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Glenn Beck's most recent show focused on race. AP Photo Evan Agostini
Right or wrong Glenn Beck has suffered accusations of racism partially due to his conservative stances and also because of his attacks on President Obama. On his show today Beck hosted a group of hand-picked, conservative African-Americans to discuss President Obama, race, and conservative values in America. The conversation proved interesting for a number of reasons.
First the entire premise of the show seems to betray Glenn Beck's central arguments on racism. Beck has criticized liberals before for focusing too much on race or for assuming that African-Americans can know more about race than others. The heart of Beck's approach toward race is that we should all be "color blind" and nothing should be assumed about any person based on race. Yet in his show Beck assumes that this group of African-Americans can best speak to the issue of race and conservatism in America.
Secondly Beck's group actually excludes a large majority of African-Americans who actually hold views contrary to those attending his show. Beck holds out his mostly conservative audience as the norm among African-Americans. Many in his group even attended ultra-conservative Tea Party protests. The crowd generally cheered when President Obama's agenda was called socialist and no one had any problems with the liberal policies being called racist. Statistics show that an overwhelming majority of African-Americans actually support President Obama and Democrats in general. 96% of African-Americans voted for President Obama in the last election. Lest you think this vote was based entirely on race 88% of African-Americans voted for the losing Democratic candidate John Kerry in 2004. Yet Beck's audience was seriously devoid of any liberal voice. In essence Beck picked out the conservatives among African-Americans (who do not represent the majority of that group) and essentially appointed them as the "voice" of the entire group.
Finally in the clip below Beck actually makes a tremendous amount of assumptions (which may even be racist) about his audience. Beck plays an audio clip in which a group of women talk essentially talk about how Obama will give them money for free. Beck was attempting to condemn the entitlement culture within America. The question is why does Beck assume that his African-American audience would be especially qualified to comment on the audio clip? Beck is assuming that the women in the clip are African-American and that his audience (because they are African-American) must know about this entitlement culture and how it developed.
Comments
When Glenn gets on some meds I'll be happy... I've seen less tears while watching "Old Yeller" with five year olds. The far right is not my home.. I guess I'm a R.I.N.O... G
Beck doesn't have to prove he's not a racist. Nothing in his past would indicate that he is a racist!
Nothing a conservative could do would be proof enough to a lib that he wasn't a 'racist' anyway, so why would he bother to try?
(Though, libs are VERY careful to be 'fair' and not call a Muslim who'd made previous radical anti-american, pro-suicide bomber statements and who shouted their war-cry as he murdered 13 and injured many more, a 'terrorist'!)
Sorry a show ABOUT black conservatives made you so uncomfortable. I guess that 5% simply shouldn't have a voice??
Sorry a show ABOUT black conservatives made you so uncomfortable. I guess that 5% simply shouldn't have a voice??
the best thing about a black democrat president?
all of a sudden foxnews has been hiring blacks as "contributors" to say the things white people couldn't say...so, at least black job opportunities have gone up at fox (as long as you are willing to badmouth Obama).
Liberalism truly is a mental disorder!! Liberas continue to twist and manipulate facts to fit there worped sence of the world. Your anaylis of the Beck show and particularly about race is baseless nonsence and shows liberal feable attempt to relate to real issues. Becks show is always consistent conservatism and libitarianism. Regardless of race, sex or religion, he talks to the individual. Liberals cant grasp the fact of individualism, there understanding of the world is grouping inot victimes. Liberal are childlike. Grow up and read the constitution.
I watched the show, Ryan. your statement is incorrect. Glenn did not hold out his mostly conservative audience as the norm among African-Americans. He is just saying that there are black conservatives who would like to be heard. Did you intentionally misepresent the facts?
Glenn stated several times on the show.....this is a group of people the mainstream media doesn't believe exists (black conservatives). Great show! Time and time again Glenn has brought things to our attention no one else in the media does and he is correct...(Van Jones, Anita Dunn, White House Counsel etc., etc.....I will keep watching.
Not only does the mainstream media not know they exist but self annointed "black leadership," that earn their living from promoting victimology, don't recognize them either. When was the last time you heard the so-called black leaders talk about successful black businessmen, scientists, doctors, etc.? Just giving them some air time to speak was refreshing. It would have been interesting if more of them could have told their success stories because no one else seems to let them speak to mixed TV audiences. I think Beck should have more of them on his show as individual guests just to show others that they exist and why they are good examples of American success for everyone, not just blacks.
This article just shown a bright light on your own ridiculous bias. This has to be the worst interpretation of the show that I can imagine. You put spin on spin and then turned it upside down. I just laughed out loud, then felt sad because people believe the same as you.
No Toad Face
It is "You", who just called Beck's guests, Uncle Toms. Didn't you!
We get the Liberal African American view 24-7. God forbid you and others see that there are Conservative African Americans.
It is your racism showing here buddy boy. Along with your defensive posture.
Remember in the early sixties the American Black family was intact and whole. Poor but whole.
The out of wedlock births was 15% in 1960 and now? It's 70% in the black community.
Now, because of Libs like you, black kids are raised by 15 year old Mothers with no Fathers. Then as these kids hit their teens, they look for the only Father figures in sight, and they join Gangs to fill that void. This is the net result of the "Liberal Democrat do gooder policies", of the last 50 years.
Nice job, pinko social engineers.
Thanks you White Liberals in Congress, for rewarding deviancy and making the black community dependent on Government.
Even Bill Cosby recognizes this, you should as well.
RE:Gigi,schex,mike,klatoo,Robert,Birdie,Scott,Bluto
The late Segregationist Strom Thurmond, the Southern US Senator who once led the charge for racial segregation, had a daughter by a black woman. Here’s my point Sen. Thurmond rallied against Black people but in disguise he really loved then, it was all about getting voted back into his district which of course at the time was raciest. Now Glenn Beck is the reverse, he has Black people on his show to look like he loves them to get ratings, but in reality he despises then, don’t you see the parallel?
P.S. Ryan, I’ll stay on topic, you write great articles, these Right Winger needs a good verbal spanking
Sorry about grammer and spelling, im hitting a lot of posts today and typing really fast........
Ryan, did you watch the same show I did? You say "First the entire premise of the show seems to betray Glenn Beck's central arguments on racism "...... No the premise of the show was to show the world that there are conservative African-Americans...plain and simple and to give them a voice!
And the Second "Secondly Beck's group actually excludes a large majority of African-Americans who actually hold views contrary to those attending his show. Beck holds out his mostly conservative audience as the norm among African-Americans." Again, did you watch the same show I did? No he didn't, It was a show with a central theme that, there are really conservative African-Americans, yet you never hear about them. As if, they do not exist! And he gave a few, and yes hand picked..as if all guests of any show are not hand picked, based on the topic, a forum to speak their minds! And just what is wrong with that?
There was never a hint that these people represented anything other themselves!
I thought I was a cynic!
This idiotic article PRESUMES Beck is a racist. Why?
just wonders says: Ryan, did you watch the same show I did?
Of course not! He gets all his clips from Media Matters.
This article (loosely termed) assumes many things, and most are not based on fact.
You mean those 'ultra conservative' Tea Parties with lots of Democrats and independents in attendance?
You are a loon.
RE: All you Tea Baggersa
So you’re saying Glenn is not a racist cause he had a couple token blacks on his show?
@TEG
"So you’re saying Glenn is not a racist cause he had a couple token blacks on his show?"
No we're saying Glenn Beck is not a racist because he has never done anything to suggest that he is a racist. The racist accusation is simply another in a long line of baseless personal attacks because nobody can refute his facts.
RE:Wally
Larry Graig did nothing to indicate he was gay, until he got caught, the same will happen to Beck, not the gay thing, but hiding being Black people to indicate he’s not a racist until he gets caught….
Agin,Sorry about grammer and spelling, im hitting a lot of posts today and typing really fast........
@TEG
Ah, I see I've made a mistake by making a rational point. By your logic, everybody on the planet that has done absolutely nothing to suggest any racial bias is, in fact, a racist. It is clear that you, like the author of this article, did not even watch the show.
RE:Wally
My logic only relates to Glenn Beck.
“What is not seen or heard is behind a tragedy”
Look at that, I can make fake quotes like Beck….
What a contrast in the mentality of the intelligent conservative blacks who were on the show. When asked if any of them had been called a sell out almost all of them acknowledged they had. Good for them for having the courage not to be defined by the status quo and it was so refreshing.
Just compare them to the mentality of Professor Lionel McIntyre of Columbia University who was arrested recently because punched a female colleague in the face in a racially charged argument about “white privilege” or those that love Obama because they want handouts.
One thing the Conservative blacks grasp is the latter mentality is bondage not freedom. They are true leaders and should be role models. Look at great minds like Thomas Sowell who I admire and respect. The progressive group black and white could learn something from them, if only they would….
There is a good article by Shelby Steele - The Loneliness of the “Black Conservative”
hoover.org/publications/digest/
What a contrast in the mentality of the intelligent conservative blacks who were on the show. When asked if any of them had been called a sell out almost all of them acknowledged they had. Good for them for having the courage not to be defined by the status quo and it was so refreshing.
Just compare them to the mentality of Professor Lionel McIntyre of Columbia University who was arrested recently because punched a female colleague in the face in a racially charged argument about “white privilege” or those that love Obama because they want handouts.
One thing the Conservative blacks grasp is the latter mentality is bondage not freedom. They are true leaders and should be role models. Look at great minds like Thomas Sowell who I admire and respect. The progressive group black and white could learn something from them, if only they would….
There is a good article by Shelby Steele - The Loneliness of the “Black Conservative”
hoover.org/publications/digest/
TaxExemptGod:
No I do not see the paralel.
I see libs who declare Beck a racist with no evidence whatsoever and condemn those who call Obama a racist though there is plenty of evidence. This is the 'logic of the left'!
I do remember republican, Trent Lott losing his Majority Leader position for merely complementing Strom Thurmond for his presidency run (50 yrs in the past) on his 100th birthday. Funny how none of this came out then.
And another thing, Ryan, the title of your article leaves you with a lot of spainin' to do that wasn't done.
RE:Debs
Your diatribe was boring, listen Conservative African American will never be taking serious not even in there own party because there black, plan and simple… People like me (libs) knows African American conservative are only pretending to be a Republicans so they can fight the power within …
TaxExemptGod:
People like you "libs" always think you know everything. That's why you're going to be beaten so badly at the polls next year, because you are too arrogant to take the American people seriously. Be afraid, be very afraid.
Again, I’m sorry to inform you but Ronald Regan is dead, so you don’t have a chance in the next election, but hey you still have Palin, please bring her on…
You're incredible. Just because Glenn Beck wanted to host a panel with black conservatives to get their views on current affairs, you accuse him of trying to prove he isn't a racist? When did race ever enter into it at all?
Um, only when YOU brought it up by implying that he is a racist.
Really, do you honestly think that the only reason to have African Americans on his show is to deflect so-called accusations of racism? You honestly think black conservatives have no worthwhile thoughts or insights to contribute to politics and society? Because that, had you actually watched the show, was the entire point of it. Beck was trying to get the insights of black conservatives--not liberals--and draw attention to the fact that they do exist, and their opinions do matter, despite such opinions being a minority within the African American community.
Continuing on from before...
It is simply sad and pathetic that you apparently think that black conservatives have no valuable or worthwhile insights to share with America, Mr. Witt, for that is exactly what you have implied by accusing Beck of using them as audience props to disprove so-called accusations of racism.
African Americans are not simply audience props, Mr. Witt, as you suggest by your accustation, but real people with thoughts and feelings and opinions that are every bit as valuable and worthy as those of any other race--whether those views be liberal, conservative, or anything else.
RE:Andrea Simoncic
Yes, Yes, Yes, that’s the only reason he brought them to the show is to exploit them to say hey "I’m not a racist." Hey Thomas Jefferson was against slavery but he didn’t want to give his slaves up… Glenn is not fooling anyone except you Tea Baggers
RE:Andrea Simoncic
Hey Andrea, what's the names of the 31 books you read?
RE:Andrea Simoncic
Is one of them My Pet Goat?
Andrea Simoncic says:
"...is simply sad and pathetic that you apparently think that black conservatives have no valuable or worthwhile insights to share with America, Mr. Witt,..."
it wasn't WHAT they wanted to voice, it was WHERE they wanted to voice...they were being exploited by Beck and willingly so...THAT exploitation is what negated their voice...(sort of like a conservative family values message spoken inside of a porn movie...it almost becomes it's own satire)
Ryan Witt:
The title of this article is unfair unless you prove within the article that it's true.
Your premise that Beck is accused of being a racist because he is a conservative and because he has criticized Obama is true.
But, nothing about being a conservative merits an accusation of racism.
And nothing about criticizing a sitting president for his actions, words and policies merits an accusation of racism.
You presented no evidence to prove that Beck had Blacks on his show for any other motive than the ones he gave.
I love how libs accuse conservatives of being racist if they criticize a black man.
Don't any of you remember how badly you behaved with Clarence Thomas?
When the same people who made a mountain out of a mole 'Hill' with Thomas later defended Bill Clinton's long list of shenanigans, the hypocrasy was astonishing!
RE:Gigi
Clarence Thomas was a naughty, naughty man there was defiantly something up with him.
Some of the main people who were howling against Bill Clinton were caught in sex scandals them self, i.e. John Ensign, Larry Graig Etc… so don’t bring up Bill because you don’t have a leg to stand on…..
TaxExemptGod:
Most of the people who were defending Clinton's many transgresions had been attacking Thomas a few short years before for much much less.
My point was also that Clarence Thomas is a black man and libs didn't let that stop them from attacking. Yet many of them insist that conservatives are racist when they do the same.
RE:Gigi
Again Clarence Thomas was rotten, the Dems new that, plus Thomas was a conservative of course we would bash him..
TaxExemptGod:
Clarence Thomas was not rotten compared to Clinton. And yes, it's fair to go after him for his difference in politics. That was my point. We're going after Obama. That doesn't make us racists.
RE:Gigi
Sure it does, your listening and getting your talking points from Rush, Beck, Ingraham
And Fox. We on the other hand get\ our opinion from our self’s not talking points…
I am coming to the realization that everyone is a racist in their own way. Even the animals I see are racist. I was at the park feeding the ducks. The black ducks ran with the black ducks, and the mallards were with mallards. The worst ones of all were the white ducks.
TaxExemptGod:
That is incorrect. We don't agree with them because we listen to them; we listen to them because we agree with them.
We have to go out of our way to find them. I want to listen to someone who reminds me of the intelligence of Ronald Reagan; not the stupidity of Jimmy Carter!
RE:Frankly my dear
True very true...
There is a misconception that people that are social creatures are intelligent. The opposite is true, they are less resourceful and are needful of the pack. The intelligent people tend to be loners and self reliance is a virtue. The sociopaths that are our leaders relying on the Sheela to control the masses and money to push their own selfish agenda. It is really scary when these manipulative predators team up. They are wolfs in sheep's clothing using fear and tyranny as there tools.
RE:Frankly my dear
You nailed the Republican party to a tee…
I don't think Ryan watched the show so you can't really blame him for the anti-Glenn spin. He just isn't cool with the fact that he can't find anything Glenn has lied about, so he comes up with this sad commentary. I've seen a lot of this anti-Glenn Beck smear campaign. The more I see, the more convinced I become that Glenn Beck always tells the truth.
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