Is Glenn Beck’s ego taking over or does he just not like women in politics?
February 13, 2010
by Kathy Skerl
|The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and not necessarily those of The New Agenda.
I’ve been a fan of Glenn Beck’s for awhile primarily because I appreciate his investigative skills and all of the information he has been providing on our country and the current administration.
But I am starting to see a rather disturbing pattern developing in his interviews and treatment of female politicians who, perhaps, are getting more attention than him.
It started with the Sarah Palin interview. His questions were downright weird. Like, she was supposed to be sitting around deciding who her favorite founding father is because he had been thinking about it, so it must be an important issue for everyone to think about. I thought she did come across as rather guarded during the interview but it turns out she had a right to be guarded because he was obviously looking for a way to take her down.
He really dissed her in his follow-up interview with O’Reilly and, my gosh, he would not be able to support her for president until she had the guts to just eviscerate some lamestream media hack instead of getting defensive. (I think she should practice that evisceration on him…that’s just my opinion).
Personally, I think his big fat male ego was offended because when someone asked Palin if she would consider Beck as a VP running mate, she said “that would be a hoot”. He definitely took offense at that by going on a rant the next day, which included the following:
“I don’t think things are hoots,” Beck said. “I don’t. I don’t think it’s a hoot. I would never use the word hoot, and I respectfully ask that every time my name is brought up she would stop using the word ‘hoot.’”
And anyway, Beck said, real men don’t take a back seat to chicks.
“I’m just saying, Beck-Palin, I’ll consider,” Beck said. “But Palin-Beck—can you imagine, can you imagine what an administration with the two of us would be like? What? Come on! She’d be yapping or something, and I’d say, ‘I’m sorry, why am I hearing your voice? I’m not in the kitchen.’
Hmmm, does one smell a sexist pig roasting here?
Next, he interviewed Michelle Bachman, Congresswoman from Minnesota. I did not hear the interview, but he told his audience afterwards that he thought she was the genuine article but maybe not for Minnesota. My question: who is he to tell me or anybody else who is genuine or not?
Present the facts but leave your unsolicited opinion to yourself Glenn-baby, cause you know what? You’re a hoot.
Today, I heard his radio interview with Debra Medina, the Tea Party candidate for the Texas governorship. Whoa…he is out to destroy her. Once again, he asked her a really weird question: what was her position on the 9/11 Truthers. Why would he ask a gubernatorial candidate from Texas that question?
What I heard her say was that there were some good questions being asked; what I did not hear her say was that she was a 9/11 Truther.
Well, according to Beck, that was not the correct answer to his question. She was supposed to say that she thought the Truthers were idiots, zealots, radicals, and wingnuts and since she did not say that she must be one of those radicals herself and you know, like he has warned the Tea Partiers, they need to be aware of these radical elements trying to infiltrate their group. He was very rude to her, hung up, and when another woman called in to defend her, he shut her off also.
Medina has since responded with a press release:
“The question surprised me because it’s not relevant to this race or the issues facing Texans. This campaign has always been about private property rights and state sovereignty. It is focused on the issues facing Texans. It is not a vehicle for the 9-11 truth movement or any other group.
“The real underlying question here, though, is whether or not people have the right to question our government. I think the fact that people are even asking questions on this level gets to the incredible distrust career politicians have fostered ….”
I guess, according to Beck, we are to “question boldly” but only within the parameters that he defines for us.
I will continue to watch Beck for his investigative journalism, but I will also discard his opinions on anything, especially if it’s about a woman who might be getting more attention than him.
Glenn-baby, you’re looking a bit puffed up lately; is it your male ego or too many french fries?
Even a blind squirrel can find a nut every once in a while. Glenn Beck does have some interesting and informative shows every once in a while; but the man is a sexist…period. I remember how he used demeaning sexist remarks against Hillary Clinton during the Primaries and I will never forgive him for that.
His listeners excuse his behavior because he is “Glenn Beck”. Other male pundits can find just as much corrupt behavior in this current administration without using demeaning sexist behavior, such as Lou Dobbs or even Bill O’Reilly (I can’t believe I am even mentioning O’Reilly in this fashion). Fox likes Beck because he brings in ratings, however the damage that he incurs on women in politics (regardless of party) is severe.
I think simply Beck’s presence on the airways is evidence of sexism. Not that he doesn’t have a right to be there but he’s a high school graduate, no college, a former alcoholic, a guy plagued by ADHD. Consider his female counter parts, Coulter, Dr Laura, they all have advanced degrees and extensive resumes. A woman with no education, a prior substance abuse problem, and ADHD, would never be allowed a career beyond making miniumum wage somewhere. Certainly nobody would view her as being worthy of expressing an opinion on politics. Certainly nobody would pay her 23 million a yr to express it.
Optixmom,
I totally agree. I’ve even heard Beck demean his wife! He definitely has a problem with women. His guests are primarily men. Everything leads back to the “Founding Fathers”, etc. He’s a pudgy, insecure little man, who is getting attention and is revelling in it.
He’s actually worse than O’Reilly when it comes to the treatment of women. At one time, I did respect his investigative work (which I’m certain is done primarily by women, not by Beck himself, because it has been my experience that women are more thorough, than men, in this kind of work). I say this because Beck gets all the credit on his show (never acknowledges any of his researchers) and I doubt very seriously any guy would be willing to work this hard for someone without being recognized, at least, to some degree. Women are accustomed to not being acknowledged for their work and I just have a feeling that Beck would be the type who would hire women to do this kind of work “for” him and not expect much in return.
He blasted Hillary Clinton for showing emotion and crying and then within the next few months he was bawling like a baby on his program when his Religious Mentor passed away. I guess it is only OK to show emotion when someone dies, not when you feel passionate about something. If I see him shed on tear about our Constitution I will tell him to suck it up crybaby…waaaah!
Many men on television don’t have even one female role model politician. It would be a tremendous question to ask of many of the men who have talk shows, from late night comedy talk shows to political talk shows and on down the line, …..name your favorite female politician and why.
It would actually make a powerful book for some enterprising female journalist to consider writing. Ask 50 men Who is their top female politician, or, Who in politics do you admire that is female, and why. And naming a retired female politician constitutes a half answer.
Beck is an alcoholic. Rush Limbaugh is a drug addict. I have no idea what Keith Olbermann or Chris Matthews problem is but they clearly have one. Lately I think they are all “off the wagon” and obviously they are threatened by women. Clearly the corporate media companies can find someone better to employ, how long will it take them to wise up. I used to enjoy some of these shows but they have all become unwatchable. What is it about testosterone fueled ego that makes it rise up and swallow the individual making them look like pathetic idiots in the process? It is really sad. And why the corporate media, which are all publicly traded companies and should be trying to make the highest profit possible for their share holders, stick with these twits is beyond me.
Bes,
I think testosterone fueled egos are plagued by insecurity which is why they feel a need to oppress and control women. The male definition of what it is to be a man is the foundation for this flawed mindset has always been their achilles heel and has resulted in great suffering and destruction in the world.
This, among many other reasons, is precisely why women need to support other women running for political office. The balance that estrogen would bring to the power structure, would definitely give the world a fighting chance to survive the toxic results of testosterone fueled egos.
Glenn Beck is a sexist pig. I have one rule No Isms No sexism or racism and no classism.
Kathleen: I guess. The thing is men have had their chance and they have proven beyond any doubt that they can’t run religious institutions, government institutions or financial institutions efficiently and without corruption. They are insane to think they can control women with their legacy of incompetence staring them in the face. Women really have no choice at this point but to step up and clean up the mess men have left as we do so often in everyday life.
Come to think of it I guess that is what pornography and control of media must be to men. They are taking pictures of the few women they can control in increasingly degrading pictures and presenting that as evidence that they are in control of women. Of course with the internet their control of media is slipping away by the minute leaving their media institutions irrelevant and real women are ignoring them.
Bes,
Good points! You’re right, men have shown that they are incapable of handling power at any level. It starts with entitlement. Entitlement is bestowed upon them the moment they are born, without having done anything to “earn” whatever they have.
What I can’t understand is why women are so much harder on other women than they are on men. Where does that come from?
Anytime a woman breaks through a male dominated plateau, the urge to be recognized as an equal and to not disappoint is second to none. It can be gratifying to be in a room of successful men, be the first women let into the group, and prove your worth by helping to take down a Hillary Clinton or a Sarah Palin.
That’s my theory from a male perspective.
My other theory involves the power triangle. You can take any three male power figures and put them in a room and inevitably two will probably align. Whereas, if you put Arianna Huffington, Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin in a room, most likely no alliances would form. Why, I am not sure.
You have totally taken Beck out of context. I listen to his radio show and watch him on TV regularly. I heard and saw each of the examples that you have used against him and don’t agree with any of your assessments.
First off Beck was a DJ his entire career up until a decade ago when he entered talk radio. Unlike other talk show hosts, he incorporates morning-show style humor into his radio program, which is why he calls his radio program “The Fusion of Entertainment and Enlightenment.”
You can totally twist what he’s saying from the transcripts because he uses so much sarcasm and humor. They were laughing and joking about the whole “hoot” comment that you used as a serious example of his demeaning women. He has also mentioned several times about how his wife helped get his life together after he hit rock bottom from alcoholism and is the rock in his life.
Yes he jokes about his wife, but he jokes about everyone, especially himself. He is very self-deprecating with his humor. Did you see the episode he devoted to mothers and had a studio full of women that he interviewed and talked about how they would be the key to solving our nations’ problems?
And regarding Sarah Palin, if you listened or watched him regularly you would know that he likes her a lot and is worried about her caving in and “losing her soul” like just about everyone else who goes to Washington, which he talked about with her repeatedly in his interview with her.
Beck despises politicians both Republican and Democrats, but I’ve never heard him say anything but good stuff about Michelle Bachmann, and he interviews her regularly. Beck goes out of his way to make sure he’s not using his pulpit to endorse politicians. So when Beck distances himself from Palin and Backmann it’s not because they’re women, it’s because they are politicians, and he goes out of his way to make sure that people know that he doesn’t endorse them. But he does the same with male politicians. He doesn’t endorse anyone.
When he was on the Tonight Show several months ago Jay tried to pin him down on who he would like to see as President and Beck wouldn’t say anyone in particular despite Jay’s prodding. Later Jay asked if he would want Sarah Palin to be President, who Jay made fun of (so he must be anti-woman), and Beck acknowledged that he liked Palin a lot.
Beck is easily the most misunderstood person in the media because he says so many outrageous things for humor that are easily taken out of context and used against him like you have done. But anyone who listens to or watches him regularly knows better. Hopefully others will find out for themselves instead of taking your or my word for it.
Allessandro,
Since you offered your inside view of how men think. Let me ask you a couple of questions.
Why do men view successful women as someone they should “take down”? Is the need to be viewed as “superior” to any woman, no matter what their achievement, that great that they cannot find it within themselves to respect a successful woman for being able to do so despite a very unlevel playing field between men and women? Are men only capable of respecting women who are in their “tribe” so to speak? If this is true, then it appears that the disconnect that still exists between men and women is a direct result of women having evolved to a higher level of thinking about the roles of men and women in society than men have since the days of cavemen!
It also seems that men respond in a much more aggressive and personal way to violence against a woman, if the woman violated happens to be one of their family memebers, yet, far too many men still can’t seem to transfer that same feeling of concern and outrate for those outside of their family. Such lack of empathy is a major problem in today’s power hierarchy and will result in much discord, which, I’m certain, could be prevented if more women were in positions of power.
I think much of what men learn in what defines them as a “man” is conditioned from birth. I don’t necessarily believe that this innate disrespect for women being viewed as not being equal to men is due to the “Y” chromosome, I think it’s taught. For example, in our nation, which is predominantely Christian, many men assert their dominance because of what they believe are found in the teachings of the Christian bible. However, when you look at the life Jesus led and how he viewed women, which we are finding out that he viewed women as equals and respected them and invited them too to be apostles and teach his message, and did so despite the teachings of his faith that women were not to be allowed to do so. Further, Jesus was a very gentle, non-violent man, which would be viewed by many men today as a “girly man”.
I find it very telling about the male psyche that they are willing to use religion to oppress women, but totally ignore the teachings of Jesus, which would require them to view women as equals. A rather “unchristian” way to maintain power and not in the least bit honorable.
The kicker is that Glenn Beck considers himself a born again Christian, but his attitude towards women is in direct contradiction to what Jesus taught in the new testament. How can one live in such a contradictory world totally lacking in logic and reasoning and not be screwed up!
Perhaps, this cognitive dissonance towards women by men is the reason why the world is about to implode in on itself. Men have totally ignored the absolute need for balance. The Asians refer to it as “yin-yang” and that without it, life is chaotic and self-destructive. That seems to be playing out in the world today.
If only men could use their strength for other things than to gain and maintain power and control and respect the other half of the population, who knows what kind of world we could have achieved.
I think Allessandro’s comment “It can be gratifying to be in a room of successful men, be the first women let into the group, and prove your worth by helping to take down a Hillary Clinton or a Sarah Palin” is spot on. I remember many times to be the single female in professional groups when invitations came to dismiss tear down another female professional. It feels like only one female as the one exception is allowed. asking back what the particular problem with female X is and asking for specifics usually stops any of those discussions, since usually there are no real problems. the heat is on to take them out, keep females at low levels and don’t let them bond. I think I have come across such situations many times.
Concerned Conservative, there is nothing wrong with “hoot” Beck was very defensive and emphatic that he never used the word.
I have a serious problem with his comment following “hoot” I’ve seen his early episodes on Fox. Beck can be perfectly funny and entertaining without the sexism.
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