Beck: "I'm not telling you who to vote for" (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)
Despite repeatedly saying he does not endorse candidates and isn't "telling you who to vote for," Beck has made clear to his audience which candidates he thinks they should support or oppose in the upcoming midterm elections.
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Beck claims: "I'm not telling you who to vote for"
Beck repeatedly claimed that he never endorses candidates. On November 30, 2009, Beck claimed: "I just gave an interview just the other day, where people said 'so you're going to be endorsing candidates?' I said not over -- not on -- over my dead body will I be endorsing candidates." Since then, Beck has claimed: "I don't ever endorse anybody. Nor do I want to. I'll tell you what I think about individuals, but I don't endorse them. I don't lend my credibility to anybody. I struggle to keep my credibility with myself."
Beck: "I don't want to tell who to vote for." From the September 20 edition of his Fox News show (emphasis added):
BECK: Well, what's the solution? Well, the immediate thing you can do is vote. You are the last line of defense -- and our founders knew. Our founders that, in the end, our branches of government would fail and the last line of defense would be you.
But here's the problem. Our turn-out is pathetic. Now, I don't want to tell who to vote for. I don't even know the candidates. Sean covers the candidates. I don't.
Beck: "I'm not telling you who to vote for." And on his Fox News television show on September 30, Beck claimed (emphasis added):
BECK: We are facing the worst threat. We may stand in line for 20 minutes with someone trying to sell you Amway products, or I don't know, you know, somebody is like, I got to tell you some -- you know. But nobody has threatened our lives. Have you called your neighbor yet? Have you volunteered at a nursing home or a community center to help people get registered and tell people to vote? I'm not telling you who to vote for. I have don't care if it's a Republican or a Democrat or an Independent. Find someone who you believe more than the other.
Beck has made clear to his radio audience who he thinks they should support or oppose
Beck: "Do not vote for Dick Blumenthal." Discussing the Connecticut senate race, Beck stated on October 25: "Do not vote for Dick Blumenthal. That's the one thing I do know. I know who this guy is. This guy is a guy who -- I mean, he's the chief law enforcement officer and he'll just disregard the law." He later added that all he "need[ed] to know" about Blumenthal's opponent Linda McMahon was that "she's not Dick Blumenthal." Beck previously said on September 16 that he "just might have to" leave Connecticut "if Blumenthal becomes the senate -- the senator from Connecticut. Richard Blumenthal, there's something wrong with this guy."
Beck: Whitman is "not Jerry Brown. I mean what part of this don't we understand?" On October 25, Beck also said: "Let's try California. You've got Jerry Brown. Jerry Brown. Now, what's her face. Meg Whitman, she seems like a delightful person. But do you trust her? Is she another Arnold Schwarzenneger? Yeah, could be, could be. Is that good? Nope. But she's not Jerry Brown. I mean what part of this don't we understand."
Beck: Chris Coons is "a bad candidate." On September 16, Beck said, "You want to talk about extremists? It's the progressives and the revolutionaries in the Democratic Party. Real revolutionaries. Now you look at O'Donnell. For some reason, they're all attacking her, and I have to ask myself, has anyone looked at Harry Reid's pet?" Beck then read a quote from Reid about O'Donnell's opponent Chris Coons and said that Coons is "a Marxist. The guy's a staunch anti-capitalist. You want to talk about a bad candidate. OK, you can talk about the masturbation thing all you want. Really? Is that what we've turned into in this country?"
Beck on Barbara Boxer: To end arrogance by her and others, we have to "get these guys out of Washington." On September 23, after playing an ad by California Republican candidate Carly Fiorina attacking her 2010 opponent, Sen. Barbara Boxer, Beck stated: "Isn't this all about arrogance?" He later said: "The best way to end the arrogance is to get these guys out of Washington. We've got to look at Washington as Chernobyl, that you go in and you pull them out before they die from the radiation that is Washington political arrogance."
Beck: "I don't endorse candidates, ... but I'm going to endorse Rubio and the other guy ... over the dirtbag Charlie Crist." On April 30, Beck stated: "I'm about to break my policy and endorse a candidate. I don't endorse candidates, I don't think anybody needs my endorsement, but I'm going to endorse Rubio and the other guy that's running for the Democrats ... over the dirtbag Charlie Crist."
Beck suggests Reid is a "danger to society." On July 14, discussing a comment Sen. Harry Reid -- who is facing a 2010 re-election challenge from Sharron Angle -- made about immigration reform, Beck stated: "Politicians will just say something like 'what are you talking about? I don't have any face. I don't have a face. You're not looking me in the eye, because I don't have any eyes. This is nothing. I don't even have a mouth. I'm not talking to you right now.' And you're like 'what the hell -- what? What are you saying?' 'Nothing, I'm not saying anything, because I don't even have a mouth. You are a danger to society, sir."
Beck: "I agree" with Palin on Rand Paul endorsement. On February 8, after playing a clip of Sarah Palin defending her decision to endorse Kentucky senatorial candidate Rand Paul, Beck said "I have to tell you. I know Pat, because you're shaking your head, I agree with her." Later in the segment, Beck stated: "I can make friends with Rand Paul because I think Rand Paul is somebody I disagree with, but the fundamentals are there, the fundamental of the understanding of the Constitution. I would rather make a friend with Rand Paul than John McCain. If I had to campaign -- if I had to choose who am I going to campaign for, Rand Paul, from what I know about Rand Paul and what I know about John McCain, if I had to choose, Rand Paul."
Beck: Paladino "is damn near nuts. He's still better than Cuomo." On October 14, Beck discussed a controversial comment New York gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino said with Michelle Bachmann and said: "I live in the next state over from New York, and I don't even pay attention to this race. ... He's damn near nuts. He's still better than Cuomo, but he's nuts."
Beck also running his own get out the vote operation for midterm elections
As Media Matters has documented, since September, Beck has repeatedly urged his audience to voter and to "[g]et your friends and neighbors to go in record-breaking numbers to vote," warning them of terrible consequences if they failed to do so. In the process, Beck has urged his audience to "vote for America" to stop communists, Marxists, and Nazis.
And btw, I do agree with you on the preachy thing. I don't like being preached to about how I raise my family. Not by Beck, not by Michelle Obama...not by anyone. Personally, both and more need to stay out of my household when it comes to that.
To the best of my knowledge Michelle Obama has not made any comments about smoking, so the subtle suggestion that this some conflicts with her message of making healthy decisions when it comes to food choices is weak.
The mentioning of the fast food is a better point, but I don't recall the First Lady saying anything along the lines of "don't ever eat fast food."
As I said, though, I can respect what you said about not wanting to be preached to concerning how you should raise your family. Nevertheless, if you're trying to put the messages of Beck and Obama on the same level, well, I find that all too obviously absurd.
And as far as Beck having influence, that would be a fair analogy. But folks like Maher do as well and he's gone off the scale on comments as well. As I said, both sides have to acknowledge faults and positives.
http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/zero_tolerance_for_junk_food_at_lunch_puts_girl_10_in_school_detention_for_
Not the harshest punishment ever, but perhaps a little silly.
The school principal misinterpreted a rule about empty calorie foods not being allowed as part of school-provided lunches! His link doesn't work. Mine will.
That was NOT an example of an actual rule that went too far. It's an example of someone misinterpreting a rule, and they were educated about how they were wrong, doofus!
How so? You can't turn off the television? Are you one of those insanely obese people who can't get off the couch because your skin has melded with the fabric? You can't stop reading the newspaper when it doesn't say what you want it to say? Are you one of those geniuses with the pathetically fragile marriages that will somehow be damaged if two dudes tie the knot? How the hell are you "force fed?" Seems to me, from the plethora of ignorant and insensitive statements you made here, you think what you want to think, regardless of the facts.
And while we're on the subject, how's about you acknowledge the American epidemic of childhood obesity and all the chronic health problems that go along with that. Seems to me there are a ton of parents who need preaching to and industries that bear tighter scrutiny. First Ladies have always chosen an issue and advocated for it. Laura Bush pushed literacy. Nancy Reagan pushed drugs.... Michelle Obama pushes healthy living. You wingnuts are too much. Your constant refrain about "both sides" is such a canard because none of you were protesting czars and the First Lady and spending and war and all the other legacy issues from the Bush Administration that suddenly became pressing when a Democrat took the White House. You want to talk about hypocrisy? Pot? Meet Kettle.
Is that why Ronnie seemed high all the time?
Sarcasm aside, your points are well taken.
Pres. Obama recently said in a speech, "We're gonna punish our enemies"...guess what mari...he's talking about you, a republican.
Pres. Obama also said about republicans, "They can come for the ride, but they gotta sit in back"...again he's talking about you, mari.
Is that plain and articulate enough for you?
If that kind of divisive talk doesn't offend you...you're probably registered to the wrong party.
But you already knew that when you decided to try your hand at spin. FAIL.
Good enough by me. The president has set the ground rules...eliminating any pretense of compromise.
I'm looking forward to punishing democrats...shoving them to the back of the legislative bus...and the hand-to-hand combat that the president promised in the next session of congress.
Let's roll.
Of course it's traditional for the party in power to lose a few seats at the midterms...but not the wipe out of 50+ seats in the house...as predicted by the best election analyst in the business...Nate Silver at 538.com.
The senate? Democrats hold on to a razor thin margin...effectively neutering the legislative process...hallelujah.
Speech bumps? LOL. The Harris poll today lists his favorable rating at 37%...disapproval at 63%...making your re-election dreams a bit of a premature ejaculation.
Toast? See ya next Wednesday.
As for the Democrats "razor thin margin," maybe, maybe not. Without Bernie Sanders and Lieberman, they're most likely to hold on to 52 seats. That'll make it a general 54-46 ratio. And since filibuster reform could very well be part of the rules approval for this Congress (that just takes a majority vote, doncha know), they could just set the threshold at 50 + 1.
Oh, and it might interest you to know that President Obama is more popular at this point in his presidency than President Reagan was. Just sayin'....
Of course it will...if you assign all toss up races to the democrats. The flip side of your rosy outlook would be 50-Dem (if you include Sanders/Lieberman) and 50-Rep...according to your source at Pollster.
-- The Pollster trendline has President Obama at a net favorable of +3 -- n'est
Sure enough. And Pollster also shows...over the last 18 months...a steep trendline downward in the president's approval ratings and an increasing rise in his disapproval.
Only Pollyana could find solace in Pres. Obama's sagging popularity.
The President's approval ratings have remained fairly steady for the last year, hovering around 47-49%. When are you wingnuts going to accept this reality?
Sorry bub...but you're nowhere close on this one.
RealClearPolitics lists 22 polls taken in Jul09. The president's approval rating averaged 55%. The average for all of their poll results for Oct10...46%. Approval down 55 - 46.
How 'bout that old disapproval thing...Jul09 disapproval at 39%...Oct10 at 49%.
Approval down 9 pts...disapproval up 10 pts...that should wash, dry, powder, and diaper your myth that the president's approval rating has stayed the same since the summer of 2009.
If there were NO room for compromise, they wouldn't be in the freakin' car, you doofus!
"I think the analogy that the economy was a car in a ditch when he took office that he uses is just a little too static. Here's my analogy, which in my opinion is both more kinetic and, frankly, far more accurate.
When the president took office not only had the car gone into a ditch but the car had flipped over and was rolling down a steep embankment. We, the American people, were in the back seat and the Bush administration had removed all the seat belts. So we were all flying around the interior of this car, as it was rolling and flipping and careening down this steep embankment heading to ...a 2,000-foot cliff. And at the bottom of that cliff were jagged rocks and alligators.
Now at noon on January 20th, 2009 as the car was careening toward the cliff, George W. Bush jumped out of the car. President Bush jumped out of the car and President Obama somehow managed to dive in through the window, take the wheel, get control of the vehicle, just inches before it went over the precipice. And he and Congress starting inching this wrecked (car) back up the embankment.
Now, you can't push a car up an embankment as fast as it careens down an embankment. But we got it going in the right direction and slowly we've gotten ourselves up that embankment, passed the ditch, up on the shoulder of the road. That is what happened. That's where we are today. "
Shortly thereafter, Obama arrived to spin his own car-in-a-ditch story. Here's what he said:
"I know that Al Franken talked to you a little bit about the analogy of a car being driven into a ditch. Although I guess Al kind of embellished it a little bit. He said there were alligators down there. Well, I didn't see the alligators but it is true that the car went into the ditch. And it is true that me and Al and Amy and Mark and others, we had to climb down into the ditch and it is hot down there and dirty and we've been pushing that car, pushing it, pushing it, pushing it.
And all the time the Republicans have been standing on the sidelines. They've been looking down, fanning themselves, sipping on a Slurpee, kicking dirt down into the ditch, kicking dirt in our faces. But we kept pushing.
Finally we got this car up on level ground and yes, it's a little beat up. It needs to go to the body shop. It's got some dents. It needs a tune up but it's pointing in the right direction. And now we get the Republicans tapping us on the shoulder, saying 'We want the keys back.'
You can't have the keys back -- you don't know how to drive. You can ride with us if you want but you've got to sit in the back seat. We're going to put middle class America in the front seat."
http://www.startribune.com/politics/blogs/105606538.html?elr=KArksc8P:Pc:U0ckkD:aEyKUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUoD3aPc:_27EQU
The People are going to vote the Democrats OUT OF OFFICE! George Soros is going to have to give Pelosi & Reid jobs at his propoganda websites & Obama is going to be the BIGGEST lame duck president the world has ever seen. Maybe Van Jones can hire some of the other out-of-work Democrats to join his Communist Party
The liberal propoganda newspapers & networks are all losing money almost as fast as FOX is crushing them in the ratings. WHY? Because nobody believes the Socialist Party BS they spew anymore.
Wake up liberal commies! YOU ARE ON YOUR WAY OUT!
cut minimum wages and repeal healthcare reform!
lets send the commies a message they will never forget! do not mess with my profits or my stocks or ill have your job and your health insurance for breakfast!
vote republican. vote for deregulation. then we can poison the commies with radioactive toothpaste and then deny them treatment. haha
Yeah, Beck. And I don't loan my used condoms to anybody.
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VOTE FOR NICEGUY EDDIE!
DON'T DRINK THE TEA!! REMEMBER JONESTOWN!!
If Beck had any credibility to lend, the interest rates would be astronomical. IMO, the guy's an opportunistic huckster who doesn't really care who wins these elections as long as he can get his greedy little hands in the pockets of the gullible people who will buy anything he says.
I'm mystified by how people take Beck's teachings as objective truth. Seriously, anyone with a 10th grade education could debunk his arguments by reviewing a proper history textbook. (unless your from Texas because your textbooks are screwed)
He's a fear mongering demogogue.
See the headline?
Beck said, out loud, that he would NOT tell his listeners who to vote for.
Then he DID.
The fact that he didn't point a gun at anyone's head at the same time he told them doesn't change the fact that he did what he said he wouldn't do!
And that's MMFA's point! Man, get a clue!
The GW movie was made in England, not by any person or group here. And if you excuse the vitriol directed at Pres. Obama, I'd challenge you to find an entire network devoted to trashing George bush.
They are pointing out that he SAID he wouldn't tell people who to vote for, and then he went ahead and did just that!
What part of that example of hypocrisy on his part baffles you?