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Glenn Beck is not "every man sitting on a bar stool" -- he's just one man

February 04, 2010 12:47 am ET by Brian Frederick

Twice this week, Bill O'Reilly referred to Glenn Beck as "every man sitting on a bar stool."

As anyone who's ever worked for a while as a bartender can attest, bartenders meet a lot of different people. Most of them good people.

But amidst all the good people, there's always one guy at the end of the bar.  

Sometimes he's loud. Sometimes he's obnoxious. Sometimes he just talks to himself.

But he's always alone. And he's always the center of his own world.

Such is Glenn Beck.

After O'Reilly used the line* on Jon Stewart during a rare Stewart appearance on the Factor, Stewart asked the obvious: "Every man's got a show?"  

Indeed, Beck has his own Fox News show, his own nationally syndicated radio show and a $3 million book deal.

Just like every man.

Throw in the revenues from his website and ticket sales at his speaking events and Business Insider estimated he was set to make $18 million in 2009.

Just like every man.

Beck has been on the radio since he was 15, first as a DJ and later as a talk show host.

Just like every man.  

But what about what Beck actually says?

Would every man accuse the president of the United States of having a "deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture"?

No, but one man did.  

More importantly, would every man use the almost unparalleled access to multiple media outlets -- perhaps only Oprah tops him - to smear and personally attack those with whom he disagrees, traffic in ridiculous conspiracy theories, and instill fears in millions of Americans?

No, but one man does.

Glenn Beck is not every man. He is just one man -- who, like O'Reilly, knows that the "every man" myth sells.  

--

*O'Reilly's attempts to portray Beck as "every man" warrant a look back at David Cross' absolute annihilation of similar attempts to portray George 'Dubya' Bush as "every man":

'I'm a straight shooter, man. I'm a Washington outsider. I'm such a Washington outsider and just like you because I'm sure all y'all had the same kind of upbringing just like me. You know where your daddy was head of the CIA, and then ambassador to China, and then vice president for eight years and then president of the United States for four years. Yeah I'm just like you, I'm a good old boy from Midland, Texas!' 

Tags: Glenn Beck

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    • Author by achorn316 (February 04, 2010 1:48 am ET)
      2  
      as a man, I must say Beck is NOTHING like me.

      and he PRETENDS to be an "every man" then goes back to his multi-million dollar estate.

      Just like the rest of them do. He's a fraud and a liar.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by macfolk (February 04, 2010 3:51 am ET)
        1
      Mr. Frederick, I understand your point. Mr. Beck is probably not accurately called "every man," but I think the spirit of Mr. O'Reilly's comment is accurate. Mr. Beck isn't a college educated journalist. He isn't a trained actor or TV personality like many in the TV industry or Hollywood. He did not grow up in extreme wealth or opulent surroundings. His parents owned a bakery. His mother was an alcoholic. He then had problems with addictions which is common when one of your parents has addictions. His first radio gig was as the result of a contest not being hired through an interview processes. His parents were divorced when he was 13. His mother died when he was 15. He graduated High School but not college. He has had his own relationship problems, and he has kids. So in some ways he is really just a guy. He has done very well for himself, but isn't that a good thing. In America, you can work hard, get lucky breaks, do something you enjoy doing, and make a decent living or in some cases a great living. If you just look at him today, then he really doesn't look like or sound like "every man." If you look at his history and where he has come from and what he has been through, then he is really just an average guy. I am not defending Mr. Beck because I agree with what he says, but because I admire someone that can be so industrious and prosperous despite his many challenges. It reminds me of Mr. Iacocca's quote: "We are continually faced by great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems." Just my two cents worth. Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by iamimmortalindogyears (February 04, 2010 9:21 pm ET)
        1  
        Regardless of Mr. Beck's hardships... Do you really think this unstable man deserves to be given a public platform to spew his view or America?

        Oh BTW... "Rule worthy of might." Socrates

        Blow it out your ass....
        Report Abuse
    • Author by John Paradox (February 04, 2010 4:36 am ET)
      2  
      Glenn Beck is one man, lying under a barstool.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by MidnightWriter (February 04, 2010 6:16 am ET)
      2  
      O'Reilly might want to take in a performance of the play Everyman before he continues using it to describe his good buddy, Beck. As I recall that Everyman found himself facing the spirit of death and was begging him for more time so that he might atone for a wasted life.

      Oh my--could it be that I'm missing some subtle genius here? Is O'Reilly sending a hint to Beck that it's time for him to confess his sins and start doing some good deeds? Is Bill warning Beck that unless changes are made he's on his way to Hell?

      Naaaaaah. I'm not buying that, either.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by dmhack (February 04, 2010 6:38 am ET)
      3  
      At my local bar, if Becky started spouting his insane nonsense, he'd be cut off and told to go home to sleep it off.

      Still, you have to hand it to HillBilly... not only is the idea that Becky is every man plain loony, but a bar stool for an alcoholic? Nice imagery.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by raine315 (February 04, 2010 7:50 am ET)
        2  
        At my local bar, Beck would simply get his butt kicked if he started spouting his insane nonsense. Tossed out like a rag doll! LOL
        The only places where Beck would fit in would be a gun show and a white supremacist bbq.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by bintx (February 04, 2010 10:14 am ET)
          2  
          In my local bars, the authorities would be called, Beck would be taken to jail, a competency hearing would be held and he'd be on his way west to the Big Spring State Hospital for two weeks of court-ordered "rest" and evaluation.
          Report Abuse
    • Author by wookie (February 04, 2010 7:03 am ET)
      2  
      Even if Beck were an actual populist instead of a corporate stooge would that warrant a show? Does the drunk at the bar have special insight into foriegn policy or atmospheric science?
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Max Credits (February 04, 2010 8:19 am ET)
        1  
        No on both counts. Beck's drunken call for an even bigger bank bailout than the one in Oct. 2008 shows that he can't keep his story straight. Beck is just another registered Republican spouting hate on TV and radio.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by nerzog (February 04, 2010 8:23 am ET)
      2  
      [http://img.youtube.com/vi/39CV4jsdjl8/0.jpg]
      Report Abuse
    • Author by IRONY 101 (February 04, 2010 9:18 am ET)
      3  
      Glenn Beck has often reminded me of the cranky drunk in the neighborhood bar with the conspiracies of the world all figured out. Beck is just a nut case drunk who got lucky...
      Report Abuse
    • Author by Porkeater (February 04, 2010 9:45 am ET)
      3  
      Glenn Beck is only Everyman in the minds of those who want to believe that his prattle is espoused/believed by a majority of Americans... those who wish America was still segregated, for instance.

      America is more complex than such people can grasp. The idea of an American everyman is not an ill-read, small-vocabulary, white religious believer any more. Indeed... was it ever?
      Report Abuse
      • Author by MickD (February 04, 2010 12:27 pm ET)
        2  
        And really, why won't a sheeple look at the bottom line. This is just an example, but what if you're sitting in a house you paid 400K for and it's now worth 200K and you can't afford the payments. Your preacher Glenn is making money lying to you and says at the same time he's just a regular guy like you. Bullsh!t.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by mk3872 (February 04, 2010 10:49 am ET)
      1  
      More like Archie Bunker, I'd say, than "every man"
      Report Abuse
    • Author by fishgirl26 (February 04, 2010 12:30 pm ET)
      1  
      Glenn Beck is every high school graduate that got hooked on drugs, drank himself into a stupor, woke up and decided to become a mormon and thought he should talk about politics while listening to the paranoid schizophrenia voices in his head? Beck reminds me of my grandfather who actually suffered from paranoid schizophrenia. OY!
      Report Abuse
    • Author by constitutionalist817 (February 04, 2010 2:16 pm ET)
        2
      Does anyone here actually do their homework or do you think places like mediamatters.org and the New York Times are telling you the truth and nothing but the truth? Glenn Beck brings you the truth and you blow it off like it's nonsense. Do you call yourselves true Americans? If so, I have news for you. True Americans believe in the constitution and the rights that it affords each and every American.

      This constant attack on true Americans like Glenn Beck just goes to prove that you and every other responder here who is attacking Glenn Beck is nothing more than a sheeple following what the machine wants. Learn to be an individual my friend. You are trading your freedom and mine for the mountain of lies being fed to you by the government and the leftist media.

      Think I am wrong then have the courage to watch the following videos of Barack Obama telling lie after lie.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H64yKJhB528

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAaQNACwaLw

      Report Abuse

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