Glenn Beck Apologizes For Reform Judaism Comments: 'I Didn't Do Enough Homework' (VIDEO)

Glenn Beck apologized for comparing Reform Judaism to "radicalized Islam," saying on his Thursday radio show that he had made "one of the worst analogies of all time."

Beck made the analogy on his Tuesday show. Reform rabbis, he said, "are generally political in nature. It's almost like Islam, radicalized Islam in a way." His comparison was "not about terror," he stressed, but "about politics, and so it becomes more about politics than it does about faith."

This brought swift condemnation from several different Jewish groups, most notably the Anti-Defamation League, which called the comments "bigoted."

On Thursday, Beck delivered a lengthy mea culpa. "I was wrong on this," he said. "I also apologize for it...I've always told you to do your own homework and in this case I didn't do enough homework.

He said that his comments had been "ignorant," and that, as soon as he made them, he knew that he had been wrong.

"It was a nightmare," he said.

WATCH:

Comments

[Slight Return]

02:09 AM on 03/05/2011

The pavement should be his roof _________________________________

[tedmore123]

12:03 PM on 03/01/2011

The King of Making Shit Up admits he 'didn't do his homework'? What homework? This dick doesn't even use a script much less do reasearch on it to assure accuracy. He picks a target, hurls a bomb at it and adlibs the rest of the show...then he hopes some loony-toon that his message resonates with snaps and carries out the vengeance suggested by Beck. (See George Soros and the Tides foundation & Byron Williams)

[conservicide]

06:21 AM on 02/28/2011

You NEVER do ANY homework.

hence Beck repeated the 5th grade and became a GOP standard bearer

[candcje]

02:44 PM on 02/27/2011

So I posted a comment trying to explain to Mr. Beck that "r@d!c@l!zed" any religion is going to be similar, but to try to equate the most r3l!g!ously lax version of a particular r3l!gion to that of his favorite target is downright ludicrous.

I pointed out that my relaxed tribe is generally a left-leaning crowd who's aim is to live and let live - within the confines of national l@w. That we own our behavior, rather than give credit for our annual performance raises to a higher power or blame our wanton behavior on our failure to listen to said higher power.

Apparently all this concerned the HP censors and my comment failed to make it live. So, here I try again in a more censored and less flavorful version.

Mr. Beck, before you bash any other group of people in the future, I strongly encourage you to look in the mirror...

[Jerusalem Pulse]

05:19 PM on 02/27/2011

Glenn Beck loves the Jewish people and Israel. Don't let his one mistake of words cloud your judgment. His ongoing support is what makes the man. Those of us familiar with his words and his causes know this to be the unequivocal truth.

Sadly, you show your ignorance by saying "radicalized any religion is going to be similar". Radical Islam is the ONLY religion with suicide bombers. Radicalized Islam is the only religion that seeks world domination and death to all who are not like them. You cannot say the same of a fundamental Jew, Christian, Buddhist, etc.

Perhaps you should remove the mirror from under your bottom before trying to have anyone else look into it.

[candcje]

12:21 AM on 02/28/2011

I believe the crusades were a Christian matter. And I am aware of ultra orthodox Jews in Israel who would gladly kill those they deem to be the enemy. Radicalized means exactly that - the views of those individuals are extreme to the nth degree and they would in fact do harm to others. We could look right here in this country at those radical, fundamentalist Christians who believe so strongly against abortion that they have somehow rationalized killing adults who seek or provide or receive those services is justifiable. They're even trying to change the law to declare that particular type of murder to be justifiable homicide.

Same melody, different lyrics, my friend. I'm sure that Mr. Beck declares his undying love and support for Israel. We require their alliance as much as they require ours - it goes to our security and access in the middle east. That doesn't mean he has any clue about who we are or any real affection for us as a people. My mirror is clean and shiny. Yours?

HP, I hope you do not censor this post as even though there are some likely trigger words, there is only intelligent discourse and no threats.

[saltpeter]

02:48 AM on 02/28/2011

Face it, it wasn't a MISTAKE that Beck falsely compared someone or a group that took him to task for his loose facts and dangerous rhetoric to either Hitler or EXTREMISTS, he does that with EVERYONE he disagrees with.

Just like he thinks that RADICAL ISLAM are leading the democracy movement in the Middle East and Northern Africa even though there is ZERO evidence to support that theory. Maybe if actually had REAL researchers instead of a bunch of yes men serving up support for his increasingly wayward narrative, then he would know it. And he would also know that everyone who disagrees with him isn't some sort of Muslim Maoist Mexican extremist.

[Kenyatta J Yamel]

01:46 PM on 02/27/2011

I don't think he does any homework. He just shoots from the lip

[crydespite]

01:45 PM on 02/27/2011

Amazed that a nationally-syndicated commentator would even need to do "homework" to not get something as basic and uncomplicated as this wrong. Seems like all you need to be on the radio is to have real strong opinions (about nothing in particular) and then read up a bit to try to back those opinions up for specific cases. Pathetic level of knowledge for someone in his position.

[candcje]

02:17 PM on 02/27/2011

In this case he didn't even bother to "read up a bit" he just took, likely out of context, some comment a friend made over a few drinks the night before and ran with it for all his sheep, I mean listeners.

[saltpeter]

02:52 AM on 02/28/2011

This is typically how Beck functions, he gets something up his crawl one morning, then does precisely five minutes of research on it (which is five more minutes than any of his audience will ever do) and then tries to sell his wayward findings as facts. If you're someone who is actually an expert on the issue or you've done even, say, six minutes of actual researcher, you know how full of it he is. That's why I always implore those who take him seriously to please, for the love of all things holy, to do the SIX MINUTES of research and stop buying anything that Beck says.

[Orph1969]

01:38 PM on 02/27/2011

If Progressive people had as strong an anti-defamation arm as Jewish people, Beck would be apologizing 24/7.

Why do people listen to his nonsense? More importantly, why aren't Progressives up in arms over the lies he tells about them?

[Jerusalem Pulse]

02:09 PM on 02/27/2011

Please respond with a list of his "Progressive lies" along with your truth. This should be interesting. Of course, I am not expecting a substantive response.

[ranchero42]

11:57 PM on 02/28/2011

Give me a street address - I'll send you a *substantive* hard copy.

Meantime - here's a link:

http://glennbeckreport.com/glenn-beck-lies/lie-of-the-day-archive/

[CrazyThisIs]

01:36 AM on 03/01/2011

Serious question Jerusalem Pulse, what do you mean by "Progressive lies"? Do you mean lies that he tells about Progressives? If so, I definitely can get you a substantive list. Just want to make sure that is your point before I take the time to type them all out. Well, not ALL. No one on this planet has that kind of time.

Honest inquiry - then you'll get your list.

[Sandee McHale Delano]

09:50 PM on 02/28/2011

It is time. It began Saturday and I know all the people at my rally for WI will talk to everyone they know about the political craziness in this country. Dems are great at grassroots campaigns and that is what we need to do. Talk to everyone you encounter and ask them to take an hour to find out what is going on in this country. This needs to be done now.

[SOD]

11:58 PM on 02/28/2011

Union protests are the antithesis of grassroots.

[Jerusalem Pulse]

01:35 PM on 02/27/2011

Pardon me. Who here can speak for 4 hours once let alone 5x a week w/o making one stupid or terribly wrong statement? MOST of you couldn’t wait for this, so you could dismiss everything else Glenn says that you cannot refute.
You prefer to be uninformed, strapped-down, lounge chair warriors, living off your latest injection of DOPE-a-MEAN!

[mogluver]

03:28 PM on 02/27/2011

Beck reminds me of someone who has a little knowledge and little common sense. I must admit that I don't care to watch or listen to his opinion, that however, does not mean that one is not entitled to an opinion. He seems to repeat his opinions over and over again which serves to ingrain them into the listener. The more he rants, the more conviction he demonstrates on the subject. I do believe it is unfair to take selected cuts of his text and slam the man, however from what I have been able to see he seems to be over emotional and mostly inaccurate in his opinions. What I can not understand is why Fox seems to think the man is an asset, to this person he demonstrates a continued liability.

[Jerusalem Pulse]

05:01 PM on 02/27/2011

So few people are willing to buck the system and think for themselves. Glenn Beck, whether you love him or hate him is his own man. While I do not agree with all of his points of view, when he speaks about something with authority versus one of his opinions you can bet it has been researched by him and his staff again and again.
We can all have opinions of people, but for them to have merit, they must be founded on first-hand information. An opinion based on second-hand rhetoric is nothing more than babble.
ALL AMERICANS should seek the truth on their own and not just accept what the media spoon-feeds us.

[Sandee McHale Delano]

09:20 AM on 02/28/2011

If you love the man so much, why not just stay on his site? Why are you trolling around here? I am FAR from uninformed, but I hate to burst your Beck Bubble, he is NOT INFORMED about anything but how much money he can make Try some facts.

[Jerusalem Pulse]

12:04 PM on 02/28/2011

How fun would it be here with just a bunch of "Yes" men... and women?
Come on!
This is just further proof that so many of you wish to pat each other on the back to burp up what you all have been spoon-fed by mass media. Its time to wipe the cobwebs from your mind. Time to dig up some info on your own. Stop parroting your media masters.
Sandee, I'm trying to be nice here, but your mouth is moving but all I hear is Blah. Blah. Blah. Come at me with facts. Let's at least have a meeting of the minds. Forewarning: Spitting up what you have been spoon-fed doesn't count.
If you don't like Beck, cite examples why you don't and prove his wrong. No one has to like Beck. They just have to know why they don't. It shouldn't be because all of your friends here say so.
I challenge all of you here to watch Glenn Beck for one week. Then let's discuss what he had to say. When it's a theory he says so, but when he says he has facts he provides proof none of you will be able to negate. He is a man worth listening to. He is not G-d. He is not the Messiah. We must return to the days of discernment. If you find one person in the media who you agree with 100% you might as well crown him your King!

[Brane]

01:18 PM on 02/27/2011

The dogs ate his homework.

[ajsgmajc]

01:17 PM on 02/27/2011

For the people who blindly follow Beck, it might be hard to "unhear" what he has already said. It's already been planted in their minds. Plus, his apology included the word "if'...as in "if I offended anyone", which I hear as "you might think it offensive, but I Glenn Beck do not".

[ConservaYoda]

12:55 PM on 02/27/2011

Beck certainly sets himself apart from the liberal bombthrowers at MSNBC, who are so intellectually dishonest they've lost track of what the truth is.

[pineappaloupe]

01:12 PM on 02/27/2011

mavericky you are

[runtwelds]

01:34 PM on 02/27/2011

are you defending his words?

[thoreau101]

12:26 PM on 02/27/2011

He's a nightmare.

[Robin Kinney Westbrook]

12:12 PM on 02/27/2011

Just about all of Beck's analogies and comparisons are ignorant. Nothing new here, folks.

[StevenM]

12:03 PM on 02/27/2011

He says: "I didn't do enough homework" when he means "I didn't do any homework."

[Thisboy]

11:49 AM on 02/27/2011

Only a fool like Beck could propose and encourage a conflict and/or anihilation of a third of the world's population because of the religion that most were born into. Obviously Beck believes false accusations,insults and disparaging an entire religion will be of benefit in an already troubled world.