Glenn Beck Radio Show: Rick Sanchez Can't Say Beck Responsible For Murder Because Of DUI (AUDIO)

Earlier this week, CNN's Rick Sanchez accused Fox News -- namely Glenn Beck -- of creating an environment of fear and distrust that has led to a surge in gun violence, in particular tying last week's Pittsburgh shooting to "Fox News and right wing radio."

Watch that clip and read Jason Linkins' take on it here.

On Beck's radio show Thursday, Beck and staff lashed out against Sanchez, calling Sanchez "the one guy who shouldn't accuse other people of being responsible for murder" over his 1990 drunk driving incident, in which Sanchez struck a pedestrian who would be paralyzed and later die from injuries sustained in the accident.

"Maybe if you're one of the very few people in our society that has actually been responsible for killing someone," Beck's producer Stu Burguiere ranted, "maybe you should be the one guy who shouldn't accuse other people of being responsible for murders."

Beck attempted to slow Stu down but he continued:

"Maybe you should be the one human being on earth who should not be attacking another personality for killing people, because of the fact that before you worked at CNN, you worked in Miami, and you ran over a person, and that person died. Maybe YOU should consider that before speaking on every occasion. Every time you let words out of your mouth, you should make sure you remember that day."

"Who hasn't gotten drunk, got into a car, and ran over someone?" Beck asked. "That happens all the time!"

Listen:

Sanchez was charged with and pleaded no contest to the DUI in 1991.

Comments

[josefo]

CNN transcript March 18, 2007

Now this. Millions of Americans struggle with addiction. It's a struggle that one member of the CNN Headline News team knows all too well. Glenn Beck started drinking and doing drugs when he was only about 13.

Just after his mother, an addict herself, had committed suicide, Beck talked about his ordeal with our Paula Zahn.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: When you were at your absolute rock bottom, walk me through a typical day.

BECK: I would get up, do the show, run the radio stations, come home, by 5:00, not a second after, I would pour myself one tumbler. I would smoke a bong, and take it from there.

ZAHN: Were you doing this with kids in the house?

BECK: Mm-hmm.

ZAHN: Did your kids see you...

BECK: No.

ZAHN: ... get stoned?

How disgusted.­..

(CROSSTALK)

BECK: You know what, Paula? It's -- I don't know if you can see it with all the makeup on. I still am embarrassed. And I am still -- it's the worst -- it's the worst thing I have ever done.

[xlntcat]

The media, right and left, should be held accountable for their unethical behavior. Beck should be charged with reckless endangerment and only a controlled random drug test would convince me that he is recovering versus actively using. Driven by self promotion, the media is becoming as reckless and the bankers and do little more than spread rumors, half truths and out and out lies. Cable news uses newspaper articles as their one and only source. Unfortunately, there is little evidence that newspapers are doing investigative reporting or that they have a genuine source. On the other hand, why shouldn't the media follow the same protocol as congress. Congressional hearings have become an embarrassingly sad joke and quote The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal without verifying the facts. If they spent less time posturing and preening and being wooed by lobbiest and showed some evidence that they had bothered to look up data to which they have full access, they might actually get around to providing responsible legislation.

[needlefingers]

News attacking news. It gets so boring guys.

[Amunaka]

Well......­Hate Radio is just that....



Rwanda Tribunal Finds Media Executives Guilty of Genocide

December 9, 2003

http://www.crimesofwar.org/print/onnews/rwanda-print.html

[mstrbones]

>Rick Sanchez- Anti gun activist.

Well, Mr. Sanchez had his own moments with problems, but one should not confuse an accident, (even alcohol induced), with pulling a trigger on a gun pointed at an innocent.

[trunk65]

Ah the reformed drunk, the ex-smoker, the recovering addict. Always self-righteous, smug, and sanctimonius, telling the rest of us the wisdom gained by the path of recovery and the struggle to right past wrongs. Careful of the stones you throw, I have a feeling, Mr. Beck, there are more than a few skeletons rattling around in your closet.

[LeftRight]

So suddenly the left is being held to the "cast no stones" argument?? In that case I would like to insist that the right be held to the same standard!!

Either that, or we can realize that people make mistakes, and they live with the consequences of their actions, and that just because a person made a mistake in ONE direction they can still understand mistakes in OTHER directions, and call them what they are!

[lungfish]

Beck spews hate speak and it is hardly a stretch to think that among the whackjobs in his audience that one might be provoked to lunacy.... at least Olbermann fact checks.... Beck just spews emotional nonsense. His lack of respect for his vocation and his abuse of Rick S who clearly has a conscience and a sense of social responsibility is deplorable­.... there is a major difference between contrition over a mistake and paying the price that society exacts - and it wasn't a murder charge, by the way, - and Beck just flinging his own excrement as a response to legitimate criticism.­...

[trief]

"his abuse of Rick S who clearly has a conscience and a sense of social responsibility"

He fled the scene after the accident. He came back later with some lame excuse about drinking at home after the accident to calm his nerves. He is a liar and a coward. You need to stop defending the deplorable actions of those who represent your ideas.

[dphilip]

Rick Sanchez- Anti gun activist.

[stondem]

I suppose "lyrics" in music also contribute to murders across the country? You should all get a life!

[BonesofWrath]

stondem, good point. But when you get the right message during the right time it's like gasoline and fire. I'm not saying crap is going to hit the fan because of Beck but I wouldn't be surprised if it did. Just as I wasn't surprised at that shooting. People are pissed and they're looking for someone or something to blame. High profile figures are much more able to kindly push something than say a song, or video game. You get someone who has the ability to sympathize with the little people and is able to portray himself as one of them getting squeezed like you, you will be amazed what he can do. And he's doing it. (you know he's just telling it like it is, you know, *sniff, tears fall down Glenn's cheeks* See Marg, he's cryin' on the big tube, he's gotta be real).

How far it will get is another story.

God is in the T.V. - Marilyn Manson

[I once had a Crysknife]

I think it's rediculous when people accuse anyone in the media of being responcible for someones actions that they have never met. I remember when I was a kid, my mother taught me to not jump off a bridge or a building just because some other kid said to do it. Since then I have enjoyed jumping off a bridge many times of Barren River Resevoir.

[NKR]

In the Nick Adenhart thread, most people are saying the drunk driver who killed Adenhart should be locked up and the key thrown away.

But when Rick Sanchez kills someone while drunk driving, its OK.

There's a discrepancy here.

[jmpfjoy]

Wow, these cable news guys eat their own!

Please remember that was a mistake and error in judgement that occurred 18 years ago and Rick Sanchez is a changed man because of it.

One cannot say the same about Beck as he deteriorates into the black pit of his own madness.

[zelduh]

Nevertheless, that's a pretty big "Oops!"

[Lalita Amos]

The writer says: "'Who hasn't gotten drunk, got into a car, and ran over someone?' Beck asked. 'That happens all the time!'"

Beck, should remember the quote "There but for the grace of God go I"--particularly given the fact that he's an avowed recovering alcoholic and substance abuser.

More than likely, in his past he got altered and slid behind the wheel of a car. Beck was right in snarking "That happens all the time" because, while drunk and drugged, he did it all the time, too.

Pot. Kettle. Black.

[yorkriver1]

So, Beck may be on a dry drunk. (state of emotional imbalance, in danger of returning to drinking if not eased) Food for thought.

[Hemmingplay]

I didn't know about the Sanchez traffic death story before now.

But what, exactly, does that change about what Glen Beck did/said? The smear tactics aside, whether Sanchez is guilty of something doesn't absolve Beck. That's a logical falacy.

I mean, I know why Beck pulled this attack out of his producer's pea brain, but I don't think it matters in the current debate in the least.

[JustMyWords]

Sanchez did something irresponsible and dangerous, and caused irreparable harm - and he knows it, and he admitted it. Wouldn't that make him a logical person to point out irresponsible, dangerous, and potentially harmful behavior when he sees it?