Self-Described ‘Liberal Media-Elite’ Watches Glenn Beck Every Day For A Year; Comes Away ‘Fascinated’

by Mark Joyella | 1:25 pm, July 1st, 2011

» 78 comments

Journalist David Cohn is a self-described “liberal, intellectual, communist, media-elite, Jew-bastard from San Francisco.” And yet, unlike most of his “media-elite, SF, communist bastard friends,” he never missed Glenn Beck‘s show on Fox News. At least, not for the last year or so. Cohn says he wasn’t seeking out evidence for a liberal indictment of Beck, nor was it all a blogger’s stunt. “I’ve always been open to varying opinions. In fact, I seek them out,” Cohn writes. “This is not me on a journalism high-horse. It’s genuinely who I am. I don’t necessarily like arguing (I’m not a comment troller that goes around picking political fights) but I like to try and understand people and their motivating factors.”

So what did he learn by watching all that Beck? Cohn says the Glenn Beck who signed off Fox News Thursday night is smart, and it’s a mistake to suggest his viewers are “idiots.” And the show, he concedes, was endlessly entertaining:

When people say that he can work up a frenzy and scare people – it’s true. If you let your critical thinking guard down, you’ll be shaking your fist at everyone who “just doesn’t see” what’s happening. In terms of a media diet, if all you watch is Glenn Beck, then you’ll be convinced America is a stone’s throw away from a third world country.

While Cohn considers Glenn Beck the television program a “show” in the same way The Daily Show is, he doesn’t think Beck’s putting on an act:

If you believe, in your heart of hearts (as I think Glenn does) that Jesus is the only path to a noble and saved life, there is a Satan and that earth is a battlefield for the two – then everything that is playing out on Glenn’s show makes perfect sense. More than anything I believe Beck is a televangelist turned political pundit.

In Beck’s worldview there is little room for shades of gray. We live in a world where there is pure good and pure evil. The teachers unions, Marxists/Anarchists, Soros, etc., are manifestations of evil. At best, most liberals (and union members) are sheep being duped.

Will Cohn follow Beck to his new home at GBTV? Unlikely. He says he “became fascinated with him as a commentator” and “wanted to give him more credit than just writing him off as a loony. That’s for MSNBC to do.”

David Cohn, fnc, fox news, Glenn Beck, San Francisco

Paul G

Uhoh…another Beck story at MEDIAite…..I can’t wait…………………………
juan

This guy is smart and tells the truth about BECK!

BECK out-smarts and out-Alinskys all of them!

Another plus for Beck is he is correct!

Go, BECK! Thank you, for leading us to the “Shellacking” we gave ‘em last November! We’ll finish it in 2012!
http://TheDividedStatesBlog.com Publius219

I too watch(ed) Glenn Beck nearly daily. I even found myself agreeing with many of his premises. But then the arguments he would draw from said premises would be so baseless and absurd to not even warrant any theoretical justification.

Por ejemplo: “A poorly read, mostly irrelevant blog says Muslims are secretly trying to subvert the Constitution and take over America. Hence, Muslims are trying to subvert the Constitution and take over America. Don’t take my word for it. Go to GlennBeck.com and read the exact ‘information’ I used to draw this conclusion and come to your own conclusions.”

That said, I’ll miss him. He’s one hell of an entertainer. Nobody has solidified my belief that jesus was nothing more than a charismatic dude the way Beck has.
juan

Paul G said:
Uhoh…another Beck story at MEDIAite…..I can’t wait…………………………

Get use to it!

BECK is here to stay!
http://TheDividedStatesBlog.com Publius219

juan said:
Get use to it!

BECK is here to stay!

HELL YEAH!!!!! GBTV 4 Lif$$$$$!!!!!$$!!! I’m gonna teach my grandparents how to use the internet beyond e-mail just so they can subscribe!! Fa sho!
Perdido

The folks at MSNBC watched him every day.
http://TheDividedStatesBlog.com Publius219

juan said:
Go, BECK! Thank you, for leading us to the “Shellacking” we gave ‘em last November! We’ll finish it in 2012!

GO RED TEAM!!! Our fight song is THE CONSTITUTION (except the 8th and 14th amendments)!!! HELL YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE WON!!!!! SCORE THAT BALL RED TEAM!
BatBoy

Publius219 said:
GO RED TEAM!!! Our fight song is THE CONSTITUTION (except the 8th and 14th amendments)!!! HELL YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE WON!!!!! SCORE THAT BALL RED TEAM!

I am confident that your Grand Parents could teach you a lot, BUT there is one major problem they would have.

The problem is that they would have to have someone WILLING to listen to them. Just don’t think that is the case here.
LoyalOpposition

It’s nice to see someone on the left that is able to put their hate for middle America aside and speak honestly. Glenn Beck’s contributions to the conservative movement and the Tea Party in particular will not be forgotten.
felixw

How amusing to hear a liberal accuse Glenn Beck of painting the world as a simple, polarized battle between good and evil. This is exactly what Rachel, Keith, and all the liberal pundits do daily — with much more venom, anger and bitterness than anything you will ever see coming from Glenn Beck.
seek

felixw said:
How amusing to hear a liberal accuse Glenn Beck of painting the world as a simple, polarized battle between good and evil. This is exactly what Rachel, Keith, and all the liberal pundits do daily — with much more venom, anger and bitterness than anything you will ever see coming from Glenn Beck.

You’re absolutely right. They also think they have the right to control speech they don’t agree with. Thus the “pride” media matters took in stifling Beck. That is frightening – Beck, not so much. For some reason the left won’t admit what they did was most un-american and a real crime against 1 man.
catfishjuggling show

felixw said:
How amusing to hear a liberal accuse Glenn Beck of painting the world as a simple, polarized battle between good and evil. This is exactly what Rachel, Keith, and all the liberal pundits do daily — with much more venom, anger and bitterness than anything you will ever see coming from Glenn Beck.

Yeah. We don’t paint everyone with a broad brush. Only they do.
Liberal Tormentor – tormenting liberals with logic and facts since 1972

Perdido said:
The folks at MSNBC watched him every day.

And the Whitehouse. LIberals are obsessed with him.
Digidave

@Felixw @Seek @catfishjuggling show – I am afraid you missed the point entirely of my post and what I did. The point is that we can have a discussion without referring to people as “those liberals” or “those conservatives” etc.

If you read the piece you’d notice that I refer to myself as a “media-elite, communist, intellectual jew-bastard” in a satirical way. I abhor how we label people and then based on said label can write off everything they say after that. I am afraid that’s what you did – worse off, it was based off a joke in how I label myself.

This country is screwed if we can’t take the time to talk to each other like real human beings. The internet has an amazing ability to allow us to connect – but it also makes it even EASIER to label and hate the “other” side.

I am afraid that Beck’s ability to polarize will be magnified online.
felixw

catfishjuggling show said:
Yeah. We don’t paint everyone with a broad brush. Only they do.

Both sides think they are right, and the other side is wrong. But there are stark differences between Beck and his critics at MSNBC. When I listen to Beck he talks about issues of the day, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, his spiritual values, and the founding fathers. If you listen to him for five minutes, you will hear him talk about one of those things. Then tune into MSNBC for comparison, and their shtick is all mud-slinging, character assassination, insults and ridicule. The contrast couldn’t be more stark and obvious.
catfishjuggling show

Digidave said:
@Felixw @Seek @catfishjuggling show – I am afraid you missed the point entirely of my post and what I did. The point is that we can have a discussion without referring to people as “those liberals” or “those conservatives” etc. If you read the piece you’d notice that I refer to myself as a “media-elite, communist, intellectual jew-bastard” in a satirical way. I abhor how we label people and then based on said label can write off everything they say after that. I am afraid that’s what you did – worse off, it was based off a joke in how I label myself. This country is screwed if we can’t take the time to talk to each other like real human beings. The internet has an amazing ability to allow us to connect – but it also makes it even EASIER to label and hate the “other” side. I am afraid that Beck’s ability to polarize will be magnified online.

Digdave: I was actually mocking those who think that only one side does it. Sorry I wan’t clearer. And Felix, I think MSNBC is dreadful. Just dreadful. It is just a porly executed pastiche of what they think Fox News does.

But I also think Beck is a grifter playing on the fear of the well-intentioned, but naïve people who watch his show.
juan

LoyalOpposition said:
It’s nice to see someone on the left that is able to put their hate for middle America aside and speak honestly. Glenn Beck’s contributions to the conservative movement and the Tea Party in particular will not be forgotten.

All on the Left know this, they just hate to admit it!
juan

catfishjuggling show said:
Digdave: I was actually mocking those who think that only one side does it. Sorry I wan’t clearer. And Felix, I think MSNBC is dreadful. Just dreadful. It is just a porly executed pastiche of what they think Fox News does.

But I also think Beck is a grifter playing on the fear of the well-intentioned, but naïve people who watch his show.

You’re right about A-MESS-NBC, but wrong about Beck!
juan

felixw said:
Then tune into MSNBC for comparison, and their shtick is all mud-slinging, character assassination, insults and ridicule.

That’s why they are known as the HATE Channel.
juan

Digidave said:

I am afraid that Beck’s ability to polarize will be magnified online.

Hope so! Have you checked all of the VILE Left Websites?
TeaPartyNation

Report: Glenn Beck is moving to Texas !!!!!!!!!

The certified members of the lunatic-left d-cRAT socialist club of morally, ethically, socially, politically AND fiscally bankrupt states: new york, california, massachusetts and illinois (with CT, WA, RI, DE, VT, HI, MD, NC, OR as charter members) are blindly careening down the lunatic-left “Road to Hell”.

P.S. Don’t want to go to lunatic-left hell? Then stop acting like imbeciles, throw out all the TAX-AND-SPEND mentally defective d-cRAT socialists and instead elect responsible, conservative, Tea Party-backed American patriots -OR – like Glenn Beck, move to a responsible, successful American state like the millions of other fed-up people who want a sane, pleasant, low-tax, high-growth, job-creating place to live and raise their children have done.

Remember, “Escape from New York” isn’t just a movie – it’s a real life fact. So, let me welcome all the real Americans who have finally had their fill of d-cRAT socialist extremism and move to a state that respects America and American values.

P.S. For those who leave NY for a better state and get “homesicK” there is a solution. Every now and then a circus will come to your nice town and provide you with all the sites, sounds and smells associated with the Big Apple (but without the muggings and molesting). And the best part is that after a week or so, THEY ALL GO AWAY !
mardec

Publius219 said:
“But then the arguments he would draw from said premises would be so baseless and absurd to not even warrant any theoretical justification.

Por ejemplo: “A poorly read, mostly irrelevant blog says Muslims are secretly trying to subvert the Constitution and take over America. Hence, Muslims are trying to subvert the Constitution and take over America. ”

If you think that is not true, you clearly have not been watching and listening to what is going on in Europe. Beck is absolutely correct! Watch and learn…Beware America!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRmgI_WXff0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFN8ahYN1b0
tiredofbs

Publius219 said:
Por ejemplo: “A poorly read, mostly irrelevant blog says Muslims are secretly trying to subvert the Constitution and take over America. Hence, Muslims are trying to subvert the Constitution and take over America. Don’t take my word for it. Go to GlennBeck.com and read the exact ‘information’ I used to draw this conclusion and come to your own conclusions.”

Glenn Beck didn’t have to tell us that. It’s been an obvious fact for many years,
hence Global War On Terror; Admitted by their own words on hundreds of occasions
by various leaders & representatives, here on US soil & ME
Unless you are one of them,or a follower, to deny completely would make u an idiot or
head so deep into sand you’re pathetic & sad.
seek

Digidave said:
@Felixw @Seek @catfishjuggling show – I am afraid you missed the point entirely of my post and what I did. The point is that we can have a discussion without referring to people as “those liberals” or “those conservatives” etc.

If you read the piece you’d notice that I refer to myself as a “media-elite, communist, intellectual jew-bastard” in a satirical way. I abhor how we label people and then based on said label can write off everything they say after that. I am afraid that’s what you did – worse off, it was based off a joke in how I label myself.

This country is screwed if we can’t take the time to talk to each other like real human beings. The internet has an amazing ability to allow us to connect – but it also makes it even EASIER to label and hate the “other” side.

I am afraid that Beck’s ability to polarize will be magnified online.

You found it necessary to single us out and yet you never addressed my concern. As a “writer” were you not concerned with the effort to remove Beck? If not, why not?

Don’t know how much time you’ve spent reading posts in here, but as a generality the right behaves and attempts to rebut inaccurate comments – while most of the left attempts to degrade the rebutter and ignore the story. Take a gander yourself.

I’m also surprised that you watched Beck for a year and didn’t come away with his often stated missive of being kind and not engaging in hateful rhetoric with those you don’t agree with.
Dummy_Thy Name is Chris Matthews

Glenn’s moving to Texas! Business Insider has tje story and pictures to the 7900 square foot mansion Beck and his precious family will call home in an exclusive enclave of Dalls/Ft. Worth.

God, how I love capitalism and Beck’s story brought to you all by it.

Good on you Glenn for leaving behind the swine and despots of the Northeast. You enjoy that home, you’ve earned it and certainly deserve it.
Dummy_Thy Name is Chris Matthews

In a related note, TRRK has been admitted to the hospital hyperventalating.
The Lantern of Truth

Started listening to Glenn about 10 years ago on the radio . He was one of the funniest guys you could imagine . As he began to learn about the world around him , after 9/11 , so did we . He’s spent a lot hiring historians and researchers to dig into the real story behind the history taught in school . Glenn went from being a hilarious guy on the radio to the best history and current events instuctor around . He encouraged his audience to do our own research and we have . We read . We buy books . We go to town halls . We want the best and won’t settle for anything less . The leaders don’t rule over us .
They work for us . As Glenn has said ” WE SURROUND THEM “.
felixw

catfishjuggling show said:
Digdave: I was actually mocking those who think that only one side does it. Sorry I wan’t clearer. And Felix, I think MSNBC is dreadful. Just dreadful. It is just a porly executed pastiche of what they think Fox News does.

But I also think Beck is a grifter playing on the fear of the well-intentioned, but naïve people who watch his show.

I disagree. Glenn Beck is one of the most upbeat and least mean-spirited pundits on TV or radio. The contrast between how is described by liberal attack dogs and how he actually comes across on his broadcasts couldn’t be more striking.

As I noted above, the topics Beck most enjoys talking about our the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the founding fathers, his spiritual values and his family. The fact that these subject gets liberals so angry and full of rage is very revealing.
seek

felixw said:
I disagree. Glenn Beck is one of the most upbeat and least mean-spirited pundits on TV or radio. The contrast between how is described by liberal attack dogs and how he actually comes across on his broadcasts couldn’t be more striking.

As I noted above, the topics Beck most enjoys talking about our the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the founding fathers, his spiritual values and his family. The fact that these subject gets liberals so angry and full of rage is very revealing.

I never got the left’s “angry” “hateful” nonsense. Just wasn’t there and yet…..Learned a lot along with Beck and it was a fun journey. He made history interesting.
Digidave

@Seek

“I’m also surprised that you watched Beck for a year and didn’t come away with his often stated missive of being kind and not engaging in hateful rhetoric with those you don’t agree with.

Actually – I agreed with that sentiment before watching Beck and I continue to agree with it. In my first comment I used no hateful rhetoric. The main thing I pointed out – was that you and others are labeling people and jumping to conclusions about all people that share the label.

For example you write: “the right behaves and attempts to rebut inaccurate comments – while most of the left attempts to degrade the rebutter and ignore the story. Take a gander yourself.”

I see comments that “degrade the rebutter and ignore the story” on both sides. Again – it’s naive to think that all negativity is coming from one side of the isle. It is wrong to share the sentiment “well, the folks on the Right are all humble and ethical, it’s those damn liberals” or when liberals say “Well, folks on the left are all educated it’s the damn racists conservatives.”

That mentality doesn’t help anyone (including those who say it). I find it ironic because that mentality of dismissing the other side is one of the few traits shared by BOTH conservatives and liberals. In fact, the more conservative or liberal a person is – the more likely they will share this trait.

I am not sure what you mean: “As a “writer” were you not concerned with the effort to remove Beck? If not, why not?”

Are you referring to Media Matters there? I do think in your first comment, again, you display a bit of that black/white syndrome. You literally wrote: “For some reason the left won’t admit what they did was most un-american and a real crime against 1 man.”

1. It’s not “the left”
2. It is not the most un-american and real crime against 1 man. I can think of many worse crimes. Slavery for example…..

I have mixed and nuanced feelings about Media Matters – just as I have mixed nuanced feelings about Glenn Beck. Again – my biggest point in all this is that it’s GOOD to have mixed/nuanced feelings instead of assuming that “my side” is right and their side is wrong. We are all on the same side!
TillieGlockenspiel

Dummy_Thy Name is Chris Matthews said:
Glenn’s moving to Texas! Business Insider has tje story and pictures to the 7900 square foot mansion Beck and his precious family will call home in an exclusive enclave of Dalls/Ft. Worth.

God, how I love capitalism and Beck’s story brought to you all by it.

Good on you Glenn for leaving behind the swine and despots of the Northeast. You enjoy that home, you’ve earned it and certainly deserve it.

I KNEW it! I hoped for Houston, thought maybe San Antonio, and am not at all surprised he’s going to the DFW area! GREAT choice! He lived and worked in Houston for a time and either Pat or Stu are from Texas. I’m LOVING it!

Good for you Glenn, Pat, Stu, and Raj. Welcome. Or, as the Goode Comapny Barbecue slogan says, “You might take a moment and thank your lucky stars that you’re in Texas.”
Jerps

How do these illuminati people keep posting their junk here?
TillieGlockenspiel

Since I know it will be repeated over the weekend, everyone should sit down and watch Jon Stossel’s “What’s Great About America.”

The King will hate it because it flies in the face of all of the Left-wing liberal mantra he loves to espouse, but it’s really good. He has Dinesh D’Souza on, whom I love.

Give it a look over the weekend!
The Lantern of Truth

TillieGlockenspiel said:
Since I know it will be repeated over the weekend, everyone should sit down and watch Jon Stossel’s “What’s Great About America.” The King will hate it because it flies in the face of all of the Left-wing liberal mantra he loves to espouse, but it’s really good. He has Dinesh D’Souza on, whom I love. Give it a look over the weekend!

It is outstanding .
dougx

Damn, now the feds are going to put barbed wire around Dallas and turn it into a concentration camp. I guess I shouldn’t accept any contracts from that area.
TillieGlockenspiel

Not a problem- I have wire cutters. If only they’d put razor wire and an electrified fence down on the border.
seek

I guess Dave’s answer is a non answer. It must fall in the “grey area”. Why am I not surprised. For some reason I assumed that freedom of speech did not include a codicil stating that “unless you don’t like what you hear and then your absolutely in the right to use a public platform to call for a boycott of said speech in order to stifle said speech”.

David is correct in that both what Glen and Media Matters were engaging in was “freedom of speech”. I guess the difficulty I have with that stance is the glee and support Media Matters garnered from other media and were not called out by any on the left for their behaviour. Many media outlets reported the boycott with great gusto and nobody questioned on what grounds Media Matters was engaging in this smear campaign. Nobody said to themselves that “perhaps at some point Media Matters might decide they don’t like what I am saying so perhaps I shouldn’t like what they are doing to an opponent”.

I guess what I had wanted from a left leaning media type to acknowledge that just because you don’t like the message – don’t shoot the messenger. I guess I’m still waiting for a left leaning media type to acknowledge that. Do you think I’ll have a long wait? lol
seek

your=you’re
http://sharethisurlaboutglennbeck.com/ GlennBeckReview

It was fascinating to see how an ignorant genius of yellow, reactionary propaganda like Beck could fool some of the people all of the time. Beck proves that people can be smart and blind about lies being told at the same time.

http://www.sharethisurlaboutglennbeck.com/2011/05/ucla-psychiatrist-and-beck-follower.html
seek

GlennBeckReview said:
It was fascinating to see how an ignorant genius of yellow, reactionary propaganda like Beck could fool some of the people all of the time. Beck proves that people can be smart and blind about lies being told at the same time.

http://www.sharethisurlaboutglennbeck.com/2011/05/ucla-psychiatrist-and-beck-follower.html

What do you do when there are two videos – one contradicting the other? Do you say “my side wins”? lol
love the “ignorant genius of yellow, reactionary propaganda” – since Beck was forever talking about the Founding Fathers – were they reactionary?
Yoda002

People who watched his show for pure entrainment it was alright but the problem was a lot people took him too seriously and thought the black helicopters were just around the corner and it really freaked out a lot of the conservatives to a point of no return.
dougx

TillieGlockenspiel said:
Not a problem- I have wire cutters. If only they’d put razor wire and an electrified fence down on the border.

If only. We really need to finish the fortified fence.
Digidave

@Seek

Again it’s nuanced.

I understand the sentiment that you are describing that Media Matters picked a fight and others got in line – perhaps without questioning.

But an important thing to keep in mind about the 1st ammendment is that it actually ensures SEVERAL freedomes – not just freedom of speech.

It ensures freedom of assembly and freedom of petition. In short – the freedom to boycott and protest.

What would you prefer? An Anti-Media Matters group boycotting and protesting the protestors?

People have every right to use peaceful means to protest or boycott somebody and as far as I know – Media Matters did just that.

I also think it’s a GOOD thing to have organizations like Media Matters that act as watchdogs just as I think it’s good to have folks like Beck that have a loud megaphone and merit being watched. The more the merrier I say and folks that deserve it will have the most impact.

But again – it’s not about a “left leaning media type” or a “right leaning media type” agreeing or disagreeing with you.

In fact, I’m not even a pundit. I was a technology reporter who then started a nonprofit that fundraises for other independent journalists. ie: I am not really focused on the national political scene in part because I find it disgusting.

In this sense I tend to agree with Jon Stewart (that liberal, intellectual, New York, Jewish-bastard) that if there is a bias in the media it’s one towards sensationalism and laziness ie: dollars, not political ties.

We are united by far more than whatever political ideologies divide us – but we often fail to recognize what unites us because we are taking cheap shots.
lucky5

Glen Beck became a joke who threw even his own tea party members under the bus. Thanks Beck!!, all you care about is yourself.
seek

lucky5 said:
Glen Beck became a joke who threw even his own tea party members under the bus. Thanks Beck!!, all you care about is yourself.

Interested in how you see him having thrown “his own” tea party members…..

p.s. the tea party was not Beck (so it couldn’t have been his own)

mind explaining.
seek

Digidave said:
@Seek

Again it’s nuanced.

I understand the sentiment that you are describing that Media Matters picked a fight and others got in line – perhaps without questioning.

But an important thing to keep in mind about the 1st ammendment is that it actually ensures SEVERAL freedomes – not just freedom of speech.

It ensures freedom of assembly and freedom of petition. In short – the freedom to boycott and protest.

What would you prefer? An Anti-Media Matters group boycotting and protesting the protestors?

People have every right to use peaceful means to protest or boycott somebody and as far as I know – Media Matters did just that.

I also think it’s a GOOD thing to have organizations like Media Matters that act as watchdogs just as I think it’s good to have folks like Beck that have a loud megaphone and merit being watched. The more the merrier I say and folks that deserve it will have the most impact.

But again – it’s not about a “left leaning media type” or a “right leaning media type” agreeing or disagreeing with you.

In fact, I’m not even a pundit. I was a technology reporter who then started a nonprofit that fundraises for other independent journalists. ie: I am not really focused on the national political scene in part because I find it disgusting.

In this sense I tend to agree with Jon Stewart (that liberal, intellectual, New York, Jewish-bastard) that if there is a bias in the media it’s one towards sensationalism and laziness ie: dollars, not political ties.

We are united by far more than whatever political ideologies divide us – but we often fail to recognize what unites us because we are taking cheap shots.

We obviously saw it very differently. We’ll have to agree to disagree.
Thanks for your response.
Nature Freak

Journalist David Cohn must truly be a sadomasochist to watch Glenn Beck every day for a year.
Nature Freak

Jerps said:
How do these illuminati people keep posting their junk here?

The fact Mediaite publishes their illuminati crap proves there is no illuminati.

If RickyLeaks is correct about his conspiracy, he should be in a gulag or worse at this point. RickyLeaks obviously is still sending his “torpedoes of truth” across the internet from his mother’s basement. No one is stopping RickyLeaks. He is a free man.

This does not compute.
This does not compute.
This does not compute.
This does not compute.
This does not compute.
This does not compute.
This does not compute………………………….
Paul G

Digidave said:
@Seek

Again it’s nuanced.

I understand the sentiment that you are describing that Media Matters picked a fight and others got in line – perhaps without questioning.

But an important thing to keep in mind about the 1st ammendment is that it actually ensures SEVERAL freedomes – not just freedom of speech.

It ensures freedom of assembly and freedom of petition. In short – the freedom to boycott and protest.

What would you prefer? An Anti-Media Matters group boycotting and protesting the protestors?

People have every right to use peaceful means to protest or boycott somebody and as far as I know – Media Matters did just that.

I also think it’s a GOOD thing to have organizations like Media Matters that act as watchdogs just as I think it’s good to have folks like Beck that have a loud megaphone and merit being watched. The more the merrier I say and folks that deserve it will have the most impact.

But again – it’s not about a “left leaning media type” or a “right leaning media type” agreeing or disagreeing with you.

In fact, I’m not even a pundit. I was a technology reporter who then started a nonprofit that fundraises for other independent journalists. ie: I am not really focused on the national political scene in part because I find it disgusting.

In this sense I tend to agree with Jon Stewart (that liberal, intellectual, New York, Jewish-bastard) that if there is a bias in the media it’s one towards sensationalism and laziness ie: dollars, not political ties.

We are united by far more than whatever political ideologies divide us – but we often fail to recognize what unites us because we are taking cheap shots.

You sir, are a Moron. You don’t care about the 1st ‘amendment’(You can’t even spell it right) You’re a libturd cubicle diaper wearing Moron that makes a “penny a post’ …Change tour name and try again ….Libturd Moron
lucky5

Paul G said:
You sir, are a Moron. You don’t care about the 1st ‘amendment’(You can’t even spell it right) You’re a libturd cubicle diaper wearing Moron that makes a “penny a post’ …Change tour name and try again ….Libturd Moron

Hey troll, thats the guy that wrote the article. You better read before you post.
http://none pyrope

It’s wonderful to see someone from “the other side” come into the light. I hope Mr. Cohn’s life has been enriched by watching Mr. Beck. Mine has–and continues to be on GBTV and Mercury.
http://none pyrope

GlennBrainedLyingReject said:
Beck proves that some people can be smart and others can blind about all the lies I’ve told at the same time. BUT, sadly, over time people have come to realize that I am an impotent little fry cook who is now out of a job because I can’t afford to sign up for GBTV and generate more lies about a man for whom I don’t have enough class to mop his floors. Perhaps all of you could send me a few bucks to supplement my welfare check.
mediadoubt

Paul G said:
You sir, are a Moron. You don’t care about the 1st ‘amendment’(You can’t even spell it right) You’re a libturd cubicle diaper wearing Moron that makes a “penny a post’ …Change tour name and try again ….Libturd Moron

Students please note: Digidave writes a thoughtful piece about the virtue of vigorous media commentary — citing Glenn Beck and Media Matters in the same breath — and Paul G comes back with “libturd.”

I think that tells us everything we need to know about Paul G.
http://sharethisurlaboutglennbeck.com/ GlennBeckReview

seek says:

“What do you do when there are two videos – one contradicting the other? Do you say “my side wins”? lol
love the “ignorant genius of yellow, reactionary propaganda” – since Beck was forever talking about the Founding Fathers – were they reactionary?”

If one of the videos is coming from Beck, Breitbart or O’Keefe, then go with the other one since these masters of propaganda edit video deceptively.

First, Beck did not start harping on the Founding Fathers until he got on Fox propaganda. Next, in their day they were radical. They created a secular democratic order, a first. We’ve come a long way, and wanting to go back to a world in which the Founding Fathers created this Republic is unrealistic and reactionary.

If you liked the “ignorant genius of reactionary propaganda, perhaps you’ll understand Glenn Beck’s story is the fiction of a pathological liar. Either you care about the truth and denounce Glenn Beck, or you don’t care about the facts and enjoy the rantings of a deceitful dry-drunk.

Thank god that Beck is off television. Now he can take money from the fools who enjoy being lied to.
Paul G

mediadoubt said:
Students please note: Digidave writes a thoughtful piece about the virtue of vigorous media commentary — citing Glenn Beck and Media Matters in the same breath — and Paul G comes back with “libturd.”

I think that tells us everything we need to know about Paul G.

You sir, are a moron. “Thoughtful piece about the virtue of vigorous commentary…blahblahblah”….ARE YOU KIDDING ME? ….YOU ARE A MORON! MORON.
Perdido

GBR, did it ever occur to you that no one was forcing you to watch Beck?
http://www.perceptionasreality.blogspot.com/ skoorbekim

Great post MJ…
It reminded me of David Mamet’s Secret Knowledge.
I encourage all “inetellectuals” to read Mamet’s new book. The book is a complete deconstruction and utter rebuke of Liberalism through the eyes of a former Liberal…
seek

Well this “media elite” is no different from all the rest. Covers his ass and doesn’t much care about the other guy. That’s not very elite at all – rather ordinary, perhaps the “liberal” label should have been the clue.

Now, I have read a # of brilliantly written right wing media elite – who shelter and encourage their left wing brothers.

I do enjoy his logic on the first amendment. As long as his boat isn’t rocked – hey bro – you’re on your own!
gaoshu777

Best regards for you all,

Looking forward to your visiting.

http://tinyurl.com/6bl2yvk/
seek

GlennBeckReview said:
seek says:

“What do you do when there are two videos – one contradicting the other? Do you say “my side wins”? lol
love the “ignorant genius of yellow, reactionary propaganda” – since Beck was forever talking about the Founding Fathers – were they reactionary?”

If one of the videos is coming from Beck, Breitbart or O’Keefe, then go with the other one since these masters of propaganda edit video deceptively.

First, Beck did not start harping on the Founding Fathers until he got on Fox propaganda. Next, in their day they were radical. They created a secular democratic order, a first. We’ve come a long way, and wanting to go back to a world in which the Founding Fathers created this Republic is unrealistic and reactionary.

If you liked the “ignorant genius of reactionary propaganda, perhaps you’ll understand Glenn Beck’s story is the fiction of a pathological liar. Either you care about the truth and denounce Glenn Beck, or you don’t care about the facts and enjoy the rantings of a deceitful dry-drunk.

Thank god that Beck is off television. Now he can take money from the fools who enjoy being lied to.

You go with whatever makes you happy. You’ll be waiting with baited breath for the next instalment so you can spread your silly paranoia some more.

The only “pathological liar” is you – but you seem happy so whatever…..
timcajun

Paul G says:
You sir, are a moron. “Thoughtful piece about the virtue of vigorous commentary…blahblahblah”….ARE YOU KIDDING ME? ….YOU ARE A MORON! MORON.
……………………..
Brother Glenn is gone, the hate, fear and sheep herding should slow up a bit now!
my dogs gone

GB does not define himself, alone, but rather by his fans.
HE is best judged by the level of commentary of his viewers.
It’s what they take away as “the message” that really informs you as to who they are and what GB is all about.
seek

timcajun said:
Paul G says:
You sir, are a moron. “Thoughtful piece about the virtue of vigorous commentary…blahblahblah”….ARE YOU KIDDING ME? ….YOU ARE A MORON! MORON.
……………………..
Brother Glenn is gone, the hate, fear and sheep herding should slow up a bit now!

You mean you’re going to quit?
Worp

Glenn supports like minded atheists, union members etc. Glenn certainly has religious foundations but hardly require dogma from his audience. For example Penn Jillette was one of the few guests Glenn had on and they remain friendly to this day. Penn is an atheist but the thing they have in common is their libertarianism a fact the author chooses to ignore. In the end its about freedom including but not limited to the freedom of religion.
http://sharethisurlaboutglennbeck.com/ GlennBeckReview

seek says:

“The only “pathological liar” is you – but you seem happy so whatever…..”

How so? What, besides sleazy character assassination, do you think you’re writing here? In other words, dillweed, what am I lying about? I promise you this; I know a hell of a lot more about Glenn Beck than you do.

You need to get the facts and pull your head out of your butt!

http://www.sharethisurlaboutglennbeck.com/2011/07/glenn-becks-story-is-fiction-of.html
http://sharethisurlaboutglennbeck.com/ GlennBeckReview

A comment from Truthout seems appropriate here:

“To my perspective, Fox and its viewers are representative of those with an “authoritarian” personality: fear-based thinking, self-righteous, lack of critical thinking skills, prejudiced, dogmatic, ethnocentric, hostile/aggressive, compartmentalized thinking with a double standard in their judgments, and smug in their ignorance. And, they believe they are right! We all need to be very, very concerned.”

http://www.truth-out.org/14-propaganda-techniques-fox-news-uses-brainwash-americans/1309612678
timcajun

seek says:
You mean you’re going to quit?
…………………………….
I was hoping you could carry on the propaganda and conspiracy theories, for Glenn. Let’s make sure it’s done correctly, always use the double standard, half-truth, hypocrisy, stay in the “tea bubble”and hate, hate, hate!
ghjgbh

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X-3

GooberBrainedReject said:
or you don’t care about the facts and enjoy the rantings of a deceitful dry-drunk.

OK, so you’ve let it leak out that Glenn Beck is a recovering alcoholic. That’s really a bombshell there Bombshell. But, I would rather listen to a reformed alcoholic than a wet drunk like yourself. Your hatred for your betters runs deep. You’re pathetic.
Perdido

Even with Beck not on TV, GBR will be following him. Despite the restraining order.
ClearThinker

I saw 2 partial episodes of the Fox/Beck presentation on TV and I hear bits and pieces on the radio as I tune in for national and local news and weather at the top of the hour as I travel to the bank and other daily errands. That limited exposure is enough information for me to conclude that Beck is a fear jockey with an audience of little education and analytical skills.

I give him credit for expanding his business to that demographic as they will by all the racial, religious and economic fear rantings he can generate.

He is not significant.
george L

My impression of GB was that he saw himself as the leader who would gain a large enough following to have even more control over this country than the president has. The president has to lead through politics, but Beck go around and over all that.
jakester

Paul G said:
You sir, are a Moron. You don’t care about the 1st ‘amendment’(You can’t even spell it right) You’re a libturd cubicle diaper wearing Moron that makes a “penny a post’ …Change tour name and try again ….Libturd Moron

Your inane post matches your inane icon
jakester

Beck is a crackpot who, when he isn’t spouting crackpot conspiracy theories or fake history, talks about himself and all those people who are too “evil or stupid” to understand his nonsense. Furthermore. his childish talk about dark forces is borderline psychotic. Anyone who takes Beck seriously is as paranoid and childish as he is.
http://sharethisurlaboutglennbeck.com/ GlennBeckReview

The reactionary seek says:

“You go with whatever makes you happy. You’ll be waiting with baited breath for the next instalment so you can spread your silly paranoia some more.

The only “pathological liar” is you – but you seem happy so whatever…..”

The idiotic attacks from Beck’s sycophantic minions gets pretty old, but….

Beck is the one who uses the paranoid style. I analyze that style for people to better understand him.

http://www.sharethisurlaboutglennbeck.com/2010/07/becks-paranoid-style-puts-him-in-long.html

And what “lies” do you think I tell? We show that Beck has lied about his past by interviewing people who knew him back then. He lied about his mother’s death, about how old he was when he got his first radio gig, about how he got there and about why and when he started drinking heavily. These are facts that you can’t handle, so you accuse me of “lying without any basis whatsoever.” That way you can be secure that your loving support for this deceitful reactionary propagandist doesn’t keep you awake at night.

The Beckerhead X-3 says:

“OK, so you’ve let it leak out that Glenn Beck is a recovering alcoholic.”

No, actually, that is a lie. The bombshell that I finally conveyed recently has to do with Beck hiring an alleged, old lover from his past. Maybe they don’t bump uglies anymore, or maybe they do, but the real bombshell is the alleged lover’s sex. Suck on that X-3. Your hero is not what you all think he is!
edisciple

What to make of this? I applaud Mr. Cohn!
X-3

GrotesqueBlasphemousRadical said:
The bombshell that I finally conveyed recently has to do with Beck hiring an alleged, old lover from his past.

“Alleged.” I allege that you’re Barack Hussein -0bama in drag. I allege that you’ve had a sex change operation. I allege that you live in your parents’ basement and sniff your sisters underwear. What else ya got? And NO, I’m not clicking on your website so you can rake in a few coins–I don’t subsidize liars and pathetic little nobodys such as yourself. If you’ve got a story–WHICH YOU DO NOT–you would cut and paste it here for everyone to read without getting a virus in their computer. You’ve got nothing. You are nothing.
http://sharethisurlaboutglennbeck.com/ GlennBeckReview

The reactionary x-3 wrote:

“I allege that you’re Barack Hussein -0bama in drag. I allege that you’ve had a sex change operation. I allege that you live in your parents’ basement and sniff your sisters underwear. What else ya got? And NO, I’m not clicking on your website so you can rake in a few coins [bla, bla, bla...]”

I don’t make money, but your personal and deceitful character assassination attempt on me re-enforces my argument that Glenn Beck is a cult of personality. Calling out this fraud, liar and propagandist always gets his reactionary, gullible followers angry. They can’t handle the truth about Glenn Beck.