CNN's Beck acknowledged being a "recovering scumbag"
During an interview on CNN Headline News' Nancy Grace, right-wing radio host and new Headline News hire Glenn Beck said of himself, "I like to say I'm a work in progress, a recovering scumbag."
During an interview on the May 5 edition of CNN Headline News' Nancy Grace, right-wing radio host and new Headline News hire Glenn Beck said of himself, "I like to say I'm a work in progress, a recovering scumbag."
Later in the interview, host Nancy Grace asked Beck about a benefit he had held for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Beck explained that he had raised money for those survivors "who were trying to be decent people and get back on their feet" -- not those who "were stealing televisions and shooting at helicopters."
But Grace neglected to question Beck about the comments he made during the September 9, 2005, edition of his radio show, which was broadcast from the fundraiser near Philadelphia. As Media Matters for America documented, Beck attacked the "scumbags" who "were left in New Orleans, or who decided to stay" after Hurricane Katrina. He likened those left in New Orleans after Katrina to 9-11 victims' families, who are "always complaining" and whom he admitted to "hating."
Earlier, during an interview on the May 5 edition of CNN's American Morning, co-host Soledad O'Brien asked Beck to explain these remarks. In response, Beck falsely claimed that the quote she displayed had been taken out of context and that he had been criticizing only the looters.
Beck's daily prime-time program is scheduled to debut May 8 at 7 p.m. ET. In anticipation, Media Matters has documented Beck's extensive history of outrageous statements.
From the May 5 edition of CNN Headline News' Nancy Grace:
GRACE: It's always like -- still, this many years later, it's like just cold water thrown on my face. But a lot of people don't realize where you're coming from with your life history, and I'm referring specifically to your mom and brother.
BECK: I mean, I've grown up -- I've had a lot of experiences in my life. My mom committed suicide when I was 13; my brother has committed suicide. I'm an alcoholic in recovery, did drugs every day of my life for many, many years. I like to say I'm a work in progress --
GRACE: Aren't we all?
BECK: -- a recovering scumbag.
BECK: Yeah, we are.
GRACE: I'd much rather have a sinner than a hypocrite any day.
[...]
GRACE: Question: Is it true you threw a benefit somehow for 9-11 -- Katrina victims?
BECK: Yeah -- no, I threw a benefit for Katrina survivors. I didn't like to call them victims as much as survivors. I think there were some victims out there. And then there were those who were capitalizing on the event, and they were stealing televisions and shooting at helicopters. You know, those people, I didn't raise money for them. And we raised -- I don't even remember what it was -- $150,000 in an afternoon for them to try to help those people who were trying to be decent people and get back on their feet.
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Glenn, what kind of a media whore exploits the suicide of his mother and brother for persoal gain? They knew what they were getting into.
For exploiting his family grief, isn't Beck a "pretty big prostitute"? Can't remember where I first heard that phrase...
how many times have you ever heard him speak about his mother and brother. compare that to how many times you've Sheehan talk about her son, you know like everywhere she goes, whose the bigger whore?
Also apparently its fine for you all to call a conservative a whore, but god (oh noes I said the g word) forbid that a conservative say anything about liberal.
He needs a better 12 step program.
Somebody who would tell him "Glenn, calling Jimmy Carter a 'waste of skin' is scumbag thing to do. Get to a meeting."
For a recovering scumbag, his rantings and diatribes are not very indicative of any progress.
At least he's honest about his credentials. Talent certainly doesn't count for much but the ability to vilify and ridicule the downtrodden and the victimized means everything in the sensationalist right wing media.
What am I saying? He was just joking.
You guys act like he brought his mother up as a topic of conversation, when, in reality, it was Grace who asked him specificially about it. Is Bill Parcells a media whore because people ask him about T.O.? Beck answered the question and moved on. It's not like he was on Grace's show to talk about the suicide of his mother. Like I said, tooo funny.
..."sorry Grace, I won't exploit my personal family grief to try to make me seem like a misunderstood nice guy instead of yet another blithering angry white male." Your utter non-sequitur about Bill Parcells and T.O. was very amusing though.
I think Beck was referencing some things that caused him to abuse alcohol and drugs, the suicides of his family members. It was a reason, not an excuse. I think those facts are relevant to his life story.
EVERYBODY has a sad story. Would you say the same for the skid row crack addict that was sexually abused as a child? That ran away and was forced into prostitution from home abuse of all kinds? Seems the sad stories of the rightwingnuts like Rushbo and Beck are REASONS and the sad stories of the rest are excuses. I dont buy it.
no he is fixing himself.
He also started from a better place. He WASNT molested and abused as a child, he got an education, his sad story ISNT as sad as many, thats the difference.
Now back to the point. What makes his sad story any more compelling than the rest of the drug addicts? THAT was what was being discussed.
Not "non-sequiter". And I happen to appreciate somone being open and honest about their past. Maybe it's just me. By explaining his past, it gives us insight into where he developed his point of view of certain topics. Or why he tends to focus on certian things, like alcoholism. And I somehow doubt Grace would allow Beck to get away with dodging questions (from her reputation).
Hmmmm, has Cindy Sheehan ever tried that approach? Turns out that rusty is very insightful. He can determin how to find out who the whore is and who isn't. Looks like everyone is a whore.
I was just following Glenn's rationale: if you exploit your family tragedy for personal gain, then you're a whore. I should have made that explicit. By Glenn Beck's standard, not mine, he is himself a whore (or "pretty big prostitute" if you prefer). My own personal standard is that a prostitute is someone who has sex for money, and there is no evidence that Glenn Beck has sex for money.
I agree with con-man. Many just regurgitated their hate for Beck from one thread to another, without actually reading (or hearing) what Beck said. Just spewing out hate because his name is Beck. Tooo funny.
Search on Glen Beck and see how many times and on the number of different pages it references his mother committing suicide, his brother-in-law committing suicide, being a recovering addict, his daughter having cerebral palsy, etc. Apparently this is something he discusses quite readily in his holiday show, in interviews, etc.
Personally, I think its great that he has overcome the problems in his life and has used it as a focus to improve himself. It's obvious that he is proud of this and doesn't have any problem discussing the matter. I would also point out that America loves a story where a person overcomes adversity, plus its helping show that there is hope for other people in the same situations.
What I find humorous is that when discussing Cindy Sheehan many of you (including Beck) turn her into an opportunistic media "whore" (Hence the jokes at the beginning of the thread on this topic) Why is it ok for one person and not someone else to use personal tragedy in their life and try to make something better out of it or share that message with others? Apparently when you agree with their ideology its ok, but if you don't then you have to attach a sinister motive behind it? Do you realize how completely hypocritical that makes many of you and Mr. Beck?
Can't wait to hear how "this is different". Different because you don't like what Cindy S has to say...
Is a rightwing bloviating screech monkey and the other....isnt.
I didn't know Cindy Sheehan was right-wing. Who knew? ;-) But seriously, the difference is that Beck is already in the media. It makes sense for people to look at public figures' (such as Beck) pasts. It is a totally different story for an unknown (such as Sheehan) to allow and encourage the media to use their tragedy to gain national prominence to further a cause. One is retroactive, the other is proactive. Beck was already "famous" before his tragedies were in the public. Sheehan is "famous" for having her tragedies played out in public. Two different situations.
Cindy Sheehan feels strongly about something because of a something that happened to HER (her son being killed), and you sick righties have to smear her on it. Are you diseased? Do you not have a soul? What kind of disgusting pathological illness do you have that you would accuse a grieving mother of such things? You, you are the whores.
So let me get this straight ... You only get to discuss issues of personal grief in a public forum if you already have some notoriety? Is there a secret handbook tragedy etiquette that I'm unaware of?
That has to be the weakest argument I've heard in a long time, but I'll give you a gold star for being creative. :P
You have some obligation to keep a personal tragedy a dirty little secret. Dealing with it in silence. You have no right to decide it is an issue that should be addressed publicly so others do not have to share in your tragedy. Those MADD mothers should have shut up and let famous victims have all the ink.
If you are already famous then using your personal tragedy to push your agenda somehow takes on a mantle of purity and is a different level of suffering or has a different and more profound reasoning behind it or whatever somehow changes it into a NOBLE impetus for pushing your agenda. I knew you people on the right worshipped celebrity and power, but that is frankly ridiculous.
[link to www.allamericanspeakers.com]
Apparently you can hire Mr. Beck as a motivational speaker. I wonder what he could discuss that would be motivational? Could it be all of the personal tragedy in his life?
Someone needs to let Cindy Sheehan know that only conservatives are allowed to discuss personal tradgey! Since your liberal your just a media puppet/whore that is tarnishing the memory of her dead son.
I wonder if Beck gets paid for those speeches?
mhk says: " Apparently when you agree with their ideology its ok, but if you don't then you have to attach a sinister motive behind it? Do you realize how completely hypocritical that makes many of you and Mr. Beck? "
Don't look in that mirror, mhk. You will see the same hypocrit you claim everyone else is. Aren't you, too, claiming Beck has a "sinister motive" behind his use of personal tragedy, simply because you don't agree with his ideology? That makes you the same hypocrit you're trying to label all of the Beck supporters as.
I said "Personally, I think its great that he has overcome the problems in his life and has used it as a focus to improve himself. It's obvious that he is proud of this and doesn't have any problem discussing the matter. "
I didn't attach a sinister motive to Mr. Beck other then he is hypocritical and therefore deserves the same criticisim he is dishing out on Cindy Sheehan. I stated very clearly that I thought what it was fine that he discussed the tragedy in his life.
Bzzz - your wrong, try reading pal.
Started covering him. Great job giving someone free publicity.
You would have heard of him as soon as his CNN show came out. Unless of course you watch Fox exclusively.
Interesting comment JLYON, but don't assume that simply because you've never heard of Beck that no one else has either. Many here who have posted have been familiar enough with him and his bigoted past to be concerned, which should be reason enough for MMFA to raise the issue of his new show, and of CNN hiring him. It's like people dismissing history, claiming, 'I wasn't even born then'. Great, but things still did happen that have an impact. Beck impacted opinion, whether it was yours or another's.
Or did you stop reading by that time? He raises $150K for Katrina survivors, what have any of you given to them? I'm sure he feels your heartfelt thank-you's.
have raised money for Katrina, what's your point?
I heard Hilter was nice to his mother, do you have an actual POINT?
Yeah, I have a point! You liberals are so engulfed in hate that you don't even see the good in someone! My God, you drag a guy down because he says he is a recovering alchoholic and a "work in progress". You bash him and smash him because he expresses an opinion YOU don't approve of.
No wonder democrats won't win another election...they have hate-filled "people" supporting them. The only way you liberals get someone to become a liberal is to teach them to HATE!
And, to prove THIS point, watch the hate fill in following this message.
Opinions I disagree with are one thing, but when you say "is there a bigger waste of skin than Jimmy Carter?", then you are on my sh*t list. Did his mother's suicide make him say that? His alcoholism? Everybody has tragedy in their lives. Everybody is a "work in progress." That's not a free pass to be a flaming d*ck.
As for Democrats winning elections, just wait until November. The Repubs are terrified. Does "31%" mean anything to you?
Yeah, the percentage of votes demoncats will get in the next election. Ahha ha ha.
Yeah, I have a point! You liberals are so engulfed in hate that you don't even see the good in someone!
Please. One of the things that many conservatives try to engage in here is mind-reading, and none are ever successful. Don't try to tell us how we feel. Frankly, it's not in a liberal's nature to be engulfed in hate.
But, as has already been pointed out, seeing the good in someone is not the point. Raising money for Katrina victims is good. His long record of extremely nasty commentary about people he disagrees with is bad. The good doesn't negate the bad.
My God, you drag a guy down because he says he is a recovering alchoholic and a "work in progress". You bash him and smash him because he expresses an opinion YOU don't approve of.
First, try to cut down on the blasphemy. Your Sunday School teacher wouldn't approve. Second, no one is dragging him down for admitting his alcoholism--liberals love honesty in people. And third, we're not the ones who overrate our approval. What liberals would like in the opinion-generating media is a good balance. What we have instead is overwhelmingly tilted to the right, and CNN is simply making things worse by the hiring of Beck, whose credentials have been seriously called into question.
No wonder democrats won't win another election...
Oh, so now you're a psychic as well as a mind-reader--how talented you are! (By the way, that's not hate, that's sarcasm.) In addition, we're talking about the media; why are you bringing up elections? It's a totally different topic. Switching topics is a sign of defending a lost cause, Goalball.
they have hate-filled "people" supporting them.
Wow, you refer to people as "people," and you have the audacity to say that we are the ones who hate? Please remember to purchase a mirror on your way home.
The only way you liberals get someone to become a liberal is to teach them to HATE!
And now, since your points are so weak, you resort to a little shouting. On the contrary, the way to convert someone to liberalism is to have a reasonable discussion of the issues and show how liberalism is the philosophy that does the most good for the most people.
You really seem to be hung up on this idea of "hate." Can you honestly say that liberal voices in the media express the kind of hatred that we see so often from the likes of Beck, Coulter, O'Reilly, Limbaugh, Hannity, ad nauseum?
And, to prove THIS point, watch the hate fill in following this message.
And Goalball, you have just been disproven.
On which point? I saw more opinion from the left, nothing to show me I was wrong in my opinion.
You said you would get hate-filled responses, and you didn't. You are therefore disproven.
Now try a different topic because you're clearly in over your head here.
That Beck and the others are satirists and entertainers. They can say anything they like. If anyone responds with the same type of "humor or satire" the rightwing nut jobs call it hatred. Why is Beck funny but anyone responding to him is hateful?
And Democrats win about as often as Republicans do. This is a very evenly divided country. That seems to be the way the people in charge like it because every time an opportunity arises to unite us, they and the satirists find ways to divide us. The right fears a united country working for the common good.
as soon as you throw some ignorant hitler comment into the mix you just show how invalid you are, this thread is over.
Doesn't stop you from bashing Clinton. Get some integrity.
He's a 'recoving scumbag'. So, that gives him the right to label anyone else who meets his criteria a 'scumbag' or worse. Again, the logic here is faulty.
Now that we know of his history, he gets a 'pass' to continue being an ass? It makes no sense. Since he's 'been there', he's allowed to be mean? Rude? Crass? I don't buy it.
Good for Beck helping raise $150k......I'm happy for him......I wonder though......
How much was from his own pockets??
Between my wife and I haing barely $250 a month left over after bills, three kids, a house.......we gave $300 to the Katrina fund......
Thats just about 10% of our left over dollars for savings for the year.......
I wonder how much Beck and his wife personally have as savings per year compared to any actual amount he might have given and what percentage it is of his 'left over' money??
While I don't doubt that he gave some money.....I doubt it was close to 10% of his savings??
And I don't want to hear about it being more money than I gave!! Proportionately.........I no doubt gave more!!
We struggle to make ends meet at times......We are as far removed of being 'rich' (like Beck no doubt is)......but we gave the $300 with no second thoughts!!
I wonder how Beck struggled with giving money to 'scumbags'?? Was it because he cared?? Or was it for ratings??
captfoster2 says: " And I don't want to hear about it being more money than I gave!! Proportionately.........I no doubt gave more!! We struggle to make ends meet at times......We are as far removed of being 'rich' (like Beck no doubt is)......but we gave the $300 with no second thoughts!! I wonder how Beck struggled with giving money to 'scumbags'?? Was it because he cared?? Or was it for ratings?? "
That's a very good testimonial. Now, how much did you say Mr. Beck gave? How many kids is he raising? How much is his mortage? You don't know, right? Amazing that you claim to be giving "till it hurts" out of your own free will, but say Beck didn't give anything out of his own pocket because he is just using what he did give for free publicity. You say he doesn't live the "hard" life you are living, but he didn't give as much as you. Heck, after "bills, three kids, a house" you could be making well over $150K a year. You may be as cheap as you claim Beck is. Come back when you have facts instead of inuendo. When you can show as fact what Beck gave then start bragging on yourself....as long as he gave less than $300!
Goodness, Goalball, not only are you a poor mind-reader, you're a poor regular reader, as well.
Captfoster2: How much was from his own pockets?
Goalball: Now, how much did you say Mr. Beck gave?
Answer: He didn't say. He asked.
Goalball: Amazing that you claim to be giving "till it hurts" out of your own free will, but say Beck didn't give anything out of his own pocket.
Answer: He didn't say any such thing. He was asking about proportional giving, whether Beck's giving was any kind of sacrifice.
Captfoster2: Between my wife and I having barely $250 a month left over after bills, three kids, a house....
Goalball: Heck, after "bills, three kids, a house" you could be making well over $150K a year.
Answer: $250 a month is $3K a year, not $150K a year. Have your math skills always been this poor?
Goalball: You may be as cheap as you claim Beck is.
Answer: He didn't claim anything. He asked. Why is this so difficult for you?
Captfoster2: I wonder how Beck struggled with giving money to 'scumbags'? Was it because he cared? Or was it for ratings?
Goalball: (silence)
Cindy Sheehan is a mother who lost a son in a war that we have learned was initiated on the basis of false information, was conducted with too few troops, the troops were not supplied with proper equipment, and the mission has no exit strategy.
All the particulars surrounding the Administration's depiction of this war -- the Iraqi oil would PAY for the effort, our soldiers would be greeted as liberators, the insurgent action is in its "last throes", MISSION ACCOMPLISHED -- have all been frauds and shams.
So this mother speaks out, and is demonized, smeared, and slandered by the Rightwing (mostly by chickenhawks who never served).
The lesson here is, Sheehan went about her advocacy all wrong to please Rightwing sensabilities. In order to qualify to speak out, she needed to begin abusing drugs and alcohol, she needed to start taking bribes and "perks" in return for her favors in a public responsibility capacity, and it would be great if she could have shot a friend in the face with a shotgun.
If Cindy had only followed the path that makes Rightwingers EXCUSE anything said by a person, maybe she would have qualified for a "pass" from the hateful rhetoric of the rightwing.
Since she's just a mom, and not a "recovering scumbag", the Rightwing have no use for her.
CNN Has once again demonstrated its lack of decency. We have Mr. "One Note" Dobbs, whose only claim to infamy is his anti-brown immigrant posture. And now they foist an avowed bigot, Glen Beck, on to the airwaves. CNN has an obligation to present the news, not disguise selective editorials by individuals and its corporate masters, as the news. Sadly, it is positions like these that will define CNN and its presentation of the news. Perhaps CNN should consider expanding Jack Cafferty's role. We will not miss Wolf, or spluttering Dana Bash, if their time was trimmed.
I learned of this guy coming to CNN from my CNN alerts that I receive. I immediately un-subscribed.
Anybody see the show last night? I thought it was fairly good for the first show, I liked the part where Beck was eating a Big Mac during his interview with the anti-fast food guy. Pretty good humor.
I have decided that you are now my HERO!!
I truely wish their were more intelligent people like yourself who read my posts, understand them, and then proceed to put me in my place!!
Its been a while since the last time I had seen or heard someone accuse me of saying something as a presumption instead of the question that it was...... but then......my daughter(s) were only 3 at the time........
But, since political_left-religious_right said basically what I would have said......and um....thank you political_left-religious_right for it....... it seemed only fair that I thank you for showing the world.....(well ok, not the world.......but those of us in here!) just how bright you are and how unable I am to say the wrong thing!!
As for Beck! I don't know how much he makes......I honestly don't give a damn either........I think we can presume however that its a heck of a lot more than I make!!
Perhaps instead of showing your obvious intelligence in here you should call up Beck and find out how your hero really feels about 'us little' guys.......or even if he cares about you?? Or how much he actually gave out of his pocket to Katrina relief? As I said, anything less than 9% of his yearly savings.........I then reserve the right to say what I want about him!
And unless you gave at least 9% of your yearly savings......I don't want to hear crap from you either!! Though.....this is still a free country......so no doubt you'll say your peace.........as is your right.
You're welcome, Capt. I suppose I should have waited and let you respond, since Goalball's off-kilter comments were directed at yourself. But since no one here knows anyone else's schedule, I didn't want Goalball to think that neither you nor anyone else could answer his commentary while you were simply unavailable. Hope you didn't mind that I was the one sticking the pins.
You said "Hope you didn't mind that I was the one sticking the pins."
And I say........You should have laid into him even more!! But my 2nd post did that....so all is good!!
If there is one thing I can't stand.......its people like GoalBall that misinterpret, misinform, make things up for attention, and make 2nd grade math and reading errors!! Kinda like his appearant hero's Beck, O'Really, Limbough, Hannity, etc..........
Oh where oh where is GoalBall now?? If he is anywhere....he should be sitting at his table reading "The Nation" magazine........
He might learn something.........like TRUTH!!