MMFA Denounces CNN's Decision to Sign Glenn Beck

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

( Since it's a press release, there's no need to excerpt)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 17, 2006
4:08 PM

CONTACT: Media Matters for America
Daniela Colaiacovo, 202-756-4124 or [e-mail]; Jeremy Funk, 202-756-4109 or [e-mail]


Media Matters for America Denounces CNN's Decision to Sign Controversial Conservative Radio Host Glenn Beck;
Beck has Referred to Katrina Victims as 'Scumbags' and Once Proclaimed: 'It Took Me About a Year to Start Hating the 9-11 Victims' Families'

WASHINGTON - January 17 - Media Matters for America today criticized the reported hiring by CNN Headline News of controversial, nationally syndicated conservative radio host Glenn Beck. Beck has signed onto the network "for an hourlong talkshow," according to a January 17 report in Variety.

"CNN Headline News' decision to sign Glenn Beck is a slap in the face to the families of 9-11 victims, whom Beck has proclaimed he 'hate(s);' it is a slap in the face to victims of Hurricane Katrina, whom Beck has called 'scumbags,' " said David Brock, President and CEO of Media Matters.

Media Matters has documented some of Beck's more notable comments:

-- On families of the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks: "(T)his is horrible to say, and I wonder if I'm alone in this -- you know, it took me about a year to start hating the 9-11 victims' families? Took me about a year."

-- On Hurricane Katrina survivors who remained in New Orleans: "And that's all we're hearing about, are the people in New Orleans. Those are the only ones that we're seeing on television are the scumbags -- and again, it's not all the people in New Orleans. Most of the people in New Orleans got out! It's just a small percentage of those who were left in New Orleans, or who decided to stay in New Orleans, and they're getting all the attention."

-- Discussing disclosures from a caller who claimed to have tortured prisoners in U.S. custody: "I've got to tell you, I appreciate your service. ... Good for you. Good for -- I mean, good for you. Is it because you did it for the country? ... I have to tell you, when all is said and done, I'm glad people like you are on our side."

-- On filmmaker Michael Moore: "Hang on, let me just tell you what I'm thinking. I'm thinking about killing Michael Moore, and I'm wondering if I could kill him myself, or if I would need to hire somebody to do it. No, I think I could. I think he could be looking me in the eye, you know, and I could just be choking the life out -- is this wrong?"

-- On the father of Nick Berg, American civilian executed in Iraq: "The want to be a better person today than I was yesterday says he's a dad, he's grieving, but I don't buy that. I'm sorry, I don't buy it. I think he is grieving, but I think he's a scumbag as well. I don't like this guy at all."

"For CNN to tap an unapologetic preacher of hate signals a desperate and misguided ploy for ratings without regard for the thousands of Americans Beck has offended with his malicious commentary," added Brock.

###
http://www.commondreams.org/news2006/0117-17.htm

[Fridays Child]

1. Please, everyone, let CNN know what a huge mistake they're making.

If they get enough complaints, maybe they'll back down. I mean, my god, do they understand what a horrible, un-American person Beck is? He openly admits that he hates the 9-11 victims. The man should not only not be on CNN, if we buy into the right wing's rhetoric, he should be stripped of his citizenship for siding with the terrorists.

[Cha]

2. I'm hoping cnn gets to pay for

their Gargantuan Stupidity someday.

[applegrove]

3. I still say it means that every time he talks - a Dem pundit will get

to put it on the line. Might even attract some of us back. Like the regular Fox viewer is a wing-nut, could be that the regular Liberal viewer will actually hear the words they want to hear - every day.

[Fridays Child]

4. Kick!

[wookie294]

5. I urge everyone to cancel their cable subscription

Or, at least downgrade your cable subscription to a lower tier that doesn't have CNN. Do you really need those idiot cable news channels? You can find all the inane and funny video by surfing Media Matters, Crooks and Liars and a dozen other websites, so you don't need to subscribe! Just say NO to cable news!

[trogdor]

12. And what tier would that be?

The Static and Snow Tier? The Infomercial Tier? I bet most places you can't get cable at all without getting at least one channel of CNN.

[ugarte]

6. Shocking, and I'm not easily shocked

At least they used to make some noise about balance, now they don't even bother pretending.

[EST]

7. Why should we care?

CNN is making a stupid mistake, displaying their own venality. Their faux wannabe act will net them a percentage of the die-hard neoconsters, already a rapidly fading rabid resource. There is no liberal media-in terms of the 24 hour a day regurgitation of r/w talking points and self congratulatory smears and cnn has chosen to compete for an already over served audience. So who cares?
People who are wise enough to have chosen or lucky enough to have stumbled into a way of thinking that has a reasonable, rational basis for dealing with others and the universe will not be swayed in their natural disgust for the haters and cheaters that make up the "ethics and values" mental cripples.
Those unfortunate victims of their own taliban-lite thinking will have another ultra right wing outlet that they can rail at for being too liberal. I, for one, refuse to be involved in pointing out to these fools the already too obvious stupidity of their thinking. The cnn powers that be already have evaluated this and a composite wail from our side of the fence will not only have zero effect on their decisions, it will also inform them of a direct hit scored, further confirming their astuteness and perspicacity.
Let 'em go to hell in their own handbasket.

[robbedvoter]

16. net them neoconsters? Why would they leave Faux?

No matter how RW CNN gets, Faux still cornered the inbred market and will vilify CNN to keep it so.

[EST]

21. Sure, they will defend their own rapacity.

[radfringe]

8. yet another reason NOT to watch CNN

about the only time I even bother to "peek" at CNN is if I see a news crawler that catches my eye when I'm surfing, once that particular crawler passes by - I'm back to surfing

[radfringe]

9. yet another reason NOT to watch CNN

about the only time I even bother to "peek" at CNN is if I see a news crawler that catches my eye when I'm surfing, once that particular crawler passes by - I'm back to surfing

[Catch22Dem]

10. CNN/TV contact info

http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form4a.html?1

[TheFarseer]

11. Does he really need an hour to trash Hollywood?

and verbally spit on poor people? Maybe 10 minutes would be more appropriate. and maybe once a month so he will have time to re-phrase his ad-nauseum attack on Hollywood and poor people.

[Evergreen Emerald]

13. Another example of the neo-cons uprooting those who used to

hide under rocks because of their unacceptable behavior. Ugly, dangerous, violent and now mainstream enough to warrant his own nation-wide talk show. The problem with allowing him this forum is that the others like him will believe they are the norm and the ugliness is acceptable.

[DemonFighterLives]

14. I'm writing CNN later

I can't believe they would stoop so low, I mean continue on their downward path.
A bunch of righties from Glenn Beck's station post on another site. They are seriously deluded and think blech is funny. :puke:

I used to like CNN too!
:hurts:

K and R

[maxrandb]

15. I'm sure it will be followed by an hour long show hosted by Randi Rhodes

right???? :sarcasm:

Another indication that our country is dead

Stick a fork in it, it's done.

Hey Neo-cons, shut the lights out when you're done.

[hogwyld]

17. My god, what has happened to the country

I loved? USA 1776-2000. May she rest in peace. When did caveman thought become mainstream?

[OnionPatch]

19. When I wrote to them I said

the only way I could not object to their bias by signing Beck would be if an extreme, left-wing, loud-mouth and abrasive liberal were to co-host or be the counter. Now that might actually get them some ratings, eh? I bet Randi could tear Beck a new one. (Not to say she's a loud mouth or anything...eh hem...)

[jn2375]

18. CNN needs to have an organized boycott started against them

[sofedup]

20. I've just emailed CNN...

...while CNN is part of our basic cable package and can't be dropped, it can be blocked and I intend to do so...there's nothing on CNN that can't be gotten elsewhere. I've already blocked Faux. I don't know why I find this news of Beck's hiring surprising, but I do. I reminded CNN that the radical right is not the majority- they're just loud.

[CBHagman]

22. More pandering to the boorish and ignorant and just plain...

...MEAN. Why does our country coddle people who do little more than sit on their rear ends, have their calls screened, and occasionally pop up to spew some ignorant chatter on the airwaves?

Come to think of it, that's how the top of the executive branch is run these days. :-(

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

23. kick

.

[bpilgrim]

24. Glenn Beck Attacks Katrina & 911 Survivors - > mp3

windows...
http://news.globalfreepress.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-3237

everyone else...
http://news.globalfreepress.com/mp3/glen-beck-quotes-aar-af-01-19-06.mp3

peace

[farmboxer]

25. CNN is baised against Democrats and has been since before

the 2000 coup! They are so biased it has become prefabricated!