Glenn Beck promotes gold to audience while profiting from gold investment firms
In recent months, Glenn Beck has repeatedly used his television show to plug gold as a way for his audience to "protect" themselves from the possible economic collapse of the U.S. dollar and economy. At the same time, several precious metals investment firms have regularly advertised on his television show, and Beck is a "Paid Spokesman" for Goldline International, which has an "exclusive" sponsorship deal with his radio show and bills itself as "Glenn Beck's Choice for Gold."
Beck promotes gold on his TV show without disclosing Goldline deal
Beck "Three G's" solution to possible U.S. economic "collapse": "God, Gold, and Guns." On the November 23 edition of his Fox News show, Beck told his audience that in the event of a possible U.S. economic "collapse," they should practice "the 3 G system" of "God, Gold, and Guns."
Beck: "protect yourself" with gold. As Think Progress noted, on the October 6 edition of his Fox News program, Beck suggested that viewers could "protect yourself" from "the end of the almighty dollar" and possible hyperinflation by purchasing gold. In an October 7 blog post, examiner.com's Ryan Witt commented:
So what does Beck tell his audience they can do in response to the coming crisis of hyperinflation? Buy gold of course. Beck interviews a professor from Columbia University and in the end one of the things they advise the audience to do is buy gold. So Beck essentially scares his audience into believing that hyperinflation and economic collapse is a near sure thing and then advises them to buy gold to protect themselves. All along Beck never mentions that a gold-buying company happens to be one of his few remaining sponsors. Beck also never interviews other economists who believe that we are nowhere near the economic conditions necessary to see hyperinflation. Finally Beck also never informs his audience of the risks involved in buying gold. Gold has seen its price skyrocket with the economic troubles of the last few years and there is a real danger that the price of gold may actually decrease if the economy improves in the coming years. Quite simply if one buys gold high right now they may be forced to sell low later.
Numerous gold investment firms advertise on Beck's TV show
Since Nov. 1, the following precious metals investment firms have advertised on Beck's Fox News show, according to Media Matters for America's daily record of his program's advertisers:
- Rosland Capital
- Goldline International
- Merit Financial
- Investment Rarities Incorporated
- Wholesale Direct Metals
- Superior Gold Group
Multiple investment firms typically run ads during any given broadcast of Beck's show.
Goldline has "exclusive" deal with Beck's radio show, Beck is "Paid Spokesman"
Goldline is "Exclusive precious metals sponsor of the Glenn Beck radio show." Goldline International's website states that it is the "Exclusive precious metals sponsor of the Glenn Beck radio show, the third highest rated talk radio show in the country." Presumably included as part of the sponsorship are Beck's regular live promotions for Goldline during the show.
Goldline website: Firm is "Glenn Beck's Choice for Gold," Beck is "Paid Spokesman." A Beck-centric page on the Goldline website declares the company "Glenn Beck's Choice for Gold" and identifies Beck as a "Paid Spokesman for Goldline." Beck is quoted stating: "Before I started turning you on to Goldline, I wanted to look them in the eye. This is a top notch organization that's been in bussiness [sic] since 1960."
Beck, Goldline websites cross-promote each other. The front page of Beck's website contains an ad for Goldline:
That ad links to Goldline's Beck-centric page.
The front page of the Goldline website contains a promotion of appearances by Goldline president and CEO Mark Albarian on Beck's radio show, with links to the audio of the appearance:
Beck invokes Founding Fathers in Goldline video. From a video Beck made for Goldline:
BECK: I've been spending a lot of time with the Founding Fathers lately, and I -- in fact, I just read last night -- there was a letter between -- I think it was Thomas Jefferson and John Adams toward the end of their life, and they talked about how -- what the future of America was going to be like and how bright it was going to be. And then it was going to shake apart and there would be troubled times, but then it would reset itself and it would be great again. But I'd like a little bit of insurance. That's why I want to talk to you a little bit about Goldline.
I went out and I toured Goldline I think about a year ago, and went to Goldline out in Los Angeles. Before I started turning you on to Goldline, I wanted to look them in the eye. This is a top-notch organization that's been in business since 1960. You see, back in 1933, FDR said, "OK, we're going to take all your gold and, gee, it's worth, $8 an ounce?" But some people got smart and they said, "Well, wait a minute, I've got antique coins. You can't melt these down. These are antique coins." So I'm enough of a guy who doesn't trust the crazy people in Washington enough to say, "Yeah, I don't think I'm gonna buy the new Krugerrand," which I don't know if you can get anymore. I'm gonna buy an antique coin, which has intrinsic value.
If you're like our Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, then just know that what's on the horizon is temporary and this too shall pass. Here's the deal: Call Goldline, study it out, pray on it. If it's the right thing for you, then do it. But please study it out, find the people that you trust. The people that I trust are the people at Goldline. And you can talk to the people on the phone. They're not gonna pressure you. If it's the right thing for you and your family and you want some insurance, trust the people at Goldline. Thanks.
Goldline was "exclusive sponsor" of Beck's "Common Sense Comedy" tour. According to a graphic on Beck's website, Goldline has served as the "exclusive sponsor" of Beck's "Common Sense Comedy" tour.
Glenn Beck would you please explain this Quote?
Mr. News
Can you give me some idea to where your Foolish Vid could now Lurk?
I can't find a Vid of you anywhere on the Internet saying this.
I know i saw you saying this when you hosted the Larry King Show, am i Remiss?
Speak truth to power.
Mr. News
Praying, then turns to preying.
Yep, never in our history have any of those caused any problems...
He is using his "faux news" program to help further the interests of one of his advertisers and, by extension, himself.
Some of us call this free-market capitalism. I know it bothers you.
He is just repeating a widely held view that in times of anticipated inflation and declining dollar values gold is a thought to be a good investment. That is relevant to the themes of his show.
Why are you sooooo worried about what "numbnuts" like Dork may or may not be led to believe? Why don't you just worry about yourself?
would the term "snake oil" jump to mind? I just wish Josie Wales would spit a nice load of tobacco juice right in beck's pudgy face and say, "how's it work on stains?"
Juxtapose that with NBC. They are owned by GE (for now). GE stands to profit big from cap and trade. NBC promotes global warming hysteria with no mention of the GE angle. Do you think NBC should disclose on the air every day that they are owned by GE and GE stand to profit from green BS?
I'm gonna need some solid evidence before I accept that as fact.
And, for the record, acknowledging the reality of global climate change is not "hysteria".
Beck's show is a pretty good example of "promoting hysteria". All of his wild conspiracy theories and his predictions about the end of America as we know it and a complete and total economic collapse...Beck stands to benefit from scaring the frack out of his viewers and frightening them into buying gold. And you think this is ethical?
I'm gonna need some solid evidence before I accept that as fact."
Just google nbc global warming....and pack a lunch.
You people crack me up with your platitudes. "reality of global climate change". No one is arguing against global climate change. We learned about that in grammar school when we learned of the ice age, Greenland being green, and oceans covering Arizona, et al. The discussion is about MAN MADE global WARMING. At least that is what was crammed down our throats for years (and is now falling apart at the seams).
It's pretty lame to argue something and then, when pressed for evidence to substantiate your claim, come back with the whole "well, why don't you google it, derder".
Also, in regards to my statement regarding global climate change, you clearly didn't follow the thread of my comment. You accused NBC of promoting global warming "hysteria", and so I said, show me an example of that and fyi, acknowledging climate change is not "hysterical". I never made any statements about anyone "arguing against global climate change". I was explaining to you why you can't find examples of NBC promoting "global warming hysteria". Simply doing a story or providing coverage to the very real issue of climate change is not being hysterical. Try and keep up.
And I'll ask again (although I have a feeling you will again ignore the question)...how is it that you don't find Beck guilty of promoting hysteria? With all of his wild conspiracy theories predicting the end of the country as we know it...he stands to gain by terrifying his viewers into buying gold. And you don't find this unethical?
Beck goes on television for an hour (and on the radio as well) every day and does his darndest to convince his viewers that the economy is collapsing and that the country as we know it is coming to an end and that the only way they can protect themselves and their families is to buy gold. If you don't consider that either fearmongering or a conflict of interest, then alright. But I think you're horribly misguided.
Beck has been facing criticism over this lately, and so he's started being more open about his connection to goldline. But he's been doing this for awhile now without disclosing his conflict of interest or letting his audience know that he was directly earning money from frightening them into buying gold.
Also, I see a difference between someone saying, "I buy this product and believe in its value and would recommend it" and someone hysterically crying, "The economy is going to collapse and the only way to save yourself is to buy this product from one of my few remaining advertisers!! Beware!"
Compare the role of the Federal Government up until 1910 to today and then YOU TELL ME how Beck is guilty of promoting hysteria. Add to that a $12TRILLION debt and how that debt compares to our GDP vs. historical comparisons, and the very real possibility of BOTH nationalized health care and cap and trade, both of which have been massive deficit creators and/or economy destroyers everywhere they have been tried....and YOU TELL ME how Beck is guilty of promoting hysteria.
If you can produce a fact he backs up, please post it with proof. Thanks.
And, what exactly, is the point of this hysteria that you are pushing? Can you ever give any actual examples of your arguments? Or are you, like Beck, just wandering around aimlessly to try and find reasons to justify your partisan feelings?
So, you're saying you got nothing.
I googled it. Which story are you referring to? The one from newsbusters??
PRESENTER: And, full disclosure here, I have taken paid work for this company on occasion.
This is all Beck needs to do - to fully disclose, whenever he pushes gold investment, that he has taken paid work for a gold investment firm. It's the responsible thing to do - which is why he'll never do it.
We have an overwhelming consensus of climate scientists extremely concerned about the data they've collected; the changes they've observed, and have tried to inform the public so that we can reduce our carbon emissions.
How in the world does this make money for them???
Actually, that would be an infomerical.
http://factcheck.org/archives/search-results/?cx=006313184908531579811%3Ahm8n5-dxba0&cof=FORID%3A10%3BNB%3A1&ie=UTF-8&q=glenn+beck&sa=Search#802
Fear mongering is evil.
Then maybe these heavily armed, yet morally and now financially bankrupt rednecks might turn their ire where it really belongs...
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Toward "free-market" demogouges and liars like Beck who have been tricking them for years into helping the elite screw them over financially.
Actually it's neither. It's merely an asset. But since we can assume that India didn't buy 200 tons to make jewlwery out of, they either assume it will go up (investment) or at least hold it's value relative to other things (insurance.)
But the fact is, either way, that Gold prices do fluctuate, and it is currently at an all-time high. Never a good time to buy anything. Do you want to know why these companies want to sell gold? Simple: they've spent years buying it, when the price is low, and it's high now so they want to sell. And if they didn't thnk prices would fall, believe me they'd be BUYING. They'd be telling YOU to SELL.
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You want to know when to buy gold? When very rich people and large companies are BUYING IT, not when they're SELLING it.
I think more the issue you have is....Beck was right again on the price of gold. You just don't want to admit it.
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The Midnight Review
It is one thing to be a spokesman. You talk about how great the product is and maybe where their apparel when your out about town.
It is another thing to put aside your "spokesman" persona and take on the "commentator" persona and talk about how good the benefits of the company you promote and have interest in are.
GB: "find out who you trust."
'bagger: "Duh, I trust you Glenn"
GB: "The people that I trust are the people at Goldline."
'bagger: "well, i trust the people at Goldline too glen!"
more gold is sold at this highly inflated price, goldline makes huge money, gives money to glenn, glenn hypes paranoid delusions of a dissolving nation, more 'baggers buy highly inflated gold, ad infinitum. there's no conflict of interest here, right gs-425?
He endorses a product and uses it too.
2. Gold is a metal, sold on the free market.
He is not telling you to invest your money in Goldline, but to buy a metal.
You shouldn't need someone to tell you this is a scam, it is in the fine print. But, then you shouldn't need someone to tell you Beck is clearly a snake-oil saleman either.
Everyone on this site should file a complaint with the SEC:
Securities and Exchange Commission
In his show content, there is no reference to his connection to Goldline. He is talking from his freedom fighter pulpit about saving America, not about how he is paid to hawk gold companies, but then if we see it your way, Glenn Beck's program is one large infomercial, making him no different then Ron Popeil or Vince Offer...
I also don't appreciate the name calling. To call me a dork is unacceptable behavior. I did not direct any comments towards you, but apparently you feel it is appropriate to name call... nice...
n.
1. Slang A stupid, inept, or foolish person:
Based on your post, I am not using unacceptable behavior, I am using the English language to describe your actions in reference to not understand how free market and capitalism works in the U.S.. Unless you can state law that he is breaking then you stay in the category of Dork.
Yes, that's what need. A lesson in capitalism from the guy who thinks there are no programs insituted by FDR still in existence today.
Let me give you a tip on gold, though. Gold has no inherent value. It only has market value, which fluctuates.
should bother you, but apparently it doesn't.
And no, I don't have a problem with responsible gun ownership, either. And I accept the God part as well, just not the cartoon god created by people like Beck.
Doesnt sound like fearmongering....everyone is entitled to thier own opinion and expressing it.
Further, if you want to know what problems he has with truth, check out part of a long list:
http://factcheck.org/archives/search-results/?cx=006313184908531579811%3Ahm8n5-dxba0&cof=FORID%3A10%3BNB%3A1&ie=UTF-8&q=glenn+beck&sa=Search#802