Sorry, Glenn Beck's Job is Not Protected by the First Amendment

As expected, my call for News Corp to fire Glenn Beck over his assertion that Obama's policies are motivated by his secret hatred of white people was met with outrage by Glenn Beck fans.

Based on the hate mail I received, the pro-Beck arguments boiled down to this:

• Beck's job is protected by freedom of speech

Please. You don't really believe that, do you?

I wasn't recommending that Beck be prosecuted. I didn't say Beck doesn't have a right to think or say that Obama's decisions result from a secret loathing of more than half the country. Of course he does!

What I said was that Beck's remarks were offensive and inappropriate enough that News Corp should sack him. I also observed that News Corp's defense--that Beck was just expressing his personal opinion and that News Corp allows commentators to express their personal opinions--was B.S.

How do we know it's B.S.? Because if Beck's personal opinions included any of the following, News Corp would toss him out on his ear:

• I believe that Hitler had it right and that all Jews should be killed
• I believe that child prostitution should be legal so poor parents can make a living
• I believe that blacks should be deported

News Corp, moreover, has already demonstrated its willingness to can employees who express views that News Corp is unhappy with. Earlier this year, Peter Kafka of All Things D points out, News Corp fired Roger Friedman, a FOX News movie reviewer, because he watched and reviewed a pirated copy of the movie Wolverine. Here was their statement at the time:

Roger Friedman's views in no way reflect the views of News Corporation. We, along with 20th Century Fox Film Corporation, have been a consistent leader in the fight against piracy and have zero tolerance for any action that encourages and promotes piracy. When we advised Fox News of the facts they took immediate action, removed the post, and promptly terminated Mr. Friedman.

So please don't think that News Corp can't sack Beck because of what he believes.

The First Amendment protects Americans from being prosecuted by the government. It does not allow employees of private corporations to say whatever the heck they feel like saying regardless of how much it embarrasses their employers.

So what's the real reason so many Beck fans think that he should not be fired?

• They agree with him
• They think this particular opinion deserves to be implicitly sanctioned by News Corp
• They forgive him this one moment of offensive idiocy

See Also: Glenn Beck's Money Machine

Follow Henry Blodget on Twitter: www.twitter.com/hblodget

Comments

[achleyboy]

10:42 AM on 08/30/2009

So according to your logic, I guess Keith Obermann should be fired as well too. Or better yet every talking head at MSNBC. I sure hope they feel good about their 401k's investments being matched with GE stock.

[KansasGirlygirl]

12:46 PM on 08/27/2009

I don't happen to agree with Glenn Beck in his assertion that Obama is a racist, however, I do believe that this guy is onto something. My husband and I, both democrats, started seeing something happening soon after the big bank bailout this year, so we started doing some research and paying closer attention to the news. What is happening in this country is unbelieveable, however there are many people, blinded by their loyalty to their party, that just can't see the forest for the trees. This is not about the Dems vs the Republicans, this is about America and our freedoms and our responsibilities as citizens of this country. As for the press, it appears that many of them on mainstream news, aren't reporting what is actually happening in this country, it's as if they're getting their news from the Obama administrations perspective, not really objective at all. So Glenn Beck, regardless of his political beliefs, is reporting what many of us are already aware of, that something sinister is happening in this country and many are not able to see it-not yet anyhow! There will be a crisis, soon, that will change this country forever, prepare yourself.

[gorth]

09:24 AM on 08/26/2009

The President should not have, said anything in the first place, about the incident with the police officer and the profeser, and glenn beck should'nt of said the president has racial issues, and as for the press and media, they just like to add fuel to the fire, so who do you beleive.

[SewaneeLeftist]

02:23 PM on 08/25/2009

I came to this late, but it's a good article. Of course, firing Beck would not be an infringement of his First Amendment rights. But even in market-driven supposed-news, SOME place has to exist for something remotely within a mile or two of truth, and some consequences for lying. If he said he was certain that the sun revolved around the earth, he could get away with it if he cloaked it as personal religious belief, but if he claimed it as scientific truth, and then based all the claims of his commentary on it, he would be gone in a heartbeat. Calling our President a racist is pretty close to claiming the sun is revolving around the earth, and race is certainly one of the bases of his commentary. So... fire him, put in a fact-based commentator and watch the ratings of Faux News rise because of the novelty.

[klondiker]

09:43 AM on 08/24/2009

Of course not. The first amendent is applicable between a citizen and the government NOT between a citizen and his employer.

Moreover, putting pressure on Beck's advertisers is the essentially using a market-based approach. If advertisers feel that it is not in their economic interest to advertise on Beck's show, they will withdraw. Simple as that. Surely right-wingers who worship the free market can appreciate that.

[jhamm1]

07:01 PM on 08/23/2009

"I believe that blacks should be deported "

Are you kidding? Fox News would have absolutely adored him if he said that.

[ReealOne]

06:09 PM on 08/23/2009

Great point Henry! And spot-on.

One must conclude that News Corp's unwillingness to sack Glen Beck for expressing his "views", boils down to the lot of them sanctioning them. And News Corp believes that they can use Beck to say what they're really thinking..... while they claim that he has a right to "free speech"... no matter how damaging or embarrassing Beck is to their holdings. Pure and simple.

[tantrictim]

04:48 PM on 08/23/2009

with regards to the three "fireable" offenses you raise, he has come pretty darn close on the third one, but instead of "blacks", beck truly believes that all muslims in america should be deported, however given that islamaphobia still generates ratings amongst low information voters, i doubt fox will ever fire him over that

there are many examples of his islamaphobia, but here is one in particular that was particularly offensive to both muslims (and blacks)

"On the November 14 edition of his CNN Headline News program, Glenn Beck interviewed Rep.-elect Keith Ellison (D-MN), who became the first Muslim ever elected to Congress on November 7, and asked Ellison if he could "have five minutes here where we're just politically incorrect and I play the cards up on the table." After Ellison agreed, Beck said: "I have been nervous about this interview with you, because what I feel like saying is, 'Sir, prove to me that you are not working with our enemies.' " Beck added: "I'm not accusing you of being an enemy, but that's the way I feel, and I think a lot of Americans will feel that way."

http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/200611150004

[Melissa]

09:14 PM on 08/23/2009

Politico is reporting that some of the advertisers are pulling their ads from all cable talk shows "liberal and conservative" so as not to offend any of their customers. Pretty interesting, the boycott now appears to be involving not only Fox but also MSNBC. Be careful what you wish for.

[KidMohair]

05:50 PM on 08/25/2009

If this is anything approaching truth, ( Politice makes me doubt) then fine.

We have Jon Stewart, Joan Walsh, Katrina Vanden Huevel, and many other oulets for progressive news and opinion other than MSNBC.

[Ronin2uib]

04:47 PM on 08/23/2009

Fellow Huffposts,

Glenn Beck is spinning a tangled web. Good. It best to know who is what. Fox News spreads fear, anger, and confusion. They speak of themselves. The ratings tell me what percentage, of Americans, are fearful. The rest of Americans have other interests; sports, fashion, music, etc.

Time(s) moves on, and Fox News stays in its hole. A small percentage have all of the power, and fear can be defeated by vote. I do no want Beck, and ilk on the streets, homeless. They have done that already, why should we? Why must the oppressed become the oppressor? Have we matured enough to know, or is it a game of victim and power?
So how is that working, for us?

Insult is an indication of fear. The Fox News menagerie of rancorous puppets speak to the past. As power slips away, anger escalates. If they want to fight, are we not better than that? G.Beck and kind are abandoning sanity. They will be so scary, many will be scared away.
Lunacy losses support, when faced with reason.
It is beginning to happen. How many sponsors has G.Beck lost?

Best wishes,
Ronin Kannushi.

[UNLVGOP]

03:04 PM on 08/23/2009

Umm...commentators on MSNBC have called many people in this country racist without merit...why don't they get fired? How about Olbermann refering to protestors/organizations as "political terrorists".

Chris Matthews said it's his job to help make this presidency successful....how could anyone trust him as reliable news source...he should have been fired immediately.

[beautyontheinside]

08:12 PM on 08/23/2009

Chris Matthews said it's his job to help make this presidency successful

SO you think a reporter who is trying to help the president have a successful presidency is a BAD thing???
Wow you really ARE messed up. I feel VERY sorry for you.

[BOin08]

03:27 PM on 08/29/2009

Yes, a "reporter" trying to make the President "look good" or "bad" is a bad thing....real reporters simply report the facts and let the audience form their own opinions. Fortunately, Chris Mathews is not a reporter. Neither is Keith Olbermann, Ed Shultz or Rachel Maddow. They are all political pundits. They are paid to do one-sided political analysis and commentary for MSNBC. Same for Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity and Glen Beck, on Fox news. .

[beautyontheinside]

08:13 PM on 08/23/2009

BTW the protesters/organizers ARE political terrorists, if they use fear and bring guns to political rallies.

[bobncar]

01:21 PM on 08/23/2009

Moving thru a line of facts and coming up with a logical conclusion leads to this: We have elevated America to a country dominated by political leadership motivated by corporate greed.

It's in their best interest to de-educate and brainwash the general population.

In the process, K thru 12 education has been so dumbed down that kids surviving the education mill are at best, drones for the low paying jobs or cannon fodder for war. Most can't read, thus get the majority of their information from what they hear,or learn from internet social sites (facebook, my space, twitter, etc.) and right wing/hate spewing talk radio. As for the older section of our population? They are so busy trying to survive the latest low economic situation that the only information available to them is what can be derived from talk radio while traveling from one of their three part time jobs necessary to survive. Result?....you got t!!!

[blindjester]

04:40 PM on 08/23/2009

Your statements about the failures of American education are so exaggerated and grossly distorted that it undermines an otherwise excellent point--that we are dominated by a political leadership that is motivated by corporate greed.

Ironically, it's corporations pushing the meme that schools are failing.

With high-stakes tests and mandated constant, permanent "improvement," all school will eventually find themselves declared failing. Then "reformers" can insist that vouchers and charters will save us. (Here in Arizona, the only significant difference between public schools and charter schools is that the teachers get paid about half as much in the charters. Oh, and the charters score worse on tests, overall.)

Corporations don't want to pay any taxes, even to support the education of our young people. That's what's at stake.

[NJmikeV]

11:40 AM on 08/23/2009

"It is a tribute to the First Amendment that this kind of vile contemptible nonsense is so freely propagated." -- Congressman Barney Frank

[hwoodude]

10:25 AM on 08/23/2009

Wake up.....Limbaugh, Hannity, Beck, Savidge, et al exist to get ratings and make money. They do so by arguing, yelling, screaming and berating everything Obama, who was elected by the majority of Americans to be our leader, our president. Our country is in trouble only because of King Bush's 8 year reign of lies, ineptness and law breaking!! Obama is tryiing to rectify this.

America desperately needs to find solultions to our many problems. Yes, we are all entitled to our own opinions but we M U S T ! work out ways to compromise, be patient, and to help the multitude of Americans that are homeless, sick, and jobless. We need to SOLVE problems not MAKE problems!

[noralou]

09:50 AM on 08/23/2009

Beck is such a moron that he seems to have forgotten that Obama's much loved and missed mother was white as where the grandparents that helped raise him.
Beck's statement shows him to be the real racist.

[pangie]

08:42 PM on 08/22/2009

Mr. Beck is a Mormon. Maybe they don't know the old saying, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." We've lost all civility. We attack each other like animals, and get paid big bucks to do it. Disgraceful behavior, and it's getting worse by the day.

[allwrite]

08:20 AM on 08/23/2009

'We'???? I hate to resort to childish rejoinders, but "The right wing started it." Give credit where due.

"You are not entitled to your opinion. You are entitled to an informed opinion." This is a paraphrase of a Harlan Ellison quote. The actual quote suggested that informed opinions were entitiled to greater respect and consideration. However, I like the paraphrase better. It zeros in on a most important element of responsible citizenship in a democracy. Commitment to seeking and promulgating truth.

[BOin08]

03:36 PM on 08/29/2009

Everyone is entitled to their opinions-they're just not entitled to be taken seriously. Just gotta make your case-and that's wehre most Huffer have a hard time without getting all emotional.

[tc2598]

08:48 AM on 08/23/2009

Are you kidding me I had no idea Beck was a Mormon!!

How can one have the cocky attitude this guy has when he's a walking South Park episode?

[Nick D]

01:09 PM on 08/23/2009

He's born again. His mother and brother committed suicide, he became an alcoholic, and was saved. The usual stuff. You almost feel sorry for him. Almost. He definitely belongs more in a place where he can receive care than on television.