My Thoughts On The Glenn Beck Rally

[12thMan]

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.

[Chico23231]

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.

[12thMan]

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.

[saden1]

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.

[Chico23231]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

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.

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.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by saden1

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.

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.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by Chico23231

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.

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.

[12thMan]

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.

[firstdown]

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

[TheSmurfs22]

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.

[DynamiteRave]

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."

[Chico23231]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

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.

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

[DynamiteRave]

Originally Posted by Chico23231

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

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

[BleedBurgundy]

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?

[SmootSmack]

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