Every time I watch a TV talking head like Glenn Beck, I usually walk away with the same thought I had every time I walked out of my economics class in college: "What the hell were they talking about?" That's because there isn't anything journalistic or scientific about their pontifications. It's all "gut talk," particularly Beck who throws around more wild and unfocused theories about the ongoing war between "us vs. them" than a homeless preacher in a bus station. Chances are if you actually sat down and simply asked him "what did you mean by (x)", he would give you a 1,700 word answer that answered everything but the question you asked him.
CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric did just that with her new web show where she sat down with the former morning radio zookeeper and used a viewer's question to do just that. Specifically, she asked him to explain what he meant by the phrase "white culture" when the Beckster claimed President Obama "has a deep seeded hatred for white people or white culture." A biology dissection worm squirmed less than Beck did in Couric's hot seat.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
10-01-2009 @ 12:36PM
Aaron said...
He gets paid MILLIONS to say inflammatory statements that he then claims no responsibility for. You know what? THERE IS NO WHITE CULTURE. When he says "White Culture" he means "Rich People."
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10-01-2009 @ 11:46AM
JPN said...
In response to the last twenty seconds of this clip -
Hey a*****e, America is asking you a question RIGHT NOW...and not even a tough question...explain a phrase you used in reference to someone else! "I think Americans should ask tough questions..." Yet you refuse to answer an easy one that just involves explaining something you said. Then he throws it back on her - not going to get involved in her "sound bite" etc. - dude, you talk on TV for an hour a day, that's ALL YOU DO is give sound bites!
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10-01-2009 @ 11:49AM
karminak said...
You said "Chances are if you actually sat down and simply asked him "what did you mean by (x)", he would give you a 1,700 word answer that answered everything but the question you asked him."
Do you mean he answers the questions the same way Obama answers questions? Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm
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10-01-2009 @ 1:47PM
wulfn1 said...
I bet they wouldn't have "blanked you out" if you'd have phrased it this way
you state"Chances are if you actually sat down and simply asked him "what did you mean by (x)", he would give you a 1,700 word answer that answered everything but the question you asked him."
How is this different from any politician's answer?
Not saying Beck is right about anything, but I'm not saying he is wrong about everything he says.
Beck rambles about things that you would hear coming out of many older (and some not so old) Americans mouths. He just puts it slightly more eloquently and with flashy charts.
10-01-2009 @ 11:53AM
SupKev said...
"That's because there isn't anything journalistic or scientific about their pontifications." Genius. And yet, there are people who actually watch these shows, trust these people, and live by their words. It's all just a bunch of yelling. Why political opinion shows appear on news channels astounds me. . .
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10-01-2009 @ 12:27PM
JPN said...
They make some people feel good by reinforcing their ideas. I agree though - I'm so sick of the conflict - and these guys feed right into it and fuel it to make a buck, as much as they want to say they don't. I can't imagine that in 100 years or so we won't have two separate nations, the way these debates are getting so heated and people are so mad.
10-01-2009 @ 12:30PM
Adam said...
If you're sick of partisanship listen to Phil Hendrie.
10-01-2009 @ 12:28PM
const said...
So, what the author of this article is really saying is....Glenn Beck is Fox's Olberman with much better ratings?
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10-01-2009 @ 12:32PM
Modwild said...
YES! Somehow the left always gets pissy at the right talking heads, but can't stop praising the left talking heads. Hello - they are doing the SAME THING but on different sides. How can one be evil and one be brilliant? Anyone who can't see the similarities to their opposition shouldn't be watching either right or left talkers.
10-02-2009 @ 1:22AM
D-Bo said...
This is a false argument I see paraded around constantly. Any objective observer can see that while both sides (Beck v Olbermann in this case) are clearly biased and deliver commentary from their particular viewpoint, there is only one side that presents a violent, fantastical, conspiracy laden rhetoric that is truly harmful to those who receive it. Olbermann constantly skewered Bush yet I don't recall seeing calls for revolution, military coups, and witch hunts of public figures on his show. All of which are regular fodder for right wing commentaries. Here is a fox guest explaining to Bill O why their network has lost credibility from the minute it began broadcasting:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEjzw29MDXE
And this is from someone whom Olbermann has named one is his "Wort Person(s) in the World" and is an ardent critic of both the President and "mainstream media".
10-01-2009 @ 12:30PM
Michael said...
I can understand Beck... but I was Econ major in college. ;-)
(And, c'mon, TV Squad, when am I going to see Olbermann bashed as a hate-monger?)
Michael
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10-01-2009 @ 2:09PM
Piper said...
Ummm...How about when he hates?
10-01-2009 @ 4:00PM
Oneiroi said...
I think the difference that tends to come up, is that Beck has ratings in the MILLIONS, Olbermann has ratings that I believe are less than half a million. There's a lot less reason for anyone to really pay attention to Olbermann.
I always think it's funny when people compare them, one is a, ratings-wise, unwatched nobody, and one is part of a supposed movement.
10-01-2009 @ 12:42PM
R-Bro said...
Can we declare a moratorium on people who bitch for a living? Beck, O'Reilly, Olberman, pretty much everyone at Fox News... Seriously, these people are useless human beings.
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10-01-2009 @ 1:07PM
zippy_zip74467 said...
Every time I pause on Glen Beck, he is spouting hate; hate for individuals. I think he is dangeous.
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10-01-2009 @ 1:10PM
Vito said...
Oddly enough, when I saw this headline in my RSS feed, I thought it was about the musician. I don't know what his feelings are about Obama, but I bet they involve falsetto.
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10-01-2009 @ 1:25PM
Joe Brooks said...
I do ask TVSquad why is there a weekly Glenn Beck post when you don't cover other "TVNewsers" - and when you do post about Beck all you do is repeat Media Matters, a very biased blog.
You do know that *gasp* conservatives are part of your readership too. Yes I know it's sooo shocking that half the country might be interested in television, cause we are all incoherent hillbillies who aren't educated - right? Please stop offending your liberal base by posting Glenn Beck posts here (whom they clearly disagree with), and stop offending your conservative base by bashing conservatives we do agree with.
Does anyone else remember TVSquad about 3 or 4 years ago when nearly every Television show was recapped - I wish they had the *TIME* to do that again instead of getting into off-topic political battles.
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10-01-2009 @ 1:41PM
jim said...
Yes, that's why I read blogs... for recaps..? Blogs are for opinions. If you don't agree with them and only want to read things you agree with, move on.
10-01-2009 @ 1:49PM
Joe Brooks said...
@jim - then there are much better political blogs out there . DailyKos is a great one for the left, HotAir is one for the right. TVSquad is not a political blog - it's supposed to be television show reviews/caps.
10-01-2009 @ 4:03PM
Oneiroi said...
I said it somewhere else, but I believe Beck is almost the most watched talking head right now, why wouldn't they cover him?
(I just found the numbers, I was a bit off, Reilly and Beck are about tied more than 3,000,000. Most other people hover around 1 mil).
http://www.ihatethemedia.com/glenn-beck-ratings-skyrocket-olbermann-up-maddow-down