Glenn Beck Mainstreams Fringe Conspiracy Theories
August 28, 2009 12:00 am ET by Oliver Willis
We're used to Glenn Beck being "out there", but today's show was special. Beck's hour (the second day in a row in which he didn't say a thing about the passing of Sen. Kennedy) was all about the supposed secret army being built by President Obama. This secret army idea, not supported by any facts, though possibly written in invisible ink that Beck can interpret, is a pet cause of fringe radio host Alex Jones.
Jones is something of a leader in the underground 9/11 "truth" movement. They believe that the 9/11 attacks were an inside job and that all the governments of the world are controlled by a cabal of the uber-rich who want to kill 2/3 of the world's population. Really.
Jones has repeatedly alluded to the existence of a secret army being built by Obama, a similar charge to the one leveled by Beck on today's show. The difference of course is that Jones mostly transmits over the internet and shortwave radio. Beck has a show on a cable "news" network. Beck's previous flirtation with the idea that FEMA was building detention camps is also an article of faith with Jones and his followers.
The focus of the Jones/Beck secret army conspiracy theory is the AmeriCorps program, which was created during President Clinton's presidency. AmeriCorps describes itself like this:
Each year, AmeriCorps offers 75,000 opportunities for adults of all ages and backgrounds to serve through a network of partnerships with local and national nonprofit groups. Whether your service makes a community safer, gives a child a second chance, or helps protect the environment, you'll be getting things done through AmeriCorps!
In 2004, President George W. Bush met with AmeriCorps volunteers for Earth Day. The AmeriCorps pledge is as follows:
I will get things done for America -
to make our people safer,
smarter, and healthier.
I will bring Americans together
to strengthen our communities.
Faced with apathy,
I will take action.
Faced with conflict,
I will seek common ground.
Faced with adversity,
I will persevere.
I will carry this commitment
with me this year and beyond.
I am an AmeriCorps member,
and I will get things done.
Well, that should convince everyone. Those are clearly the words of a secret army being run by the President.
Recently Alex Jones has taken to posting bizarre YouTube videos where he attacks President Obama's policies while dressed up as the Joker. Considering the regular antics on Beck, it's probably only a matter of time before cable news imitates the lunatic fringe. Again.
Media Matters: The Palin chronicles
The Friday Rush: A series of conflicts
Contrary to media hype, Sarah Palin is very unpopular
Actually, you can receive Jones' transmissions 24/7 via the fillings in your teeth. Talk with your Dentist. Whisper "Tea Bagger" in his (or her) RIGHT ear.
Don't use the Left ear! It will make Marathon Man look like an Easter Egg hunt.
Or you can mail Mr. Jones $2 and receive instructions for a nifty Reynolds Wrap chapeau that will also transmit the secret signals to his cadre of Patriots...
http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/29631/
None of these questions have been answered by anyone on this fourm:
Just answer any of the following questions, I have included below (all from day one)
Answer with thought and honestly! Calling anyone names is not an answer. Oopen and informed dialog is prefered all will be seen
Here are the questions
- Our unfunded liability for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid is close to $100 trillion. Is there any way to pay for these programs without bankrupting America?
- We are in so much debt, why spend more borrowed money on cap-and-trade and healthcare programs before we stop the flow of red-ink?
- The stimulus package funneled billions of dollars to ACORN. How does giving billions of dollars to ACORN stimulate the economy?
- If it was so important for congress to pass the stimulus bill before they even had time to read it why has only a fraction of the stimulus money been spent 6 months later?
These are all from the link I provided above, answer these and any others from the link
Thank You \
God Bless America (We need it)
I have not seen anyone answereing any of these questions either. All they keep saying is Glenn is a fearmonger. Well after seeing his show all week, I am scared. Did anyone see our National Debt Clock? What can we as citizens of this country do about this? The "advisors" that are surrounding our president are frightening. Can anyone here at MMFA agree with the statements and opinons of some of these Czars?
Followed shortly thereafter by:
I am scared.
I guess only those who are "fearmongered" can't see the "fearmongering" going on.
Priceless, fishergirl. Your ignorance is simply priceless.
YOUR ignorance is priceless!
I am guessing you mean yes!! I am also assuming you will want the government to drop taxes for EVERYBODY, right?
Well, answer me this, if the government stops and does nothing, how will the millions out of work find work?
Also, if the government drops taxes, how do you think
1) that will affect the deficit
2) The government will make any money to pay for the millitary/medicare/social security to name a few
Have you ever heard of anyone in debt just locking themselves up in their house and waiting for the debt to take care of it self? When you are in debt, you stop buying unecessary stuff, you stick to important stuff, you revise the way you spend the money you do, you get rid/trim your most costly expenses and then you invest in newer/different and more efficient ways of doing things...as far as i can see, that is what the government is doing...(attempting to trim waste in health care, the department of defence/senate/the white house operating costs to name a few)
Did you miss the part of the last 7/8 months where the Obama administration re-signed into law a provision/rule that says that if the government wants to spend any money, they have to have a way to pay for it (its the pay as you go/spend act or something, look it up)...does that sound/read like a government that is trying to take over your country?
YOU HAVE TO QUESTION YOUR GOVERNMENT, THAT IS YOUR CIVIC DUTY, but that is not the same as insinuating diabolic and horrific actions are on the horizon with no proof to back it up.
The Great Depression wasn't in 1932. It was more than a decade long event, and was worldwide, and was not a blip on the radar screen as a result of post-war angst.
And it's an urban myth that any soldier was spat upon when arriving home. It's true that many people, but nowhere near a majority, blamed the soldiers in general for the misdeeds of a few. That's what happens in all circumstances. When an organization has a few bad apples, it is a reflection upon the whole organization by people who can't see the bigger picture. Oh, like, when there were a few bad apples in ACORN's employ, and everyone on the right continues to demonize ACORN as a result!
And, if takes more debt to keep 18,000 people from dying each and every year (that's 6 9/11s), then in the immortal words of Dubya:
"Brint it on!"
But now, you're whining about it? Take your self-righteousness and shove it where the tax cuts come from.
It's not the job of the government to employ everyone or bail out business's! It's the governments job to create an atmosphere where business can thrive so they can pay you your salary. If you tax the crap out of them and us how does that help us? Obama and his democrat friends has spent 4 times more than ALL PAST ADMINSTRATION'S IN EIGHT MONTHS!!!!
AND NOW THE WHAT TO RAISE TAXES ON ALL ENERGY (CAP AND TRADE).COSTING US ALL MORE!!!
GOVERNMENT HEALTH CARE HASN'T WORKED ANYWHERE!!!
THEY WANT TO CONTROL THE MEDIA !!! SO THEY CONTROL THE CRAP
YOU SEE (THERE AGENDA)
THEY ENDORSE STUDIES TO FIND OUT WHAT MAKE YOU TICK SO THEY CAN CHANGE YOU!!!
ALL GOVERNMENT IS OUT OF CONTROL DEM AND REP THIS IT'S NOT CHANGE I VOTED FOR!!! MAIN STREAM MEDIA IS BAIS AND ISN'T TELLING YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW !!!
ITS REAL SIMPLE DO THE RESEARCH, READ, LOOK IT UP ON LINE,
WATCH THE VIDEO'S, THE TRUTH IS THERE!! OR
JUST KEEP WATCHING YOUR FAV TV SHOWS AND OBAMA AND HIS FRIEND'S WILL TAKE ALL YOUR RIGHTS AWAY !!! GET INVOLVED
AND KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT BEFORE IT'S TO LATE
One point in particular stands out:
The only expections being Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. And quite possibly other places I might be missing. But otherwise, sure, total epic fail.*
*That's sarcasm
Also, you have just come out of 8 solid years of having a government that just simply LIED to the people for huge reasons, not just for votes;
They lied to people to go to war, they lied to people about the reasons for the war and how much it cost, they lied to people about medicare advantage, they set it up, but never set up a way to pay for it, they ignored the cries of people for so long and people are MAD and i think it is more than justified...
...your country is also coming out of one of the worst financial times in current history and how did it get there, the government turned a blind eye to shady dealings because they were getting kick backs...
These are huge huge things and there are tons more, that is why the people are mad...
Now, how do you now fix this? Well, pretty much EVERYTHING in the country has to change, the way the government relates to the people and the way they are held accountable, they are going to have to be made to start being responsible for the actions they take, which is pretty much what all the complaining and yelling is all about now, it is legitimate...
...that is what Obama meant when he said he knows that you have to fundamentally change your country and the way you do business, not destroy your constitution and leave everyone to die...as much as many of us may not like it, the government is here to stay, they will make mistakes again, but it is up to the people, YOU, to make sure they are fewer and further between...inciting hate/scaring people and telling them lies is not the way to do it.
Let me be straight with you man, i don't know if Obama is going to solve all the countries problems, but i can assure you that he is going about it the right way...
...the health care bill that he has asked congress to work on, that is a HUGE example of how different things are NOW, you know how something like that used to be done? The president(s) of old would just write something up and tell congress to vote on it, most people wont even know when it happened.
But Obama didn't do that, he asked congress to go and come up with something that he can sign, he gave them parameters to follow and that is what is still being worked on, i can almost guarantee you man (i have read up on a lot of governments and i have traveled some), it NEVER happens like that anywhere else.
I think, based on everything that has happened, he deserves a fair chance to try to fix your country, he cant do it if everyone is calling him names and being un-supportive...
...one of the other Ironies of this whole thing is that, if he fails, it wouldn't have been his fault alone, EVERYONE in the country who had a hand in being un-responsive would be complicit.
The same applies to every other president you ever had, their failures have been everyone's.
The moment your freedom is threatened man, for real, i will fly to the US from wherever i am in the world and we will go to war together, that i GUARANTEE YOU.
I am baffled as to why people who don't even understand this simple concept think they can discuss this subject with other thinking people.
And the economic stimulus package was nowhere the boondoggles of the previous President. On top of that, Bush's war in Iraq was voluntary, but Obama had to do something to keep up from going into a depression. The fact that you cannot comprehend that fact either is another sign that what you opine is not very noteworthy.
What is truly frightening is that you are so uninformed that you are taking the word of a very highly paid ENTERTAINER whose job it is to scare you into voting for Republicans in the next election so that Fox will continue to show profits. He's an ENTERTAINER and he MAKES THIS STUFF UP!
Then my advice is for you to run for public office.
I know you are speaking of Rangel. If Rangel is guilty of wrongdoing, he should step down.
I'll depend upon NEWS to make my own judgment and opinion. I have a brain and I don't need a half-witted, highly paid ENTERTAINER like Glenn Beck to tell me what I'm supposed to think.
One example of the bs is the comment regarding ACORN. PURE BULL! Acorn, if they wanted any stimulus funds, had to apply for them just like any other community organization.
Try watching NEWS instead of listening to Glenn Beck. You might actually get the answers to your bs questions.
In other words, the "NEWS" that supports *your* perspectives.
Research what you hear on the opinion networks . . . for instance, the ACORN lie. Beck and the rest of the entertainers know that there was nothing in the Stimulus bill which gave ACORN money, but they're betting that YOU don't and that YOU aren't going to look it up.
Understand that what you are watching, whether it is on MSNBC, CNN, HLN OR Fox is about 99% opinion, not news. Two different things.
..i dont understand why people don't seem to just get the "make your own mind up" part of listening to news; news/opinion shows are just that, news and opinion shows!! They are not a directive as to how you should think and what you should believe...
...GOOD JOB BintX :)
- Our unfunded liability for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid is close to $100 trillion. Is there any way to pay for these programs without bankrupting America?
I agree that SS/MC funds need to be in a lock box.
...and then you say the one guy who changed that, who has also shown himself to be one of the most transparent (not entirely so, but much more than most) leaders in the developed world (so far?) is the one guy who is hiding things and trying to take over the country?
Also, you think that because Glenn Beck doesnt get a direct call from the president to ease his paranoid mind, that it means the president has something to hide?
As Obama says, he doesnt determine what he does based on polls that ask 200/300 even 1000 people a question OR what people on TV says (THANK GOODNESS) and quite honestly, i wouldnt advise him to either...
...you really think that the man who has mandated his team at the white house to send him 10 letters a day to read from the people is a Nazi socialist fascist (do i have it all there?)?
I am afraid the logic to that escapes me!
Look man, the American Economy and people have spent so long spending money that isnt there like it didnt matter, you now have a leader who is bold enough to say, okay, we need to stop this nonsense and change the way we do things...
...for those of you who thikn that Obama saying he wants to fundamentally change the country means that he wants to socialize it...this is the reason why he says it, America HAS to fundamentally change its ways to get out of this, continuing to do the same things just will not do...people have to start thinking seriously about saving, start hoping less for some jackpot from the markets and start planning for the future...
...what people fail to realize is, THE WORSE THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY ARE AT A LOT OF THESE THINGS, THE WORSE THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE...THE PEOPLE MAKE UP THE GOVERNMENT, not some foreign body and a democracy (one of the flawas of it), is about majority rule, that means, if 51% of the people think it should be a certain way, the other 49% have to live with it, that is just how it works...ACCEPT IT
But at the same time, you have to remind those in charge, starting from your community to your local government to your president, that they do not have free reigns to do whatever they like, there are other ways to doing that also than claiming that those in power are going to start killing other people to stay in power, THANKFULLY, the US is past that part of history and will never go back there...
...disagreements are natural, everyone disagrees, even family members, just cos my brother may want to be a rapper and i am an evagelical priest doesnt mean i am better than him or i am worse off than he is...
...being Republican is not the Kryptonite to being Democratic and Vice Versa, they are supposed to work together, the reason why most of this will never change is because the Republicans already decided that they will oppose everything Obama does, no matter what, if you all want to get started on Health Care, lets...Health care reform is so important to the people and the economy and people are fine with it staying the way it is...
...the other day a woman cried at a town hall meeting about her husband needing help cos he cant get health care and the republican congressman that held the meeting said his/the community will help her and it is the communities job to help her (help as in donations and so on)...i mean, seriously?
And Obama who is trying to get health care for all and hold accountable the people who make money on the suffering of millions is the one who is the fascist dictator, A lot of this are wrong with that.
- Our unfunded liability for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid is close to $100 trillion. Is there any way to pay for these programs without bankrupting America?
If yes, how?
If no, why?
The governemt needs to cut all wasteful spending in the Millitary/Medicare/Social Security
The government needs to stop taking a "pally" stand with industry and figure out a more economically viable way of taxing the rich and the poor and big industries
The government needs to spend more time providing laws and enabling people to fend for themselves and not just throw money at the problems they encounter (it has never worked for any country that has tried)
Amongst other things...i am sure you have your own idea, here is where in a democracy you are invited to throw your own thoughts into the hat.
- Our unfunded liability for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid is close to $100 trillion. Is there any way to pay for these programs without bankrupting America?
Yes, by raising the taxable income cap on Social Security and by raising the top tax bracket. (Also, I suspect the $100 trillion number is way overblown.)
- We are in so much debt, why spend more borrowed money on cap-and-trade and healthcare programs before we stop the flow of red-ink?
Global warming is a critical problem. Healthcare is a human right, and we must make sure that our people get it. Anyway, the Democrats have adopted a pay-as-you-go policy, so these programs will be paid for by their own effects and by other cuts and taxes.
- The stimulus package funneled billions of dollars to ACORN. How does giving billions of dollars to ACORN stimulate the economy?
The stimulus package does NOT funnel billions to ACORN.
- If it was so important for congress to pass the stimulus bill before they even had time to read it why has only a fraction of the stimulus money been spent 6 months later?
The government is being careful that the money is not going for unworthy projects.
This article is misleading, inaccurate and uninformed. The intent of this article is clear. You are all playing into the hands of something you wouldn't believe even if it bit you.... and it will.
"We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded."
What is the purpose of this article omitting this statement? They have no answers for Beck's questions other than ridicule! Either fake & phony liberals who believe the Communists and Socialists from our past just went away OR Socialists/Communists/Anti-Capitalists Doing everything they can to hold on long enough to complete the "fundamental transformation" of America that Obama promised.
Have you read the rest of that speech you just quoted? Do you know what he wa talking about when he said that? Well, i do, just do a quick search on youtube and you will find an answer..
...i'll help out though, he was talking about getting people more involved with their communities and their country, about revisiting the country's foreign policy and diplomacy issues, encouranging college graduates to mentor and tutor younger people, re-opening consulates that have been closed and basically relationships that had been severed (it was after he said this that he said what you quoted above)...now, i dont know how that is a bad thing, the US millitary is inovleved in things all over the world their training never required of them (building roads, being policy makers/ambassadors and so on), he was and continues to promote individual involvement in the country, why is that such a bad thing, why is it such a bad thing to promote that and say that people should be funded/provided with the correct and appropriate resources to do it?
Glenn Beck talks about AmeriCorps, do you know what they do? They are like the boy scouts/red cross and girls guide of America and have been around since 1993...now, if you want to have a discussion about how well they are managed, lets talk, we can discuss that and they have had their issues in the past, but their directive is no where close to being sinister...
...like you said phredicles, the very fact that these people are able to continue to say whatever they like and do mostly what they like is a total contradiction to their "claims", i would really like to know the people who know these people, is this what they are really like personally, or do they actually not believe this stuff, but just enjoy/make money out of putting irrational fear in other peoples' minds? (i just read that again and it just reads like a silly question...Goodness, one of the most annoying things about this whole thing is that, disputing and challenging these people is so necessary, but at the same time, it gives them a voice...
...yes, your country might be running huge deficits, but what do they really propose the government does? Shut everything down and just save money...like anyone who is alive knows, even when you are in debt, you still have to spend money to live and make changes to the things that you used to do for the benefit of a more secure future (which it seems Obama is trying to do)...in most cases, this doesn't mean that your live a poorer life, it just means that you will start to take more control, which is generally a good thing...
...i wasn't the biggest fan of President Bush and i am not a big fan of the republicans, because they have mastered the art of complaining and fear mongering and it is a shame that a lot of people have an ear for it...
...but like most people with a little bit of a brain on their heads, it is at a time of desperation that people are most persuadable and because there are no INSTANT results for the actions Obama is taking, people are more comfortable believing the end is nigh!
...nobody seems to be noticing that generally, your economy isn't doing that bad and it is only suffering from the greed and excesses of the previous years in the part of EVERYONE everywhere in the WORLD, i am positive that even if Jesus or any religions icons were in power, these people would still say the same things...
I have heard his speeched and i have read his comments, as far as i can see...he is talking about the disadvantages of having a free media that only expresses 1/2 views and how he thinks that the media should be used to reflect the voices of many and not a few (liberal or democratic)
And the idea that he thinks Chavez's revolution was extrodinary is ludacris, he was talking to a group of media types about the effect the media had in bring down the Chavez government the first time and how he decided to take control of it (the media) when he got back in power (to prevent it from happening again)...
...the other thing he mentioned in that speech was the part the media played in rwanda to spread the hate before the genocide. This idea that the ability to say what you want to is going to be taken away from you is just not correct, it is also not possible in the US, the people might be passive about the government, but they will NEVER let anyone tell them what they can/cannot say (See Glenn Beck and Keith Olbermann and Bill O'Reilly for more on that)
The Saul Alinsky style tactics used by the left have been very successful at creating an acceptable double standard. They more of the same lack of outrage when these rules end up squashing conservative media. The rest of the "in the bag for Obama" media will go on business as usual with articles like the one above omitting key facts to continue pursuing the Communitarian goals and phony social justice.
Just like in Mass. right now. in 2004 a politically motivated law was put into effect which changed the existing law enabling the gov of the state to appoint a replacement for the Senate because they feared John Kerry would win his bid to become president and (R) Mitt Romney would replace him with a (R). Now that a (D) is in office, they want to change the law back. Same double standard... no outrage.
Where's the responsible reporting from the media? Just like the one sided health care debate... in the bag. I say it again, either your liberal ideology has blinded you or you truly seek a Socialist system and you hope to keep us at bay long enough till there is no way to fight back. How could you not use common sense here to discern that something just is not right?
Even in the microcosm of this forum we have an article above omitting the key phrase which this whole debate is about to begin with!
No. 2, I spend about 75% of my day doing online research. One thing a good researcher learns is how to ascertain legitimate sources from fake sources. It would appear that you haven't learned that trick, yet.
...it doesnt make any sense. Like my new found friend Bintx, a little bit of research is all you need to make certain of the things you believe...nothing wrong with sticking to your ideals, just make sure that when you share them and relate them to factually issues, you come with the facts and not your belief, if you want to go on and have a conversation about how you think things should be or not, then you can say anything you like and we can just agree to disagree...but when you pedal information as factual, you really have to be sure to either ask a question about them being "facts" or make sure they check out, thing is, not everyone just takes what they hear/learn like it was law...
...not meaning to imply that you need advise or anything, but take my word for it, you are much stronger in your beliefs and convictions when they are backed by the truth and actual facts.
I think the conservatives have ceded control of their party to the really conservative. They are throwing a tantrum because they lost power and legislation that they do not believe in has made its way through government, and so they are doing all they can to gum up the works, spreading misinformation and offering up distraction after distraction, to try and derail any true progress.
I am a Republican, but the party seems to not want me in it. They continue to pander to the Religious right, which on top of their extreme fundamentalist views, are an impediment on science. The fringe is now becoming legitimized, propagating dangerous beliefs, labeling global warming and evolution as myths or theories, and essentially standing in the way of causing progress to be made in society.
You say you are a Republican? Your username here is your website and it is clear that you are not conservAtive or Republican at all.
Actually, it is clear that you are a liberal blogger who in your own blog refers to liberals as correct on all counts.
Now because you lied here your views or statements are now pointless. That's what trolls do.
"We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded."
What's so hard to understand here? What else does he mean by this? You guys can use ridicule all you want. Here's what you don't understand. Ridicule only works when the other side backs down. The facts are on our side. We're not backing down which is bad news for your social programs because we are taking more time away from work to get in the face of all of those who don't work and get bused in to these rallies. The tyranny of the non-contributor ends now. We'll be taking time off to be there.
It's evident Glenn is bringing up way too many facts for your comfort. Why else would there be a complete lack of use of facts on the Socialist side and the expanding use of ridicule in it's place. Call it crazy all you want, show us where it's untrue and don't insult the american individual by telling them that their Democrat party has NOT been hijacked and is NOT pursuing a a collectivist agenda. Then tell me which political movements or ideologies have the same collectivist foundations. Go ahead, I dare you.
http://www.factcheck.org/askfactcheck/is_obama_planning_a_gestapo-like_civilian_national.html
Try doing some real research rather than relying on distorted accounts promulgated by demagogues like Beck.
So did he ad-lib those lines in his speech? If you watch the video of it on youtube ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df2p6867_pw )at the 16:45 mark, he says the "We cannot continue to rely only on our military..." lines.
The factcheck.org article looks misleading because they make it look like Obama's lines are part of two separate paragraphs. In the video, it sounds like one chain of thought. Where did they get their copy of the transcript?
He had deviated from the teleprompter, but considering the context of the entire speech, the Republicans are blowing this way out of proportion.
The supposed civilian army was lifted from a speech Obama had done last year during the campaign, in which he was discussing increased involvement with groups like AmeriCorps or the Peace Corps.
Conservatives must have run out of good recent material, and so they decided to take a year old speech, and take a comment out of context. They probably figure the public won't pick up on the fact that he was not even elected president yet, being that he is behind a podium and in a suit, he looks presidential.
I quote Glenn Beck's book Common Sense:
Does this sound a bit familiar, Mr. Beck?
Candidate Obama said: "We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force..." If he is referring to AmeriCorps, doesn't AmeriCorps work inside the United States? What are the national security objectives the military is tasked with inside the United States? Also, is it not true that we also rely on the State Dept. to achieve our national security objectives and isn't the State Dept. made up of civilians?
http://www.factcheck.org/askfactcheck/is_obama_planning_a_gestapo-like_civilian_national.html
Go, read, eat from the tree of knowledge. It won't hurt you. It's what we do all the time.
The "Civilian National Security Force" was first proposed and championed by SecDef Robert Gates, during the Bush Administration, as a way to improve US reconstruction efforts in Iraq, Afghanistan and other foreign conflict zones. Obama is pretty much quoting Gates in the very selective speech clip Beck kept re-running.
In the online Defense News article of 8 July 2008, "Obama: U.S. Needs Full-Spectrum Military," Obama reiterated his 2 July remarks in an interview:
-- Obama did appear to back a soft-power vision Gates began advocating in a series of speeches last fall: a more modern State Department and "civilian national security force" that could "deploy teams that combine agricultural specialists and engineers and linguists and cultural specialists who are prepared to go into some of the most dangerous areas alongside our military."
"If we've got a State Department or personnel that have been trained just to be behind walls, and they have not been equipped to get out there alongside our military and engage, then we don't have the kind of national security apparatus that is needed," he said. "That has to be planned for; it has to be paid for. Those personnel have to be trained. And they all have to be integrated."--
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3617492
Based on the paragraph's as written, AmeriCorps is not connected to the direct quote: "We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force..."
How's that cute little progressive campaign against Beck advertisers panning out? His show off the air yet? At least his ratings must be down, right, after all the magnanimous outrage he provoked with is dastardly opinions?
Are you listening FCC?? Secret Service?? ANYONE????
I don't normally get involved with these forum conversations because, quite frankly, arguments are better face to face in person so that whatever bovine fecal matter cant go unabated WHILE the bovine fecal matter is being said. People like to load 5 different tangents within an argument so that you can't effectively make your point.
What made me register to this forum and respond speciffically to this Glen Beck article where some of the common accusations made by his obvious supporters above.
Question 1: In what legislation passed and currently being proposed by the administration and Congress includes the words "Acorn", "revolutionary communist", and "death panels" in support for them?
Question 2: In what legislation passed and currently being proposed by the administration and Congress insinuates the involvement of "Acorn", "revolutionary communist", and "death panels"?
Question 3: Has anybody in this discussion actually read the stimulus bills and health care bills?
Keep in mind that websites like opencongress.com allows any citizen with internet access to follow the legislation and read it.
No further questions!
"Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."
Let me say "Sen. Kennedy R.I.P." and also "TERM LIMITS"... 47 years!
joe
PS It aint the dinero or is it Dem vs GOP... both are a joke!!! ... The problem, like it or not, is a centralized government that succumbs to the almighty dollar...
We the people (even the "Huff" dude) should be in charge not a bunch of bloated senators and a secret banking system (HR1207)