Beck defended with falsehoods his earlier remarks that New Orleans Katrina victims were "scumbags," he "hat[ed]" 9-11 victims' families
SUMMARY: New CNN Headline News hire Glenn Beck defended with falsehoods his September 9, 2005, on-air statement that "when I see a 9-11 victim family on TV or whatever, I'm just like, 'Oh, shut up!' I'm just so sick of them because they're always complaining." Beck claimed that he was merely drawing an analogy between the 9-11 families "complaining on television" and the looters in New Orleans "that are stealing the televisions" because both groups are "trying to benefit from the tragedy." In fact, Beck did not specifically criticize looters in his 2005 remarks but, rather, referred to "those who were left in New Orleans, or who decided to stay" as "scumbags."
On the May 5 edition of CNN's American Morning, new CNN Headline News hire Glenn Beck defended with falsehoods his September 9, 2005, on-air statement -- first documented by Media Matters for America -- that "when I see a 9-11 victim family on TV or whatever, I'm just like, 'Oh, shut up!' I'm just so sick of them because they're always complaining." Beck claimed that, in the context of a fundraiser for Hurricane Katrina victims' families, he was merely drawing an analogy between the 9-11 families "complaining on television" and the looters in New Orleans "that are stealing the televisions" because both groups are "trying to benefit from the tragedy." In fact, in his September 9, 2005, remarks, Beck did not specifically criticize looters; rather, as Media Matters noted, he referred to "those who were left in New Orleans, or who decided to stay" as "scumbags." Beck's daily primetime program is scheduled to debut May 8.
In response to co-host Soledad O'Brien, who displayed a quote of Beck's remarks about 9-11 families and asked him if the "tone" of his Headline News program would be similar, Beck accused O'Brien of taking his remarks "out of context," adding:
BECK: When you look at it in its entire context, what I was saying was in the context of this fundraiser, you have to stop looking at the people who are complaining on television. In Hurricane Katrina, you have to stop looking at the people that are stealing the televisions because that -- those aren't the people. Those aren't real victims here of Hurricane Katrina. Those are the people that are trying to benefit from the tragedy.
But contrary to his claim to O'Brien, in his original remarks -- broadcast remotely from a fundraiser near Philadelphia -- Beck did not single out looters for criticism. Rather, he attacked the "scumbags" who "were left in New Orleans" after Hurricane Katrina or who "decided to stay" because they were "getting all the attention" and "spoiling it for everybody." He likened those left in New Orleans after Katrina to 9-11 victims' families, who are "always complaining on television" and whom he admitted to "hating."
Later during his interview with O'Brien, Beck asserted that although "people who are used to a typical talk show" may find some of his remarks "controversial," such remarks are "cloaked in sarcasm and with comedy" because "I was joking." O'Brien responded by wishing him luck with his new CNN show.
From the September 9, 2005, edition of Premiere Radio Networks' The Glenn Beck Program:
BECK: Let me be real honest with you. I don't think anybody on talk radio -- I don't think anybody in their right mind is going to ever say this out loud -- but I wonder if I'm the only one that feels this way. Yesterday, when I saw the ATM cards being handed out, the $2,000 ATM cards, and they were being handed out at the Astrodome. And they actually had to close the Astrodome and seal it off for a while because there was a near-riot trying to get to these ATM cards. My first thought was, you can't just sit down and -- it's not like they're going to run out of the $2,000 ATM cards. You can wait! You know, stand in line. Maybe it's because I'm the kind of guy, when I go to a buffet, I either have to be first in line, or I'm the very last. Because I know there's going to be extra food there, and I just won't stand in the line. I'll wait until all the suckers go get their food, and then I'll go get mine. Or if I'm really hungry, I hate to admit this -- and really, I don't even have to be really hungry. If I'm really being a pig, I will kind of, like, hang out around the buffet table before the line is -- you know, chat with people right around the table: "Oh, they just opened the line! Let's go!" And then you're first in line.
When you are rioting for these tickets, the second thought that came to -- or these ATM cards, the second thing that came to mind was -- and this is horrible to say, and I wonder if I'm alone in this -- you know, it took me about a year to start hating the 9-11 victims' families? Took me about a year. And I had such compassion for them, and I really -- you know, I 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. I hate about -- 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.
But the second thought I had when I saw these people and they had to shut down the Astrodome and lock it down, I thought: I didn't think I could hate victims faster than the 9-11 victims. These guys, when you see -- you know, it's really sad. We're not hearing anything about Mississippi. We're not hearing anything about Alabama. We're hearing about the victims in New Orleans. This is a 90,000-square-mile disaster site; New Orleans is 181 square miles. A hundred and -- 0.2 percent of the disaster area is New Orleans! And that's all we're hearing about, are the people in New Orleans. Those are the only ones we're seeing on television are the scumbags -- again, and it's not all the people in New Orleans. Most of the people in New Orleans got out! It's just a small percentage of those who were left in New Orleans, or who decided to stay in New Orleans, and they're getting all the attention. It's exactly like the 9-11 victims' families. There's about 10 of them that are spoiling it for everybody.
From the May 5 edition of CNN's American Morning:
O'BRIEN: You've said, obviously, as you well know, lots of controversial things. For example, let's talk about what you said about the 9-11 families. You said basically this. Let's show -- throw the graphic up there for me. There we go. You said this: "And when I see a 9-11 victim family on TV or whatever, I'm just like 'Oh, shut up!' I'm just so sick of them because they're always complaining. And we did our best for them." You know, people are going to be watching on TV. Is this going to be the tone of the show too?
BECK: Yeah, what an interesting way to take a phrase out of context. First of all, I said that at a fundraiser that I was holding for victims' families for Hurricane Katrina. When you look at it in its entire context, what I was saying was in the context of this fundraiser, you have to stop looking at the people who are complaining on television. In Hurricane Katrina, you have to stop looking at the people that are stealing the televisions because that -- those aren't the people. Those aren't real victims here of Hurricane Katrina. Those are the people that are trying to benefit from the tragedy. And out of -- and the exact quote was, on the 9-11 victims, out of the 3,000 families, there's maybe three or four that you continually see on television that are using the tragedy for their own political agenda. And those people, I'm sick of hearing from because, honestly, I stopped at every stoplight after 9-11 and I dug into my wallet and I gave money until it hurt after there. I didn't have to give money to the 9-11 victims' families. I wanted to, and so did the rest of America. We did our best for them, and I hope we're continuing to do our best for them. But you've got to cut us some slack as well. We made some mistakes.
O'BRIEN: Controversial, this show? Or do you think you're just going to run the gamut from A to Z?
BECK: No, I -- not intentionally controversial. Honest. I mean, whether you like my opinion or hate my opinion, it is my opinion, and I'm not doing it to be controversial. I'm not doing it to hack anybody off. I mean, we really hope to be entertaining. I mean one of the reasons why I think that we're deemed controversial is because I say things -- much of what I say is cloaked in sarcasm and with comedy. And so, those people who are used to a typical talk show look at it and say, "I can't believe he would say that." Well, it's because I was joking.
O'BRIEN: Glenn Beck, good luck on your show.
Every dirtbag that has a microphone says they were joking when they are caught saying something rude, stupid, wrong, or all three. Do you think they go through life like this?
It's easy to say and do whatever you want and then blame other people for their reactions to the bad behaviour. The perpetrator is never at fault... always turning tables. "Too sensitive!" "I was joking!" "I was being sarcastic!" It's very similar to the GOP's use of 9/11 and patriotism any time anybody in their right mind questions what the hell is going on.
This guy wouldn't know funny if it smacked him in the mouth. Wait a minute... that prob would be funny.
"much of what I say is cloaked in sarcasm and with comedy."
"it's because I was joking."
Backpedaling doesn't work when your falling down a cliff, you vile, hateful, bigoted *******.
Beck: "It's exactly like the 9-11 victims' families. There's about 10 of them that are spoiling it for everybody."
Interesting choice of words. A national tragedy and a natural disaster, and he's concerned that complainers and people asking questions and expecting answers so it won't have to happen again are going to "spoil it for everybody."
and what in the world can one do about a NATURAL disaster?
WOW another show about opinions that Media Matters does not agree with! Let's slam him!
Isnt that what makes this country great? The right to say what you want. Or do the Media Matters people only want people to hear there opinions and points of view?
It isn't a matter of difference of opinion. Honest disagreement about politics and current events is healthy and sometimes constructive.
Beck's hateful comments about people he disagrees with aren't funny if he intends them as "jokes". His brand of commentary deserves scrutiny and criticism. Thankfully we have MMFA for that.
Well, i dont like it when people protest in front of military hospitals, i think that is a form of hate against our country. That doesnt mean that i am going to tell those people that they dont have the right to do that. You people need to get your priorities straight.
What is being protested ( actually it is a vigil) Is Bush trying to cut Vet health benifits, and demands that the national guard get full vet benifits when wounded in the war. I think it is an ignorance crime against humanity to so skew what is going on at Walter Reed. And YOU are JUST the person to commit such a crime
[link to www.codepinkalert.org]
Who in their right minds WOULD like those opinions. Attacking the VICTIMS of 9/11 and Katrina? Outrageous, hateful, bile IS part of MMFA's mission, if you dont like that find the exit
solon says; " Outrageous, hateful, bile IS part of MMFA's mission, "
Amen to that! Outrageous, hateful, bile IS part of MMFA's mission. Well put and accurate, too. And, plenty of it comes from this site. If you read it, there is actually much more coming from the left than the left claims comes from the right.
And, like being told to exit MMFA, if you don't like Beck...don't watch or listen to him. He is entitled to his opinion whether you agree with it or not.
Exposing the rightwings love affair with hatefilled bile is one of the missions of this site. I am sure they have to hold their nose while listening especially to the insanity of Beck and Savage. Someone has to do it. I am glad it is MMFA and not me. They are poisoning the airwaves (owned by the people) and some people MIGHT mistakenly believe that what they say has some connection to reality. THAT IS the mission of this site. It makes no worldly sense to come here and snivel about the MISSION of the site. Exposing the lies, misinformation and outrageous bilefilled bigotry of these guys is in my and many other peoples opinion a public service. If YOU dont think so of if you dont like that mission what are you doing here. Feel free to leave, no one I know will miss you
Let's be clear. It comes from some of the people who post at this site. MMFA itself does not engage in outrageous, hateful bile, just facts.
"If you read it, there is actually much more coming from the left than the left claims comes from the right."
I'm assuming you mean, "If you read the comments". Wow, imagine that, on a site that takes dishonest and hateful conservatives to task, the number of lefties who lash out is greater than the number of righties who attempt to defend them. Good catch, genius.
"if you don't like Beck...don't watch or listen to him."
True, we can change the channel, as I'm hoping many will, forcing CNN to find something else that gets ratings and retains ad revenue. But this isn't about liking or disliking him. This is about being respectful to people who have lost family members to terrorists or have lost their jobs and everything they own to a natural disaster.
Think about that. If your home was leveled in a hurricane, you no longer have job because of the hurricane, you got no response from the government you pay taxes to, you got no response from the insurance company you pay premiums to, and you felt the only option was to speak out, would you find Beck's "jokes" to be funny?
pete592 says: " on a site that takes dishonest and hateful conservatives to task, the number of lefties who lash out is greater than the number of righties who attempt to defend them. "
If you read the comments, these aren't lefties taking conservatives "to tasks", it is a bunch of lefties spewing hate themselves and claim rightousness for it.
pete592 says: " This is about being respectful to people who have lost family members to terrorists or have lost their jobs and everything they own to a natural disaster. "
Come on...people suffer from natural disasters everyday. Many are capable of recovering from it without having the government hold their hands until they "decide" to do something themselves. Many, especially those who live in areas prone to the type of disaster that displaces them, actually have plans for recovery. Or, at least, they know the disaster may happen. You make it sound like Katrina was the "only" hurricane to hit last year, and you make it sound like 9-11 is the only day terrorists attacked. Apparantly, you forget these minor details...that natural disasters happen everyday and terrorists attack every day. Also, apparantly, you don't care about the victims unless there is some benefit to the liberal propaganda machine. You also seem to forget that free speach includes all, not just the ones YOU like. Comedians make jokes, get over it!
Comedians make jokes, get over it!
This one is awesome. Two guys walk into a bar, and they beat dubya to death with a shovel, right in front of his kids.
Isn't that GREAT? Now THAT's comedy!
See? Some jokes aren't funny.
..He is entitled to his opinion whether you agree with it or not.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ...and we're entitled to say we disagree with his opinion and we're entitled to call him a bigoted scumbag if we choose. Do posters on a website not have the same right to free speech as conservative shock jocks?
Lynn says: " and we're entitled to say we disagree with his opinion and we're entitled to call him a bigoted scumbag if we choose.
Absolutely, you have just as much a right to say he's a scumbag. But, it just seems (to me) a little hypocritical that liberals complain that HE is calling people names/expressing his opinion and say HE is an evil man for doing it. What is the difference between what the liberals are doing to him than what he is doing to others?? How are liberals authorized, yet he isn't? Is it because he's supposed to be "religious" and shouldn't express an opinion? Does that mean liberals aren't and therefore can?
mmm... You liberal Hypocrites!! Why are the posters here hypocrites if they call this guy names? Why isn't this guy Beck a hypocrite for saying this stuff?
Better yet, why is it you are compelled to defend the guy? You think he's funny? Free thinker? Says much more about you than any of the other people on this site.
So, the show is called HEADLINE NEWS, and CNN decided that what the show needed was more "joking" and "sarcasm".
Is there going to be a REAL "headline news" reporting show on CNN, one that's not attempting to compete with Comedy Central?
Or has CNN and all Media simply given up on any idea of being impartial and just reporting FACTS?
Facts? We don't need no stinkin' FACTS! What we really need is MORE and MORE loudmouth hate-filled louts who consider it "funny" to bash those who are suffering, those who are in pain, those who are being abused by "the system", and can find no justice.
Reminds me of the old Tom Lehrer routine, where he proposed we needed a "National Make Fun Of The Handicapped" day, in honor of Jerry Lewis.
What is really sad is the way people who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ identify with these hatefilled purveyors of contempt for the poor, for minorities, and for all of those whom Jesus taught people to LOVE.
To see what REAL Christianity would be like, if it were being practiced in America in our day, go to LiberalsLikeChrist.Org.
I like the approach because, of course, it makes sense. Something I have thought and believed for some time now -- that is, one cannot, on one hand, claim to be a follower of JC...and, on the other hand, say and do things that are truly contrary to the lessons of JC. It's a very twisted idea of religion in general = hypocrisy to the extreme. In my mind, a sinister practice.
There are a lot of good folks with a lot of faith and hope in this country who, I believe, have been preyed upon by 'false prophets'. An old game, for sure. But, as prevalent today as ever.
... another right-wing shill to feed the angst of angry white conservative males.
Equally disappointing is CNN. While Fox News is busy trashing their reputation by being a fun factory for neo-cons, CNN's tried to stick with news (though, admittedly, their news is starting to get less hard and more fluff). For example, they dumped Crossfire and claimed they were giving up the political pabulum shows for good. Now we have right-wing circus clown Beck showing up in the center ring of sister channel Headline News - soon to be renamed Right-wing Snooze.
"...much of what I say is cloaked in sarcasm and with comedy... I was joking," claims Glenn Beck with all the feigned sincerity he can dredge up. It's the first defense of his ilk. Rush, O'Reilly and all the other right-wing chuckle-heads apologize for their vomit this way when they go too far in serving up red meat to their drooling fans.
It's pitiful to see CNN dig so deep into the sewer for a show to boost their ratings. However, I'm guessing they'll learn soon enough that they can't beat Fox News by merely copying their propaganda in a show or two. Unless you're willing to prostitute the entire network 24/7 into an RNC talking point conduit the neo-cons will stick with the network they've grown to trust as much as they trust Rush: Fox News.
If you need that many surrogates for vicarious hate venting, that's a lot of anger and hate. Geeze maybe these bigoted commentators are keeping their listeners from performing random shootings of the ALL the people they hate. Maybe they're useful for something after all.
"And when I see a 9-11 victim family on television or whatever, I'm just like, "Oh, shut up!" "
Joke: Beck wants to be on television. So he got jealous watching 9-11 victim families are getting more airtime than him.
These right-wing nuts hardly care for 9-11 victims. Whatever they show-up are nothing but crocodile's tear. They support 9-11 victims as long as they fit into their right-wing agenda. If 9-11 victims families are not in line with right-wing agenda, "hate", "shut-up" starts.
It's not 9-11 victims families who exploited this tragedy. They are the one who forced Bush admin to form 9-11 commission.
It's the right-wing who exploited this tragecy fullest. It's the right-wing who got benefitted from this tragedy, in the name of (fake) patriotism.
PKD says: " It's not 9-11 victims families who exploited this tragedy. They are the one who forced Bush admin to form 9-11 commission. It's the right-wing who exploited this tragecy fullest. "
Yeah, those dang RWN who actually DID something about 9/11! Imagine that, if those wimpy liberals had been in charge, the US would not have responded to who caused 9/11. Truth is, you liberals STILL don't want the US to do anything about 9/11. You liberals who don't support the war on terror do more to "exploit" victims of 9/11 than Glenn Beck ever will. You constantly complain about how many lives are being lost in the war on terror, you constantly complain about the high price of oil (as if the US has any control over it) and you constantly complain when people express an opinion that is different with yours! Yeah, you liberals are so sensitive!?! Only those wh0 fall in line with your thought process are allowed to express the "liberal opinion", otherwise they are hate-filled bile spewers. I see more harmful, hate-filled bile from the posts, here, all complaining about one comedian who isn't following the liberal line of thought. I guess I should say thank you. For showing everyone who comes to this site how liberals really are. It just reinforces the opinion that half the nation holds: liberalism is a mental disorder.
"Truth is, you liberals STILL don't want the US to do anything about 9/11. You liberals who don't support the war on terror do more to "exploit" victims of 9/11 than Glenn Beck ever will. "
Your comment proves how Beck and his peers have managed to brainwash their audiences. The fact is that almost all Americans supported the real war on terror in Afghanistan. To say otherwise is simply hateful revisionism.
Turn your radio off!
IF you can explain how invading the most secular Islamic nation in the middle east, the nation the CIA said directly they had no evidence of committing or being involved in ANY acts of international terrorism for a decade, in ANY way that might be reasonable to a person with any cognitive functioning ability whatsoever ( this to differentiate from you natives of Planet Wingnut) has ANYTHING to do with a war on terror, by which I suppose you mean a war on the Islamic extremist terrorists> I am waiting, take your time, please try something new like COHERENCE, or making a cogent argument.
Yeah, those dang RWN who actually DID something about 9/11!
When you say "did something" about 911, do you mean "attacked iraq?" Afganistan was a good move, but it's still pretty screwed up. Everything else bush has done, in addition to being stupid to begin with, has been an abject failure.
Imagine that, if those wimpy liberals had been in charge, the US would not have responded to who caused 9/11. Truth is, you liberals STILL don't want the US to do anything about 9/11. You liberals who don't support the war on terror
First, you have no way of knowing what would have happened if the dems had been in charge. Second, we don't support the iraq war because it has nothing to do with defending us from terror, except to make us more vulnerable. We don't support the wiretapping program because it was done with complete contempt for our civil rights.
The bottom line is that you believe the hype. But you actually have no idea liberals are about. The danger is that you THINK you do. For example, I'm a gun-nut, and I'm a war vet. If you are surprized at all by that, then start paying attention to the rest of the world, and stop watching murdochTV.
The only mental disorder here is willingness to impeach a president for lying about sex, but not about lying about the need to go to war.
supposed to be a joke, please tell me what was the funny part so I can have a good laugh about it too.