Beck launches ANOTHER attack on Obama's family

After saying "Leave the families alone," Beck mocks Malia Obama

Washington, DC -- Today, Media Matters for America denounced Glenn Beck's ongoing crusade against President Obama's family, in which he has connected the Obama daughters to Rev. Jeremiah Wright, attacked Michelle Obama's physical appearance, and, most recently, mocked Malia Obama. As Media Matters noted, just two days ago, Beck said, "Leave the families alone."

"Just two days ago, Glenn Beck sanctimoniously declared that attacks on families were off-limits. It seems he's willing to break that rule when it's politically advantageous," said Eric Burns, President of Media Matters. "It takes a big man to attack an 11-year-old girl."

BACKGROUND

During a May 27 press conference, President Obama remarked that Malia asked him of the Gulf oil spill, "Did you plug the hole yet, daddy?" Discussing those comments the next day, Beck mockingly affected Malia's voice, asking "Daddy" why he "hates black people so much." Beck then attacked Malia's intelligence, saying: "That's the level of their education, that they're coming to - they're coming to daddy and saying 'Daddy, did you plug the hole yet?' This routine lasted for several minutes.

On May 26, Beck, responding to news that reporter John McGinniss had moved next door to the subject of his upcoming book, Sarah Palin, said (emphasis added):

You don't go after Chelsea Clinton. You don't talk about the Bush kids. Now the minute the get into politics, that's a different story. You leave the families alone.

Beck's mocking of Malia was only Beck's latest attack on the president's family. Other examples include:

• Beck invokes Rev. Wright and asks, "Are you telling me that for 20 years ... the kids didn't pick it up?" On the May 24 edition of his radio show, Beck said:

At some point, there's a tipping point. At some point, you look at -- you know, you start with Jeremiah Wright. OK, there's one thing.

Now, I still have a problem -- because, I mean, I know my kids come home and -- on Sunday, and we're driving in the car. And my daughter will say, you know, "Blah blah blah blah blah." And we'll -- and my wife and I will just look at each other and go, "Where did you get that?"

"Oh, Johnny said it." We're like, "What? Explain -- what were you guys talking about?" You know.

Are you telling me that for 20 years, no one in that family -- the kids didn't pick it up? They didn't hear anything and repeat something outrageous? Michelle didn't?

• Beck's sexist attack: "I don't think I've ever seen the first lady with her -- excuse the expression -- but with her breasts all smooshed up." On the May 20 edition of his radio show, Beck referred to an image on the Drudge Report of Michelle Obama at a White House state dinner for the Mexican president and his wife and stated, "Then we have the president of the United States. When our country is -- our country is economically on fire, and I think we have Julius Caesar in the White House. Did you see the picture of his wife yesterday, all dolled up? 'Sex in the City' is what it said on the Drudge Report. She looks positively like she's trying to be some Greek statue. I don't think I've ever seen the first lady with her -- excuse the expression -- but with her breasts all smooshed up, sort of. I mean, what is that?"

• Beck attacks Michelle Obama's dress and makeup. During a subsequent discussion of the state dinner, Beck again attacked Michelle Obama's physical appearance, stating, "The president of the United States needs some of the trappings of the president of the United States. But there is such a disconnect when I see the two of them -- and I see her in this dress. How much did this dress cost?" He further asked, "Was it true that there was -- it's, like, almost a million dollars a year for hair and makeup?"