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Maddow examines whether Beck's 9-12 Project is "exploiting a national tragedy for other purposes"

September 10, 2009 10:10 pm ET

From the September 10 edition of MSNBC's The Rachel Maddow Show:

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    • Author by snoopy (September 10, 2009 10:15 pm ET)
      4  
      9 to 12 angry men, sounds about right...
      Report Abuse
    • Author by MrMustachMan (September 10, 2009 10:24 pm ET)
      1  
      Does not anyone want the fake crying to stop.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by reanna-mator (September 10, 2009 10:28 pm ET)
      7  
      Yes, they'd love for us all to feel like we did on 9/12. Terrified and confused.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (September 11, 2009 7:47 am ET)
        4  
        George W Bush was equally as incompetent on 9/12 as he was on 9/10. It's just that on 9/12 he started doing exactly what the terrorists were trying to accomplish. He made the country even more frightened.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by PurpleState (September 11, 2009 8:52 am ET)
        3  
        Beck has always had it wrong with the 9/12 Project.

        September 12th was not a day for me to stand up and unite with my fellow American. September 12th was a day of mourning for those that died and a day of absolute terror for me. I was half a world away, unable to console anyone. I broke down in tears, but thanked my lucky stars that I didn't lose anyone, only to find out that my entire family could have died on that flight if the terrorists had decided that September 8th was a better day to do it.

        So, no, I don't ever want to hear the date 9/12 as a day of "unity". September 12th is a day that I drank myself into a depressed state. September 12th is always a date that I will keep to myself, because that was the day the actual event happened for me.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by foghornleghorn (September 11, 2009 12:04 pm ET)
        1  
        Just goes to show that there are people in this country who seem to enjoy being afraid.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by Victor Colorado (September 10, 2009 10:31 pm ET)
      7  
      You know, it took me about a year to start hating the 9/11 victims’ families. It took me about a year.


      GLENN LEE BECK
      September 09, 2005
      Report Abuse
      • Author by IRONY 101 (September 11, 2009 12:56 am ET)
        4  
        Someone should run an ad on Beck's show exposing that statement. Beck's show could use the advertising revenue.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by MagCynic (September 11, 2009 1:09 am ET)
          13
        If you understood the rest of the quote you would know he was referring to those specific 9/11 families who were using their victim status for personal gains and other nefarious reasons.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by overmars jr. (September 11, 2009 4:49 am ET)
          6  
          Right... as decided by him.

          Please now go to a mirror and slap yourself. Hard.
          Report Abuse
        • Author by worrierking (September 11, 2009 8:20 am ET)
          4  
          What nefarious reasons? Give specifics.

          You Beckers are all alike. You make these statements with absolutely no evidence to back them up except that it's your opinion.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by Victor Colorado (September 11, 2009 8:29 am ET)
            5  
            It takes a fan of Glenn Beck to understand and agree with the concept of hating 9/11 victims' families on 9/11 of all days. I'm speechless.
            Report Abuse
          • Author by MagCynic (September 11, 2009 11:01 am ET)
              4
            My, God! Do I have to prove that the sky is blue? Here's the rest of the quote:

            "And I had such compassion for them, and I really wanted to help them, and I was behind, you know, "Let's give them money, let's get this started." All of this stuff. And I really didn't -- of the 3,000 victims' families, I don't hate all of them. Probably about 10 of them. And when I see a 9-11 victim family on television, or whatever, I'm just like, "Oh shut up!" I'm so sick of them because they're always complaining. And we did our best for them. And, again, it's only about 10."

            You guys make it out like he hates ALL 9/11 families. What were these families complaining about? I don't know. I wasn't there. Go email Beck about that.
            Report Abuse
            • Author by Victor Colorado (September 11, 2009 11:19 am ET)
              2  
              Your enforcement and promotion of Glenn Beck's hatred of the 9/11 victims' families - on 9/11 - it truly and utterly disgusting. Shame on you.
              Report Abuse
              • Author by Victor Colorado (September 11, 2009 11:22 am ET)
                1  
                'endorsement'
                Report Abuse
                • Author by mikehuck1976 (September 11, 2009 6:29 pm ET)
                  2  
                  Well said, Victor. Disgusting. The same people who thought Van Jones should be ruined because he supported the 9/11 victims who felt they were entitled to answers they felt they were not given endorse and support the man who says:

                  "I don't hate all of them. Probably about 10 of them. And when I see a 9-11 victim family on television, or whatever, I'm just like, "Oh shut up!" I'm so sick of them because they're always complaining"

                  That's your hero, Beck worshippers.
                  Report Abuse
            • Author by foghornleghorn (September 11, 2009 12:10 pm ET)
              5  
              What were these families complaining about?

              Sheesh, you're ignorant. Were you born yesterday?

              Beck hated the 9/11 widows because they were advocating for getting to the truth about what happened on 9/11. You know, like having a commission look into it, something the president resisted and then even failed to testify under oath and had to have his string-puller Cheney in the room with him. What did Bush have to hide?

              I don't know.

              There ya have it folks. Someone who doesn't know, yet believes what he hears from a paranoid delusional freak like Beck.
              Report Abuse
            • Author by worrierking (September 11, 2009 5:02 pm ET)
              2  
              "Let's give them money."

              They didn't want money they wanted answers. And that's why Beck hated some of them, because they wanted answers.

              Say what you will but the nation failed them and their family members who perished.
              Report Abuse
            • Author by mikehuck1976 (September 11, 2009 6:27 pm ET)
              2  
              That is your DEFENSE, Mag? You defended the statement and now you are trying to act as if you did not? "I don't hate all of them. Probably about 10 of them. And when I see a 9/11 victim family on television, or whatever, I'm just like 'Oh shut up!' I'm so sick of them because they're always complaining." You think this justifies his statement? And you think Van Jones should be run out on a rail because he signed a petition? You have no problem supporting this guy that made this statement?!
              Report Abuse
            • Author by Boxer1979 (September 11, 2009 8:31 pm ET)
              2  
              Again I say Fox Snooze promoting a sad day for this country to travel in unity for a purpose to get your country back from tyrany is ridiculous. Why can't these fools remember the day as a sad time for our country. Speechless. SMH!
              Report Abuse
        • Author by PurpleState (September 11, 2009 8:27 am ET)
          3  
          So...does Beck hate himself then?

          After all, he's using 9/11 for his own nefarious purposes and personal gains.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by magnolialover (September 11, 2009 9:21 am ET)
            1  
            No, no, no... You've got it all WRONG. He's using 9/12 for his own gains and nefarious purposes, that's totally different (sarcasm off).
            Report Abuse
        • Author by latanza (September 11, 2009 11:47 am ET)
          2  
          You should quit because neither of you are ahead. Go public with justifying his statement, let the people decide and interpret that the way they hear it, and then you and he will be able to appreciate the courtesy of not expounding lies or misrepresenting statements as he and you seem to do. IT IS WHAT IT IS.
          Report Abuse
        • Author by mikehuck1976 (September 11, 2009 6:24 pm ET)
          1  
          Please show us the full context, Mag. Enlighten us on how you can defend his statement about hating the 9/11 families. I remember the quote. Please show us the full quote that you think brings it into context. We'll be waiting....
          Report Abuse
        • Author by robyn20094113 (September 12, 2009 4:10 am ET)
             
          Mag, you mean like Beck, is using the victims of 9/11, for his own personal gains and other nefarious reasons? Just how blind and gullible are you?
          Report Abuse
    • Author by MagCynic (September 11, 2009 1:06 am ET)
        12
      Maddow and her guest are very disingenuous in this segment. It's almost as if they are intentionally ignoring what the 9/12 Project is in a sad attempt to criticize Beck himself.

      "The idea that who we were on September 12th, 2001 is who we want to be right now. People who were terrified... is that what Glenn Beck is calling us to be again?"

      It would take less than a minute to go the 9/12 Project website and find the mission statement; something Maddow and her guest obviously didn't do: "The 9-12 Project is designed to bring us all back to the place we were on September 12, 2001. The day after America was attacked we were not obsessed with Red States, Blue States or political parties. We were united as Americans, standing together to protect the greatest nation ever created."

      Have any of you actually read through that site? If that's what Beck believes in - if that's truly the core principles he keeps - how can you call him a psychotic, hatemonger? Do none of you like anything about that site? Do none of you believe any of those 9 principles and 12 values that are listed?
      Report Abuse
      • Author by MrPJW (September 11, 2009 1:46 am ET)
           
        MagCynic, do you actually believe everything you read? He called Obama a racist. He has brought people on his show who want Obama dead. Yet, you blindly support him. You believe everything FOX tells you, and you think that this is communist.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by rtejon (September 11, 2009 3:02 am ET)
        4  
        I'd say it's up to Beck to uphold that stated purpose. Do you really expect him to stop scaring people and trying to force White House resignations after tomorrow?
        Report Abuse
      • Author by overmars jr. (September 11, 2009 4:52 am ET)
        5  
        Utter tripe. He is a showman, pitching snake oil for the money people. He does not care about this country one iota. Not one.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by Lane (September 11, 2009 5:03 am ET)
        5  
        Only a few hundred miles from here, almost one year ago to the day, we stood on the steps of the Old State Capitol to reaffirm a truth that was spoken there so many generations ago - that a house divided cannot stand; that we are more than a collection of Red States and Blue States; we are, and always will be, the United States of America.


        -Barack Obama, Feb. 5, 2008.

        Yet somehow you disagree when he said it over a year ago. Hmm.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by epkklk851 (September 11, 2009 6:54 am ET)
        4  
        Yes, I have read the site, but he isn't living those ideals. He is exploiting something good for his purpose which is his own enrichment and to scare people.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by worrierking (September 11, 2009 7:38 am ET)
        8  
        Right!

        Let's go back to 9/12/2001.

        The day when Republicans were in charge of everything.

        The day when evidence that we were attacked by AlQaeda was ignored and investigators were told to go back over the evidence and try to find a link to Iraq.

        The day that the Democrats joined with the Republicans in solidarity to put country first.

        And probably the day before the Republicans decided that we on the left were traitors and cowards.

        I don't need to read anyone's idea of principles and values. Mine are and always have been intact. I've questioned my government and it's leaders but never denied our presidents humanity or tried to take away his dignity with every statement I made.

        You don't get to make the rules. You don't get to decide on who is and who is not a patriot. You don't get to define what a "Great American" is. You're not qualified to pass judgement on others and you're definitely not permitted to claim that your freedom of speech has been violated when for most of the last eight years, free speech has been relegated to free speech zones.

        We won't play by your rules any longer. Your side lost the presidency and congress. And because of what your side has done and continues to do, the nation seems to have lost it's conscience and possibly, it's soul.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (September 11, 2009 7:51 am ET)
        4  
        Have any of you actually read through that site?
        Which one? The one that blatantly calls for armed overthrow of the United States government in defense of "Property Rights?" The one whose sole purpose is to foment riots and encourage treason? The one that has put its full support behine Beck and his 9/12 excrement?

        Yes, I read it, and it made me sick to my stomach.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by reanna-mator (September 11, 2009 8:18 am ET)
        3  
        Being united is a great concept. It really is.

        And I'll stop tearing into Beck the moment he shows a glimmer of actually believing in it instead of using fearful, divisive propaganda to tear down the left.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by pamom (September 11, 2009 9:03 am ET)
           
        Regardless of stated purpose, if that's what Beck really wants to do, I'll eat my left shoe. The man is driving a wedge in this country! His innuendo's and illogical leaps of fancy, cherry picking quotes and taking them out of context. Personally, I'm furious that he's exploiting this day, that he would do ANYTHING near 9/11 is beyond low in my book. Don't say he's not, don't say he didn't know that this day was completely inappropriate! I want him to crawl back into the dark little hole he crawled out of! HOW DARE HE!
        Report Abuse
      • Author by magnolialover (September 11, 2009 9:34 am ET)
        2  
        And how has Mr. Beck tried to accomplish any of these things he says he's after?

        He hasn't. He can put these statements up all that he wants, but he is not trying to unite anyone, he's trying to take down a President, who just "happens" to be a democrat.

        We can call him a psychotic hatemonger because what he wrote on that website, and what he does are 2 very different things.

        The stupid 9 principles and 12 values are mostly just common sense stuff that people should be living by anyway, let's go over them shall we?

        1. America is good.
        Wow, can't really argue with that one. Who would really?

        2. I believe in God and he is the center of my life.
        Well, I can't get on board with this one since I am an avowed atheist, but others can knock themselves out. And the way that Mr. Beck acts, God is most definitely NOT at the center of his life.

        3. I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday.
        Beck does not exemplify this at all, since his show went on FoxNews, he's become more dishonest as time rolls by.

        4. The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority, not the government.
        Again, this is fine. But in what case are you and your spouse the "ultimate authority"? I would say that there are time when indeed the government does usurp your authority, as in, when someone breaks the law. We don't get to judge ourselves, a court and a jury do that.

        5. If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it.
        Again, this is fine as well. Except that when people who break the law that Glenn likes, or is "for" he doesn't seem to think they should be punished. IE, CIA interogators who tortured people.

        6. I have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results.
        This is kind of true, because let's face it, life ain't fair.

        7. I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable.
        When has the government ever forced anyone to be charitable? I don't remember government mandated charity events.

        8. It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion.
        OK, has anyone ever said that it was? No, nobody has. Again, I'm fine with this. But you also have to remember, that when you share your opinion, and others find it objectionable, they get to do the same thing as you did, and share their opinions with people like, Beck's sponsors.

        9. The government works for me. I do not answer to them, they answer to me.
        Yes, this is true, because we are a representative republic, which is why we have presidential elections every 4 years, House elections every 2, and Senate elections every 6, along with a mass of local, and state elections.

        The 12 Values
        * Honesty (Glenn has not too much of this at all)
        * Reverence (Reverence for what?)
        * Hope (Hope for what?)
        * Thrift (Millionaires talking about thrift, how quaint)
        * Humility (Glenn has none of this)
        * Charity (Glenn has none of this either, far as I can tell)
        * Sincerity (Glenn has no sincerity, goes along with his lying)
        * Moderation (Moderation in what? Rhetoric? Because he's not got any of that)
        * Hard Work (Hard work, Glenn I'm sure works hard at his crazy day in, and day out, and I know many hard workers, me being one of them)
        * Courage (Courage is fine, Glenn shows very little though).
        * Personal Responsibility (Glenn has no personal responsibility. We can look at his recent racist comment about the President, instead of "owning it", he has avoided it like he never said it).

        It's funny that Beck puts this stuff out, and rarely, if ever, comes close to "living" the way he espouses the rest of us should live.
        * Gratitude
        Report Abuse
        • Author by MagCynic (September 11, 2009 11:37 am ET)
            2
          Can you explain how Glenn doesn't live these 9 principles and 12 values out? Can you provide evidence? Can you quote where he doesn't follow through?
          Report Abuse
          • Author by pamom (September 11, 2009 12:33 pm ET)
               
            Can you prove he does? You really can't be serious! No one who loved their country would spout the lies that he has. No one that values their country would pretend to poison the speaker of the house on national television, or talk about jewfish, or call the President a racist. No one who loved their country would take loosely related (and often false) information (that has no backup, ie some say.....), and put them together the way he does. So, let's take the example of the Rockefeller's. He goes after the art at Rockefeller Center and procedes to make a case that communist art (which wasn't really communist art, and the one that WAS was removed) that exists at Rockefeller Center means that the Rockefeller's were communists. Really? Seriously? You expect me to buy into this stuff? But people do! He cherry picks his lines, and if you are here at this site, you know that! He is on a witch-hunt, and all you have to do is listen to his show! He ADMITS it, so here he is trying to tear the country to pieces, and you expect me to believe that HE believes the above principles? I think NOT!
            Report Abuse
          • Author by epkklk851 (September 11, 2009 2:02 pm ET)
            2  
            He lies every day, he is as smug as a bug in a rug, and as moderate as speaker turned to full blast and the knob ripped and as charitable as a miser, but other than that, I can't see how he isn't a living example of Christian love.
            Report Abuse
            • Author by MagCynic (September 11, 2009 5:21 pm ET)
                2
              What has he lied about? Sure he's gotten a few things wrong; he's admitted to such numerous times. There's a difference though between getting some information wrong and outright lying. Prove to me he has outright lied.
              Report Abuse
              • Author by foghornleghorn (September 11, 2009 5:55 pm ET)
                2  
                What has he lied about?

                The president is a racist. The president hates white people. The president is a fascist. The president is a socialist. The president is a marxist. The president is a communist.

                Beck does lie, but not as much as he fearmongers.
                Report Abuse
                • Author by MagCynic (September 11, 2009 6:24 pm ET)
                    2
                  Well by your definition everybody who's ever accused anybody of anything is a liar. How many people called Bush a Nazi? Despite the hatred of Bush, he isn't a Nazi.

                  There is evidence to support the notion that our President has socialist and marxist tendencies, by the way.

                  But enough of that. How about some hard evidence of Beck intentionally lying and deceiving everybody?
                  Report Abuse
                  • Author by epkklk851 (September 11, 2009 6:40 pm ET)
                    1  
                    You do realize that by calling Liberals Fascists, he is calling us Nazis, don't you. Also, you can't be both a Fascist and a Socialist, they are on opposite ends of the political spectrum. When he makes up this stuff about ACORN and SEIU he is lying. When he said that Rockefeller was a Progressive, he lied. Well, maybe he didn't lie, maybe he only vomited his paranoid delusions and schizophrenic conspiracy theories on us because he is too ill to know the difference.
                    Report Abuse
                    • Author by MagCynic (September 11, 2009 8:06 pm ET)
                        2
                      Fascism doesn't necessarily equal Nazism. Fascism itself is very hard to define. Even the best scholars specializing in the study of fascism won't necessarily agree with a good definition.

                      Yes, you can be both fascist and socialist. Fascism isn't inherently left or right wing. It is how it's applied that determines this.

                      What things does Beck make up about ACORN and SEIU?

                      I don't know anything about the Rockefellers so I won't comment on that.
                      Report Abuse
                      • Author by epkklk851 (September 11, 2009 10:10 pm ET)
                        2  
                        Glenn has repeatedly stated that ACORN and SEIU share offices and that isn't true, in D.C., they aren't even in the same quadrant of the city and in New Orleans they are at least a block apart.
                        Report Abuse
                        • Author by MagCynic (September 12, 2009 1:18 am ET)
                            2
                          I swear I remember video of ACORN and SEIU sharing a building or office space. I don't remember the context of why they were bringing it up, but it was one of those quick blurbs I think. It may have had something to do with Wade Rathke. He founded ACORN and SEIU Local 100.
                          Report Abuse
          • Author by worrierking (September 11, 2009 5:08 pm ET)
            2  
            He's the one telling us to live "up" to his values and principles. The burden is on him to show us that he lives these beliefs.

            Making false claims about those who disagree with him and judging us to be socialists and communists doesn't seem to fit his self professed system.

            He's the one working to divide the country as he professes his wish for unity.

            Report Abuse
      • Author by toombsie (September 11, 2009 10:32 am ET)
        2  
        Man I feel really sorry for you if you think the 9/12 project is anything more than an attempt to exploit the 9/11 tragedy. 9 principles and 12 values is nothing more than a gimmick. As Rachel points out - why 9/12? Probably because it falls on a Saturday.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by foghornleghorn (September 11, 2009 12:14 pm ET)
        2  
        We were united as Americans, standing together to protect the greatest nation ever created."

        Yet, the attendees at this rally will undoubtedly be racist president-hating teabaggers. I'd bet on it.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by robyn20094113 (September 12, 2009 4:39 am ET)
             
          ....the greatest nation ever created
          That always makes me laugh. I've never met anyone saying that, that has ever lived in another country, most have never visited another country and a lot of them that say it, have never even been out of their own state. Regardless how great it is, there is always room for improvement.
          Report Abuse
    • Author by rwmacdonald2091 (September 11, 2009 7:17 am ET)
      3  
      The right wing crackpots using 9/11 for partisan purposes. Come on they can't be that cynical. No one could use the tragedy of 9/11 like that. I mean really, could they?

      OF COURSE THEY WILL, THEY HAVE, AND THEY WILL
      Report Abuse
    • Author by worrierking (September 11, 2009 8:24 am ET)
      3  
      Beck's 9/12 project is all about trying to unite the country, correct?

      Is he trying to unite the 52.9 % of the electorate who voted for Barack Obama, after he's called us socialists, marxists and communists?

      How does one reunite a society when he is most responsible for the division?
      Report Abuse
      • Author by epkklk851 (September 11, 2009 8:32 am ET)
        2  
        Well, in a way, calling the 53% names might unite us in a common cause...get rid of Glennie's program and oppose everything he stands for. Sounds like a plan to me.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by SLRTX (September 11, 2009 9:29 am ET)
      1  
      Actually, I too rallied around Bush, even though I didn't think he was competent to be Prez.

      But, it was his actions that caused me to step back from that support.

      His first reaction was to reach out to people of ALL faiths that were affected on 9/11, including Muslims. Yes, there were Muslims in the towers.

      But his actions later reinforced the notion that the war on terrorism was a Christian vs. Muslim war. Played right into the hands of Al Queda.

      Then, with one justified war raging in Afghanistan, he decides to invade Iraq.

      Well that did it for me.

      Hard to rally around a guy who is not only self-destructive, he wants to drag the rest of us along for the ride.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by magnolialover (September 11, 2009 10:55 am ET)
      2  
      I'm definitely heading to their "protest" at the Capitol building this weekend to see how many crazies show up. I heard someone on the radio talking about it this morning, saying they're expecting 400,000 - 500,000 people to show up.

      I'd be amazed if they get 20,000. We'll see.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by robyn20094113 (September 12, 2009 4:43 am ET)
           
        Be careful, they are probably armed and dangerous. Please post for us.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by toombsie (September 11, 2009 10:58 am ET)
      2  
      I want to go back to the days before Glenn Beck was born
      Report Abuse