Sunday, August 29, 2010

Is Glenn Beck Running for President?

It's not just spending, it's not just taxes, it's not just corruption, it is progressivism, and it is in both parties. It is in the Republicans and the Democrats.


Glenn Beck, one of the nation's most listened to radio and television personality, has been busy lately. Yesterday, he and 2008 VP candidate and former Governor Sarah Palin held a rally together, telling the audience of possibly hundreds of thousands to 'restore America's honor.' He has been spearheading the "9.12 Project" in recent months, where he pleads with Americans to return to a 'simpler, more moral' time in our history. Mr. Beck has also been heavily tied to the Tea Party. Are these isolated incidents, as Beck used to say, or are they tied to a grander scheme? Is Glenn Beck running for President?


Let us examine the timeliness of Mr. Beck's recent actions and their possible connections. In his rally yesterday, the AP has reported that the radio personality was "borrowing" some of his lines from President Obama's 2008 stump speech. Mr. Beck stated, "One man can change the world. That man or woman is you. You make the difference." One could assume that Beck was referring to individuals in the audience, he just as easily could have meant himself, leaving little hints of a possible future in politics.
Our Next President?
Further examining his recent rally, Mr. Beck appeared with Sarah Palin, a woman considered to be a leading Republican political figure. Why Sarah Palin? Why the Republican Vice Presidential nominee in 2008? Possibly because Mr. Beck believes that she is the epitome of American virtues. Possibly because Mr. Beck wants to be identified with Mrs. Palin, whom he considers to be a virtuous politician.

Glenn Beck's disdain for John McCain was worn on his sleeve. Beck stated that he would not vote for McCain, only to change his mind after Palin was added to the ticket. Beck also said in an interview that perhaps McCain would be a worse president than Barack Obama, by leading us down a socialist road in another manner. Such discontent could be reversed should Beck decide to take up the mantle himself.
Recently, in addition to Mrs. Palin, Mr. Beck has been seen with other famous politicians and has spoken at other large, political rallies. In May, Beck and former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich spoke to the NRA. In February, Mr. Beck gave the keynote address at the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC. Even at Mr. Beck's recent rally, baseball MVP Albert Pujols and Manager Tony LaRussa attended. These all seem to be pointing to something bigger.

This week's rally appeared to be almost completely unpolitical. Neither Palin nor Beck mentioned President Obama once and no outward signs of politics showed. The serious, calm attitude that exuded from the event appears to be the antithesis of Beck's usual verbosity. In fact, compared to what has was written earlier about Beck, this event may be intended to crystallize a different image of him in the non-conservative psyche.

Sarah Palin
Even Mr. Beck's travelling schedule points to a possible Presidential run. Today he is in Washington, D.C. He does his show out of New York City. He has traveled around the nation supporting the 9.12 Project and the Tea Party. All of his traveling could very well be to spread his name-recognition and message.

Beck's 9.12 rally last year garnered over 250,000 people to come to the Capitol Mall last year and created a large amount of media coverage. It was this event, along with Beck's addition to the FoxNews lineup that made him a household name outside of the talk radio circuit. This year's Bold Fresh tour with fellow Fox host Bill O'Reilly has seen (or will soon see) Beck travel to various political battlegrounds such as Ohio, Virginia, Louisiana, Florida, and Missouri. In fact, five of the eleven stops will be in states that will be in play in 2012. Beck has also done what no other conservative host has done, going on comedy tours annually. This last year he stopped in Denver and Pheonix, epicenters of demographic and political shifts.
9.12 Rally Last Year
Mr. Beck also seems to be pushing the Tea Party as a viable third party. In fact, as recently as November, he stated that the believed that "a third party’s going to win in 2012," referring to the upcoming Presidential election. Could that someone be Mr. Beck himself? Possibly.

The question must be asked why Beck, and not other conservative hosts like Limbaugh, Savage, and Levin, is creating a grassroots network of support mirroring the Tea Party. Presumably, the Tea Party would be difficult to sustain without a cadre of leadership and a Palin-Beck axis appears to be the most visible approximation of that.

Beck has shifted of late to go from simply a conservative host to more of an "American" figure. This seeming nonpartisanship could easily be transferred into a campaign slogan or a sound byte. Beck, rather than politcal infighters such as Obama, McCain, Bush, and Clinton, would be the one (he may say) that can rise above politics-- that the challenges we face are not Democratic or Republican, but American. In his words:

We are Americans. We've got to pull together because we are facing dark, dark times. I don't trust a single weasel in Washington; I don't care what party they're from. But unless we trust each other, we're not going to make it.

While Mr. Beck has not stated flatly that he will or will not run for President, the signs may point to yes. Speaking at conventions and creating rallies, being tied with famous politicians, and extolling a third party seem to scream that, at the very least, office may be on Glenn Beck's mind.


Don't forget to comment and to bookmark our site! Subscribe


Bookmark and Share

Consider advertising on our site!

21 comments:

Tom G. said...

Highly unlikely. Beck is on the lunatic fringe and will drive voters to Obama. (not to mention Sarah Palin)

Anonymous said...

Yes, Beck is on the "lunatic fringe" of believing that our government is too corrupt and that capitalism is inherently superior to socialism. What?!? The government shouldn't steal money from one hard working person and give it to another person who doesn't want to work? Sheer madness! Tom G. = ignorant twit

Anonymous said...

You apparently do not listen to Beck's radio show or watch him on TV.
Beck is not heading any 9/12 project. He offered an idea and told people they can do with it what they wish.
I also seriously balk at anyone saying Beck 'borrowed from' BO's stump speech. Does BO now own the word 'change'? Is no one ever allowed to use that word again?
It's come to the point that I now hate to use the word 'hope' because BO has corrupted it so much.
Politics is the last thing Beck is interested in.
If you don't know that, you don't know a thing about Beck.

Editor said...

1. At least 250,000 individuals attended his rally yesterday, Mike.

2. Mike's reference to Beck using some of Obama's 2008 speech was in regards to an AP headline, blame them for the thought, not Mike.

3. The reason politics is not a part of Glenn Beck's "MO" is a very viable reason as to why he could possibly run for President. Though, I don't believe he'll ever run on a Third Party ticket.

Anonymous said...

After seeing the damage done by BHO and John McCain- typifying the elitists of both parties-, it is self-demonstrated that America could've (and DID) do worse than Glen Beck.

Anonymous said...

I doubt Beck would run But you can be assured, the Progressives are very scared of him; and that is a good thing!

Harrison said...

I doubt it he does fine where he is, like Rush.

Anonymous said...

Are you suggesting that Obama is not on the lunatic fringe?

Tom G. said...

The President represents the middle of our country.

Beck, Limbaugh, and the like are worse than the average Repugthug.

Editor said...

I don't think so. His career is good now and he might just want to support Palin.

Anonymous said...

Beck said in an interview broadcast this morning that he is definitely not running for any office. Frankly, I can't see the man as a politician, he's much better as an entertainer/teacher.

Anonymous said...

Beck said in an interview broadcast this morning that he is definitely not running for any office. Frankly, I can't see the man as a politician, he's much better as an entertainer/teacher.

Mark said...

Uhhhh, this article sounds has the same logic as many of Beck's arguments. He turns correlating things into causative things and creates elaborate conspiracy theories. This sounds just the same.

MarkJ said...

Glenn Beck aside, I'm still drooling over the above pic of Sarah. Oh, Mama Grizzly, she's hot, hot, HOT!

Anonymous said...

Oh c'mon Tom. You gotta be seated WAY to the left to think O is in the center. I'd venture to guess you wouldn't know the center if it hit you in the face.

Anonymous said...

My question is, rather than worrying about Beck running for Prez, is our current POTUS really incompetent or is he TRYING to destroy the country?

I often disagreed with Bush, but in spite of the insanity of the Lefties response to him, I never thought of Bush as an enemy-of-the-People. Obama? He ignores the will of the majority, not once, not twice, but at every opportunity. He's in the center? What, between Lenin and Marx?

The man HATES this country. He hates the Constitution that he supposedly taught, he hates capitalism, he hates Western Civ.

Beck love America. I don't always agree with him either, but so what? He believes in the greatness of America; Obama believes in apologizing for our "wrongs".

Beck for Prez? It's not going to happen. But Beck is a HELL of a lot less a lunatic than Obama, who is infinitely more extreme in his anti-Americanism. I believe Beck wants us to succeed. Obama? He wants us to fail. If not, then he is scarily incompetent, and shouldn't be running a 7-11, much less the country.

SouthernMan said...

I like Beck but I don' see him as a viable candidate. He has the right idea, educate the ignorant masses. We have to get people involved or we will continue to elect morons like Obamba. If Beck ran I would vote for him but don't hold your breath.

A Conservative Teacher said...

Why do liberals always think in terms of political power? Beck is a citizen, who led a group of other citizens to meet and talk about what it means to follow our founding principles. He won't be called to serve (elected to office), but that isn't the point of what he is doing.

Unknown said...

Funny you should ask, i was looking for a blog to ask the same question. Beck is acting like someone who wants more power.

Anonymous said...

I can't believe Tom G. thinks Obama is in the center. Obama would be left wing in Europe! It is idiots like Tom G. who are so duped they vote for Obama so he can bankrupt our country. What part of 13 trillion dollars deficit do you not understand!!! The part that your kids will be paying - Oh, sorry, I forgot they will be on welfare living off my kids who will be paying the taxes!

Anonymous said...

I WISH HE WOULD! Get this country back to where it needs to be.