Beck presented mock commercial parodying Mexican immigrants
On the May 5 edition of his radio program, Glenn Beck aired a mock commercial for a fictional amusement park called "Cinco de Flag," that touted rides such as the "tractor-trailer run," in which "[w]e simulate an 18-wheeler full of illegal immigrants trying to cross the border when the INS breaks in."
On the May 5 edition of his nationally syndicated radio program, new CNN host Glenn Beck aired a mock commercial for a fictional amusement park called "Cinco de Flag," that touted rides such as the "tractor-trailer run," in which "[w]e simulate an 18-wheeler full of illegal immigrants trying to cross the border when the INS [Immigration and Naturalization Service] breaks in." The mock commercial also advertised the "craziest ride ever to come to Mexico: a job application!" The commercial added: "Feel the exhilaration of what it would actually be like to apply for and get a job in Mexico. Imagine the rush of an economy that won't make residents of its country prefer a life away from family while running from the law." After the commercial ended, Beck played the 1958 song "Tequila" by The Champs in celebration of Cinco de Mayo, referring to it as the "Mexican national anthem," and added, "and, of course, we changed the words to English."
As Media Matters for America has noted, Beck recently declared that illegal immigrants are either "terrorists," outlaws, or people who "can't make a living in their own dirtbag country" and said that "Mexico is run by nothing but criminals." Beck's CNN program premiered on May 8 on CNN Headline News.
From the May 5 edition of the Glenn Beck Program:
ANNOUNCER: Get ready to experience the thrills, the chills, and the spills at the greatest amusement park south of the border in tropical Me-hee-ho. You've heard of Six Flags. Well, this one isn't as good, "Five Flags," if we're lucky.
So, welcome to Cinco de Flag amusement park. So, bienvenidos a Cinco de Flag amusement park. Come see our new line-up of thrill rides, like the biggest rollercoaster in Me-hee-ho, El Nino. Standing a whopping 32 feet tall, it drops an amazing 10 feet in 15 seconds! Run for the border in the terrifying tractor-trailer run. We simulate an 18-wheeler full of illegal immigrants trying to cross the border when the INS breaks in. See if you can make it!
Plus, the craziest ride ever to come to Mexico: a job application! Feel the exhilaration of what it would actually be like to apply for and get a job in Mexico. Imagine the rush of an economy that won't make residents of its country prefer a life away from family while running from the law. And finally the Slingshot -- you get on and are launched into the air, landing far into the distance. By the way, if we mistakenly overshoot the mat and you land in, say, Arizona, it would be terribly wrong to just stay there and send a portion of your earnings back to Cinco de Flag amusement park. So, come to the underwhelming amusement park on the border. It's Cinco de Flag! Register now for head-to-head tunnel digging.
BECK: Well, here it is -- Cinco de Mayo, my friends. Oh, by the way -- the Mexican national anthem here, just for -- and of course, we changed the words to English.
CHORUS: Bourbon!
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That is some funny, funny stuff. Sheesh. Pretty lame.
Why is the tiny roller coaster supposed to be funny?
...THEY'RE MEXICANS!!! Haw-Haw-Ha-ha... I really don't know.
This routine had me rolling. If you can't find humor in someone's desperation and or tragedy, then you have no sense of humor.
Beck has got to be the funniest guy to come along in a long time. I haven't laughed so hard since Manson came to court with the swastika carved into his forehead.
I don't OBJECT at all to the attempted satire by Beck...just how poorly it was done. It's a dry read, BUT even the audio didn't make me chuckle. The ONLY somewhat "funny" part MIGHT be the " Run for the border in the terrifying tractor-trailer run", though that wasn't side-splitting funny either. And the changing of the words of the "Mexican National Anthem" [Tequila] to "Bourbon" was passable for humorous.
I know MOST of you here LOATH Ann Coulter and what she offers as "satire" BUT I think she could have done a lot more with the material here. ;-)
Glad to see you back.
Welcome Back! We missed you.
Hi Lynn-worrierking, I just NEEDED some time away...I was burnt out on politics. But I found I missed this site and everyone here and I'm feeling a BIT refreshed and ready to "debate/discuss" the issues again.
Hey good to see you. This place can be pretty tough when it's about 5 against 100 but it's still fun.
I just want you to know that you jeter and Another American are the cream of the crop when it comes to conservative opinion at this site. Jeter its good to see you back.
It's nice to be back--I knew I wouldn't stay away forever cause I think I'm ADDICTED to this place!
I've always enjoyed our discussions/debates...we may NOT always agree, BUT I respect your OPINIONS and you have always been fair&reasonable.
I'll remember that the next time you tear me a new one. LOL
Yeah this place can be tough when you're outnumbered ;-) But you're right, it's fun. I missed it, so my VACATION is over.
There is a huge difference between illegal aliens and immigrints.Immigrints are here legally in this country. So why use the word immigrint to describe illegal aliens?It seems a little dishonest.
I thought the skit was funny.
No wonder you support that racist pig Beck.
What's the story here? Can there be misinformation in fictional parody? Sure, he's reinforcing stereotypes for cheap laughs, but does that rise to the level of conservative misinformation. And, yeah, its just not a funny bit.
As has been pointed out ad nauseum, MMFA also catalogues the outrageous statements of conservatives, republicans, journalists, etc. While these statements do not qualify as misinformation per se, they are enlightening, as they are often contradictory, illogical, offensive or all of the above.
Yes, this bit is unfunny, but it also shows a disregard for human beings who are seeking money for their impoverished families. Glenn Beck, I would assume, claims to be a nice guy, a caring indiviidual. This bit of "comedy" helps to dispell that bit of misinformation, at least as it applies to humans who cross borders in search of employment.
I can respect the anti-immigration position, but not the anti-immigrant position.
I can respect the anti-immigration position, but not the anti-immigrant position.
Is this a typo?
There is a difference. One can be against immigration for legitmate reaons--wage deflation, the creation of another minority underclass, depletion of governmental resources--or one can be against it because one hates Mexicans. I would classify the former as anti-immigration and the latter as anti-immigrant. Beck's piece more fully illustrates anti-immigrant thinking.
Sorry 'bout that. I didn't read carefully enough.
But, either way, I'm sure he still meant anti-"illegal"-immigration and anti-"illegal"-immigrant as his examples. I'm sure he isn't against people immigrating to this country, just the illegal ones. But, I could be wrong.
it shows a disregard for people how are illegally here in our country. I know national sovreignty is a difficult concept for some people right now, so I'm trying to be patient.
Still not a funny bit, though there's no humor in the subject for me anyway. Has Beck ever been funny?
Are employed by Americans, who are breaking the law just as much (and actually enticing desperate people over the border). But the Americans are not as easy to ridicule.
It's strange to me that you continue to defend his stupid skit out of one side of your mouth and then acts as if your above it by stating its not funny. You know that part of his skit is to pander to individuals that are against Hispanic immigrants. This only continues to inflame an already contentious argument.
How do you feel about looking into ways to solve the illegal immigration issue? Wouldn't it make more sense to work on issues and policies that curbed the need or desire for illegal immigration instead of just enforcement? Why do you seem to start this issue by focusing on the individuals without mentioning the causes?
where I'm defending the skit or talking out of both sides of my mouth. Since the MMFA article is on Beck, it made sense to comment on what he did which was a skit. An unfunny skit.
On the issue: illegal immigration, I feel like it is a serious problem that needs to be dealt with in a meaningful and comprehensive manner. Starting with serious enforcement of existing laws. I don't believe you can deal effectively with the bigger problem unless you first deal with slowing down the flow of illegals into this country from all parts of the world. After that gets going, then we can talk about guest workers and revamping immigration quotas and making the process a more fluid process that doesn't (and shouldn't) take 8 - 12 years.
On the Skit: Not Funny. Lame.
I just re-read the skit to make sure I didn't skim too much (which I did) and, though its still not funny I think the one salvagable part may be ...
"Imagine the rush of an economy that won't make residents of its country prefer a life away from family while running from the law."
I do think Mexico needs to do more for its citizens. There's basically two classes in Mexico the very, VERY rich and everybody else. There is virtually no middle class. The economy is broken and while the rich are at the top, they certainly aren't going to worry about fixing it.
Hmm, that sounds familiar to something that seems to be happening elsewhere.... now, where was that country again? The one with the squeezed, shrinking, middle class.... Hmmm.
Well you keep interpreting the message of what Beck's skit is about as if it's really about national sorveignty and not about pandering to the worst part of his audience. Is his next commercial going to be about a lazy rich white couple that isn't interested in doing yard work, housekeeping or watching the children? Maybe they can go shopping for illegal immigrants down at the corner to find themselves a good deal on the hired help. ....
We don't differ on everything, just on priorities on what should be done first. I'm not against enforcement and I think it should be done to individuals and corporations. I think some conservatives tend to focus more on the individual instead of companies at large... I cannot imagine what a person's life is like in order to leave everything behind and go to a country that is less then friendly in many circumstances. Mexico is a beautiful country and the experiences I had with the people were pretty amazing. I really wish the US would put more pressure on Mexico to clean up the government and stop the stampede of people across the boarder. That is really the only way we are going to see a long term solution to this issue and I really want to see people the Mexican people do better then they are... I don't hear conservatives talking about these issues, all I hear and see is derogatory comments and references about illegal immigrants.. It often times seems as if they don't even see them as real people.
My major fear with the Republican plan is that it will only address enforcement and only as long as the issue is in the public eye. Then it will go back to things as usual because business likes cheap labor.
Glenn Beck's about a mild stroke away from becoming Michael Savage.
I guess if I hated Mexicans I'd find this pretty funny, but then again if I was a racist I'd also be an idiot.
Here's to watching Beck crash and burn.
Isn't Savage rated #1 with his radio show? Isn't Beck's around #3? How many liberal radio shows are listed in the top 10? It sounds like you want Beck to be even more popular, sounds good to me.
P.S. were you watching Beck's show too?
"HELP WANTED, Irish need not apply" a lot funnier. Probably because I'm Irish. I didn't want that stupid job anyhow. Take it and shove it. So Jose isn't so picky about that job. Bully for him and welcome aboard Jose.
Let's try a day without overpaid corporate executives. Think anyone will notice?
MSNBC hired the racist, gay-bashing scum Savage.
CNN now has hired the racist, gay-bashing scum Beck.
What a charming description of a bigot. So CNN has decided to continue with this Racists show, aligning itself with racism, xenophobia and hatred. Here is a suggestion: Let us send all governments in Latin American a copy of Mr. Beck's cordial comments about Hispanics, and ask them to shut al down all CNN bureaus in their countries. Once CNN see's a dwindling of revenues, "scumbag" Hispanics, Asians and the poor affected by Hurrican Katrina, should stop supporting CNN advertisers. I suspect CNN will then understand Mr. Beck's value.