Beck juxtaposed Hitler's "decree permitting euthanasia" with Clinton's plan for health care
On the November 14 edition of his CNN Headline News program, Glenn Beck juxtaposed Adolf Hitler's "decree permitting euthanasia" with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's (D-NY) statement that "the whole issue of health care is coming back."
In his "Real Story" segment, Beck discussed a recent reported statement by leaders of the Church of England advocating that, according to a November 12 article in The Observer, "doctors ... be given the right to withhold treatment from seriously disabled newborn babies in exceptional circumstances." The article added that the church's decision stated that "'it may in some circumstances be right to choose to withhold or withdraw treatment, knowing it will possibly, probably, or even certainly result in death." Beck said the report was "a very slippery slope" and compared it to the case of "Baby Knauer," a blind and physically deformed infant who Beck claimed "was allowed to die" in Nazi Germany and whom Beck, echoing Discovery Institute senior fellow Wesley J. Smith, described as "the first victim of the Holocaust." Beck then juxtaposed Hitler's decision to create "a panel of 'expert' referees, which judged the infants and found out which ones were eligible for death" with a clip of Clinton stating her desire to find a "uniquely American solution" to health care in the United States:
BECK: Once he [Hitler] was through with the babies, the elderly were next. As it has been said over and over again with tragedies regarding the Holocaust: never again. So, when you see politicians making statements like this one yesterday --
CLINTON [video clip]: But the whole issue of health care is coming back. That may be a bad dream for some, but for others, it's a very welcome possibility, because we are on an unsustainable course. I think that we have to come up with a uniquely American solution.
BECK: OK. When you see statements like that, be afraid. Be very, very afraid. It's not a bad dream for me; it is a nightmare. Hillary, thanks, but no thanks. 1993 wasn't that long ago. I remember all too well that confused, nonsensical mess you tried to make of the greatest health care system in the world.
As Media Matters for America noted, Beck has previously referred to Clinton as the "Antichrist" and hosted discussions that attacked her.
From the November 14 edition of CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck:
BECK: I tell you this because the news today that has come out from the Anglican Church of England -- they have reversed their stance that all life should be preserved at all costs. It is now calling for doctors to let seriously ill newborn babies die.
And if that wasn't evil enough, a top bishop of the church is also arguing that the high financial cost of keeping severely disabled children alive should be a factor in making life-or-death decisions. Cash? I hope that the 73 million worldwide members of the Anglican Church will remind their leaders that the whole "thou shalt not kill" thing -- kind of nonnegotiable, I'm thinking.
The real story is that the decision isn't about compassion; it's not about divine motivation; it is about the almighty dollar. And it is a very slippery slope that has led to some pretty diabolical medical practices not so long ago.
Now, look, as I said, I know it takes tremendous commitment of time, of resources, of love and compassion to care for a physically challenged child, but here's the thing: It doesn't matter what god you pray to or what party you vote for. Don't you think we, as human beings, as Americans, we should draw the line at making life-and-death decisions based on money, especially for the weakest and most fragile among us? In the name of all that is good and holy, I ask you, what kind of monsters are we prepared to become in the name of a buck?
We need to just look back, just not too far in our distant future, and the future of the -- or the not-too-distant past on this planet to see some pretty dark deeds that have been done. You know, I want to share a story with you about a baby that was born -- baby Knauer -- born blind, missing an arm and a leg. The baby -- the parents were just beside themselves.
The dad decided he's going to write and ask for some help because all the doctors weren't helping. They wrote somebody who is pretty powerful, and they trusted him. And they said, "Please, can you help us put our child into a better place? Please remove the burden on us."
Well, he saw the pictures. He read the letter, talked to the parents, flew out to meet with them, just filled with compassion, tears filling his eyes. He said, "I will personally give you my personal doctor to review the case." The doctor came back and said absolutely no justification for keeping this child alive. The baby was allowed to die.
Who was that compassionate, powerful man who so graciously put that baby boy to sleep? You probably guessed by now it was Adolf Hitler. Baby Knauer was the first victim of the Holocaust. Hitler later signed a decree permitting the euthanasia of disabled infants based on this case and creating a panel of "expert" referees, which judged the infants and found out which ones were eligible for death.
Once he was through with the babies, the elderly were next. As it has been said over and over again with tragedies regarding the Holocaust: never again. So, when you see politicians making statements like this one yesterday --
CLINTON [video clip]: But the whole issue of health care is coming back. That may be a bad dream for some, but for others, it's a very welcome possibility, because we are on an unsustainable course. [...] I think that we have to come up with a uniquely American solution.
BECK: OK. When you see statements like that, be afraid. Be very, very afraid. It's not a bad dream for me; it is a nightmare. Hillary, thanks, but no thanks. 1993 wasn't that long ago. I remember all too well that confused, nonsensical mess you tried to make of the greatest health care system in the world.
Your universal health care is only universal in one way: It stinks for everybody. Imagine getting your health care from the DMV. I don't think so. It will also, more importantly -- and here's how it ties into the real story -- will cripple us financially.
correct about one thing, he is a clown.
At least a clown is entertaining.
But I do feel kind of sorry for the MM staffer who has to review Beck's crapola.
... who had a TV show. It was BOZO, and he didn't mention Hitler ONCE. He was a REAL clown.
This clown, Beck, is a dangerous demagogue, and is becoming more unhinged as time goes on.
I don't really mind it ... as nuts like Beck and Coulter become ever more shrill and insane, it helps the cause of Liberals and Democrats. At some point, the "powers that be" who fund Rightwing media will start to realize that these flamethrowers are doing more harm than good, and they will disappear without a trace.
For now, they veinly try to "rally the base", attempting to shut the barn door after the horses have already escaped.
I've never seen a rant that is so rich with contradiction and mendacity. Every sentence is ripe with irony. I hope that the 73 million worldwide members of the Anglican Church will remind their leaders that the whole "thou shalt not kill" thing -- kind of nonnegotiable, I'm thinking. Really Glenn? Tell us again how you feel about the war in Iraq. In the name of all that is good and holy, I ask you, what kind of monsters are we prepared to become in the name of a buck? Look in the mirror, son.
Beck, take one:
Don't you think ... we should draw the line at making life-and-death decisions based on money, especially for the weakest and most fragile among us?
Beck, take two:
[U]niversal health care stinks... It will ... cripple us financially.
So much for not basing decisions on money.
As is typical of his ilk, "we" must be prepared to struggle and sacrifice actually means "you" must be prepared to struggle and sacrifice because "I" have no ethical or moral responsibility to assist.
Why does CNN give this troglodyte a platform? It would appear that he is being groomed by the same people that created Rush Limbaugh, probably to replace Limbaugh in the Liars Pantheon of Flying Monkey Propagandists when Rush keels over from an overdose.
Like Rush, Beck used to be a little more balanced. I remember listening to him a few years ago when he actually criticized Republicans, too. Now he just regurgitates the GOP talking points.
"Through clever and constant application of propaganda people can be made to see paradise as hell, and also the other way around, to consider the most wretched sort of life as paradise." --Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf, 1923
Everyone should be reading the at least the first 200 pages of Rise & Fall of The Third Reich again (Schirer, around 1960?) or for the first time. There is a great summary at [link to www.fff.org]
Bech would have fit right in with Hitler's crowd. Might have been able to buddy up with the propaganda minister, Joseph Goebbels, but only if Rove was not competing for the job.
Wish I weren't firmly convinced that Rove did read the book, and liked it so much that he had to emulate Goebbels.
Counterpoint: Another right wing switch-a-roo. The ironic thing is Republicans like then Gov. G.W. Bush, truely like the "Hit" man himself, had no problem executing the mentally retarded. That's not near the theoretic dilusional stretch the Beck is attempting with Hillary. But what else is new from this puppet. Now the idiots a CNN are pumping his new "be very afraid" lets bomb the world for Jesus special. Real "sure to miss" viewing.
[link to archives.cnn.com]
... I don't remember a euthanasia plank in Clinton's health care platform.
By the way Beck, if our health care system is "the greatest health care system in the world", why do we have to spend such a huge percentage of our GNP on it compared to the rest of the industrialized countries?
Years ago, when the Big 3 automakers started shifting production to Canada to take advantage of their health care system, the handwriting was on the wall - but the U.S. health care lobby was so furiously at work with their army of whitewashers that our government couldn't see it .
Or, maybe they just didn't want to see.
Boy, compare them to anything Nazi and they get their shorts in a twist as they scream for an apology because in their world, they never would stoop so low. Then turn around and do what they claim they never do without batting a lash. Real fine upstanding christians, these reich wing heretics are...
Actually hearing this guy speak this filth makes it 10x as bad... what an arrogant fool.
who unfortunately lived to become a walking monument to right wing lunacy. i don't recall any of these things in hillary's health plan. but all he has to do is say it and a certain amount of people will agree.
Because the Healthcare Robber Barons didn't want their gravy train to end. Too many people like Bill Frist are making obscene profits on healthcare in this country...they'll never permit any kind of meaningful reform.
Correct. The HMO's teamed with Hillary Haters and raised over $900 MILLION to propagandize America and demonize Hillary's proposal. As you said, the GRAVY TRAIN was rich with wealth ($900 million was chump change to them, their status quo situation was so profitable).
It's the same with the current IRAQ WAR. What's the PROBLEM? Says Halliburton, raking in BILLIONS of war profiteering. What's the PROBLEM? Says Exxon-Mobil, enjoying record profits in the BILLIONS. So WHAT, if our soldiers are dying every day mired in a civil war, sitting ducks with no way out. Every day is PAYDAY for us big corps, and after all, those guys VOLUNTEERED to die for Bush and Us.
The RIGHT has been REJECTED by the American People, but still the shrill and hysterical rightwing talking heads retain their MEDIA shows, so they will continue to act as if the curtain has not been pulled aside, revealing the ugly truth about GOP control.
Wait till Waxman and the Dems get started with the investigations in earnest. Whoo-wee, will the rightwing pundits be in a snit. The likes of Beck and Coulter and Savage/Weiner are certifiably INSANE. Others, like Hannity and Limbaugh, teeter on the edge of insanity with mere sociopathic tendencies.
They LOST. Ha ha ha.
but the saddest part about the defeat of the Clinton health care initiative was the sabotage from within the party, which as I recall was led by Daniel Patrick Moynihan.
Of course they were all right - heaven forbid that someone decides what doctor I can go see ... oh. Is that what the Republican subsidized insurance industry and Frist Family Fortunes do now? I forgot.
that we have looming in the future of health care. With the number of people that can't afford health care I can't believe anyone continues to make this argument.
This is the most ....aaaaahhhhhhhh... statement I have heard. My wife works for a major teaching hospital supported by the state. Because people can not afford health care doctors at other hospitals tell them to buy bus tickets and show up in the emergency room so that they can be treated (by the way the doctor that relayed this story is referring to cancer treatment. And the bus tickets, well one of the cities they are coming from is roughly 70 miles away). This is not the problem solely by doing this to merely get these people some treatment they are wrecking the horpital in that once people get this cancer treatment there can be little to no follow up because of resource. A relapse -- even for a well-heeled patient can go unnoticed -- a tough for you.
Now that is Nazi. But I think even they tried to give the best level of health care to "the true German citizen" until the end of the war when they were utterly defeated -- yes I get the horrible irony of this. But if we aren't as concerned in the 21st century that our level of health care is up to that of 1940's Nazi party in terms of access. That today's U.S. children will probably see their life expectancy fall. Then this is truly the fall of the "Great Society" we profess to be.
And for the corporatists out there screaming the economy. Illness drives production down -- less money. It will continue to only get worse. Additionally, many industries say they would thrill to an idea that would release them from this burden. Why do cars cost more to make in America, health care is factored in. Again if idiots would pull their heads out and get themselves some fresh air there are ways of doing this without destroying the economy.
The health CARE system in the US is second to none - it's the health INSURANCE system that is a disgrace.
Although I think he actually includes the health INSURANCE system too in his insane "the greatest health care system in the world". The US system is one of, if not THE most inefficient, unfair and bureaucratic health care system in the industrialized world. How he can defend this system (not even our politicians do - even the right-wingers at least pay lip service to health care reform) and still aspire to be taken seriously is ludicrous.
And as for "thou shalt not kill" - I'm PRETTY sure that, just like the hypocrit Bush, Beck believes in the death penalty. As long as a person does, I don't want to hear them back up ANYTHING by using church doctrine.
What the heck is wrong with you? I assume that you have the best health care available. The bad dream for some (you) is that they will be in the same boat we are in some day. No health insurance. I have a sick child, minimum wage job, and YOU are complaining?? I work in a nursing home. People come and go to the hospital. Their pain and suffering is tragic. Those who choose to can refuse medical care, but NO ONE forces people to die. Do you really think that Universal Health would purposly kill sick babies and elderly?? I can't pay my child's enormous bills. It must be nice to have nothing to worry about and have lots of time to make stupid comments. Do you have a wife? Kids? What would YOU do without the means to pay for life-saving treatments? You need a real-life wake-up call, Mr. Beck. You just don't get it. You can't see past your hatred of an individual long enough to see your lack of simple humanity. I feel sorry for you. You can hide behind false compassion--I don't buy it...
You work a minimum wage job? According to the compassionate conservatives on this thread [link to mediamatters.org] you are a lazy, unskilled loser.
I encourage you to share your perspective with them.
For Right Wing Troglodyte Hypocrisy. He will be the new Rush Limbaugh.
One great irony in the Conservative arguments against national healthcare is their fear of having a government bureaucrat making decisions on what gets paid for. Well, if you have health insurance, who is making those decisions? A corporate bureaucrat with an incentive NOT to pay your claim. Which is worse?
As someone pointed out earlier, the big three auto makers in the U.S. are in a financial bind because their foreign competitors don't have to pay for their employees' healthcare. As a result, they will all eventually move their manufacturing overseas, taking those jobs with them.
I know that the Country Club Republicans and their homophobic abortion-obsessed voter base don't give a rat's ass about the health insurance crisis, but the American middle class should. We still outnumber them, and if we can take the media back, we can drive them back to their caves where they belong.
...to believe that 'we' have the power to 'take back the media'.
Unfortunately -- I believe the conflict of interest with any huge media outlet is too great. Folks on this site have claimed that's too 'conspiratorial'... It has to be true. Money interests come first... relating facts, what's technically good for all, etc... second (if even that).
...that this half-witted jackass has the temerity to suggest that every 'good and decent' American is as stupid as he is. In my opinion, Beck is a symptom of a greater disservice the GOP has foisted upon the electorate of this great nation -- that is, reduce every discussion down to 'good - bad' , 'black - white', 'hot - cold'... forget reason, logic, etc... just go for 'the gut!' It is truly politics for morons.
You see? None of us are really smart enough to understand all those big numbers and subtle points that are knocked around in DC...
Beck is the mouthpiece for the moron brigade. Completely insulting to anyone who dares to challenge or even question these clowns and their actions...
Beck is as ignorant as they come, but he has this "I'm just a good'ol boy" stchick down. Yes, a page from the other ignoramus- Limbaugh. I heard his rants on the "downfall" of the best health care system in the world, the USA- should the country ever veer towards Universal Health care. And yes, somehow he managed to insert killing babies, individuals with disabilities, and the elderly into the equation of universal health care. The man is seriously unhinged, and yet has also taken a play out of the very worn playbook of the neo-cons and purposely Plays to peoples fears. He has an "end of the world" scenario drumbeat constantly going on his radio and TV show-and of course uses both to promote the other. The world according to Beck has us in a "holy war"- all Muslims are radical fascists, Iran wants world domination, terrorists are coming for us in our backyards, and all this can only be solved by... KILLING. Waging full out war on the Muslim race. Yep, Beck just "one of the guys"- not political in the least, (out of his mouth) a recovering alcoholic who values his Christian faith (somehow missed Jesus's clear messages of peace as so many who pervert doctrines do) He is pathetic.. but yes also dangerous.
A Republican talking about the evils of making life and death decisions based on a dollar? When their entire platform is based on exactly that?
War for profit? Healthcare rationing for profit? Denying care to veterans so more $ can be looted from the treasury by the rich?
Alert, alert, does not compute . . .
About the "Church of England"'s statement: "doctors ... be given the right to withhold treatment from seriously disabled newborn babies in exceptional circumstances."
I guess that the decision to withhold the treatment should be left up to accountants who decided that a child's family couldn't pay the hospital bills, and gives the order to the doctor to pull the plug. This was signed into law by, da da dummmmmmm, Governor of Texas George W. Bush ... well into his "compassionate conservative" push ...
Now, if that isn't "Hitlerian", what is? Hitler said that the retarded were a drain on the resources of the state ... sound familiar?