23813-woman-sings-black-national-anthem-instead.html?highlight=anthem"]a thread on the subject[/URL] and you commented on it.

Re: My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally
 

Hahaha...Saden.

Re: My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally
 

[quote=dmek25;725750]i grew up surrounded by blacks, being in the lower class. i have never heard of this. and it has to be one of the most ridiculous things that i have never heard about. you want your own anthem, start your own country[/quote]

I'm black and I don't even know the words. :Smoker:

Anyway, it is interesting to see Dr. King's niece there... Have to wonder what Dr. King would think about this whole thing if he was still here or if he would even support Beck's positioning. Part of me think he's rolling in his grave... But then the other part wants to think differently.

Re: My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally
 

[quote=DynamiteRave;725760]I'm black and I don't even know the words. :Smoker:

Anyway, it is interesting to see Dr. King's niece there... Have to wonder what Dr. King would think about this whole thing if he was still here or if he would even support Beck's positioning. Part of me think he's rolling in his grave... But then the other part wants to think differently.[/quote]

I think you're asking the right questions, DRave. But knowing Dr. King's history of reaching out to people whose (who's?) politics and approach were quite different than his own, I have to believe, while he may have had some reservations, he would have no strong objections to Beck's rally and may have offered tepid support.

Dr. King and Malcolm (not our Malcolm) had differences of opinions on a variety of issues, but towards the end it seemed that Malcolm was beginning to move more towards Dr. King's philosphy of non-violence and social justice. So I have to believe that on some level, King would agree with Beck's message of turning America back to God.

Re: My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally
 

[quote=BleedBurgundy;725730]I'm not entirely clear on the point of this thread, but I am extremely uncomfortable watching someone spout that level of insanity and actually have an audience of the numbers being reported. That there are 6 digits of simpletons willing to spend their Saturday listening to a pandering moron, spout mythology and c-grade spirituality is a sad, sad commentary on the public and the state of our collective grip on reality. I would like to believe that we, as a modern society, are past the point when we give rapt attention to someone claiming divine inspiration ( I mean, really, ****ING DIVINE INSPIRATION?), presenting convenient scapegoats along the way... but clearly, that is not the case. How sad is it that there is such a leadership void in this country that people are turning to Glen Beck in his Jimmy Swaggart costume, as a source of guidance?[/quote]

:goodjob:

Re: My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally
 

[quote=DynamiteRave;725722]"Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups."[/quote]


pssst...(thats what I was getting at):food-smil

Re: My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally
 

From what little I saw of this event, it looked less political, and more of the same religious, mystical, spirit-world, sky god crap that we usually get from Glenn Beck.

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It's times like these I love my sig.

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I like this one:

"Eternal damnation awaits those who question God's undcontional love."

Re: My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally
 

[quote=saden1;725754]We already had [URL="http://www.thewarpath.net/parking-lot/23813-woman-sings-black-national-anthem-instead.html?highlight=anthem"]a thread on the subject[/URL] and you commented on it.[/quote]
Epic fail first. Epic.

Re: My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally
 

[quote=Beemnseven;725803]I like this one:

"Eternal damnation awaits those who question God's undcontional love."[/quote]

I don't know anything about Glenn Beck, so I can't comment on this thread but to say that I absolutely love this quote.

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God exists insofar as we believe him to but love exists so long as hate persists.

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[yt]aSFCoT2et_s[/yt]

And now for entertainment:
[yt]flBpsyFbEOs[/yt]

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[quote=saden1;725865][yt]aSFCoT2et_s[/yt]

And now for entertainment:
[yt]flBpsyFbEOs[/yt][/quote]

I had the V for Vendetta speech in my mind as I watched the replay of this clown's speech.

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[quote=saden1;725754]We already had [URL="http://www.thewarpath.net/parking-lot/23813-woman-sings-black-national-anthem-instead.html?highlight=anthem"]a thread on the subject[/URL] and you commented on it.[/quote]

I forget more stuff then most people will ever know.:cheeky-sm

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[quote=DynamiteRave;725760]I'm black and I don't even know the words. :Smoker:

Anyway, it is interesting to see Dr. King's niece there... Have to wonder what Dr. King would think about this whole thing if he was still here or if he would even support Beck's positioning. Part of me think he's rolling in his grave... But then the other part wants to think differently.[/quote]


Also CL Jackson was there. I think he with Dr. King when he gave his I have a Dream Speach.

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[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oumQl8neO6w]YouTube - Glenn Beck: The Weepening: Cry For America[/url]

Whenever I need a good laugh, I watch it. Fear monger con artist

Re: My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally
 

[quote=Chico23231;726430][url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oumQl8neO6w]YouTube - Glenn Beck: The Weepening: Cry For America[/url]

Whenever I need a good laugh, I watch it. Fear monger con artist[/quote]

Glenn Beck on his own is great comedy, but the fact that this tool was able to attract and gather ~300,000 people (depending upon who's counting) is scary. There's a lot of delusional mofos out there.

Re: My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally
 

Pundits will debate whether the crowd at Glenn Beck's Saturday rally in Washington was the largest in recent political history, but it was certainly among the most impressive.

Mr. Beck is a television host and radio broadcaster with a checkered past and a penchant for incendiary remarks. But if he's judged by the quality of people of all colors that he attracted to the Lincoln Memorial, his stock can't help but rise.

One would not be able to find a more polite crowd at a political convention, certainly not at a professional sporting event, probably not even at an opera. In fact, judging by the behavior of the attendees following the event, you'd have a tough time finding churches in which people display more patience as others make their way to the exits.

This army of well-mannered folks that marched into Washington seemed comprised mainly of people who had once marched in the U.S. Army or other military branch, or at least had a family member who had. Perhaps that's not surprising, given that the event was a fund-raiser for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which provides scholarships to the children of elite troops killed in the performance of their duty. The day was largely devoted to expressions of gratitude for the sacrifices of U.S. soldiers, for great men of American history like the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and for God.

But it didn't end there. Dave Roever, a Vietnam veteran, offered a closing prayer in which he thanked the Lord for the president and for the Congress. Despite the unpopularity of the latter two, no booing or catcalls could be heard.

Perhaps feeling defensive about how they would be portrayed in media reports, various attendees wore t-shirts noting that they were "Not violent" or "Non-violent." For other participants, there was no need for an explicit message. Relaxed young parents felt comfortable enough to push toddlers in strollers through the crowded areas along the memorial's reflecting pool.

Not only was the rally akin to a "huge church picnic" (in one Journal reporter's description), but one had to wonder if the over-achievers in this crowd actually left the area in better shape than they found it.

After the event, walking from the Lincoln Memorial's reflecting pool through Constitution Gardens, this reporter scanned 360 degrees and could not see a scrap of trash anywhere. Participants and volunteers had collected all their refuse and left it piled neatly in bags around the public garbage cans. Near Constitution Avenue, I did encounter one stray piece of paper—but too old and faded to have been left that day.

Given the huge representation of military families at the event, maybe it's not surprising the grounds were left ship-shape. A principal theme of the day was that attendees should restore the country by making improvements in their own lives—be the change you wish to see in the world, as Gandhi once put it.

Most of the participants were strictly amateurs in the business of activism. For many, it was their first appearance at a public demonstration. Their strikingly mild-mannered nature might inspire even Mr. Beck to acknowledge that in a crowd estimated at 300,000, the craziest person at the event might have been the one with the microphone. While he admits that he's part entertainer and prone to over-the-top comments, his followers appear to be sincerely responding to his message that Americans need to cling to their best traditions. (Mr. Beck's program appears on the Fox News Channel, which is owned by News Corp., which also owns this newspaper.)



[URL="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703369704575461633570826898.html"]James Freeman: Glenn Beck's Happy Warriors - WSJ.com[/URL]