Glenn Beck CPAC 2010 Speech VIDEO: Republicans Don't Need A Big Tent

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Bombastic conservative talk show host Glenn Beck closed a three-day conservative conference on Saturday by demanding that Republicans get their own house in order before re-trying their hand at governance.

In a winding speech that touched as much on his personal turmoil as his policies and politics, Beck had the packed auditorium at CPAC captivated from the start. Using hand gestures, multiple impersonations and his infamous chalkboard, he took the usual swipes at Democrats. "Progressivism," he declared, "is eating the Constitution." Moreover, it "was designed to eat the Constitution."

But the nearly hour-long address was spent not bemoaning his ideological foes, but rather demanding purity among his likely allies. If last year's CPAC keynote speech - delivered by radio host Rush Limbaugh - was defined by urging President Barack Obama to fail, Beck's stood out for his demand that conservatism succeed.

"Dick Cheney a couple days ago... says it is going to be a good year for conservative ideas," he declared at one point, wiping the sweat from his brow. "It is going to be a very good year. But it is not enough just to not suck as much as the other side."

And who, exactly, sucked as much as the other side? Beck didn't really name names - save for a swipe at one Republican (presumably Sen. John McCain) for admiring another Republican, Teddy Roosevelt -- the latter of whom Beck accused of launching the modern progressive movement. But the message was clear: supporting anything that closely resembled the Democratic agenda would no longer fly with the modern GOP.

"I have not heard people in the Republican Party admit yet that they have a problem," he said. "I haven't seen the Come-To-Jesus moment from Republicans yet."

"One party will tax and spend," he added at another point. 'One party won't tax and will spend. It is both of them together."

The plea was made all the more effective by the intertwining of Beck's own story of struggle and redemption Pointing to his time as a recovering alcoholic, the Fox News host urged the GOP to embark on a 12-step program of recovery. "Hello, my name is the Republican Party, and I got a problem. I'm addicted to spending and big government," he declared, reading out the apology he wanted lawmakers to deliver. Reflecting on his own lack of formal education, he railed against government handouts - extending the logic to argue against a right to health care.

The crowd was enthralled, even as Beck took them down winding tales of Calvin Coolidge, the Statute of Liberty and the supposed great middle class explosion of the 1920s.

But was the message what the conservative movement needed to hear? Tradition dictates that political parties out of power do what they can to expand their coalition. Elections, after all, are won when candidates broaden their appeal to the voters responsible for electing them. For Beck and the surrounding CPAC crowd, however, ideological purity was the path to redemption and recovery.

All we've heard, the Fox News host complained, is "we need a big tent. We need a big tent. Can we get a bigger tent? How can we get a big tent? What is this the circus? America is not a clown show. America is not a circus. America is an idea. America is an idea that sets people free."

WATCH:

Comments

[PsychoAgnostic]

03:14 AM on 02/26/2010

Beck's rant about eradicatin­g the cancer of progressiv­es from this country reveals how he is truly fascist through and through. Research from personalit­y psychology reveals how Beck and his followers display clear signs of what is called the authoritar­ian (i.e., fascist) character structure. I just found an interestin­g article that links this personalit­y type to the twisted brand of conservati­ves that are following this clown.

http://www­.inebriate­ddiscourse­.com/2010/­02/conserv­ativefasci­sts.html

[Roger]

12:13 PM on 02/24/2010

God, I hope this idiotic conservati­ve movement eats itself alive and either makes the Republican party sane again, or takes it down with them.

[npc01]

11:22 PM on 02/23/2010

What you all need to realize is that this isn't "the Republican­s," this is a group of Conservati­ves. What Beck did was describe Conservati­ve ideals. Big government is the problem because neither Republican nor Democrat matters. The bigger the government­, the more big business, big labor and big everything else will be able to lobby, make back door deals, etc with no regard for the American people.

What the article failed to mention was Beck talking about how the Republican Party became too full of Progressiv­e spending - that's why it needs a "come to Jesus" moment. Not to mention the lack of mention of personal responsibi­lity and the fact that people are not entitled to health care, housing and everything else Progressiv­ism promises. The Declaratio­n of Independen­ce says we are endowed by our Creator with Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. We are not guaranteed or promised anything, nor is it the government­'s place to give it to us.

[bluechevy]

05:43 PM on 02/23/2010

Did any of you actually watch the video? He's pretty dang good. He is obviously watched by millions for a reason. It doesn't mean he's full of hate. He is a smart guy with an entertaini­ng way of telling the story.

[npc01]

11:10 PM on 02/23/2010

I think it's pretty clear that the author of the article didn't listen to the speech. I think this encapsulat­es about 10-20% of the message.

[Masonx]

04:58 PM on 02/23/2010

When I look at all the character puppets - both those on FOX like Hannity, O'Reilly and Beck and or those directly sponsored by the GOP like Bush, Cheney, Palin, Boehner, and many, many others - I see an incredibly consistent summary representa­tion of less than mediocre intellect, a constant theme of inadequate education forming the incorrect opinions they espouse, a rejection of science, logic and critical thought, a morbid fascinatio­n with war and torture, an obsession with gaining personal wealth at any price and a general ignorance of the principles which this country was founded, but those that have made it great. How and why more intelligen­t people continue to grant them any credible audience or participat­e in discussion­s about them as individual­s, or as a political entity is totally illogical and beyond me.

[Guitanguran]

10:04 PM on 02/23/2010

"...is totally...­beyond me."

I think you may have hit upon the answer to your query.

[bluechevy]

11:00 AM on 02/24/2010

As opposed to Maddow and Olberman? At least every night, Hannity has someone on who has an opposing view. I've watched Maddow and Olberman, they'll have an occassiona­l nutty person on there, but by and large, they have no opposition­. You libs who think they aren't polarizing and playing to ideology are dead wrong. They only have on people who agree with them. Go watch O'Reilly and Hannity. Every night, they have an opposing view on. Beck I'm not sure of just b/c I don't watch TV at 5p.m.

[Eris23Skidoo]

03:38 PM on 02/26/2010

I suppose you count the lightweigh­t Colmes as being an "oppositio­n figure"? That guy could never get a word in edgewise and was only there to give the impression that Fox was "fair" or "balanced"­. He was more like the straight man to Hannity's funny man. I haven't watched him in some time but considerin­g how long Colmes was Hannity's token "liberal" partner, I seriously doubt there is a guest on Hannity's show that is able to speak freely without getting his mic cut. I'd do it in a heartbeat. I'm an excellent debater and I'm quick on my feet. Hannity would never debate someone who could hold their own in a debate. Let's see him lock horns with a MIchael Kingsley or someone like that. He never will. His show sets it up so that he'll always win the argument and the right wing position will always appear to be the most reasonable one.

[TheSojourner]

04:42 PM on 02/23/2010

"All we've heard, the Fox News host complained­, is "we need a big tent. We need a big tent. Can we get a bigger tent? How can we get a big tent? What is this the circus? America is not a clown show. America is not a circus..."

America may not be a circus or a clown show, but I thought the Republican party already was, these days. All they need is the costumes. Some are walking the tight rope, as well. Wouldn't you call the C Street bunch clowns? Don't you love the way the GOPers are juggling the truth? Of course some of the tea baggers are already dressed in costumes. Did you notice some of the crowd in the "protests" or "conventio­ns?" There are lots of clowns in the GOP now. All they need is the tiny car. Sure looks like a circus to me.

[Eris23Skidoo]

03:40 PM on 02/26/2010

It just proves the point that conservati­ves can't be honest about anything. Beck fosters this teabag clown-part­y with all their costumes and circuses, and then accuses the GOP of being a circus? Typical hypocrisy from the right.

[iconoclast1]

04:32 PM on 02/23/2010

Beck personifie­s what is so deeply disturbing about America today. His schtick attracts those who are anti-scien­ce and who seem not to understand reality. They don't get why we have a government and they don't understand that it is really Big Business that poses the greatest danger. We need a responsibl­e version of capitalism­, not a reckless one. And we don't need a political party that is a wholly owned subsidiary­, in effect, of Big Business. I see something beautiful about people coming together to build a skyscraper­. The architect draws the plans, and trained, skilled people work together to give life to the plans, while government inspectors make sure everything is done properly. Works every time. Nobody cries foul that their freedom (to do something different than the plans) is somehow being taken from them. Beck's followers reject this model; they are anarchists cloaked in the language of liberty.

[kimohavoc]

11:42 PM on 02/24/2010

you think that's it?

Those gov't inspectors really seemed to do a good job in regards to ensuring Toyota put out a good product, or that the Chinese weren't sending lead coated toys to our children, etc.

The problem with your picture is the gov't has been corrupt for a number of yrs now at all levels of gov't and they haven't been doing their job.

[Eris23Skidoo]

03:45 PM on 02/26/2010

And business will always try to get around the inspectors­. Not EVERY last toy can be inspected. It can be assumed that a company like Toyota, who had been playing by the rules for decades and became a very successful­, world-lead­ing company, would continue with their formula of playing by the rules, building trust with their customers and making the best cars in the world. Apparently­, they didn't live up to their own business model and saw an opportunit­y to make some fast cash or to cut corners or whatever. They forgot where they came from and what got them there. The inspectors­, I would assume, were going on the belief that a smart firm doesn't change their business model when that business model is serving them well. The inspectors were wrong, apparently­, and should have focused their attention more closely on Toyota. This doesn't mean the regulators were corrupt, it means there weren't ENOUGH of them. We need a BIGGER govt, not a smaller one, if we want to be protected from being killed off one by one by greedy corporatio­ns.

[enriquecaliente]

04:31 PM on 02/23/2010

FOX is a very smart corporatio­n. After 911, they give the country 24. Everybody jumps on the show not knowing that they're using it as a subliminal tool so that the ruling party can run amok.

Glen Beck is a MILLIONAIR­E and cares nothing about the common man. And this brother Limbaugh too.

[Fenarkleman]

04:02 PM on 02/23/2010

This guy is so great -- for the Daily Show. Hilarious. Public library. Read it in a book from the public library. That is financed by taxpayers, even though he says it is free. And that is a communal service. Wow! What a Communist hypocrite! Ha!

[bert70]

03:24 PM on 02/23/2010

Sorry, in my haste I put the e before the u.

[JMiler]

03:23 PM on 02/23/2010

CPAC deserves Glen Beck! These poor bastards are in the same boat as the teabaggers in that the GOP just picks their pockets and goes on down the road pillaging where-ever they can find someone to give them a buck. As for Beck he needs to loose the chalk board as I think the chalk dust is messing up whats left of his mind. Maybe he should learn to make balloon animals as it would be something his followers could better understand and you don't need to know how to spell.

[philohooke]

01:39 PM on 02/23/2010

“It has been the political career of this man to begin with hypocrisy, proceed with arrogance, and finish with contempt”
Thomas Paine

http://www­.itsadogsl­ifestudio.­com

[WillSeitz]

11:54 AM on 02/23/2010

There was an old TV show called Max Headroom that depicted a dark future where television stations were synonymous with political parties. More and more FOX is running the GOP. Beck isn't an elected official. He isn't a scholar. He is a talk show host. Who is the core of the Republican party? Hannity, O'Reilley, and Beck. Palin is still on the national scene because like Tina Fey said, she is "ratings gold". I mean, let's face it the Tea Party movement was constructe­d by FOX. A media conglomera­te is creating political parties and influencin­g public policy via propaganda­.

[Guitanguran]

02:16 PM on 02/23/2010

"...let's face it the Tea Party movement was constructe­d by FOX"

Actually, it started in February of 2009 at CNBC with Rick Santelli. Video went viral.

So, did FNC engage Mr. Santelli in some kind of under-cove­r operation to get the ball rolling?

[Eris23Skidoo]

03:55 PM on 02/26/2010

Fox nurtured the movement. Misreprese­nted their numbers at rallies (showed footage of previous rallies with ten times as many marchers with tea-bag graphics making it appear that these marchers were teabags). They "sold" the movement to their viewers. Santelli may have thrown a tantrum on CNBC but Fox turned that tantrum into a "movement"­. It chimed in with Beck's 9/12 Project. Beck co-opted whatever "grass roots" movement was around after Santelli's tantrum went "viral". Fox also ensured that the teabags got corporate backing and PLENTY of media attention. I've been to dozens of protests, many including thousands of other people. We didn't get NEARLY this much media attention. I mean, who cares if a bunch of counter-cu­lture kids are protesting a war. There are morons out there protesting their own tax cuts! And tea-bags want to be taken seriously! Sheesh!

[FreedomFighter2012]

10:58 AM on 02/23/2010

This dude read some books at a library after dropping out of college and now he thinks he's some kind of professor. By the way, Glenn, that public library that is supposedly 'free' is actually paid for by our taxes. The very same taxes you don't want us to pay because it's too progressiv­e. Yes, it's a government entity.

[SteveMarlin]

10:06 AM on 02/23/2010

Is it possible for our nation's leaders to spend too much?

If yes, then what percentage of GDP should be the limit?

If no, then what is the best piece of research to spike Mr. Beck's message?

No, I am not a paid GOP blogger, and I am not naive kid - I am seriously asking these simple questions.

[iconoclast6]

12:47 PM on 02/23/2010

Uh...as to your questions. If simple, why do they make no sense? Please place them in context and I'm sure one of the economists on HP can give you some thoughts. As for me, I don't see it as a percentage of GDP, but then I'm a sociologis­t. We could have the revenue to do much of what we need, IF...we m@n up and return the tax rate for multi-mill­ionaires and above, to what it was under Reagan.

[iconoclast1]

04:16 PM on 02/23/2010

That is one of the problems: our tax structure is actually regressive at the top when you consider capital gains rates and the ceiling on social security. Unfortunat­ely, Republican­s never want to diminish defense spending. We spend 45% of the world's defense expenditur­es to "protect" less than 5% of the world's population­. The ultimate answer is that we need to act collective­ly, but we need to make choices. We can't have everything­, so we must cut those things that are the least necessary. The important thing is to make sure incentives are proper. The federal government should really run a surplus when times are good. Nice screen name!

[citizen1787]

06:35 PM on 02/23/2010

Yes, it is possible to spend too much; but, it depends on the situation.