Beckwatch, Day 3: Beck continued sexually suggestive comments towards anchor Hill, misstated Iran's nuclear capabilities, acknowledged his program is “not a news show”

On the May 10 edition of his CNN Headline News program, Glenn Beck continued to subject CNN Headline News Prime News anchor Erica Hill to sexually suggestive comments. Beck also baselessly suggested that Iran might “already” possess nuclear weapons, and declared that his program is “not a news show,” raising the question of why it airs on CNN Headline News.


During the May 10 edition of his CNN Headline News program, Glenn Beck continued to subject CNN Headline News Prime News anchor Erica Hill to sexually suggestive comments before having her provide a news update to viewers of his new show; Beck has done so on each of his first three broadcasts. Beck also baselessly suggested that Iran might “already” possess nuclear weapons, and declared that his program is “not a news show” -- which raises the question: Why does it air on CNN Headline News?

Introducing Hill, Beck told her: “I will tell you that it's a little embarrassing, sitting there, watching your program at night with my wife. And she says, 'Look at the way that Erica is looking at you.' And I say, 'I know, honey.' ” Hill responded, “Don't try to drag me in to this one, my friend. I am nothing but professional.” Beck then said, “I know. It's a hostile work environment for me. Erica, tell me about the news.” Previously, on his May 8 debut, Beck told Hill, appearing via satellite and thus unable to see him, "[y]ou are looking hot in leather," then said, “I'm not wearing pants.” On his May 9 show, Beck held up a copy of People magazine's recently released “100 Most Beautiful People” issue, noting that Hill was featured inside. “Oh, no,” Hill said. “Oh, yes,” Beck replied, adding, “So I'm thumbing through People magazine, because I usually wear -- ah, usually read it.” Later during the May 10 broadcast, Beck also hosted 24-year-old former American Idol contestant Kimberly Caldwell, whom he told, “You are so hot, and I mean that.”

Beck also advised his viewers on his May 10 show: “I want to be very, very clear here: I am not a journalist. This is not a news show.” This despite the fact that, earlier during the broadcast, while discussing Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad -- whom Beck has referred to as “President Tom” each night, first out of a stated inability to pronounce “Ahmadinejad” and, later, out of a stated refusal to try -- Beck asserted that he is “probably, you know, is gonna have nukes soon, if he doesn't have them already.” But as Media Matters for America has noted, despite claims to the contrary by several conservative media figures, current projections by the intelligence community show that Iran will not be able to produce a nuclear weapon for several years at the earliest.

From the May 10 edition of CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck:

BECK: All right. Time now to go “Straight to the Hill” -- Erica Hill, the anchor of Prime News tonight. Hello, Erica.

HILL: Hello, there.

BECK: How are you?

HILL: I'm doing well. How are you this Wednesday?

BECK: I'm doing pretty good. I'm doing pretty good. I will tell you that it's a little embarrassing, sitting there, watching your program at night with my wife. And she says, “Look at the way that Erica is looking at you.” And I say, “I know, honey.”

HILL: Don't try to drag me in to this one, my friend. I am nothing but professional.

BECK: I know. It's a hostile work environment for me. Erica, tell me about the news.

[...]

BECK: Joining me now from Los Angeles is former Idol contestant Kimberly Caldwell. Hi, Kim.

CALDWELL: You are a disaster.

BECK: What does that mean, a disaster?

CALDWELL: You are so rude, I love it.

BECK: You are so hot, and I mean that. Look at you, all --

CALDWELL: No, you actually mean H-O-T, is what you said earlier.

BECK: Yes, you do. Yes, you do, looking all jingoistic in red, white and blue, and everything else.

CALDWELL: Yeah, I'm representing.

[...]

BECK: Listen, the next time you complain about the leadership in our country, just count your blessings that we're not stuck with this whack job. That's Iranian president Aberjarbadi [sic] or whatever. I ain't gonna lie to you, man. I have no idea how to say his name. I call him “President Tom.” By the way, if they ever take over the world, I would invest in microphone stock. President Tom probably, you know, is gonna have nukes soon, if he doesn't have them already.

[...]

BECK: Guess what? A U.S. Customs spokesperson has acknowledged that our Border Patrol is required to disclose the location of groups like the Minutemen when they participate in apprehending an illegal immigrant. In other words, we phone up and call the Mexican government and tell them exactly where some of our civilian patrols are looking for illegal aliens. The whole deal has been formalized in a “cooperative agreement.” We found a quote on the Mexican government's own Web site today. Fortunately, somebody on our staff knows how to speak Spanish. Here's what it says. Apparently, we're sharing this information so the Mexicans can, quote, “monitor activities of vigilante groups like the Minutemen that could interfere with the rights of our citizens.” Their rights, on our land? They don't have any rights on our land. I want to be very, very clear here: I am not a journalist. This is not a news show. I want to be fair, but I'm going to be honest. My spider senses are tingling, man. There is something here. I'm going with my gut.