CNN reportedly hires radio host Glenn Beck

CNN's Headline News has reportedly hired radio host Glenn Beck in spite of his history of making controversial comments.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on January 17 that CNN's Headline News has hired Glenn Beck -- a nationally syndicated radio host known for making controversial statements -- “for a new prime time program.” Media Matters for America has compiled some of Beck's more notable comments:

  • On Hurricane Katrina survivors who remained in New Orleans: "And that's all we're hearing about, are the people in New Orleans. Those are the only ones that we're seeing on television are the scumbags -- and again, it's not all the people in New Orleans. Most of the people in New Orleans got out! It's just a small percentage of those who were left in New Orleans, or who decided to stay in New Orleans, and they're getting all the attention."
  • On filmmaker Michael Moore: “Hang on, let me just tell you what I'm thinking. I'm thinking about killing Michael Moore, and I'm wondering if I could kill him myself, or if I would need to hire somebody to do it. No, I think I could. I think he could be looking me in the eye, you know, and I could just be choking the life out -- is this wrong?”

News of Beck's hiring follows a recent report that CNN has hired radio host and former Reagan administration Secretary of Education Bill Bennett, who said in September, "[Y]ou could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down."