On the February 7 edition of his CNN Headline News program, Glenn Beck falsely claimed that “every time” he appears as a guest on other programs -- and he noted that he has “been everywhere from CNN to ABC” -- he is “clearly labeled in a little thing underneath me 'conservative talk show host.' ” He added that his “show, a show that tries to be honest, probably to a fault ... is the fastest-growing show on cable news.” But while Beck frequently notes that he is a conservative on his CNN Headline News program, he was not labeled a conservative in any of several recent appearances on CNN's Paula Zahn Now, and he was not labeled as such in two appearances on ABC's Good Morning America, a program that recently named Beck a “regular commentator.” In each of Beck's four appearances on Paula Zahn Now since January 3 for a segment called “Beck Talk,” he has not been labeled a “conservative” in on-screen text or by host Paula Zahn. In fact, Beck appeared on the February 7 edition of Paula Zahn Now less than an hour after his false claim was aired and was labeled simply as “Glenn Beck.”

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Beck made two appearances on Good Morning America before being hired as a “regular commentator.” In both instances, Beck was described as a “television and talk-radio host” and both times, the on-screen text labeled him a “radio/TV talk show host.”

In anticipation of the debut of his CNN Headline News program on May 8, 2006, Beck appeared on CNN programs American Morning and Anderson Cooper 360. On the May 5, 2006, edition of American Morning, co-host Soledad O'Brien called Beck “controversial” and identified him simply as the host of Glenn Beck. Similarly, on the May 8, 2006, edition of Anderson Cooper 360, host Anderson Cooper described Beck as a “nationally syndicated radio talk show host,” while on-screen text read: “Glenn Beck: Headline News.”

On the May 5, 2006, edition of the CNN Headline News program Nancy Grace, by contrast, on-screen text described Beck as a “conservative talk radio host.” Further, on the October 25, 2006, edition of CNN Newsroom, co-host Kyra Phillips, in a discussion with CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider, noted that in addition to his CNN Headline News program, Beck “has a conservative radio show.”

Beck made his false claim about always being “clearly labeled” conservative to support his assertion that NBC and MSNBC “violate ... every single rule of journalism by allowing someone with an agenda to provide so-called independent analysis on their network without any disclosure.” Beck was referring to NBC News military analyst William M. Arkin, who, Beck argued, appears on the network because his “analysis serves their agenda.”

From the February 7 edition of CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck:

BECK: Now, in case this is the first time you've watched this program, this is the part of the show where I try to show you why the conventional media, and as a byproduct of that the conventional wisdom, is so often wrong or, at a minimum, extremely slanted. That's why, virtually every night, someplace in the program, I'll give you a disclaimer that, you know, basically is, “I'm a conservative; I'm not a journalist.” This show is slanted.

If you're still interested now in what I have to say, well, God bless you. But understand that these are the rantings of a guy with an opinion. I'm not a reporter.

Unfortunately, “The Real Story” is that, once again, the major mainstream media sources have not been quite as honest with you. I'll explain exactly what I mean in a second. But, first, I want you to listen to a few quotes that someone in the media has made over the years.

On the subject of President Bush and 9-11, quote, “So let me get this straight. The Bush team failed to predict the events of September 11th. Score one for bin Laden,” end quote.

On the war in Iraq, quote, “I can't help but feel cynical about the fact that we're going to war to enhance the economic interests of the Enron class,” end quote.

And most recently on our men and women in the military, quote, “These soldiers should be grateful that the American public still offers their support for them. America needs to ponder what it is we really owe those in uniform.”

Wow. Does that really sound like the ranting of someone you'd want to rely on for independent, unbiased analysis? Well, they should, because they're all from William Arkin, military analyst for NBC News. This is a guy who appears on NBC and MSNBC to offer his analysis on issues like Iraq war strategy or Iran's nuclear program, analysis that should be based on experience, not partisan politics. But, unfortunately, nonpartisan really not part of his vocabulary or on his resume.

After four years in the Army, Arkin spent time at the Institute for Policy Studies, a group that describes themselves as, quote, “a liberal think tank.” Then he went to Greenpeace as an activist, then Human Rights Watch. He also was a guy who tried to make a buck by selling top-secret U.S. government code names in a book.

You know, when I go on other shows, every time -- and I've been everywhere from CNN to ABC -- I am clearly labeled in a little thing underneath me “conservative talk show host.” So why is it that Mr. Arkin isn't called a Greenpeace activist there on the screen underneath? Why does it say “military analyst”? Why do they violate at NBC every single rule of journalism by allowing someone with an agenda to provide so-called independent analysis on their network without any disclosure?

Well, I'll tell you why. It's because, in this case, that analysis serves their agenda.

Well, I think America is sick and tired of it. And that's why, on this show, a show that tries to be honest, probably to a fault, being honest with you every night with our viewers, that's why this program is the fastest-growing show on cable news. It's also why the cloak of agenda-driven old media is a dinosaur waiting for their extinction.

From the February 7 edition of CNN's Paula Zahn Now:

ZAHN: And that story is just one thing on the mind of Headline Prime's Glenn Beck, who joins us now for his weekly visit.

BECK: Hi, Paula.

ZAHN: You weren't laughing at her hiding her face on that plane?

BECK: No. I am actually -- no, I was actually laughing at the fact that we don't test our astronauts.

I would think that we would be poking them with sticks and finding out if they're mentally sound. She may not have been tested for 10 years on mental stability. Wasn't she just in space with a bunch of people from all different countries and an airlock door?

ZAHN: Absolutely.