Someone may have spiked the Kool-Aid at Fox News. Glenn Beck, the bombastic belcher of dubious political punditry, publicly exposed himself on his radio program when he attacked Malia Obama, the 11-year-old daughter of President Barack Obama.
Beck, a 46-year-old White man, didn't stop with his reference to Obama's approach to the British Petroleum oil spill by using a silly impersonation of Obama's daughter, Malia, asking, "Daddy, did you plug the hole yet?" He continued the charade, with his radio pal playing the part of Obama, attacking the girl's intellect while also suggesting she believed her father held a hatred for Blacks.
Glenn Beck impersonates Malia Obama
"How old is his daughter, like 13? Is that their -- that's the level of their education, that they're coming to -- they're coming to daddy and saying 'Daddy, did you plug the hole yet?'"
Pretending he was Malia, Beck asked, "Daddy, why do you hate Black people so much?"
Audience Backlash -- Beck 'Statement'
There was an immediate outcry from Beck's audience, which possessed the human decency and decorum apparently missing from the host and producers of the program.
Glenn Beck issued a terse apology on his Web site, simply titled, "Statement from Glenn."
Sorry, Mr. Beck. Your "apology" is akin to an 11-year-old being forced to say the word "sorry" for injuring the the character and reputation of an innocent peer.
I cannot imagine why Mr. Beck, and the rest of his production crew, would presume that racial fodder and drumming up racist hostilities in the Glenn Beck audience is good satire. It is equally disturbing that Mr. Beck has no real sense of history (aside from his oft-referenced Nazi propaganda).
White Man Blasts 11-year-old Black Girl
If I were a Fox News correspondent, I could easily whip this incident into a comparison to the 1963 fire bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church that killed four little Black girls in Birmingham, Alabama, one of which was 11 years old.
Using cowardly tactics akin to the White attackers in 1963, Mr. Beck assumed his podium of power and tossed a verbal barrage of incendiary satire targeting an innocent Black child. Mr. Beck's attack revealed latent racist hostilities that he apparently shares with members of his production crew and fondest fans. The thought of a Black family occupying the White House perhaps is reminiscent of the era of redlining, when Blacks were prevented from purchasing homes in White-controlled areas.
With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility
Fortunately, the banks don't own the home at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The American people do. Sorry, Mr. Beck.
Unfortunately, Mr. Beck commands the attention of a significant segment of the American people. His hostility toward people with whom he disagrees is wrapped by the combination of an American flag and Christian ideology. Yet, Mr. Beck's inability to use his elevated public platform to encourage meaningful dialogue between good people who simply disagree, as well as foster brotherly love, rather than political polarity, belies both his claim as an American and a Christian.
Mr. Beck's personal attack on an innocent child and his insistence on dredging up racist hostilities requires more than an insipid statement of apology on his Web site.
I suggest Mr. Beck demonstrate his repentance by resisting the urges, both internal and external, to introduce racial satire into his political commentary. As an active display of contrition, Mr. Beck might consider expanding his television and radio production advisers with qualified media professionals recommended by the National Association of Black Journalists.
Recovery and Redemption
Mr. Beck can make an immediate start on the road toward fellowship and developing an understanding of diverse points of view by attending the upcoming NABJ conference in San Diego, California on July 28 through Aug. 1. My guess is he would be given an elevated platform upon which he could express his views, even an apology, directly to 2,500 journalists.
It's understandable that media celebrities will attract criticism when they screw up. And it's understandable that they would seek opportunities to address their faux pas. What's not understandable is when such seekers of the public spotlight shun opportunities to repair damage they cause, however unintentional or inadvertent the damage may be.
I'll watch Mr. Beck's road to recovery. The first step is to admit there's a problem. That will require, of course, stepping away from the Kool-Aid counter.
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Pretty powerful and real self accountablitly from Mr. Beck.
worth watching
i actually thought it was one of the funnier things ive heard on his show..
Otherwise he would not have been so shocked when his wife confronted him with the heretofore "foreign concept" that he was being insensitive and out of line.
It reminds me of last November when Bill O'Reilly could not understand the potential for sexism when some of his very own political allies were suggesting that the Newsweek cover with Sarah Palin was at least in poor taste - perhaps even sexist.
Here we go again. Once again another Fox News host is impervious to the notion that a decent compassionate human being may have been able to see that the Palin cover might be offensive to many - especially women.
There is plenty of evidence that commentators like Beck and O'Reilly look at some forms of compassion and decency as a weakness only found in "girly men". Real men are not afraid to hurl insults (a la Dennis Miller) and wear a misogynistic and bigoted party hat with pride as they act out their locker room mentality with a disdain for those who disagree.
Oh, the intent of the headline was a "smear".
2) I think Beck should sit and have a beer with Malia on the WH Lawn so they can "talk things out" (please remind her about the promise of transparency from this administration)
3) When was the last time HP "used It's powerful platform to encourage dialog between good people who simply disagree or to foster brotherly love?"
Puh-leeez this article is an example of a week attempt to create something out of nothing and trick the people into looking the other way, while you steal their watches right off their wrists.
What the hell? How was this "racial satire?" The only "race" related point presented was a reference to statements regarding George Bush's alleged motives for a presumed lack of response to Katrina. "Arrested Development" made a similar joke years ago: "George Bush doesn't care about black puppets."
So to combat perceived "racial" problems with this programming, the host should consult (which means pay) a self-appointed racial group? Like indulgences?
When are the people who hold these archaic views on race finally going to die out? Most people could not care less about "race" anymore. Why do people feel the need to keep bringing it up? Especially when "race" has nothing to with anything.
"Sorry, Mr. Beck. Your "apology" is akin to an 11-year-old being forced to say the word "sorry" for injuring the the character and reputation of an innocent peer. "
Of course it is. Beck is not sorry, nor should he be. He said something that was not in anyway "bad" and people were offended anyway. He apologized to appease the whiners.
Find something, anything, that supports your statement. I think the journey down the path of understanding will be sufficient to open your eyes to the plight and struggles of American minority societies that are held in contempt by many power brokers who control the institutions of money, education and information.
If you truly believe that "race" is not a factor and "most people could care less" then please take some time to support your unsubstantiated beliefs with some objective evidence. I'd be interested in the path you take, the experience you have and the result you encounter.
It's a skin color. Get over it.
I'm a Conservative American with Mexican ancestry. I'm not a Mexican-American. I'm not an American-Mexican. I'm an American.
Most people DO NOT CARE about race or who the current 'minorities' are. The only people who DO care are bleeding heart liberals like yourself with Victicrat mentalities because you've been taught that the evil white man is keeping you down. The only one holding you back is you. Let race go.
The fact you made race so important in this story only proves that YOU are the one that can't see beyond race. Just forget about it. The color of your skin isn't important. You don't need to be an African-American or a Mexican-American or a Chinese-American or anything else. You're an American. Plain and simple.
Just let it go.
Mr. Beck didn't merely malign Malia Obama with his snarky satirical attack on her intellect. He also questioned why President Obama hated Black people.
For Mr. Beck, and perhaps a few others, this is an obscure reference to the charge that Mr. Bush hated Black people due to his inaction while Blacks were left to die in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Mr. Beck apparently believes that his out-of-the-blue comment suggesting Mr. Obama hates Black people is a quick reference for most people directly to the charge made against Bush. This is one of many reasons why Mr. Beck needs to be educated.
Blacks are offended. The question Mr. Beck ought to ask is, "Why?" His knee-jerk reaction was to issue an insensitive general PR apology that can be used to support the notion that Mr. Beck apologized for a mistake. Yet, Mr. Beck didn't really apologize. Nor does he realize his "mistake."
Mr. Beck's apology may satisfy his cohorts and fans, but some of us would feel better to see Mr. Beck take a journey down the road of redemption. That begins with understanding the people he offended. The invitation to the NABJ convention in San Diego stands. Look me up. I'll be there and delighted to escort Mr. Beck around.
Racism is a road that goes both ways, my friend. Let it go. Stop being a Black American and start being an American.
I am not saying Beck was in the right, but he's an "entertainer", he takes whatever he gets and presents it to us in an "entertaining" manner
His family should not be used to representative of the society at large or an as analogy for an idealized "moral compass."
Obama should not be using his family to make political points. If he has a statement that he wants to make, he should state it.
His only mistake is in granting Beck a large and influential audience.
To my relief, Beck's TV audience represents much less than 1% of the US population.
He is smoking out a fringe group which needs to be identified, exposed and enlightened.