Glenn Beck's "Deep-Seated Hatred" for Obama and Why Fox News Won't Budge

If Bill O'Reilly has the "no-spin zone," Glenn Beck seems to have the "sponsor-free zone" of late. In fact, at least 62 companies have ceased advertising on his Fox News program in recent weeks.

It all started at the end of July when Beck, appearing on Fox & Friends, said President Obama had "exposed himself as a guy" with "a deep-seated hatred for white people." After the conservative morning show's co-host Brian Kilmeade uncharacteristically pushed back, Beck reversed himself saying, "I'm not saying he doesn't like white people," before dropping the race hammer once again, accusing the president outright of being a "racist."

The racially provocative comments were nothing new for Beck. Just days before making his controversial "racist" charge against Obama, Beck explained that the "thinking" behind the president's agenda "including this health care bill" was centered on "one idea": "reparations" and his desire to "settle old racial scores."

Beck's most recent racially charged attack on Obama led ColorOfChange.org -- which "exists to strengthen Black America's political voice" -- to take action encouraging the Fox News host's sponsors to stop running ads on his program. As a result, tuning into Glenn Beck these days you're more likely to see ads from companies that are more at home during a 3 a.m. rerun of Golden Girls than a 5 p.m. cable news broadcast. It's out with name-brand companies like GEICO, Mercedes-Benz, AT&T, and Bank of America, and it's in with IRS counseling services, water filtration systems and, of course, convicted Watergate felon G. Gordon Liddy's great deals for the savvy gold investor.

It's become quite clear that advertisers looking for ways to reach Beck's audience may have better luck with cave drawings lest they end up on ColorOfChange.org's radar.

Faced with an onslaught of criticism over Beck's comments, Fox News did its best disavowal/non-disavowal -- a sort of spin-astics, if you will. Bill Shine, senior vice president of programming at Fox News, distanced the conservative network from the "racist" remark saying, "Beck expressed a personal opinion which represented his own views, not those of the Fox News Channel," before defending the talker's right to say whatever offensive drivel pops into his buzz-cut head. Yep, he just as easily could have said, "he can say anything he wants on our network no matter how vile but, uhh, we won't necessarily agree with him."

I suppose Fox News' position on the subject makes sense. After all, if it punished Beck for this comment, just imagine what it would have to do with the positively loony things that come out of Beck's mouth week after week.

The Fox News strategy seems pretty simple: Keep a low profile and hope that the advertisers return to Beck's broadcast sometime down the road once the controversy has died down. The network sees Beck as its slow-yielding though highly profitable cash crop. All it has to do is remain patient.

Let's be honest, Beck's show is a bit like watching NASCAR. Sure, a lot of people tune in for the race, but there's a healthy chunk of the audience just waiting for a crash. As his sponsors have jumped ship, his audience has grown quite a bit, no doubt fueled by the controversy. Few cable hosts play the victim role with Beck's aplomb. Fewer still would have the cajones to beg their audience to have friends tune into the show, which, incidentally, is precisely what Beck recently did.

In the interim, Beck's unique brand of crazy paranoia and baseless attacks on the Obama administration continue unabated.

His conspiracy theory du jour seems more likely ripped from the pages of a Hollywood screenplay than any semblance of reality. Perhaps you hadn't heard Beck's crack "reporting" about President Obama's secret plan to build a "civilian national security force," which of course is "what Hitler did with the SS" -- Beck's words. The basis of Beck's latest lapse in sanity comes from the president's goal of expanding the Foreign Service, AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps. That Obama is absolutely diabolical. Sigh.

All is not lost, though. Beck's CNN kissing cousin, Lou Dobbs, has come out swinging in his defense, saying the Fox News host's detractors are up in arms "just because he had the guts to say what he meant. You know, there's a shortage of that. That ought to be encouraged." Sage words of support from a fellow conspiracy theorist who has yet to atone for his strange obsession with President Obama's birth certificate.

Ultimately, Glenn Beck has exposed himself as a guy with a "deep-seated hatred" for President Obama. I'm not saying he doesn't like Obama ... well, you get the idea.

Karl Frisch is a senior fellow at Media Matters for America, a progressive media watchdog and research and information center based in Washington, D.C. Frisch also contributes to County Fair, a media blog featuring links to progressive media criticism from around the Web as well as original commentary. You can follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, or sign up to receive his columns by email.

Follow Karl Frisch on Twitter: www.twitter.com/KarlFrisch

Comments

[David2]

FoxNews will always support Beck as long as he continues to bring in the numbers. People continue to watch, therefore he still has a job. People continue to listen, therefore he still has a radio show.

A certain pro wrestler promoter named Eric Bishoff once spelled out this formula perfectly in his book: Controversy Creates CASH! FoxNews knows this formula quite well and they continue to bank on it. They know that eventually the steam will run out of the sponsor-bleed and they have Murdoch's billions to keep him paid until it does.

But what they CAN'T do is pay viewers to watch or listeners to listen. You want him gone? Stop watching him and stop listening to him and watch his numbers drop.

NOW... I work with an Internet radio station called ShockNet Radio. (Just Google us, we're not that hard to find.) We will be dedicating a segment on our Friday night show to Mr. Beck and some of the information that has been picked up about him. Hopefully this information will help listeners decide whether or not they should continue to watch his show. Those of you who support him are more than welcome to join in the discussion on Friday and if something about the information we provide isn't right, then correct us on it.

[Factonfact]

That's Rupert Murdoch's Fox News you're talking about, eh?

Murdoch by all reports cares little for anything but his bottom line. As long as Fox News is contributing its share to that bottom line, Murdoch obviously doesn't care for the tenor of its reports. One can only wonder whether or not he even bothers to tune in.

So, when dealing with an absolute bottom liner, then absolutely go after his bottom line. Easy, eh? Sure is. If those who see Fox News for the abomination that it has become were to STOP BUYING anything advertised on Fox News and so inform advertisers, that would get Murdoch's attention, wouldn't it?

So, let's give it a try.

First, someone in the blogosphere with the time and means need furnish us with a list of products being sold on Fox News. And keep us up to date. After that, it's easy.

Anyone?

[Ricardo09]

and him!

[Ricardo09]

And real journalists deal with facts, not personalities... we could talk about promises of bipartisanship, transparency, president of all the people, and failure represent the healthcare legislation honestly. After Palin's (out of order) comments the bill was changed, after Joe Wilson's inappropriate comment the bill was changed... why was that... because the proponents misrepresented the facts.. Intentional? or out of ignorance... Either way, do you want an ignorant person as president as opposed to someone that intentionally misrepresents the truth. Read the Bill, understand the law, and you will see that Abortions will be covered....

[Ricardo09]

Really,
Why can't you deal with the message, and not attack the messengers. Would you like a factual debate? You pick the subject. Obama has appointed very left leaning "advisors" and lied to the public about honduras... You might try educating yourself... Lets deal with the facts: the 9000 earmarks signed into law since this person took office are unconstitutional. As a senator he did sponsor legislation that benefited his wife's employer, and she got a $200,000K raise... That, Sir, is Bribery... Or you might try reading the constitution and study the oath that this person took as his oath as senator and then again as President... then count the ways he has violated both... AS did Bush. So, get smart prior to opening your mouth.. any subject any time.... The truth hurts... ACORN, SEIU, VAM JONES, Jeff Jones, Bill Ayers, Apollo Group.. and lets have a debate... If you can stand the heat... Or lets discuss Honduras.. and Obama's total misrepresentation of the facts... Any time any place.

[RichardSau]

"Beck expressed a personal opinion which represented his own views, not those of the Fox News Channel,"
When FalseNews network keeps this guy on with no viable income through supporting advertisers it sends this message .." We agree with Beck, we see eye to eye..."

[Ricardo09]

I can tell you like freedom of speech, too. If there were no audience, there would be no sponsors... You have it reversed. Why do people watch him and Fox. Who broke the Acorn story, Van Jones? What Channel picked up on the child rapist in Oklahoma that only got a one sentence, and went after the governor and the attorney general? NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN.... nope. Who is reporting on the plight of the farmers in California where your government has shut off their water? ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN... Nope. So I don't necessarily agree with all I see on TV like some of the people that post here, but at least I deal with issues rather than the messengers.... You might try reading a little and try to come to your own opinion... about anything. God you make we worry about our future.

[JavaManiac]

If you have not been sending letters lately to Beck sponsors - do not forget to get on board. you can check boycott foxnews to send your own personal notes "and" join colorofchange.org protest as well.

Do both! If it important that these companies see that most Americans are not supporting this vile behavior!

[Okieborn]

Hey this is why Fox news is going down the tube for lies lies and more lies !!!!!!!

[K.J. Dwyer - Huffpost Blogger]

Instead of focusing on the advertisers that have ceased to advertise on Beck's show, we should be identifying those who continue to do so.

There should be a nationwide boycott of all corporate sponsors connected to his show and others. Hit them where they'll respond. Maybe it can ultimately be extended to their "News" division, as well.

[tj101]

As of 9-14-09, here's the list:

http://jenkinsear.com/2009/08/14/list-of-glenn-beck-sponsorsadvertisers-dropped-remaining/

Shocking to find National Geographic Society on this list. Really? Beck viewers are their demographic?

Thanks for keeping this in the news.

[Ricardo09]

So, I gather you are against the Freedom of speech? is that correct?

[yankees]

And Obama's hatred of Fox and any opposition comes out as well, just listen to his Health Care speech. Why should Fox budge, it's all about ratings and when you are the only station that gives opposing views what do you think is going to happen. Fox now gets Moderate Dems and Independents tuning in. It's not because we agree on most things but it's good to hear what the other side is talking about.

[Lemeritus]

????

Well, I suppose, we've solved another mystery. FOX viewers are so misinformed (and confused) because they actually think they're hearing "opposing views".

[JessWonderin]

Since when as "opposing views" consisted of spouting LIES and MIS-INFORMATION????

Murdock opposes all international efforts to reign in his hate'n'lie filled media empire and one can only hope it ends like all misguided fascist experiments . . . .

[cynicalidealist]

yankees,
and I'm Bronx-born and bred, with respect, I think you're speaking for yourself and that you're hardly a moderate Dem. Fox has no journalistic integrity, not in the way even the Wall Street Journal or The Economist can claim. Why don't you try those publications, they will scratch your itch for a "loyal opposition," and one based on FACTS.

[LMPE]

I've never watched Glenn Beck. I only see his clips when Huff Po, Keith Olbermann, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert rerun them. Beck is the world's biggest joke.

[Ron333wood]

You should suck it up and try to get through his show once in awhile...it's pathetic. And you'll know which products to boycott. Most of his ads now are for conservative mags and authors. The only product was for toe fungus...so appropriate. So buy "tough actin, Tinactin" because that was NOT the brand that was still advertizing with Beck.

[bandit09]

Glen Beck's statements about racism speak more about his racism than other's racism.

[booker52]

Thank you for speaking out loud what my husband and I think is happening here. Beck and others on the right in the media have called President Obama everything but a black man. Disrespect seems to be running rampant from our townhall meetings to last night with Rep Joe Wilson showed his lack of respect for the office of the President, and yes to President Obama.

[vfdowner]

But it's OK when the Dems do the same thing for 8 years of a Republican presidency?

[cariintexas]

Prove it or drop it. Trolls continue to harp on that but have never showed one bit of evidence to back it up. it may sell in wingnut land but not here.

[lukebenward]

It's called "projection". In calling Obama a r a c i s t, he's painting his "enemy" w/ his own sins. McCain did that during that campaign. Now I'm _not_ saying McCain is a r a c i s t.... but Beck most certainly is.

[lukebenward]

Candidate McCain just smeared candidate Obama w/ the same under-handed dirty tactics *he* (McCain) was guilty deploying. Seems to be a Reupblican thing.

[ProfessorDuh]

As Danny Schechter observed, "The mistake that many make is to confuse the trappings of symbolic power with the exercise of real power. Truth be told, real power is exercised mostly by unchecked private interests, lobbyists and our media. They have the power to obstruct policies, stir up controversies and orchestrate pressure to kill measures they don't like. They are a well-funded minority and work skillfully in the shadows and through highly paid PR practitioners."
They also work, and effectively, through Fox News. It is the instrument of the most brazen and dangerous of them. Fox News exists for that reason -- and not, as some seem to think, merely to keep the residents of trailer parks and the captive audiences in doctor's offices entertained. It exists to provide ruthless corporate-driven propaganda, which is the opposite of journalism.