Glenn Beck’s Tea Party Personality: A Lot More Ron Paul Than Sarah Palin

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by Frances Martel | 2:29 pm, June 19th, 2010

» 27 comments

After a debut focusing on the variety of right-of-center opinions circulating in the Tea Party movement, Judge Andrew Napolitano‘s Fox Business program Freedom Watch outdid its star power last week with an A-list class of libertarian thinkers headlined by Glenn Beck. Beck, who was on to promote both his show and his new novel, The Overton Window, and to warn about the possibility that an emergency can fundamentally transform America.

Last week’s premiere of the Fox Business Network libertarian-leaning commentary program Freedom Watch was all about promoting the show, bringing the Fox family’s biggest attraction, Sarah Palin, to the fore but, in the process, it gave up a little bit of its unabashedly small-government voice. This week, Judge Napolitano brought back all the elements that made Freedom Watch so popular online: bold libertarian commentary challenging the status quo on controversial issues. While the entire lineup this week– including John Stossel, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, and Reason editor Nick Gillespie, among others– was full of soundbites questioning everything from the Iraq War to BP’s $20 billion escrow fund, the bulk of the program was dedicated to Glenn Beck and his bludgeoning of, among others, Woodrow Wilson, Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt, and, of course, President Barack Obama.

Beck challenged the notion that FDR was a popular president, noting that “people were frightened beyond belief of the overreach of FDR,” proof of that being the passing of term limits immediately after his death. He also confessed to Napolitano his greatest fear, and it’s not hard to guess: “that they [the Obama administration?] will use an emergency to fundamentally transform the country into something you don’t recognize.”

He also answered questions as to where he saw himself within the framework of the Tea Party. Asked by Napolitano whether he was more of a Sarah Palin than a Ron Paul, Beck chose the latter, although was hesitant to call himself a libertarian because “I don’t think they want me in their camp sometimes.”

Video below:

Andrew Napolitano, FDR, Fox Business Network, Freedom Watch, Glenn Beck, libertarians, Ron Paul, Sarah Palin, Tea Party, Woodrow Wilson

valkyrie101

Yes, the Christian right version of libertarian. Not the Jefferson libertarians.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Robert-Timsah/1113150152 Robert Timsah

I love this new libertarian movement.. it pulls from both sides and has the potential to destroy the two party paradigm.
valkyrie101

Robert,
Yes, but it has then inherent inconsistencies which are not easily reconciled, since the Christian libertarian sees the U.S. as a Christian nation and the Jefferson libertarians see it as a secular nation. Christians oppose several fundamental libertarian positions, including the libertarian notion of a woman’s right to choose, the legalization of recreational drugs, prostitution, and liberation from any other abridgement of liberty which is religiously based.
m

Glenn Beck isn’t libertarian.
valkyrie101

Of course not.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Kam-Fet/572005492 Kam Fet

This is crap, no one is buyin this B.S. We all remember 2008, and how FOX NEWS treats Ron Paul and his Supporters.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Stephen-Blackpool/100000469284961 Stephen Blackpool

Glenn Beck is a neo-con. He ambushed libertarian Debra Medina in the Texas GOP primary for governor on his radio show.
Ted

I don’t think Beck is Libertarian in the least. As he said in Forbes, “I could give a flying crap about the political process … We’re a media company.” While in Tampa, he claimed his political views were “right down the middle,” but quickly learned that if he wanted to survive he needed to go far right. He is simply using politics as a platform to line his pockets. The guy is much more PT Barnum than Ron Paul or Sarah Palin. Put simply, he’s a professional bullshitter with no values but money.
murf

Glenn Beck is his own man, Many conservatives despised Glenn during the Bush years . Mark Levin , and Sean Hannity come to mind. The above posters comments are baseless attacks .

This was a exchange between Chris Matthews and Glenn Beck in 2003 . Chris slobs over Glenn. ” I love your radio show “.

Watch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKXzn6BOw5g&sns=em
http://MsUnderestimated.com MsUnderestimated

@Stephen Blackpool Exactly how did Beck “ambush” Debra Medina on his radio show? Please explain.
valkyrie101

Beck is extremely likable, and a tremendous entertainer. Actors, rock and roll stars, and sports heros all earn in the Beck range. That says something. He is a fantastic character in this passion play. Glenn is my friend, I can not deny that. He IS the rodeo clown, and I have to respect him for that since that is a nobel and honorable role and all the cowboys respect and admire the rodeo clown for his courage, and humor, in leading the bull to the corral and away from the cowboy, the bull rider..
Ted

murf – no more baseless than your obvious suck-up. Get a grip, the guy is a phony. And who gives a shit about what Chris Matthews; talk about a non-sequitur.
Cubby

There was definitely a time when Glenn Beck wasn’t the Beck we now know and love. Obviously he’s learned where his bread is now buttered.
murf

Ted, the day The Glenn Beck Show is broadcasted on PBS and taxpayer money is funded to keep him afloat , you can preach that sermon, otherwise change the channel.
Ted

murf – Evidently you, like your hero GB thinks that coherence is overrated. Try for it though, most reasonable people (yes, they do exist) will appreciate it.
murf

Evidently ,Ted you view Glenn as a threat ? Hyperventilate elsewhere , I got a idea start a blog ! Your Glenn Beck paranoia is amusing and sophmoric.
murf

Correction : Sophomoric
http://www.facebook.com/people/Charisse-Busack-OBrien/1019285819 Charisse Busack O’Brien

Quit blaming Beck for Medina she blew herself up with her idiotic 9/11 comments http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/politics&id=7274692. I think you Texans actually dodged a bullet with her in the long run. She actually said no policemen died in the towers. Its fine if you don’t like Beck or don’t agree with him but don’t trash him without knowing the facts. When B.O. and his thugs are done destroying this country we will be able to tell you libtard unbelievers “BECK TOLD YOU SO!!!
Ted

murf – I view Glenn as a putz. Your admiration is amusing.
murf

Ted this songs for you ! It’s Saturday night let your hate guard down. Cheers !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyMPXV5CLNs&sns=em
RoyBoy

What Glenn Beck really thinks about Ron Paul…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6C6E6ayh4U
http://www.facebook.com/people/Stephen-Hogan/179500970 Stephen Hogan

Charisse,

Saint Sarah wouldn’t approve of ‘libtard’.
DrFunke

But remember, Fox News isn’t the Tea Party network

They just promote it every other hour….but again, not their network
Integr8d

@DrFunke

They promote the Neo-con Tea Party Express. Not the Ron Paul Tea Party.

I’m 99% Ron Paul Tea Party. And I don’t watch or care for GB.

IMO: If you watch any of those channels (Fox, NBC, whatever) only one thing is happening: You’re being sold something.
http://www.facebook.com/people/John-Franson/500132399 John Franson

I love this new libertarian movement.. It enrages social conservatives, frightens moderates, and has the potential to destroy the Republican party.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ron-C-De-Weijze/716178606 Ron C. De Weijze

Yes we must ‘constructively recollect’ the greatness of the West and our Judeo-Christian traditions. And we must do so by independent confirmation of our intuitions and reality (the one confirming the other). It is the power of our belief, no less.
Thomas G Williams

Does Beck realize that no one wants him in their camp, he draws flies and there is that whimpering thing he does when decent people are around, besides it is very sad that the Judge was unable to attract real personalities for the maiden voyage of his show. Now if he had asked Sandra Day O’Conner to be on we could have heard something good like “Did you judge, finger painting or what?”.