Glenn Beck defends anti-McCain comments, taps Main Street psyche

Glenn Beck is everywhere these days—ratings for his Fox TV show are through the roof and his new book ‘Arguing with Idiots’ is in the number 2 spot on Amazon. He’s been on the cover of Democratic-leaning publications and he’s on the cover of what we consider one of the best news magazines in America, Newsmax [October, 2009]. Outspoken, irreverent and at times downright scary, Beck appears to be his own man. The left has decried his criticism of the current administration and now the right is jumping aboard the ‘Get Beck’ wagon. What brought it all on?

During an interview with Katie Couric, Beck said Sen. John McCain would’ve been “worse for the country than Barack Obama.” He also said, “"McCain is this weird progressive like Theodore Roosevelt was." Then came the cherry on top of the explosive sundae. Beck said he probably would have voted for Sen. Hillary Clinton had she won the Democratic nomination. Subsequently Beck issued a video defending his position, saying one reason for his statements involved Theodore Roosevelt’s ideas about collectivism. Other reasons included McCain’s role in the immigration bill shouted down by both Republicans and Democrats on Main Street.

Conservative author and well-known radio host Mark Levin blasted Beck for his statements. ‘Left-nits’ at the Huffington Post did a writeup, and reflecting how little the left understands the right, called Levin one of Beck’s “fellow right-wing talkers.” That’s so off the mark it’s almost pointless to elaborate. Read Levin’s latest book ‘Liberty and Tyranny’—you know, the record-setting bestseller ‘progressive’ publications refuse to review? Levin is a stalwart of today’s conservatism and then some, because he symbolizes the conservative movement in both social and fiscal terms.

 Beck fits into no pre-defined mold and is subject to change his mind when he feels like it. First and foremost, he’s an entertainer and pundit, not a journalist. That gives him leeway. He strikes me as a perfect example of an independent voter.

Beck actually has a point that GOP leaders should listen to, however. Many of us were stunned when McCain won the party nomination—we Floridians were stunned when, on the eve of the primary, our governor endorsed him. And realistic conservatives immediately knew the election was basically over.

We fiscal conservatives could then anticipate a leftwing Congress supported by a leftwing executive office. The result is one we will all pay for—poor to mid-income to rich, young, middle aged and elderly. Because the leftwingers are spending at historic, irresponsible levels. Case in point: at a time when many Americans are being laid off or having salaries cut, Congress voted itself a pay raise and drastically increased those travel junkets they claim help them do their jobs.

 By the time the bill comes due, President Barack Obama will be traveling the world and earning six figure speaking fees, and many of the Dems who hold leadership positions in Congress will be too old to be affected by it because leaders in the Dem party are elderly, one reason we found criticism of McCain based on his age a bit far-fetched.

In months leading up to the election, there wasn’t a lot of difference in the Republican Party that had held Congress and the presidency and the current Democratic Party. Quite a few of those Republicans are gone now, but the party leadership has erred recently by endorsing some candidates who don’t strike a chord with the base.

If the GOP permits some of the newcomers a visible role in the party, and if stalwarts avoid alienating voters who seek fiscal conservatism and real government reform, as in downsizing, the day may come when there is a distinct difference.

At the moment America’s best interests would be served by fiscal accountability and a strong national defense.  But concurrent with those needs are die-hard factions in both parties. The right and the left have extremely vocal factions on social issues such as abortion, same sex marriage and healthcare, and fact is, those voices have dominated both parties. Sometimes this has been detrimental to the country.

Where I part with Beck is on his assessment of who would have been the best president for the country. I wasn’t wild about our choices, but I do believe McCain would have weathered a difficult storm and most of all, would have taken a strong approach to security and a strong fiscal approach as well. I believe McCain would have put country above party and I believe he would have taken quite a bit of heat for that. I openly supported McCain in the election because I believed him to be the soundest choice for the presidency. If some balance is not achieved in Washington by the 2010 elections, I believe our country will evolve to a point where freedom is a very scarce commodity.

Beck, however, is certainly entitled to his opinions. Sidenote to lurking lefties: Beck does not claim to be a Republican; his views slant Libertarian. In the Newsmax interview, editor Christopher Ruddy said of Beck, “One thing he won’t run from, he says, is exposing the politicians of both parties that he believes have lost touch with the values of the very people they’re supposed to represent.”

That message strikes a definite chord with Main Street. And it’s one more reason Glenn Beck will likely stay in the good graces of more than 2 million who tune into his TV show every day. Incidentally, McCain took Beck’s comments in stride. He said he appreciated the comparison to Teddy Roosevelt.

Update on Thursday, September 24, 2009 at 5:54PM by Kay B. Day, Editor

For the record

Glenn Beck assures no frogs were harmed during the taping of his program [vid clip above].

If you thought Beck really did throw a cute frog into boiling water, you fell for one of the oldest tricks in showbiz.

Beck said PETA agrees. That ought to be good enough for anybody.