Off Script: Glenn Beck Calls Soldiers Addressed By Obama “Props”
Obama’s speech to soldiers at Elmendorf Air Force base may have been praised by many in the media, but it did not win over Glenn Beck as a fan. Yesterday, Beck’s show was briefly interrupted by the speech. When he returned, he “went off the script” to deliver a stinging rebuke to Obama — and all politicians — who use soldiers as “props.” Wait, Glenn Beck has a script?
In all seriousness, Beck took pains to be even-handed in what could have been yet another anti-Obama screed. Rather than spitting out a one-off about how Obama was such a terrible guy for using soldiers as “props,” he launched into a broader message about Astroturfed diversity being used in photo-ops:
It’s really not for President Obama, it’s for all politicians. Does anybody — when you see a politician speak now, and you see these people standing behind them, does anybody look — and I don’t do it with the soldiers. But I always do it when regular people are there. I go, OK, there is the Asian, there is the elderly person, there is the African-American, there is the handicapped person …
Politicians are using us as props, and I’m sick of it. Especially when it comes to the soldiers. They are not props. As a guy with a soldier that is currently serving in my family, and somebody with honor … they are not props.
As we discussed last month when the New York Post tried to whip up ‘white-coat-gate‘ into a national story (see above photos, from the Post’s website), it’s really not news when politicians use a little stagecraft to ramp up their photo ops. Which is why the Post failed miserably in their efforts. As our Tommy Christopher wrote at the time, “Absent this report, would people have assumed that the assembled doctors were suited up to perform examinations on the President? The fact that the coats were for visual effect is obvious.”
Obvious or not, there’s something to be said about the way that the artifice of photo-ops can feel exploitative, and Beck said it loud and clear.
18 comments
ImNotBlue says: Beck is correct on this one. The folks behind the politician certainly are props. Remember during the primary campaign, there were a few stories about how Team Obama made sure that there weren’t “too many Black people” behind him, and had to pull White folks in from the audience, so that the group behind him was aptly “diverse.”
I understand Beck’s point here… using your average citizen as a prop is one thing (I guess that’s their choice). But to use a soldier as a prop is disrespectful to them, to those who serve, and those who have died in the line of duty. They’re not props… they’re heroes, and don’t deserve to be used like stagecraft.
tedneb says: .
Form over substance? Certainly What else would you expect from our President?
In the complete lack of substance that defines his presidency to date, what would he have left were he barred from theatrics?
same2u says: Chickenhawks, whether they are hosts on Fox News or commenters in blogs, will never be respected for their opinions as to whether a solider is being used a “prop”.
Jymn says: What a laugher. Beck is all prop. What an insult to our brave soldiers to call them “props”.
Stagecraft is stagecraft, but the President should be able to give a morale-boosting speech to the troops without question. I mean, Beck… it’s all right to speak in generalities about politicians manipulating the backdrop, but what’s your alternative for the President addressing soldiers? Telepresence or should he just ignore them?
Jymm, I agree that my first thought was “WTF?” Beck, the Carrot-Top of opinion performance artists criticizing stagecraft? Use of props?
ImNotBlue says: same2u says:
November 13, 2009 at 11:30 am
In other words: “I’m putting my fingers in my ears, and I don’t wanna listen to what you have to say. Na na na na… I’m not listening.”
Jymn says:
November 13, 2009 at 11:34 am
Which is more insulting… to actually use soldiers as props… or to call the President on it?
Magister says:
November 13, 2009 at 11:39 am
I think Beck’s point was they shouldn’t have been in the “we’re friendly to the President” position behind him. That’s where the supporters and fans stand/sit… to show the audience watching on television, “Look at these people, they support the President.” The soldiers shouldn’t have been positioned as such, because that’s not their role. HE was addressing THEM… THEY were not necessarily supporting HIM.
The Obama campaigns most brilliant strategy during the campaign was to use the round stages. This forced every camera shot to show an approving crowd behind him… the power of other people’s presence used to encourage the television audience. A really well executed strategy by Team Obama. But IMO, not appropriate for an occasion like this. Again, this wasn’t a rally, it was a speech… there’s a difference. At least, there’s supposed to be.
Ted says: Thank God Beck (aka The Beaver) never uses props; say for instance, 9/11 as a prop. I mean if he used 9/11 as a prop that would make him vile and repugnant and we all know for a fact that Glenn is pure…and white…and slightly touched.
@ImNotBlue: Imagine the phone call…
“Mom – Sarge chose me and Mike to sit onstage behind the President, but Glenn Beck thinks I’ll be a prop, so I won’t get to be on tv.”
“I know that you haven’t seen me in a long time and that I’m all the way up here in Alaska, but Glenn Beck thinks the President should focus the spotlight entirely on himself and that he shouldn’t even acknowledge the soldiers exist, or something… I’m not exactly sure.”
Nachi says: All soldiers are “props,” Beck. Too bad you missed your opportunity to experience that up-close. You so love “the troops.” But then, you people never ARE the troops.
m says: The conservative Carrot Top is accusing Obama for using props? That’s how much value Beck put into our troops. He doesn’t see them as individuals or human beings, but simply as fodder for both warfare and his TV show.
Barack Obama is the damn President. He ought to be able to make a speech to the troops or visit the troops without it being politicized. Some things aren’t partisan in this country, beyond left and right. The President and his duties are.
Jim Treacher says: “Barack Obama is the damn President. He ought to be able to make a speech to the troops or visit the troops without it being politicized.”
Which is a problem he inherited from Bush, right?
Fidoohki says: M says:
That’s not the point. When you are addressing the troops, they shouldn’t be standing
behind the president! It just seems ..tacky to me. *shrugs*
Sunnyr says: Obama’s “visit” to the troops was only because he had to refuel in Alaska before continuing his journey. OF COURSE, the soldiers were his “props!” If anyone looked beyond the first row of smiling minions to the back rows of regular soldiers, they didn’t even clap for their “commander-in-chief” and by the stern looks on their faces, they were not too happy at participating in Obama’s photo op. Glenn Beck was absolutely right, as he usually is. Obama, like Bill Clinton, does not have an overwhelming regard or respect for our military men and women in uniform and it is very obvious! The soldiers know it too.
ImNotBlue says: Vidiot says:
November 13, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Mission Accomplished.
Actually… not a bad counter example. Both are foolish.
(And yes, I know one could make the argument that Bush wasn’t responsible for the banner, and blah-blah-blah… it doesn’t matter… the overall intent was the same.)
Ted says:
November 13, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Thank God there’s a difference between Beck (a television host/entertainer) and an elected President of the United States. I don’t know why you guys seem to forget that.
Magister says:
November 13, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Yeah… methinks not. The call would go more like:
“Hi Mom. Yes, I miss you too. Yes, I went to the speech today. They wanted to put me behind the President, because there weren’t enough Asian guys to make his background look ‘balanced,’ but I told them I’d rather sit in the audience with the rest of my troop. Who said that? Oh, Beck… okay. So how’s everything?”
But to be fair, I’m sure if Bush was President, you’d have no problem with him picking and choosing folks to sit behind him… you know, to make him look good… right?
Nachi says:
November 13, 2009 at 4:08 pm
All soldiers are “props,” Beck.
What the heck does that mean?
m says:
November 13, 2009 at 4:33 pm
The conservative Carrot Top is accusing Obama for using props? That’s how much value Beck put into our troops. He doesn’t see them as individuals or human beings, but simply as fodder for both warfare and his TV show.
Again, there’s STILL a difference between Beck and the President. Write it on your hand if you’re having trouble remembering.
Barack Obama is the damn President. He ought to be able to make a speech to the troops or visit the troops without it being politicized. Some things aren’t partisan in this country, beyond left and right. The President and his duties are.
Where were you 8 years ago? Yeah, this new found, “Not everything is political” line is quite ironic. I remember the past 8 years… I don’t know why you don’t.
_______
What’s really amazing about this post and thread thus far, is not ONE person from the anti-Beck crew has said why this was a GOOD thing. All attacks on Beck… not support for positioning troops behind the President. What’s the deal… a little defense now and then might do you well. The persistent offense means you don’t know what you’re talking about… only that you support an ideology or a person, but don’t really understand why.
@ImNotBlue: A very simple search of Google: Image found this example on page two of the results and on page one, there was this photo of President GW Bush using soldiers as a backdrop.
Of course in the clip, Beck does seem to try and fault all politicians for using soldiers as props, but it’s been done for quite some time by Presidents from both parties. Much like when a President makes a speech at a National Park, there are usually Park Rangers behind him, or when they address employees of a private company or a union, there’s always representatives behind them.
And again, if Obama hadn’t have followed the tradition and if he had appeared on the dais alone, don’t you think Beck would’ve faulted him for talking down to the troops and making himself the center of attention?
Heck, I didn’t watch the memorial service for those killed at Ft Hood, but apparently there was some kind of ceremony involving a coin, which I’ve seen people complaining about on other websites.
ImNotBlue says: Magister says:
November 14, 2009 at 4:54 am
As I said… a fair point all around. Although, I highly doubt that if Obama didn’t have soldiers behind him, Beck would complain about that… there would be something else, but not that.
As for the coin… no clue, amigo.
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