Glenn Beck (AP Photo by Evan Agostini)
For anyone who supported Ron Paul's 2008 presidential campaign, it was a frustrating thing to watch how the media treated him. One of the media personalities that was particularly disappointing to watch with Ron Paul was Glenn Beck. Overall, he seemed to agree with Paul's ideas the most, and yet he would often preface any agreements he had with Paul by saying things like "I don't agree with Ron Paul on everything--not by a long shot." He would say that Paul was on the "fringe" and had some "kooky" ideas.
Well, now Beck is wishing for a time machine. On his radio show last week, he apologized to libertarians everywhere for calling himself a libertarian in the past. He has long called himself a conservative with libertarian leanings, but he said he is now leaning so far libertarian that he is almost horizontal. He said, "I'm going through a change here."
Beck would like the time machine to take him back eighteen months. Why? To go back to when he was calling Ron Paul a "crackpot on so many issues." Now, he laments, "Gosh. I'd like to reexamine all those issues." Among those issues is America's occupation of many foreign countries; Beck specifically mentions Germany, Korea, and Afghanistan. He admits that America's imperialism has caused a lot of problems. He said, "Progressive members of the Republican party wanted to make sure that we spread sunshine, lollipops, happiness, and democracy to all around the world. That's great. But the best way to do that is to live a righteous life and be a good example." And he repeated what Paul has been saying for years, "Besides, we can't afford it anymore!"
Glenn Beck has been encouraging his listeners and viewers for a long time now to read The 5000 Year Leap by W. Cleon Skousen. Ironically, the last chapter in the book is about this very idea--about America's manifest destiny. That is, to be an example and a blessing to the entire human race. According to the book, "Thomas Jefferson looked upon the development of freedom under the Constitution as 'the world's best hope,' and wrote to John Dickinson in 1801 that what had been accomplished in the United States 'will be a standing monument and example for the aim and imitation of the people of other countries'." But Skousen is quick to distinguish between a sense of mission and the spirit of perverted chauvinism. He writes, "The former is a call to exemplary leadership and service. The latter is the arrogant presumption of a self-appointed role to conquer and rule."
Beck's change of heart gives me hope that many more Americans will rethink Ron Paul's "crackpot" ideas and realize, as Paul once put it, that it will never work to spread our goodness "through the barrel of a gun."
This video is the closest I could come by way of a time machine.
Recent articles by this examiner you may be interested in: It's official: Peter Schiff enters the Connecticut Senate 2010 race
Thousands of unlikely Utah protesters gather on 9/12
Comments
Soon everyone will come to the same understanding.... Ron Paul is the best hope to save what's left of America! Face it, we elected the wrong man President by running a "W" look alike (McCain) instead of a true statesman like Ron Paul.
Now they are realise that Ron Paul was right all along...apologies too late...
This is good, we cant build the liberty movenment if we hold everyone down for stuff they said in the past. Plus Beck has been fighting the good fight for a long time, we have to move forward.
Glenn's not alone. I'm so frustrated with the Republican Party I can spit. I've been listening to podcasts of Dr. Paul (on LewRockwell.com) and just read "End the Fed".
so...now there's two more of us
This is good, we cant build the liberty movenment if we hold everyone down for stuff they said in the past. Plus Beck has been fighting the good fight for a long time, we have to move forward.
Thank you for the great post, Jenn! Check out the irresponsible TIME cover this month. The "old", hyperbole-obsessed media at its worst.
Glen Beck= Judas
I'm sick and tired of the neo-con Beckers and 'baggers.
What do they stand for? Nothing. More glorification of the military "protecting our freedom" (7,000 miles away in an unConstitutional, undeclared "war"). More big govt. so long as it imitates the "conservative" doctrine.
Beck called Ron Paul supporters "terrorists". Do you think we'll forget that?
Beck's a phony. Controlled opposition.
Thank you for the wonderful article. I really enjoyed the video, even though I've seen it before. It almost brought a tear to my eye. What a great man Ron Paul is. He really made those other "candidates" look like swine on that debate stage. I truly believe he was America's last chance to get it right.
As far as Beck is concerned, I am willing to take a wait and see approach. The damaging words he spoke of RP, still sting. They are not easy to forgive, or forget. I just wish he'd had his awakening during the primaries. Talk is cheap. We'll see what kind of fruit he produces. Thanks again for the great article.
I agree with Franklin. There's something about Beck that really irks me and makes me think he's part of a "control the opposition's message" strategy by the global elite.
Thank you for this article. I was once an outspoken neocon; then I began following the Ron Paul movement and completely changed my views. At first, it was painful to wake up and realize how dreadfully wrong I was. The good news is, it's phenomenal to participate in the causes of peace and liberty. Campaign for Liberty's regional conference in Valley Forge this weekend was spectacular. It's a shame more Philadelphians didn't avail themselves of the free programs! Good luck to Beck, even though I still doubt his sincerity.
Ill still give Beck some thought. He isnt a bad guy.. high school educated that started as a shock jock.
Dont expect a person he is not. Be happy the hottest guy in cable news is coming around!
Controlled Opposition. There is no way in hell that I will ever forgive this idiot and his fake crying. He refuses to speak one word of scientific truth about 9/11 and he destroyed Ron Paul during the election. Too little, too late. The only think that will redeem him at this point is a week long special on 9/11 and all of the vast amount of scientific data that supports demolition. 9/11 was a False Flag and NO MISTAKE.
Dr. Paul's message is and always has been right on. I was so ashamed of the repubs during the primaries. I understand now why he was so marginalized, so my shame has evolved into contempt. You reap what you sow.
rupert murdoch vilifies Congressman Paul during the primaries via his network and paid mouth pieces, beck etc. Now murdoch LETS beck do a 180 degree turnabout. What's murdoch in business for?... profit and control. With the main downstream media on the right co-opting OUR original RE-Tea Party for Dr. Paul and the left laughing at it, they have taken the message of Freedom and Liberty and used it to only divide us even more than we already are in this once great Constitutional Republic. Stand up to this treasonous act by the so called fourth estate. No longer let them divide Americans with the right-left drivel. Be American and not a party to this political party crap spewed forth. As for 9-11-01, we'll let the people decide via the ballot box in NYC...please see www.NYCCAN.org
Do not trust Beck as far as you can spit him. He's a devious clown.
Rob...good point...we can't build a liberty movement while roasting everything a person has said in the past. While I am not convinced that Beck is sincere, I am willing to give a second chance if, in fact, we is rethinking all the warmongering that has taken place over the past 8 years. Only time will tell if Beck is sincere...actions speak louder than words!
Even if Beck is not a Paul supporter he helped by giving Paul a lot of airtime, which I personally believe contributed the most to his success in 2008. Glen Beck is one of the biggest names in the radio business and if he is talking about rethinking about Paul that is amazing even if he does not actually change. Ron Paul did his job well, now he just needs follow up by his supporters. His name was completely smeared, by people calling him crazy, but look how far he got.
Controlled Opposition. There is no way in hell that I will ever forgive this idiot and his fake crying. He refuses to speak one word of scientific truth about 9/11 and he destroyed Ron Paul during the election. Too little, too late. The only think that will redeem him at this point is a week long special on 9/11 and all of the vast amount of scientific data that supports demolition. 9/11 was a False Flag and NO MISTAKE.
Sounds like Mr. Beck, if sincere, is going the same change I went through in 2003.
Anyone Advocating A Return Toward Constitutional Rule Is An Ally.
Better Late Than Never In Regards To Beck.
Rally To The Similarities And Subdue The Differences. Divided We Fall.
two faced beck? or is that three faced liar..
I'm definitely willing to forgive him, and indeed we all should forgive him, ESPECIALLY if he's sorry.
I think Beck is sincere. I think he's learning and being "converted" to the principles of liberty. In fact, his conversion may be complete.
Let's see how he treats the many of liberty candidates running nationwide, like Peter Shiff and Rand Paul. If he's sincere, then he should be promoting them in some way, as they stand for liberty and constitutional government.
This is a very rare moment -- to have a big media person repentant. I've never witnessed it. NEVER. We should all be very excited that Glenn has seen the light and is now promoting Liberty, as he is in a very influential position. Let's hope the Powers That Be don't find a way to get rid of him, like order his corporate sponsors to yank their commercials.
I pray for the best. Glenn Beck -- I'm your fan now. Keep up the good fight, be a true patriot and friend to Liberty!!!
the greatest example of how people exercise their ability to spew as if having knowledge of maths, psychology and other experiences, somehow places them onto an elite pedestal of uncompromising superiority. It's really, always an empty exercise in how much verbatim can be spewed before either party exhausts their vocabulary. Nobody's listening to what's being said in the context of its entirety. Just the "trigger" words and catch phrases and cliches of the era.
If Beck had listened and absorbed, he'd have gotten it way back when. and it's the same for anyone else who may think their map of their world is locked in according to how they think it is and/or should be.
Stubbornness seems to be the culprit people killer here.
listen everybody. just clearly listen to what we have to say to each other.
...and it sure doesn't help anything when the opposition falls right in stride with the distraction of backlash spewing. this is adults doing this. the very madness we keep children from doing because it's supposedly "not right".
With Adults acting this out, no wonder young people barely coming into adult age can be mislead into blind faith killings supposedly for "their" country for "our freedom". when you wear your adult label right, you see the truth for what it really is.
Up until a certain age we're all raised to do no harm, but someone comes along and defeats all of this discipline and there are no questions asked??? not even from the "Adults"?? oh sure there are a few, but it's the mass quantity that lay down their freedom for a few hawks to swoop down and take as they choose. We all are food for this, but we spew out of a frustration that we present at our own fault. We're the child that gets the beating because mom/dad couldn't muster enough to confront a situation
Beautiful article. I, too, remember my frustration with Glenn Beck during the primaries--espousing Ron Paul's ideas on everything except the war and then rejecting Ron Paul altogether. Ugh!
But he IS coming around, he IS promoting true constitutionalist ideals and candidates and is mobilizing people throughout this country to ORGANIZE. My husband and I are in a 9/12 group which we love! The members of our group do not see things identically--but we are united in defending our constitution which is our protection against tyranny. We are getting trained on how to become delegates and hopefully DOMINATE the caucuses coming up. Like most people, we were ignorant of the process before which is why our state has been controlled by unions. This is key to our success in putting constitutionalists in at all levels of government. Besides Glen Beck, who else is mobilizing people to actually get involved and DO things that have the power to make a difference? LET'S MOVE FORWARD AND UNITE!
I do believe that Glenn Beck is really sorry now that he did not support Ron Paul, seeing what we are dealing with in the present administration,I would like him to support a Paul and Palin run for President and Vice President in 2012.
AIPAC's Neocon Beck
The 9/11 Cover-up Salesman
Just ask his good bud John Bolton
(or his bodyguards)
Freedom is a POWERFUL message, so I've learned.
I hope Glenn Beck's evolution is sincere.
Ron Paul 2012!
Bravo Jenn...Like so many folks who I "unveiled" Ron Paul before in 2007-2009 Glenn Beck and I am sure many, many conservatives; they all feel "they made a mistake not supporting this guy; he is so honest and forthright. And I Agree with him". How McCain was postured as a conservative I will never fathom..I am so tired of Beck and Limbaugh and Hannity saying "And the Democrats...blah, blah, blah.." Thanks to George Bush we HAVE Democrats in control....People want REAL CHANGE....And it is not happening under either party...Just two "thugs" vying for the turf dollars on main street...
once upon a time.
glenn beck was a buscuithead.
then he went back in time...
and fixed all that he said [:
the end.
[p.s. great article jenn! i want to hear more from youu]
Glen Beck is a fraud. PERIOD. Why is he even relevant? He is an opportunistic worm. His job is to perpetuate the two-party paradigm of right vs left. Do not let Glen Beck be the face of or have any ownership over a genuine liberty movement.
I can't even get my family members to agree on everything. Why do we expect Glenn Beck to understand fully the Freedom message? We all have to strive for freedom for everyone. I for one will lettttt Glenn keep evolving as myself and lettttt him be free to make mistakes as myself.
It's pretty harsh to say Glenn Beck is a FRAUD. I don't think he's a fraud. He has the right to his opinions and to broadcast them to his audience when he wishes. He is also allowed to change his opinion on issues. That's the freedom any of us enjoy. I'm no Glenn Beck fan, I don't even watch his show, but this whole American conservative (usually) idea of "flip-flopping" is stupid. Times change, ideas change and your opinions of ideas can change. Just try and think ahead of time of the consequences of believing those ideas first...
I first met Dr. Paul in 1976 when I worked in his campaign office in Houston on Bellfort and I have supported ever since. He is the most consistent, Constitutionally-based politician of our time. Those that find him to be an extremist and on the fringe of rational political thought would do well to examine their own political philosophies. They might be surprised to discover to what degree they have become a ward of the socialist State that is America.
Next.....worm!
The neo-cons on Fox News like Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Chris Wallace and Brit Hume ridiculed Ron Paul during the primaries last year. Now that Ron Paul is looking like a prophet, they are trying to stay relevant in the face of shifting attitudes in the conservative camp.
Next election I'm getting a bumper sticker saying "I'm Voting For The Crackpot " ....Every election I can tell you within a few days who will win the election , just by watching the media and who they are pulling for. 9 out of 10 times the best man for the job is the one their calling a crack pot.
Since most everyone agrees that the government & Big Business decide what is allowed on the mainstream news, I wonder why Beck is allowed to say the things he does without getting slapped around a little? Just maybe, he's allowed to talk because it's to late to do anything anyway and therefore is allowed to make it look like someone on the news is telling it like it is?.....I'm just sayin"....."Because I'm a thinker" :)
It's nice to think beck is evolving, but the man is far to inconsistent.
He grabbed the spotlight that would have been Ron pauls (as people looked back on the bush years) and he did it by acting the fool.
He has pushed his own agenda, which is about ego and money
so many beck fans feel they have been woken up, by becks "sole crusade for the truth" not realizing many of us from all political persuasions have been saying the same thing about corruption big business and big govt for years.
Maybe if these tards hadn't given us bush for 8 years, we wouldn't now have Obama
yet these beck fans rally behind him no matter how stupid he is
grow up and get informed beck fans, the man is not to be trusted as a leader, and will do more damage than good
Remember it was FOX News that locked Ron Paul out of one of the first debates, because he was not a viable candidate? He was the only viable candidate. Maybe Beck will start asking real questions about 9-11, and gee, maybe he will ask some questions about why Obama has spent near a million dollars to keep his birth, school, passport, etc records secrete.
One way for Beck and Fox to make up is to give Dr. Paul more air time.... and fire Bill O'Rielly
"Glen Beck is a fraud. PERIOD. Why is he even relevant? He is an opportunistic worm. His job is to perpetuate the two-party paradigm of right vs left. Do not let Glen Beck be the face of or have any ownership over a genuine liberty movement."
Chris may have it right here... I think Beck spends too much time on the ACORN conspiracy and not enough on the AUDIT THE FED ISSUE...maybe he is throwing the red herring on purpose.
Glen is very much needed in today's enviroment. When the
Constitution of this great country is at stake, we need a
voice that tells us to turn to past ideals when God given
liberty was fought for and mens hearts were in tune to what
freedom really stood for. Thank Heaven for the Glen Becks of
this country.
I'm afraid I'll have to see it to believe it. Beck still works hard building a case for new genocides in Iran, Russia, N Korea and god knows where else. It may be petty of me but I wouldn't be satisfied until he devoted a whole show to attacking his "former" beliefs using clips of himself saying the inane and idiotic things he's said in the past and then saying after each clip, "I WAS WRONG!!"
For calling Ron Paul supporters and Lew Rockwell "terrorists" and "Islamo-fascists" I cannot forgive without such a display of humility and repentance. Until then, Glenn Beck is still a warmongering, fascist, neo-conservative prick.
Time and intelligence allow for change. No two people will agree on everything. If Beck continues to learn and reject policies he used to endorse, moving every closer to a more libertarian view, I will salute him. One good thing regarding the US citizenry, among so many good things, is that we allow people who recognize the error of there ways to evolve and move beyind past mistakes.
So sad, so too little to late.. I wish he had a time machine, too.
Now look at the mess we are in!
If Beck wants to really help this country then he would show where the neoconservatives came from and what their agenda and motivation is. Most Republicans don't even realize their party was taken over by the neoconservatives.. it's sad.
If Beck wanted to show the Paul supporters that he's sorry then he might show how the Republican party twisted rules to keep Ron Paul and his supporters out. Very few people know what went on in the Republican conventions..
Ideas are powerful, even if Glenn's awakening isn't real, and even if he is trying to let the Genie out of the bottle just a little bit so he can direct it, he cannot put it back in.
Reading the republican blogs is educational. Early mentions of his TV show were universally negative, as the crowds and viewership rose the stampede to get in front of the crowd started. Now that he has touched the neocon holy grail of interventionism and war every outlet has rushed to criticize him again. The GOP truly has no clue, either do the democrats. 3 million people thinking about the constitution and history is a huge positive in my book. If he is sincere then God bless him.
Isn't the Revolution about educating and changing minds within the Republican Party? It is about reform of the Republican Party for the most part isn't it?
Pages
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!