Beck: Are Americans "as dumb" as Nigerians?
In describing Nigeria's new public education campaign to fight the spread of bird flu, radio host Glenn Beck stated that the country has "actually resorted to radio jingles," and then asked if the United States could be "as dumb as Nigeria."
In describing Nigeria's new public education campaign to fight the spread of bird flu, radio host Glenn Beck stated that the country has "actually resorted to radio jingles," and then asked if the United States could be "as dumb as Nigeria." Beck -- who was recently hired by CNN to host a new show on CNN Headline News -- made the comments during the March 16 edition of his nationally syndicated radio show. Beck also commented on the recent breakdown in negotiations for the rebuilding of the World Trade Center, declaring: "You know, instead of making -- and showing them [terrorists] that we're afraid, wouldn't you rather say to them, hey, here's a bigger target ... Build the world's largest Target on the top of the World Trade Center!" Beck went on to parody Arabic names, adding, "Go ahead, go ahead -- try to hijack a plane. See how that goes over, Jack -- or Jack Emah, Jack Emah Jock Jack Homah Mustafa Muhammad."
As Media Matters for America has noted, Beck has a track record of making controversial comments. For example, Beck has said he was "thinking about killing [filmmaker] Michael Moore," that "it took [him] about a year to start hating the 9-11 victims' families," that anti-war protester Cindy Sheehan is "a pretty big prostitute" and that the father of American civilian Nick Berg, who was killed in Iraq, is "despicable" and "a scumbag" for criticizing President Bush.
From the March 16 edition of Premiere Networks' The Glenn Beck Program:
BECK: By the way, there's another related bird-death story, this one coming out of Nigeria.
Nigeria is actually thinking that, you know, they need to come up with a way to educate people on how not get the bird flu. Well the only way you get the bird flu is if you're raising birds, and you're, like, touching, you know, chicken crap. You touch chicken crap, and you get the bird flu. Hello. I mean, how hard is that? They've actually resorted to radio jingles. And they are trying to teach -- I mean, are we this stupid? Are we as dumb as Nigeria? If it comes over here, do we have to have a stupid radio jingle to teach you how not to get the bird flu?
[...]
The reason why people why don't want to rent down there [in Manhattan near the Word Trade Center], there's no faith in this project. I mean, what's up with building one tower? I mean, put a building up there and make it a hundred and fifty stories tall, that'll teach the terrorists. I, you know, I gotta tell ya, I admit I feel a little bit like [country singer] Toby Keith here, but --
You know, instead of making -- and showing them there that we're afraid, wouldn't you rather say to them, hey, here's a bigger target, in fact, why don't we open up the world's largest Target on the top floor, so it could stay on the top. Target. Why not? Have the big, red bull's eye. Oh, he didn't mean it that way, it's a department store. Build the world's largest Target on the top of the World Trade Center! Sheez. Go ahead, go ahead -- try to hijack a plane. See how that goes over, Jack -- or Jack Emah, Jack Emah Jock Jack Homah Mustafa Muhammad.
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The myth of Fox News' ratings spike
is that he has a big mouth.
Why would CNN hire this blatant racist clown to host a news program? Iknow some of you said ratings and dollars, but why is it that white racism is popular and profitable?
Is Beck as dumb as a bag of hammers?
Beck, go back to your recreational drug use. Talk to Limballs.
His special Mormon underwear is too tight. Send Stu out for some fresh tightie-whities.
Now we are criticising people's religions? Not a good comment, in my opinion.
He was talking about UNDERWEAR. The Mormon word is descriptive, as in an adjective. If he had said 'red underwear', would you have said 'WHOA! Insulting peoples' choice of COLOR?!? Simmer down!'?
He wasn't just throwing it out there as a innocuous adjective. He meant "Mormon" as a perjorative, and a simple reading of his comment shows that. Fact is, he didn't say 'red'. 'Red' would have been fine, but when you start sniping at his religion to try and debase him, you lose your credibility. Let's rise above these personal remarks.
Throw it out there Conman. You know you are full of it and everybody else does. Might as well make an ass of yourself...again
You make me chuckle.
If I were to write, "You know what your problem is? Your White People comments hurt America", you would be all over me for injecting race (not to mention the cries of 'racist!!!') into the issue where none belongs. I wouldn't just be commenting on your comments, I would be using "White People" deragatorily.
He uses "You know what your problem is? Your Mormon underwear are on too tight" as a cheap shot at Mormons. I don't really care what you call me, but degrading an entire religion like this is a low-blow.
Trying to claim it was an innocent adjective picked at random is an indefensible position. The fact is he wasn't commenting on the underwear, but the fact that it was "Mormon underwear". He didn't need to qualify it with the adjective he used.
But go on, keep attacking me. I think its cute. You single? ;-)
You get all uppity because a poster makes a comment about the white underwear of Glenn Beck, a Mormon, yet you have no trouble with Beck making fun of the names of Muslims.
Ha, ha. You're ridiculous.
I think it was fairly innappropriate of him to make fun of the Muslim names. The vast majority of Muslims are good people. However, when you look at the names of the 9/11 hijackers, you don't see names like Bill Thomas, Steven Murphy, or Jill Maxine listed. If you wanted to come up with fake Muslim hijackers names, you would probably use fake Muslim names, no?
But if he was just sitting around making fun of Muslim names, that I would have a BIG problem with.
Thanks for the compliment. Butter me up, will ya? :-)
It is not perjorative...
"The temple garment (formally the Garment of the Holy Priesthood or informally, the garment or garments) symbolizes the "coats of skins" which Jehovah (Yahweh) made for Adam and Eve before casting them out of the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:21). Latter-day Saints who have been endowed in the temple are expected to wear the garment to remind them of special promises or covenants to God. Latter-Day Saints are commonly clothed in them and the outer temple clothing for burial. The garment is believed to be a spiritual "shield and protection" against the powers of evil, (and sometimes against physical harm, according to some Latter-Day Saints)." Wikipedia
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I used to travel the country with a co-worker who was Mormon. He used to leave his Mormon underwear in the bathroom, because he only wore them once. Mormon underwear is a very specific thing and I would assume Beck wears it, because I believe it is a common thing for Mormons to do.
Did not know that. Learn something new everyday, it seems. I still think it was unnecessary, but now it at least makes sense. Thanks, OM.
if they help save lives? Hell, we elect presidents that are practically based on jingles.
is his complete lack of a point to make. Does he even have one? What is he trying to get at? This is total stream of consciousness.
and you know who lives in Niger, Nigerians, and you know what color Nigerians are? If you don't, it's right there in the name of the country for Beck's wonderfully enlightened audience.
And let's not forget the fact that every civilized country in the world runs PSA's of some kind or another. Even the U.S. of A. under the leadership of that genius George Bush.
I thought Nigerians were people from Nigeria, not Niger.
his sudden jump from talking about Niger to the United States. How does the U.S. factor into how Niger chooses to inform it's people?
even his criticism of Niger is pointless and unfocused. The same is the case with the World Trade Center quote. Mindless babbling.
Okay, people from Niger are referred to as NigeriEns, but the segment was about NigeriAns. That means it was about Nigeria, not Niger.
The commentary was being used as a setup for a comedy bit (a parody radio jingle about bird feces). Surely you understand comedy, no?
I really don't understand right wing comedy and I am very thankful I don't. I would have to scrub my brain.
As a British headline put it the day after Puddinhead George won in 2000..."How can 50 million Americans be so dumb?"
Actually, that would make it only about 1/5 or 1/6 of Americans.
And with Puddinhead's poll numbers in free-fall, maybe we're starting to smarten up. When people start scraping those stupid W stickers off their cars, things will be looking up for sure.
But only around 100 million VOTED.
Any American that listens to an idiot like Beck.
Mr. Beck, What in the heck, Are you babbling about? Do you have a point? Did you smoke a joint? Sincerely, Kilgore Trout.
He's every bit as dumb as a bag of hammers. Beck NEVER has a point. He just rants and hopes some of it sticks. How do these no-nothing wingnuts get jobs in radio in the first place. The bigger question is, why would CNN hire such a dope to do anything except get coffee for the real talent? This guy's a bigger nothing than Hannity or O'Reilly. And a bigger nutcase too.
"Beck NEVER has a point."
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If you don't count the one under his hat, that is...
I guess, in order to be a good neocon... you have to have been an addict of some sort and then found god on some level (in this case Mormonism)... I suppose that gives these guys the right to be exceedingly hostile and inflammatory.
. . . given the number of greedy Yanks that fall for simple Nigerian wire-transfer scams and the like, I'd say they're dumber.
Unless there are a lot of Nigerians eager to send their hard-earned cash to an American who is having trouble shifting around his assets due to US regulations and needs a random foreigner to transfer funds out of the country in their name.
He says:
"Well the only way you get the bird flu is if you're raising birds, and you're, like, touching, you know, chicken crap. You touch chicken crap, and you get the bird flu. Hello. I mean, how hard is that?"
He shows how ignorant he really is. As of now, the only way to come down with the H5N1 Strain of Bird Flu is to be around poultry. The problem is that the Flu virus evolves and also crosses species, that's when the problem really begins. When this strain of the flu passes from bird to man there is not much risk of contagion. But the strain will eventually evolve the ability to spread from man to man. Then we have a problem. This shows that this clown doesn't have the ability to think ahead a few steps. But then, he's always been the type that just spouts whatever idiotic idea that comes into his head. But then again, he is a conservative and a lot of them are comfortable with death on a massive scale. As long as they don't have to participate in the killing and dying.
Really.
I'd be interested in a response from some of the conservative folks out there. Is there someone who makes conservative arguments based of fact and or logic or are they all wackos?
Then he might have more to do than make bad jokes about bird flu. Beck, & the whole lot of hawks who think war is so great. & bring home the folks who would just like to be home with their families.
Racists do racist things.
I dno't think the math was off. 50 million amercians is half of the voters for 2004 election. Remeber we have 285 million people in US but not all of them are eligble to vote. Many do not vote. 50 million is correct.