Beck uses blatant distortions to smear SEIU as violent organization of "thugs"
During the November 16 edition of his Fox News program, Glenn Beck repeatedly launched false, misleading, or unfounded attacks against the Service Employees International Union, its president Andy Stern, and President Obama to claim that SEIU members are "thugs" who "beat down" opponents and command elected officials.
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Beck falsely attributes quote to Rep. Michaud to suggest he was "bribe[d]" or "scare[d]" by Obama and SEIU
After claiming Michaud said "personal coaxing" from Obama secured his vote for health care, Beck suggests Michaud was bribed or bullied by SEIU. From the November 16 edition of Fox News' Glenn Beck:
BECK: Michael Michaud -- he's from Maine -- he was won over with -- what did he say it was? -- "personal coaxing" from the president. Could I show the purple shirt people again? Personal coaxing. I believe my grandfather would have called it bribes or scare tactics. You see, these people don't care about what their constituents want. Do you remember the polls? We don't want this. We're consistent on it. They're on the take. And guess who they're taking from? You. And the biggest winner in the health care sweepstakes, here it is, the unions. SEIU.
After stating, "Could I show the purple shirt people again?" Beck showed two men wearing SEIU shirts:
In fact, the words "personal coaxing" came from Wall Street Journal writers, not Michaud, and the Journal article did not mention SEIU. In a November 9 article, Journal writers Jonathan Weisman and Naftali Bendavid wrote that "it was personal coaxing from President Barack Obama" that secured Michaud's vote for health care reform. The article quoted Michaud's statement that "I am pleased that [Obama] understood my concerns as they relate to Maine and pledged to work with me to address them." From the November 9 Journal article:
For Rep. Dennis Cardoza, it was an assurance from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that the drought afflicting California's Central Valley would get high-level attention. For Rep. Michael Michaud, a liberal from Maine, it was personal coaxing from President Barack Obama Saturday morning. For Rep. Anh "Joseph" Cao, the lone Republican vote, it was multiple conversations with Obama administration officials, topped with new promises of support for his Katrina-ravaged New Orleans.
And for a large bloc of Democrats, a last-minute deal between the speaker and the Roman Catholic Church on abortion made the difference and secured passage of legislation offering near-universal health insurance.
The 220-215 vote late Saturday gave Mr. Obama and the Democrats virtually no margin to spare. Special House election victories in upstate New York and California secured two votes Tuesday, the cushion Democrats ultimately needed four days later, one top aide said.
[...]
On Saturday, at a closed-door meeting of Democratic House members, Mr. Obama pulled aside Mr. Michaud to hear his concern that Maine would take an outsize hit from Medicare and Medicaid cuts in the bill. In a statement, Mr. Michaud said, "I am pleased that he understood my concerns as they relate to Maine and pledged to work with me to address them."
Beck falsely claims that while Obama talks to Stern about health care, "he won't talk to you at a ... town hall meeting"
From the November 16 edition of Fox News' Glenn Beck:
BECK: Andy Stern, the president of SEIU, a union of 2.2 million people, leads the White House visitors list. Twenty-two visits. He's been to the White House more than anybody else. So what is it the president and Andy Stern talk about together?
OBAMA [video clip]: Before debating health care, I talked to Andy Stern and SEIU members.
BECK: They won't talk to you at a, you know, town hall meeting. But he'll talk to Andy Stern. Not your concerns. No, no, no. Andy Stern.
In fact, Obama has taken questions on health care reform from people at numerous town hall meetings. Obama has taken critical questions from the public on health care reform at health care town halls across the country, including in Annandale, Virginia, Shaker Heights, Ohio, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Belgrade, Montana, Grand Junction, Colorado, and at the White House.
Beck falsely smears SEIU's Stern as a communist because he said "workers of the world, unite"
From the November 16 edition of Fox News' Glenn Beck:
BECK: So we know the president has a lot in common, apparently, with Andy Stern and his goals. But do you? Let's refresh. What are the goals of Andy Stern and SEIU?
STERN [video clip]: Workers of the world, unite, it's not just a slogan anymore. It's the way we're going to have to do our work.
BECK: "Workers of the world, unite." That's a really dicey kind of phrase there. You might have heard that before, because it's the old communist slogan. "Workers of the world, unite." Good thing there hasn't been a recent rash of communist radicals running around the White House, right? I mean, because then I'd really be concerned. Let's, for a moment, give old Andy Stern the benefit of the doubt that he just went to the Anita Dunn school of comedy over and over and over again.
In fact, while discussing use of "workers of the world, unite" slogan, Stern said "the good news is, Communism is dead." During the May 14, 2006, edition of CBS' 60 Minutes, reporter Lesley Stahl said to Stern: "You like to say, 'Workers of the world unite.' Which sounds, it is Karl Marx. But that's your, that's your kind of slogan now." Stern replied: "Well the good news is Communism is dead," adding, "[b]ut the truth is the phrase means a lot because all of a sudden workers in London and workers in the United States are working for the same employer and the same owners."
Beck suggestion of cover-up in alleged assault is entirely without evidence
From the November 16 edition of Fox News' Glenn Beck:
BECK: You see, right now the only thing these people want is to get re-elected, and they're afraid. But they have more fear in the big purple monster than faith in we the people. You speak without fear, tell them no means no. But look out, be warned, if you do, the big purple SEIU monster doesn't like no and isn't used to taking no for an answer. Next, the SEIU beatdowns that you need to see.
[...]
BECK: Those special interests are thugs. They are not used to taking no for an answer. Let me tell you about this guy. His name is Kenneth Gladney. When Kenneth heard about the opportunity to have his voice be heard at a town hall on health care -- it was hosted by a Missouri Democrat -- he jumped at the chance to go. But once there, he started to hand out these Don't Tread On Me flags. That's when it happened. He was attacked and beaten by several thugs from SEIU, the union that the president knows quite well.
STERN [video clip]: We're trying to use the power of persuasion. And if that doesn't work, we're going to use the persuasion of power.
BECK: Gladney was an African-American, and he was not only physically beaten, he was also called the N-word. You would think that the president wouldn't rest until justice came swiftly to those SEIU thugs. Yet, here we are over 90 days later and there are no charges here -- none. Now, here is one of the guys who beat him, and he has an SEIU attorney, which is strange. Mr. President, may I ask this question? Have the prosecutors or is it just the police that have acted stupidly in this case? Or perhaps -- I mean, you agree with SEIU so many -- on so many things, maybe you feel that justice was served that day.
[...]
BECK: OK. This guy was -- well, this guy was beaten. He was called the N-word. I mean, I can't think of a case that President Obama -- if he actually meant what he said and said what he meant -- I can't think of a case that would be more important to an African-American president than defending this man's right to speak. But nobody is involved.
Now, we understand that it's Pat Reddington that is supposed to be the one filing the charges here. Bill McCullough kind of passed it off to her. Can you kind of tell me what is going on here?
LOUDON: Sure. In the jurisdictions, you basically have the elected county prosecutor, Robert McCullough, who has ultimate jurisdiction. If he thinks this is a hate crime, if he doesn't like this gang violence, which it was, or stifling political free speech, he can call the press conference, file charges, and take it over.
He doesn't apparently think it rises to that level, so he's laying it -- leaving it in Patricia Reddington's court. Now, Patricia Reddington is a Democrat-appointed county counselor. She serves at the pleasure of the Democrat county executive, Charlie Dooley.
Between Dooley and Reddington, they've got to figure out what they're going to do with this thing because we're tired of having these things swept under the rug. And we're glad to have somebody like you and Andrew Breitbart and Big Government -- these folks coming and exposing these things to the light of day.
BECK: I have to tell you, it is so clear to any thinking American what's going on here. It's clear. And we're not going to let this story fall off to the wayside. We want answers.
Beck provided no evidence of a cover-up, and reports have noted that the video of the incident is "inconclusive." Beck stated that "here we are over 90 days later and there are no charges here -- none" in the incident and claimed that maybe Obama "feel[s] that justice was served that day." He hosted former state Sen. John Loudon, who noted that Patricia Reddington "is a Democrat-appointed county counselor. She serves at the pleasure of the Democrat county executive, Charlie Dooley." However, Beck did not provide evidence of a cover-up or any improper action by authorities. Moreover, The Wichita Eagle reported that the video Beck showed as evidence of the alleged assault on Gladney "show[s] a scuffle but is inconclusive as to what exactly happened." Kansas City Star editorial page columnist Barb Shelly has also noted that the "[v]ideo seems inconclusive as to who initiated the melee."
Beck falsely suggests Stern's "persuasion of power" quote is a threat of violence and somehow related to alleged attack on Gladney
From the November 16 edition of Fox News' Glenn Beck:
BECK: Those special interests are thugs. They are not used to taking no for an answer. Let me tell you about this guy. His name is Kenneth Gladney. When Kenneth heard about the opportunity to have his voice be heard at a town hall on health care -- it was hosted by a Missouri Democrat -- he jumped at the chance to go. But once there, he started to hand out these Don't Tread On Me flags. That's when it happened. He was attacked and beaten by several thugs from SEIU, the union that the president knows quite well.
STERN [video clip]: We're trying to use the power of persuasion. And if that doesn't work, we're going to use the persuasion of power.
In fact, Stern was talking about "power" to "change laws" and "strike," not physical force. When asked by PBS' Bill Moyers, "What kind of leverage do[es] [SEIU] have against these huge private equity firms?" Stern stated, in part, "We're trying to use the power of persuasion. And if that doesn't work we're going to use the persuasion of power. Because there are governments and there are opportunities to change laws that affect these companies. I'm not naïve. We're ready to strike. We're ready to talk." Stern later added, "You know, we are trying to talk to people. But when people don't want to talk, you know, we are going to have the power of people to try to get their attention and use moral suasion and economic power and political power to try to change their behavior."
Beck claims "SEIU" left "TV reporter in California" "bloodied and in the hospital" and suggests Stern is connected to incident
From the November 16 edition of Fox News' Glenn Beck:
OBAMA [video clip]: I have spent my entire adult life working with SEIU. I'm not a newcomer to this.
BECK: No, he's not. It seems like this is what SEIU does. It's what they did to a TV reporter in California earlier this month. They left him bloodied and in the hospital. Even --
STERN [video clip]: We took names. We watched how they voted. We know where they live.
Police reportedly "not sure who's to blame" for altercation. In a November 6 news report, California's KCRA Channel 3 News reporters stated that "Sacramento police still aren't sure who's to blame for the bloody and chaotic end to a union meeting in downtown Sacramento" and that "what we still don't know is the big question: who attacked whom?" While Ken Hamidi, a cable access host -- not a "reporter," claims that "union thugs ... brutally beat me up" as part of a "conspiracy" organized by SEIU Local 100 leaders Yvonne Walker and Jim Hard, Walker has reportedly stated that Hamidi "again attempted to disrupt a meeting" and "[w]hen he was asked to leave, he responded by physically and verbally assaulting several staff members -- causing injury to one individual."
Hamidi has been removed from previous SEIU meetings by police. According to a November 6 article on the incident by KCRA, "Hamidi is an outspoken critic of the union. He hosts a cable access show that regularly criticizes leaders of SEIU. Hamidi admits that police have escorted him out of previous union meetings."
Beck disingenuously attempts to link 2007 quote from Stern to November 2009 incident. Despite Beck's suggestion, even Hamidi has not alleged that Stern was responsible for his alleged assault, instead accusing local officials of giving the "direct command" to attack him. The Stern quote Beck contrasted with his claim that SEIU left a TV reporter "bloodied" -- in which Stern said, "We took names. We watched how they voted. We know where they live" -- is from a February 2007 WBEZ story in reference to a "Big Box Ordinance," according to a November 2 Naked Emperor News video that includes several of the Stern quotes that Beck highlights.
While discussing alleged SEIU beating, Beck says "even the Boy Scouts aren't safe from SEIU's thuggery"
From the November 16 edition of Fox News' Glenn Beck:
BECK: Even the Boy Scouts aren't safe from SEIU's thuggery. In Allentown, a 17-year-old Eagle Scout worked 200 hours to clear a walking path at a park. This is a Boy Scout. This apparently is a no-no in Allentown, because the park is managed by SEIU.
An SEIU spokesman said, "We're looking into the Boy Scout or the Cub Scout who did the trails."
This is who is getting priority in America. These are the people, the beatdowns.
But the Boy Scout story has nothing to do with violence and was about the union's concern about layoffs. The Morning Call reported that local SEIU president Nick Balzano was "considering filing a grievance against the city [Allentown] for allowing" the Eagle Scout "to clear a 1,000-foot walking and biking path at Kimmets Lock Park." The article further noted that Balzano "said Saturday he isn't targeting Boy Scouts. But given the city's decision in July to lay off 39 SEIU members, Balzano said 'there's to be no volunteers.' No one except union members may pick up a hoe or shovel, plant a flower or clear a walking path. ... Balzano said Saturday the union is still looking into the matter and might cut the city a break. 'We are probably going to let this one go,' Balzano said."
I imagine the conversation went something like this.....
Speaking truth to/about progressives with a shout out to dr. joe medicine crow, a member in good standing at local 1313. Kapeesh?
Except for the fact that they long for the good old days. The days back in 1860.
You conservatives certainly know how to put us progressives in our place with your mastery of logic and your superior intelligence! I'm already licking my wounds
Unions bad. Unpaid volunteer labor, good!
Using volunteers to do civic labor jobs shouldn't be an issue as long as, you consider all legal ramifications, and the voluteers are used where they do the most good.
By using volunteer labor you could lower the community tax bill. You could also end up paying more, in the long run, when a volunteer does something he shouldn't and the city ends up paying.
Now the seperate issue, of using volunteers to replace paid city workers, is completely different. Let's say the company you worked for decided to let you go, as a "cost cutting" measure. Later, you find out that you were replaced with an unpaid intern, how would you feel about that?
Sure, they lost your experience and knowledge base but; hey, they saved money.
BTW This was just meant to clarify my earlier comment, it isn't directed at you. I should have included the <sarcasm> tag.
Unionization in private industry is down to 10% or so. It is strong only in government [local, state and federal]. Private industry doesn't like unions because they must make a profit. If they don't they die and everyone loses their jobs. Unions are motivated to get high wages for their members and not allow anyone to be fired or laid off. Companies that must pay high wages (auto companies) and cannot layoff people (auto companies), fail. GM and Chrysler are examples of that. With government, profit isn't in the picture -- government has no requirement to be efficient or make a profit. In addition, unions in government have tenure rules that make it very difficult to fire someone who is incompetent. Hence, we have a very inefficient government that cannot shrink and does virtually everything poorly and expensively because there is no motivation to be more efficient (does the post office come to mind? Amtrak?)
For Allentown, the city government (the citizens of Allentown) said they cannot pay 39 employees. The people of a city have a right to do that. Allentown should write no contracts with unions that would prevent layoffs. They should write no contracts that have rules that require union labor. Do you have contracts for you house that require union labor?
Having a union rise up and complain about a boy scout cleaning a park is one of the countless anti-union examples that literally make people so mad they vote against anything that would help a union.
If you get paid overtime for hours in excess of 40/week; if you have employer-paid health insurance; if you have a paid vacation; if you have paid sick leave; if you have a pension plan YOU owe those benefits to union members who helped get those provisions.
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The Midnight Review
Mum Is The Word
What happens to a union worker if he is hurt doing volunteer or paid work for the city, who pays his bills? Who pays for the work if it isn't to standard, the union?
First, does the use of unskilled, volunteer labor conflict with the strong push for volunteerism that the current administration has fostered? Have you gone to www.serve.gov?
Second, the city did not take advantage of anyone. If you had any experience with the Boy Scout organization, you would know that the Eagle Scout CHOOSES his project, and is not selected by the city. The Boy Scouts teach things that progressives should learn...honor, duty to God and country, and helping others. Look it up.
Third, The Boy Scouts of America insure all scouts while performing scout related activities.
Fourth, The Eagle Scout was cleaning a park trail. What possible standard does that require...and what standard was being maintained when the city was unable to perform the work due to lack of funds?
In short...you are a fool for even posting here.
Good job perpetuating the notion that everyone ia a union is a thug, ya know, guys like Ronald Reagan when he was in the actor's union. Also, good job portraying all Italians, by using "kappesh", as being in the mafia. Way to see an entire group of people as a stereotype.
BTW, it's spelled capisce (pronounced kapeesh-ee) or capisco,(ka-pees-co) and not "kapeesh". I know shootin squirells from your porch is more fun, but pick a book.
And to those who are continuing the misguided notion that FOX is someehow behind this whole thing, I first read about this whole nonsense in the Morning Call, not MYFOXPHILY or FOXNEWS. That's the author that seems to be quoted all over the place.
Prove it wrong.
And, you calling Glenn Beck a liar for claiming informants is itself a lie. You have absolutely no facts to refute his claims, and make yourself look a fool.
Why not post something here that PROVES SEIU is not the organization Beck claims they are? I for one would love to see it. I do believe SEIU has been "thuggish" in their behavior in St. Louis, MO, and other town hall venues.
That should buy something, don't you think?
I see, jstephens005. So, you disagree with Glenn Beck then. Because he called SEIU a 'big purple monster'. He wasn't talking about a small subset of members, here. He was talking about the entire organization.
'What kind of fool would say the entire group is evil?'
Again, you are disagreeing with Glenn Beck, right? Because, on the basis of edited together video, he condemned an entire organization, ACORN, based on the actions of just a tiny handful of its 400,000 some members, didn't he? So, Glenn Beck is that kind of fool.
I didn't say anything about informants, jstephens005. I said he was claiming to 'inform' people, which, considering his almost systemic aversion to factual content, is clearly true.
There is no evidence of nationwide 'beat downs' by SEIU members. None whatsoever. Glenn is not happy that health reform is both supported by a majority of Americans, and is making progress through the legislative system, and so he fabricates tales of bribery and arm twisting, offering no proof. He makes claims which are completely unfounded except for his personal word.
Problem there. Glenn Beck is a proven liar. He said Van Jones was a convicted felon who served six months in prison. Neither of these things are true, and yet he has not retracted that falsehood. One of many.
Mr. Hamidi crashed a meeting of SEIU members, uninvited, with camera person in tow. Conflicting accounts of what happened that night have left police with no clear understanding of what happend, and so far they have declined to make any arrests. When Mr. Beck played a clip from 2007, where Mr. Hamidi claimed he had been 'bloodied and beaten', and pretended it was from 2009 where that did not happen, did that make you trust Mr. Beck more, or less?
I'm not here to prove anything about SEIU. I'm here because I firmly believe in disproving and illustrating conservative misinformation in the media. Glenn Beck is a fount of lies. Believe him if you want, but that makes you the idiot, and not me.
Glenn Beck never said there were "nationwide beat downs". There are documented cases in CA and MO. He pointed those out. There are other documented cases of SEIU blocking conservatives from attending this past summers town hall meetings. Why did they do that?
As for healtcare...you point to a recent ABC poll that suggests Americans are 2:1 in favor of universal healthcare...unless is has ANY limitations on doctors or rationing of care...then it reverses, 1:2. All the examples we've seen, Canada, GB, etc...reflect both limitations in doctors AND rationing.
Also, a recent gallup poll shows that 50% of Americans do NOT beleive its the feds job to provide healthcare, as opposed to 47% that do. That statistic is contrary to the ABC poll...
And Rasmussen says that 49& oppose the current plan vs 47%.
So, you are spot on that most Americans want health care reform. SO DOES GLENN BECK. So do I. That is not in question. But, neither Glenn nor I, nor the MAJORITY of Americans want a federal healthcare system.
Please, re-read that paragraph to yourself over and over until you understand that health care reform does NOT EQUAL government run health care. Got it?
So...let's review...the only thing you have against Glenn Beck is that you believe (BELIEVE) he said Jones served six months, or you have a link to the transcript. I honestly don't know if he said it...I can't find it on his page. What I did find is a quote from Van Jones saying, "I spent the next ten years of my life working with a lot of those people I met in jail, trying to be a revolutionary." So, he was in jail at some point...don't know for how long, but that was NEVER a factor in Becks commentary on Jones. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER. It was ALWAYS about the fact that he was a communist. Why can't you see that? Prove that wrong...
And, why are you defending the physical beating of anyone? It was not a private meeting...and he wanted to expose corruption. Does that mean that they should beat him?
And no, NO ONE cares about the stock video EVERY SINGLE news show plays while discussing a topic. Everyone does that crap...even the lefties. Let's talk about the crap picture that Newsweek used for Palin...taken from Runners World magazine. It happens, but I'm smarter than to rely on the "talkie pictures" for my info.
Let's work together on finding misinformation...On both sides of the spectrum. Won't that make this a better country?
The video that Beck played was not stock video, anymore than the video from the 9-12 protest played 'accidentally' by Hannity as coverage of Ms. Bachmann's protest was stock video. Beck used a piece of footage where Mr. Hamidi claimed to have been beaten and bloodied as though Hamidi were speaking of his run-in with SEIU, rather than a completely different group over two years ago. That's simply propaganda, it's lying. There's really nothing else to call it.
If you expect any kind of respect, don't quote Rasmussen polls. They are typcially outliers, and typically favor conservatives, so that's just more propaganda.
Of the two SEIU 'incidents' Mr. Beck reported on, charges have not been filed in either case. With all the claims of how badly they were beaten being endlessly repeated, if there was any substance to those claims, charges would've been filed by now. It's a tempest in a teapot. Beck claims this is how SEIU works, it's a nationwide organization, he's therefore claiming this happens on a national scale. Simply deductive reasoning.
Media Matters is here to deal with conservative misinformation. You want to start a site based on liberal misinformation, be my guest. I may even stop by. Not what we do here, however.
I do not condone the physical beating of anyone. I find no evidence Mr. Hamidi was beaten, aside from the beating he got in 2007 that was in no way related to his crashing the 2009 SEIU meeting.
Jail and prison are two entirely different things. I've been overnight in jail. Never been to prison, and I'm not a convicted felon. Two things Van Jones and I share, regardless of Mr. Beck's lies.
You're right about one thing. A public option does not equal government run health care. On that at least we can agree. Reform doesn't equal government run health care either, no matter how badly the insurance companies want to scare monger us into believing otherwise. A public option is also not a federal health care system. You could argue it is one choice among many as a federal health coverage system, though.
Please give one 'questionable attribute' that SEIU is showing? It's a very loaded phrase, but you provide no proof.
As for the picture of Ms. Palin on the cover of Newsweek, if they had permission to use the photo, they can put whatever they want on their cover. Newsweek isn't the issue here. Mr. Beck's obvious and in some cases ridiculous lies are, however.
I read the link you referred, and links that were imbedded within that link as well. And...not one single article has a verifiable reference of Beck saying Jones was a convicted felon. The articles themself say that, but opinion people propagating lies does not make them true. For reference...see the recent Rush Limbaugh/St. Louis Rams debacle.
I went to the Glenn Beck website, that catalogs transcripts of his radio show, did a quick search, and found nothing. Until I see a transcript from GlennBeck.com, or video/audio of him saying it...I tend to think it was made up.
But...Glenn Beck has provided audio and video of Van Jones discussing his communist ties. Again...that is the take away. Not that he (or you) spent a night in jail.
Van Jones resigned. Why? Why didn't he refute the claims Glenn made? Because Glenn provided VIDEO and AUDIO of everything he said. There was no way to refute, as it was all true.
The article you linked to did have something very interesting though...multiple references to the race of Van Jones. Why? Not one single time was that ever referred to on Glenn Beck, or any conservative talk show. Never. In the links embedded in that article, more race. Why? Because you can't answer the communist question...
SO...please help me find the exact quote Glenn Beck made so I can verify he said it. Don't provide me links to other people saying it...especially a blogger.
And what proof do you have that Rasmussen is conservative? Did you just make that up to dismiss it's findings? Well...in that case...ABC is liberal, so it's poll findings are not valid. So, where are we now?
Also, what is the "communist question". I missed the question. Are we back to McCarthy now?
The article you are referring to is form WorldNetDaily. Come on. You're making this too easy. You obviously did not either read or comprehend the articles you clicked on. The original article was pointing out the ridiculousnes in calling Van Jones a communist and was linking to a WorldNetDaily (right-wing) article to show how ridiculous these people (Beck, WorldNetDaily, etc.) were getting while attacking Jones. This is the article that keeps mentioning that Van Jones is black - which the originial article points out and ridicules. Which you would know if you know if you actually read and comprehended the original article.
This quote is located in the Nexis database.
Don't try to drag addict/welfare queen Limbaugh into this, or we'll never have done.
There is no communist question. Did Van Jones at one time advocate a communist philosophy? Yes, he did. Does he still? Doesn't matter. Glenn didn't bother to find out. Why? Because Glenn is in the business of propaganda, not journalism. What, exactly, is wrong with being a communist? I've been a libertarian, an anarchist, a socialist, and a number of other -ists and -isms as I study and learn and grow. Being a communist doesn't make you evil. Being a communist is not against the law. But, it's a very handy smear, just the same.
Why did Van Jones resign? Because he realized that there would be no end to Mr. Beck's rants about him, which FOX Propaganda and the MSM dutifully picked up and obsessed over. Faced with spending more time responding to this circus than actually doing his job, he chose to step aside.
Ah, Rasmussen. Well, when Palin quit her day job, Rasmussen had a poll about how that might have affected her chances for election on a presidential ticket. They only asked Republicans, got 40% who thought the move hurt her chances, and went on to claim that this was representative of the entire nation. The upshot? They could claim 60% felt it didn't hurt her chances, which, while a good solid Republican talking point at the time, was simply not true, and not supported by their poll. Unbiased they ain't.
You can call ABC liberal, if you like. Good luck proving it. The big three tend to be, at most, center right, verging all the way right into wingnut territory. You might find a single liberal here and there, but the overall tenor of media in this country is conservative. Has been for some twenty years now at least.
As for what's wrong with communism...aside from the OBVIOUS that you lose personal liberty that our country was founded on...let's just start with the number of people killed under those philosophies: 65 million in China, and 20 million in Russia. Good stuff. Have you read Karl Marx?
I don't know why I keep posting here...You obviosly do NOT believe in personal responsibility, personal freedom, liberty...because if you did, you would know what's wrong with communism.
Prove what wrong? You have provided no argument to prove wrong. You have provided absolutely no facts to disprove. You have made yourself look like a fool.
You want someone to prove an entire organization is not thugs? You are truly a pathetic partisan.
It's kinda tough to counter a paranoid delusional conspiracy theory. Make a note of it.
I know you do. Because you do not understand how a basic debate works. Give me some facts and evidence.
"Glenn Beck never said there were "nationwide beat downs". There are documented cases in CA and MO." - jstepehens
Then show me the documentation. What charges were filed in these "beatdowns" and who has been convicted?
"There are other documented cases of SEIU blocking conservatives from attending this past summers town hall meetings. Why did they do that?" - jstepehens
OK. Show me the documentation. I am not exactly sure how you document that SEIU were keeping out conservatives, but I'll accept your premise. Show me the documentation of SEIU members knowingly keeping out only conservatives.
No one cares about the stock video? That would actually be evidence. Unfortunately, your leader, Beck, shows you (his audience) the incorrect evidence because he is purposefully misleading you.
There is no argument. No facts, no nothing. Once again you defend your lack of facts and evidence with more nonsense and still no facts or evidence. Yes, we are all very afraid of your lack of evidence. It is truly frightening that you can make ridiculous statements like:
"You have absolutely no facts to refute his claims, and make yourself look a fool." - jstephens
all the while providing zero evidence to support any of your claims and demanding that we prove a negative. I don't know if your lack of basic intellect is frightening, but it is certainly startling. Come back when you have an actual debate to have. All you have is a baseless defense of the indefensible. You wouldn't get past the 1st round in a 9th grade debate class.
They got the highest wages and benefits and now they own Chrysler and GM. And we (the tax paying citizens) have had to contribute to the debacle. Worse yet, the story is not ended. Chrysler wants more money and GMAC wants more money. Bailing out GM and Chrysler and giving ownership to the unions was plumb stupid. Don't say unions are universally good. They're not.
Another argument for universal health care. Thanks egb!!!
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts. - D.P. Moynihan
(we could probably use this quote a LOT in responding to wingnuts)
Balzano said 'there's to be no volunteers.' No one except union members may pick up a hoe or shovel, plant a flower or clear a walking path. ... Balzano said Saturday the union is still looking into the matter and might cut the city a break. 'We are probably going to let this one go,' Balzano said."
If something wasn't going on then there wouldn't be anything to "explain away"
Fact is that unions were good in the 20's when 8 year olds were working 4 miles down in coal mines for 18 hours a day without fresh air.
Today unions are worthless, they take money from their membership and do nothing to protect them, the stiffle market place competition by allowing wages for a guy sweeping the floor to exceed $27 bucks an hour, see Ford UAW contracts.
Unions have been long corrupt, mob related, and crime riddled. The leaders pilfer union money often giving it to candidates that half their membership wouldnt support or let watch their dog.
If you think unions are great then you're either a union leader or organizer, no one I know working at a low level thats a union member would stay if they had a choice.
Keep up the good work Glen, its time someone shed light on the cockroaches and let them be seen running and "explaining away"
His audience must be comprised of brain-dead masachists.
Pay attention to someone who does appear serious such as Wolf Blitzer, a guy who passes on the same Pentagon/CIA/Israeli falsehoods as Glen Beck, but who is taken seriously by Americans who see themselves as politically engaged.
That is something to be concerned about.