In the past few weeks Glenn Beck has spoken about the coming caliphate that he believes is about to envelope most of the world. He then dilated on the anti-Christ with a man who says he has “new prophetic understanding into the end times.” In 2009, this self-proclaimed prophet wrote a column titled “What Obama and the Anti-Christ Have in Common.” Then, on a recent show, the discussion focused on the coming Islamic anti-Christ. And earlier this week, an irate, bellicose Beck spoke about the “perfect storm” America faces. “I can’t honestly believe we’re finally here,” he said in praising his own prescience. In his version of events, Beck is the solitary Voice of Truth willing to expose the New World Order (complete with references to Van Jones and Code Pink).
It’s hard to tell how much of what Beck says is sincere and how much is for show. Whatever the case, and even taking into account the entire MSNBC lineup, Glenn Beck has become the most disturbing personality on cable television. One cannot watch him for any length of time without being struck by his affinity for conspiracies and for portraying himself as the great decoder of events. Political movements are not just wrong; they are infiltrated by a web of malevolent forces. Others see the shadows on the wall; Beck alone sees the men casting them. The danger when one paints the world in such conspiratorial terms is that it devalues the rational side of politics. It encourages a cast of mind that looks to expose enemies rather than to engage in arguments. Few things, after all, are as they appear.
Beyond that, of course, is the sense of impending doom, of the coming Apocalypse, of our world being on the edge of calamity. If taken seriously, this has the effect of creating fear, hopelessness, and feelings of helplessness.
All this is quite troublesome in its own right. But what ought to worry conservatives in particular is that Beck not only has the unusual capacity to discredit virtually every cause he takes up; he also confirms the worst caricatures of the right. What was true before is doubly true today. It looks to me like it’s only a matter of time — and I suspect not much time — until he blows apart professionally. If and when that happens, one can only hope that conservatism as a movement will have created enough distance from Beck to mitigate the damage.
[...] Click here to read more. AKPC_IDS += "71362,"; [...]
[...] on the website of the conservative monthly magazine, Commentary, Peter Wehner writes today that Beck is “the most disturbing personality on cable television” and that’s [...]
[...] [...]
[...] Wehner at Commentary wonders why anyone still takes seriously the person he calls the most disturbing personality on television: In the past few weeks Glenn Beck has spoken about the coming caliphate that he believes is about to [...]
[...] Glenn Beck: The Most Disturbing Personality on Cable Television – In the past few weeks Glenn Beck has spoken about the coming caliphate that he believes is about to envelope most of the world. He then dilated on the anti-Christ with a man who says he has “new prophetic understanding into the end times.” In 2009, this self-proclaimed prophet wrote a column titled “What Obama and the Anti-Christ Have in Common.” Then, on a recent show, the discussion focused on the coming Islamic anti-Christ. And earlier this week, an irate, bellicose Beck spoke about the “perfect storm” America faces. “I can’t honestly believe we’re finally here,” he said in praising his own prescience. In his version of events, Beck is the solitary Voice of Truth willing to expose the New World Order (complete with references to Van Jones and Code Pink). [...]
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[...] The Most Disturbing Personality on Cable Television Peter Wehner 02.24.2011 – 9:37 AM [...]
[...] most disturbing personality on cable television The Most Disturbing Personality on Cable Television Peter Wehner 02.24.2011 – 9:37 AM In the past few weeks Glenn Beck has spoken about the coming [...]
[...] Peter Wehner on Beck specifically, but what he writes could apply to any of them: It’s hard to tell how much of what Beck says is sincere and how much is for show. Whatever the case, and even taking into account the entire MSNBC lineup, Glenn Beck has become the most disturbing personality on cable television. One cannot watch him for any length of time without being struck by his affinity for conspiracies and for portraying himself as the great decoder of events. Political movements are not just wrong; they are infiltrated by a web of malevolent forces. Others see the shadows on the wall; Beck alone sees the men casting them. The danger when one paints the world in such conspiratorial terms is that it devalues the rational side of politics. It encourages a cast of mind that looks to expose enemies rather than to engage in arguments. Few things, after all, are as they appear. [...]
[...] Peter Wehner on Beck specifically, but what he writes could apply to any of them: It’s hard to tell how much of what Beck says is sincere and how much is for show. Whatever the case, and even taking into account the entire MSNBC lineup, Glenn Beck has become the most disturbing personality on cable television. One cannot watch him for any length of time without being struck by his affinity for conspiracies and for portraying himself as the great decoder of events. Political movements are not just wrong; they are infiltrated by a web of malevolent forces. Others see the shadows on the wall; Beck alone sees the men casting them. The danger when one paints the world in such conspiratorial terms is that it devalues the rational side of politics. It encourages a cast of mind that looks to expose enemies rather than to engage in arguments. Few things, after all, are as they appear. [...]
[...] try to paint him as a conservative. But conservatives disown him. Joe Scarborough, Pat Buchanan and the wacko Alex Jones — all conservatives — think [...]
[...] refers to a recent blog post by conservative writer Peter Wehner calling Glenn, “The most disturbing personality on cable [...]
[...] All this is quite troublesome in its own right. But what ought to worry conservatives in particular is that Beck not only has the unusual capacity to discredit virtually every cause he takes up; he also confirms the worst caricatures of the right. What was true before is doubly true today. It looks to me like it’s only a matter of time — and I suspect not much time — until he blows apart professionally. If and when that happens, one can only hope that conservatism as a movement will have created enough distance from Beck to mitigate the damage. (Source) [...]
[...] But it’s more than that. In Commentary there was Peter Wehner: [...]
[...] week in Commentary, Peter Wehner became the latest conservative commentator to call out the Fox News host’s absurd ramblings. He [...]
[...] him and his guests as nuts, but they are all having a serious impact on US dialogue and politics. The Most Disturbing Personality on Cable Television Peter Wehner 02.24.2011 – 9:37 AM In the past few weeks Glenn [...]
[...] Beck is losing it The Most Disturbing Personality on Cable Television Peter Wehner 02.24.2011 – 9:37 AM Glenn Beck has become the most disturbing personality on [...]
[...] Wehner, writing in Commentary, dubs Beck the “most disturbing personality on cable television” and follows it up with [...]
[...] blog post by another conservative, named Peter Wehner. The title of Mr. Wehner’s post is “The Most Distrubing Person on Cable Television.” A portion of the post said; In the past few weeks Glenn Beck has spoken about the coming [...]
[...] point in this piece — Beck’s rants are a threat to conservatism and dangerous for the nation. If you [...]
[...] week in Commentary, Peter Wehner became the latest conservative commentator to call out the Fox News host’s absurd ramblings. He [...]
[...] courtesy to Beck himself, Peter Wehner during Commentary has a must-read post that includes this: In a past few weeks Glenn Beck has oral about a entrance caliphate that he [...]
[...] Peter Wehner calls Glenn Beck “the most disturbing personality on television”. What ought to worry conservatives in particular is that Beck not only has the unusual capacity to [...]
[...] was browsing Huffington Post yesterday and came across this article, in which Peter Wehner, a staunch conservative, describes Glenn Beck as the most [...]
[...] Peter Wehner, a conservative commentator wrote on his blog (which Scarborough read on his show) that “Glenn Beck has become the most disturbing [...]
[...] News have to start thinking, this can't last. He's out of control." Scarborough then read a blog post by conservative commentator Peter Wehner. "Glenn Beck has become the most disturbing [...]
[...] citizens speaking out against extremists. Peter Wehner, a former aide to George W. Bush, observed with some concern recently of Glenn [...]
[...] week in Commentary, Peter Wehner became the latest conservative commentator to call out the Fox News host’s absurd ramblings. He [...]
[...] Wehner, writing in Commentary, dubs Beck the “most disturbing personality on cable television” and follows it up with [...]
[...] afterwards review a blog post by regressive commentator Peter Wehner. "Glenn Beck has turn a many unfortunate celebrity on wire [...]
[...] The Most Disturbing Personality on Cable Television — Conservatives on Glenn Beck. He’s your boy, enjoy him. (Though in fairness, Beck’s ratings have been in steep decline, so maybe there’s a limit even on the Right.) [...]
[...] he has seen his ratings and popularity fall to the point where other conservatives feel free to rip into him like a garden-variety Democrat. As I pointed out last December, Sarah Palin’s poll numbers [...]
[...] apologized.) Even the conservative Jewish magazine Commentary has been alarmed by Beck; writer Peter Wehner described him as “the most disturbing personality on cable television.” Glenn Beck has turned [...]