Poll Surprise: Glenn Beck Is Almost As Admired As Nelson Mandela?

by Robert Quigley | 10:13 am, December 30th, 2009

» 12 comments

At the end of every year, Gallup asks Americans which men and women they most admire. Today, they released their results, a number of which are surprising. Gallup, and many news organizations, give top billing to the fact that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton narrowly beat Sarah Palin as the Most Admired Woman.

President Barack Obama easily won the Most Admired Man title, with 30% of mentions. But there’s a new and noteworthy addition to the list. You guessed it: Glenn Beck, who came in fourth place.

The Most Admired Man results were as follows:

1. Barack Obama: 30%
2. George W. Bush: 4%
3. Nelson Mandela: 3%
4. Glenn Beck: 2%
5. Pope Benedict XVI: 2%
6. Rev. Billy Graham: 2%
7. Bill Gates: 2%
8. John McCain: 1%
9. George H.W. Bush: 1%
10. (tie) Bill Clinton: 1%
10. (tie) Tiger Woods: 1%

Since Bill Clinton and Tiger Woods (resist obvious joke…) were both listed as tied for tenth place, and thereby separated from the other 1% winners, it’s fair to assume that Glenn Beck got a solid fourth place with the ‘highest’ of the 2% shares. This puts him within spitting distance of #3 Nelson Mandela, who, you know, brought down apartheid and everything.

Gallup’s fascinating further breakdown of the numbers shows that among independents, Glenn Beck was the second-most admired man, behind only Obama. (Though the gap is wide: 3% versus 25%.) Among Republicans, he slides back to fifth place with three percent of total mentions, behind George W. Bush (11%), Obama (7%), Pope Benedict XVI (4%), and Billy Graham (4%).

For a topic this broad and subjective, it’s debatable how much stock one should put into a poll of 1,025 American adults conducted from December 11th to December 13th, given the vagaries of the news cycle. That Tiger Woods’ wife Elin Nordegren Woods tied for ninth place among women (with German chancellor Angela Merkel) shows how subject such a poll is to current events: it’s hard to imagine her placing at any other time.

Still, Beck’s strong showing is testament to what a transformative year 2009 has been for him. He began the year a virtual unknown, and ended it a ratings juggernaut, a Glee punchline, and the leader of a movement.

Here’s the full Gallup poll, including their Most Admired Woman list and a deeper look at their methodology.

Angela Merkel, barack obama, Bill Clinton, Gallup, Gallup Poll, George W. Bush, Glenn Beck, Hillary Clinton, Most Admired Man, Most Admired Woman, Most Admired Women, Nelson Mandela, Pope Benedict XVI, Sarah Palin, Tiger Woods

Tater Salad

Here they are, the Top 10 “Most Wanted”, Corrupt Politicians of 2009:

http://www.judicialwatch.org/news/2009/dec/judicial-watch-announces-list-washington-s-ten-most-wanted-corrupt-politicians-2009
http://www.karlspensen.blogspot.com Karl Spensen

YES because GLENN BECK is just like JESUS!!1 Hear me out!!1 He gives PASSIONATE speeches which UPSET the POWERS THAT BE!!1 He is constantly PERSECUTED and “CRUCIFIED” by the mainstream!!1 He inspires a RELIGIOUS fervor in his followers, who would do ANYTHING he said!!1 And someday, he will lead his ARMIES to take back our Once Proud Republic – by FORCE if necessary!!1

PS – Obviously these results were TAMPERED WITH by the notoriously LIBERAL Gallup company, since the SOCIOFASCIST Obamessiah is #1??!!1 PLEASE!!1

PPS – Tater Salad, thank you for the COMPLETELY RELEVANT comment!!1
roxsteady

I guess P.T. Barnum was right! What can you expect from an uneducated and clearly manic depressive dolt? Personally, this liberal thinks all that crying is just plan girlie! Suck it up you lunatic!
timzank

This country is a big place, with a lot of people and not everyone likes the same thing, the same people, etc. Admiration isn’t exclusive to only those approved of by the likes of roxsteady and Karl Spensen.

When you grow up, you’ll understand you aren’t the only one in the world.
Fidoohki

Well said Timzank.
http://www.sailrabbits.com Magister

Something else which may be telling from the linked results; When broken down by political party, three of the “most admired” among Democrats have famously had “indiscretions”, while three of those among Republicans are religious leaders, if you include Beck.
Pat Doherty

I find it interesting that Barack Obama is 10x as admired as Nelson Mandela.
LNSmithee

roxsteady wrote:

I guess P.T. Barnum was right!

I said the same thing November 4, 2008.
Ted

Well Karl, I kind of agree with you, Glenn Beck is like Jesus except he cries a lot more and lives in a multi-million dollar mansion. But sure, I can see the similarities.
Nachi

Beck. A GOP/BlueCollar dream come true! All “The Wrong Stuff.” Yup.
http://www.sailrabbits.com Magister

@Ted: Needs more COWBELL!!1
puck30

When you look at the breakdown you see that: BHO get 54% among Democrats, but that drops off to 25% among independents. Remember he got big time support from Independents in 08′.

To Glenn Beck, congrats 3% is a start and you beat out some pretty important people among independents. That 3% can go either way next year so we will see, but in response to Karl.
Even Jesus knew when to lay off the Doughnuts.

Yes it’s 3%. but he’s the only media guy to do it. And, you know it’s going to drive Olbytub & Pawn Vannity nuts.

Barack Obama gets 7%, John Mc Cain gets only 3%, AMONG REPUBLICANS! How’s that new reaching across the isle working for ya boys?

In the women: Hillary gets mention across the board as does Michelle Obama! While Palin gets two out of three (unless you want to consider this from gallop). “… while Palin barely registers any mentions from Democrats.” Where’s da luv? A mention is 1% ain’t it?

Speaking of…….While Democrats made it into the Republican side of the voting. No Republicans made it into the Democrat side. Where’s that ‘Big Tent’ at?

Big Surprise has to be Beck (Guess those Barbara Walters Specials still work). But watch it Glenn, the long knives will be out everywhere!