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A year ago today

July 28, 2010 9:05 am ET by Matt Gertz

12 months ago, Glenn Beck set off a firestorm when, appearing on Fox & Friends to discuss President Obama's response to the arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, he called Obama a "racist" with a "deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture."

Beck's comments resulted in a fusillade of criticism from other media outlets, staunch defenses from his Fox bosses and colleagues, and a massive advertising boycott that has reduced Beck's commercial breaks to a stream of ads for gold, Fox and other News Corp. companies, and As-Seen-On-TV products.

Today, we at Media Matters are reviewing what Beck has been up to on race over the past year; how calling the president and members of his administration racist -- which used to be controversial -- is now a routine occurrence for the right-wing media; and Fox News' history of race-baiting.

One year after calling Obama a "racist," Beck is still busy race-baiting

One year ago today, Glenn Beck called President Obama a "racist" with a "deep-seated hatred for white people." Since those explosive comments, Beck has continued to use racially charged rhetoric while his colleagues at Fox News have defended him, even in the face of a growing advertiser boycott.

One year later: Right-wing media routinely call Obama racist

On July 28, 2009, Glenn Beck called President Obama a "racist" with a "deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture." While Beck has reportedly lost more than 100 advertisers since he made those comments, right-wing media figures now routinely call Obama or members of his administration "racist."

Fox News' race-baiting: We report, then divide

Howard Dean and Joan Walsh recently called out Fox News, criticizing what they called its "racist" handling of the deceptively edited Shirley Sherrod video clip. Indeed, Fox News and its personalities have a long history of aggressive race-baiting and racially charged commentary.

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    • Author by nerzog (July 28, 2010 9:19 am ET)
      2  
      It's kind of funny... when I hear MSM pundits criticize Beck, it's always this particular statement to which they refer. Sadly, the stuff he's been saying since then is even worse, in my opinion.

      The punditry need to update their Nostradumbass file.
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      • Author by cst (July 28, 2010 9:42 am ET)
        5  
        I think "Obama is a racist" is Beck's "Iconic" moment; the statement that defines him by combining all his tactics (the unsubstaniatable allegations, the hateful smears, and the projection of his own obvious flaws onto his opponents) into one easy sound-bite.
        Of course, this also marks ONE FULL YEAR of him absolutely refusing to explain what he means by the term "White Culture". It's the perfect time to ask him again, don't you think?
        Report Abuse
        • Author by MickD (July 28, 2010 9:52 am ET)
          4  
          He won't go on any outlet that will ask him to explain himself.
          Report Abuse
      • Author by IRONY 101 (July 28, 2010 9:48 am ET)
        2  
        Someone needs to start pointing out publicly that Glenn Beck's behavior suggests psychosis...but I'm sure that won't come from FOX.
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        • Author by rusty hinges (July 28, 2010 9:58 am ET)
          2  
          Why would FOX-it's one of their job requirements.
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        • Author by epkklk851 (July 28, 2010 10:04 am ET)
          1  
          I just keep thinking of "Network". They knew the guy was crazy and kept him around until his numbers dropped and then they assassinated him on TV. I'd be very worried if I were Beckie, especially if he gets called in by Ol'Rup.
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          • Author by cst (July 28, 2010 10:25 am ET)
            1  
            They'd never do the killing themselves- just dump him, and assume he'll react in some suicidally crazy way that will give them one last big story to cover.
            They'll wring every last bit of juice out of his corpse, and then distance themselves from him REAL quick.
            Report Abuse
          • Author by MickD (July 28, 2010 10:26 am ET)
            2  
            "You have meddled with the primal forces of nature, Mr. [Beck], and I won't have it! Is that clear?"
            Report Abuse
      • Author by ProgLib (July 29, 2010 12:44 am ET)
           
        They're too scared to document his hate like MMfA does because they know Fox, or Beck himself, will come after them, and they'll scurry away like scared rodents like Obama and the White House did after the Shirley Sherrod debacle.
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    • Author by David2012 (July 28, 2010 11:06 am ET)
      2  
      Anybody noticed that Glenn only appears in friendly venues nowadays? When he has in the past been in any forum in which he is challenged, his performances have been pathetic, basically puppy-like, in seeking approval from whoever is on the set.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Johaely (July 28, 2010 11:27 am ET)
        1  
        Like limbaugh and Hannity he learned that by going to shows where he doens't have the upper hand he is going to look like a fool and may lose his almost inexistant credibility.
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