A Week With... Part 1

Okay folks. If there is anything about which I have told you, for which you need to be sitting down. It is this. Yeah, I know I know, I have come up with some real zingers. But, THIS I tell you, is it! Ready? Okay. With the help of the marvel of technology that is my Tivo, I watched, although not all in one sitting an entire week's worth of Glenn Beck's television program (July 27 to July 31, 2009). "How could you do such a thing??", one might ask. Well, one reason would be, so you don't have to! I also do some additional fact checking of my own, to further verify the legitimacy of whatever claims he and/or his guests make. There was a lot of territory he covered during that one week period of time, and of course, I will not include all, since there are too many issues that confront us as it is.

I will tell you upfront there was plenty of misrepresentation of fact. Not so much because of outright lies, but omission of detail. But I have to give credit where credit is due. Whether you love him or hate him, Glenn Beck has appealing to the lowest possible common denominator, figured out down-pat.

With the hottest political issue basically being health care reform, I would have to say what you just heard from him, while doing his radio show, may really seem to take the cake based on the sheer theatrics alone, but the poop really hits the fan when he tries to fake his dabbles in nuance. Take for instance, an audio recording he played on-air, of Obama being asked a question on health-care reform (to make the case that Obama doesn't know what is in a certain proposed healthcare reform bill): "Is this true? Will people be able to keep their insurance and will insures be able to write new policies even though H.R. 3200 is passed?" Answer: "You know I have to say that I am not familiar with the provision you are talking about." Beck uses that to conclude Obama doesn't want the public to know what is in the plan. But he did not cite the source of the sound-byte. The person, who questioned the President, in this audio recording, did not have his named revealed. Furthermore, one can also not conclude, with complete confidence, that Obama's entire answer to that question was broadcasted on the program. Last but not least, no consideration was given to the fact multiple revisions were made within the proposals for health-care reform.

Of course, this post-series can not be complete without honorable mention of one amongst the glorious array of program intermission entertainment options, which may now serve as the politically correct term for "commercials". Watergate burglar G. Gordon Liddy can be seen and heard, peddling gold, and begging you to purchase it from a certain gold dealer. That's right ladies and gentlemen, from being caught (oh, he didn't have his pants down that time, now I understand why I should view him as legit) in a criminal act, to prison, to talk radio, and now your very own living room, bedroom, or bathroom (yuck!), heeeeerre?s Gordy!

More on this to come!