Goldberg's in classic apologist mode today in USA Today, as he waves away anyone on the left or right who has a problem with Beck. Goldberg's exercise is particular dishonest because Goldberg never--ever!--spells out what Beck has done and said this year that would upset both liberals and serious conservatives.

That's the golden rule of apologists: never let readers know why your guy is under attack. And Goldberg knows his role well. Rather than directly quote a single controversial thing Beck has said this year, or explain why conservative David Brooks labeled Beck a “loon” this weekend, Goldberg simply paints Beck as a “goofy” “populist.” (How dumb does Goldberg think readers are? Very, very dumb.)

Goldberg is especially sure to stay away from the “racist” controversy. You remember, when Beck made national headlines and kicked off a advertising boycott that, to date, has cost his show nearly 80 advertisers, when he called Obama a “racist” who had a hatred of white people and white culture?

If you gonna talk about Beck, that's pretty much the defining even of 2009 for him. But in Goldberg's loving hands, the “racist” slur never took place, which means Goldberg doesn't have to defend it. Again. You'll recall, when Beck first called out the President of the United States as a “racist,” Goldberg rushed to Beck's side and insisted the hate host had nothing to apologize for. Goldberg claimed that if Beck thought it was true that Obama hated white people, than he ought to say it on national TV.

That's the intellectual level Goldberg plays on. I guess that's why he's such a Glenn Beck fan.

UPDATED: No joke, Goldberg argues that Beck is just like Jon Stewart. Ugh, Jonah, we get it, you want to be invited back on Glenn's show. Can you stop with the fawning already?