Malkin Tangles With Beck Over His Interview With “Scumbag” Massa (UPDATE)

There seems to be a growing revolt on the right over Glenn Beck’s decision to devote the entire hour of his show tonight to former congressman Eric Massa who left office yesterday amidst an ethics inquiry over possible sexual misconduct but that Massa says is the result of a conspiracy by the Dems to push him out. Glenn Beck apparently agrees, based, it should be noted, solely on Massa’s recently mustered up version of events. Beck may find himself rather alone on this one.

Case in point, on Beck’s radio show today guest Michelle Malkin said that “courage and credibility are key factors in how I access the evidence” neither of which Massa presumably possesses. Beck’s counter argument, is (hold on to your hats) that if a Soviet agent (even a double agent!) had come over during the cold war, wouldn’t we have milked him for all he’s worth?

I think it’s safe to say that, ethical issues aside, Massa is no Soviet agent. Malkin, meanwhile, is worried Massa is just the sort of “scumbag” who will use this as an opportunity to cast himself as a hero against the Obama administration and run again and that Glenn Beck is assisting him in this. At which point the conversation devolves in some “you people” accusations on Beck’s part (cue: shocked Malkin). Afterward, in a bit of a have my cake and eat it too moment, Beck declared that he wasn’t elevating Massa: “How am I elevating him? I’m not vouching for his credibility! I’m saying the man should be listened to.”

Um? Saying someone should be listened to, and listened to enough that you are willing to devote the entire hour of one of the highest rated shows on cable to them, I think is pretty much the same as elevating. Especially considering very few people had heard of Massa seven days ago. We shall see. Video below. (Side note: A Hot Air commenter says that near the end of his show Beck stated “that his TV show producer is getting worried and told Beck to start considering a second show for tonight, because they’re worried that Massa won’t show.”)

UPDATE: And now this from WaPo: Massa under investigation for allegedly groping male staffers