Turning Point? Lindsey Graham Slams Glenn Beck and Bill O’Reilly

video

by Colby Hall | 7:42 am, October 2nd, 2009

» 10 comments

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham Thursday blamed the lack of civility in today’s political discourse on 24-hour news cycle, talk radio and voters’ electing confrontational politicians to office. But he saved some of his best shots for Fox News hosts Bill O’Reilly and Glenn Beck.

During a conversation with Jeffrey Goldberg at The First Draft of History (a conference in Washington, D.C. produced by The Atlantic, the Newseum and The Aspen Institute), Lindsey Graham slammed some very popular (and powerful) members of the media. Imagining if the Framers had to write the Constitution today, Graham speculated that host Bill O’Reilly would complain that “Ben Franklin [is] giving in on something.”

Asked what he thinks of another Fox News personality, Glenn Beck, Graham replied, “Only in America can you make that much money crying,” adding that Beck is “not aligned with any party as far as I can tell. He’s aligned with cynicism. And there’s always been a market for cynicism.”

“But we became a great nation not because we are a nation of cynics. We became a great nation because we are a nation of believers,” he added.

On the issue of whether he agreed with President Jimmy Carter’s assessment that much of the criticism towards President Obama of is rooted in racism, Graham said, “I don’t think so. There are people in this country that are having a hard time reconciling the fact that we have a black president,” he acknowledged.

Bill O, Bill O'Reilly, Birther movement, Cynicism, fnc, Glenn Beck, Lind, Lindsey Graham, tea parties

CaptainAmerica

Too bad Colby forgets to mention what good friends Sen Graham is with Rhino John McCain.
alyfourseven

Lindsey Graham? Seriously? Somehow I don’t think this is going to bother O’Reilly, Beck, Republicans or conservatives.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jim-East/1541112667 Jim East

Turning Point? Really? I think you are trying too hard to make something of nothing, which obviously is the goal of any Web site with such a narrow focus. Glenn Beck’s stock soared thanks to the boycott, and then the White House decided to elevate him when it challenged his facts on its Web site. And sometimes I think Morning Joe and Olbermann run more footage of Beck than they do of their own hosts. Graham has a well-earned reputation as a moderate, and Beck is allergic to moderation. It’s no surprise the two of them don’t see eye to eye, and it’s obvious to all onlookers (thus it should be obvious to you) that Graham has no influence on Beck’s supporters and vice-versa.

If I might add a story I’d like to see. Can you please try to get a comment from MSNBC on their declining prime time audience and what, if anything, they plan to do about it? How long can Maddow be trumpeted as a rising star when her viewership continues to dwindle?
Puter Boi

I suspect that Beck and O’Reilly will wear a “put down” from Graham as a badge of honor.
RazorsEdge

“Turning Point?

Dear Mediaite,

Sen Graham is a politician and member of congress. The very institution(s) Beck and O’Reilly being “cynical” about. One persons cynicism is another persons bringing sunlight to what many if not most Americans know and that is politicians and congress too self serving to themselves, their party leaders, their special interests and their political party.

They “seem” to try to get away with as much as possible until the public calls them out. At best we may all agree that they can improve their genuine representation of their constituents.

Take notice that when the media can anger members of both political parties, then something good may be happening.
http://soupsoup.tumblr.com Anthony De Rosa

Why are commenters more concerned about Glenn Beck’s ratings than a Republican senator who actually wants to debate issues?

Graham can have differences with the President and not be drawn into the circus act that Beck performs every night on his program.

Graham earns my respect regardless if he shares my views or not because he’s a rational human being, unlike these charlatans and snake oil salesmen on cable television. Wake up America, you’re being brainwashed by the second coming of Joseph McCarthy.
Tater Salad

I seem to have seen a few of those left wing morons in the video attached below.

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-211744?ref=email
ngcummings

I really respect my Senator, Lindsay Graham, but I don’t completely agree with him here.

If he is going to call out Beck and O’Reilly, then why not call out Maddow, Matthews, Olbermann, Schuster….

Media and partisan politics are our biggest problems.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Chris-Jones/1384303476 Chris Jones

Graham is a blowhard.
Subdivisions2112

Graham is not liked nationally at all. I have no idea what the good people of S.C. are thinking by voting for this tool over and over again. A total loser.