2 ([info]2_gryphon) wrote,
@ 2008-06-05 05:57:00
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Glen Beck
I just sent an e-mail to Glen Beck. I wonder if he'll answer....

**********

Mr. Beck,
 
On one of your recent CNN programs, you condemned "media love making" to Barak Obama, selecting a few recent points of national coverage and exposing the details that had been conveniently omitted to make the stories more sensationalized toward Mr. Obama. You even called the media "schizophrenic".
 
I could not agree with you more. Though I am an Obama supporter, sensationalist news ultimately covers the truth of the matter, and ultimately helps no one. And, like you, I don't like that very much.
 
But my comment here is not on politics.
 
Earlier in the same program, you discussed Ahmadinejad and his terrible threats to kill every Jew on the planet.
 
Mr. Beck, let's try to be consistent here. You simply can't put forth so much effort to debunk sensationalist media on one issue and then completely embrace it on another. Ahmadinejad's statement that he wants to "wipe all the Jews from the map" has been a confirmed mistranslation. And it was also taken out of context. What he said was, "The Imam said this regime occupying Jerusalem must vanish from the page of time." This is very different from the misquote that the American media has so hungrily latched onto for its fear factor.
 
For someone who presents himself as "a thinker", you certainly have a propensity for selective, willful ignorance.
 
You're an alarmist, Mr. Beck. And I'm sure that is a valuable thing in a country where fear generates money for the media. But at least be a consistent alarmist.
 
- Matt Davis
    Detroit, MI

************

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[info]lupis_lupine
2008-06-05 11:41 am UTC (link)
I hope he does answer. I'm very curious if the response is one of high intelligence or complete babbling. Please keep us posted! =D

Oh, and that was a very eloquently written e-mail. You get a gold star.

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[info]jeeves_the_roo
2008-06-05 11:55 am UTC (link)
Because public figures love acknowledging their mistakes. Just look at your President, pulling the troops out of Iraq the moment he discovered that there were no weapons of mass... oh... wait...

Ahh, cynicism, how I love thee.

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[info]merlewhitefire
2008-06-05 12:01 pm UTC (link)
You win huge points from me just for the "I'm an Obama supporter, but I agree" comment. *Hands points*

Anyhoo, yes, I don't think it's any big secret that... well, virtually every news outlet in the country is full of people who sensationalize and take statements and facts out of context, and even outright lie, and yet have no qualms tearing down every OTHER media outlet in the country for their sensationalism, their use of facts or statements out of context, and their outright lies.

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[info]ceruleanst
2008-06-05 12:26 pm UTC (link)
No mention of "media love making" should omit John McCain. Hell, most of it actually takes place in the back of his van.

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[info]zalno
2008-06-05 12:56 pm UTC (link)
Meh. You know how big-type celebrities are. They don't usually respond to the common because they're either too busy with work or other things, or they don't usually care about what the common man thinks about them. :P

I, myself, don't watch any news programs, anymore. Ever since the whole 'Mass Stupidity' thing with FOX, I'm kinda wary on what's fact and what's opinion...

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[info]2_gryphon
2008-06-05 06:57 pm UTC (link)
Stick with NPR and the BBC if you want real news.

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[info]xaq
2008-06-05 07:35 pm UTC (link)
So basically, my best best for figuring out what's -actually- happening in America is to ask the Brits.

Kinda sad how much sense that makes.

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[info]bwcoyoten
2008-06-05 09:17 pm UTC (link)
BBC news is very good. Apart from it, the most unbiased news I've ever encountered is All Things Considered on NPR - which, by the bye, is run by Mormons (All Things Considered, not NPR), so go fig.

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[info]foxtrack
2008-06-05 07:49 pm UTC (link)
I completely agree, I feel a lot more informed and intelligent after listening to some NPR

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[info]jeeves_the_roo
2008-06-05 10:13 pm UTC (link)
Although, I turned on BBC News 24 at about half past midnight yesterday and what did I see? ABC News, not a clip from their show, but an actual broadcast of ABC News.

What's the point of having a 24 hour BBC news network if they're just going to pump in an American network?

Although, I don't know where ABC stands on the whole 'Objective reporting' front. I'd never seen their particular news show before yesterday.

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[info]defenestrate_me
2008-06-05 10:32 pm UTC (link)
They don't do that very often, I think it's only for an hour at night. They might be phasing that out now that they have BBC News America.

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[info]nidonocu
2008-06-05 11:27 pm UTC (link)
They rebroadcast it for a number of reasons, including access to ABC resources when they can't get a reporter closer. And to give UKians a view if they want in to US news. Its quite eye opening sometimes. o.O

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[info]carlfox
2008-06-06 03:53 am UTC (link)
Amen to that...NPR tends to be my #1 source of news.

Now, if I could only get BBC News on DirecTV, that would be great...

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mmm
[info]idp_robin_hood
2008-06-16 10:26 am UTC (link)
mmmmmmmm BBC...
*drool.*

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[info]eccentricfurry
2008-06-05 01:17 pm UTC (link)
Nice--I'll try to keep an eye and ear open for him responding to that...

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[info]satosuke
2008-06-05 01:43 pm UTC (link)
Well, to be fair, considering his track record, Ahmadinejad probably does harbor the desire to eliminate the Jewish populace of the Earth, so it's not like he's using one isolated incident to make a statement, even if this one was a misquote.

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[info]2_gryphon
2008-06-05 07:00 pm UTC (link)
Thing is, he WAS using one isolated incident for the show. It was based around this single misquote. Sure, the guy may wish all Jews would die. I'm sure Governor Bush wishes that all the Islamics would die, but in politics, it's not what you wish for, it's what you say.

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[info]rassah
2008-06-05 02:32 pm UTC (link)
Um, Glen Beck is a conservative loony. You only came to this conclusion now?
Case in point:
Beck in an interview with Keith Ellison, the first practicing Muslim elected to the United States Congress, "Sir, prove to me that you are not working with our enemies."
Described activist Cindy Sheehan as a "pretty big prostitute" and a "tragedy pimp".
Compared Vice President Al Gore to Joseph Goebbels
Beck referred to Clinton as "Stalin in a pantsuit."
Referring to wildfires raging in Southern California, Beck said "I think there is a handful of people who hate America. Unfortunately for them, a lot of them are losing their homes in a forest fire today."
Referred to John McCain as "Juan" McCain and called him "Mr. 'Mexico first'"

Hell, if I didn't know any better, I would've thought he worked for Fox News.

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[info]2_gryphon
2008-06-05 07:06 pm UTC (link)
Beck takes the side of the conservatives on the war, but he doesn't always embrace conservative politics. He's a fairly middle-of-the-road commentator. But no matter what he comments on, he's always an alarmist. Every one of his shows is about how the newest political issues are going to end life as we know it forever. Pretty useless crap, if you ask me.

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[info]rassah
2008-06-05 07:09 pm UTC (link)
I'm sorry, when I wrote "conservative loony," I should have stressed "loony." Better yet, I shold have written "BATSHIT INSANE." It doesn't matter whether he's conservative or liberal. His problem is that he's a few sand-niggers short of a towel.

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[info]malcolmthebear
2008-06-05 02:44 pm UTC (link)
This is why I don't pay attention to the news anymore, period. Unless it's something I hear on a show like 2 Sense.

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[info]kutztowndragon
2008-06-05 02:52 pm UTC (link)
Is there any news that isn't show-business?

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[info]vulpixnine
2008-06-05 03:17 pm UTC (link)
I highly doubt that you will recieve any e-mail other then the generic: "Thank you for your e-mail to [insert station here]. Your support is greatly appreciated. Here are some other programs on our station that you should enjoy." Though, if he does, I will be impressed. Though he will try to find a way to say that he isn't contradicting himself which will have nothing to do with what the original topic states.

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[info]saskboy
2008-06-05 03:20 pm UTC (link)
Beck is a tool, you'll get a response from a drone or one of his hired drones.

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[info]mbluewolf
2008-06-05 03:56 pm UTC (link)
Some news guy in America being a hypocrite and sensationalizing news while talking about other news stations that their sensationalizing is wrong? No... That couldn't be. That'd be like saying the news is a business, which we all know it's always fair and balanced and doesn't care about making the most money any way possible. Hehe.

Had to throw that in there.

Anyway, if Beck doesn't respond to the email, send a snail mail to the CNN place. Beck prb won't respond, but it would be fun if Beck did.

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[info]kindless
2008-06-05 04:15 pm UTC (link)
Glen Beck is a moron.

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[info]restorf
2008-06-05 04:48 pm UTC (link)
I'm sure that the only response that he could ever come up with for your letter is to simply call you an unpatriotic and dirty liberal.

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[info]bwcoyoten
2008-06-05 05:21 pm UTC (link)
Yeah, I anticipate a canned reply from an intern:

"Mr. Davis,

Thank you for your interest in CNN. We at CNN, and myself in particular, pride ourselves on:

[X] Accurate, unbiased news reporting.
[ ] Timely information.
[ ] OTHER (please specify): __________________________

Sincerely,
_Glen_Beck_"

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[info]the_government
2008-06-05 05:35 pm UTC (link)
Sending him that e-mail was as much of a waste of time as watching his terrible goddamn show. None of these hacks are going to read a letter that foils them on the air, and if they do, they'll just spout some bullshit to get around it. The news media in this country is singlehandedly responsible for the absolutely god-awful level our political discourse has sunk to. Fuck the cable news networks and every phony retard they stick behind a desk, especially that pretend-centrist sensationalist dunce Glenn Beck.

P.S. It's Barack :)

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[info]rona_dolvi
2008-06-05 05:44 pm UTC (link)
Forget the little typos, forget the fact that he may get a canned response.

What have -you- guys done to involve yourself in the political arena? 2 knows what he's doing, that's for sure.

Yes, it was an amazingly written email. Stop turning me on with your amazing composition skills! It's rare to find someone that is so... proper with his language.

But other than that, I do hope he responds, and if he does, I'd like to read his response, as I'm curious to what that will be.

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[info]per_sis_tence
2008-06-05 06:03 pm UTC (link)
It's too bad you'll probably get a generic "Thanks for your valuable commments" reply, because I think that letter could set the stage for an interesting media discussion.

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[info]sonious
2008-06-06 08:07 pm UTC (link)
When I wrote a letter like this (probably not as well written) I didn't even receive that.

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[info]tombfyre
2008-06-05 06:22 pm UTC (link)
A very well written little blurb there 2. I'm sure you'll get a competently written and canned form letter as a reply. Likely having nothing at all to do with what you wrote about in the first place. :) Isn't the Media wonderful?

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[info]weirdedsel
2008-06-05 07:00 pm UTC (link)
I'm so torn on Glenn Beck. Sometimes I agree with what he talks about, and sometimes I think he's a moron. I don't watch his TV show, but I have listened to his radio show. From what I know of him, he could very well reply to your email in some form. But who knows, really.

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[info]elrond_rambles
2008-06-05 07:07 pm UTC (link)
Shouldda signed it "2 Gryphon"

Nothing gets your attention like getting an email from a fucking gryphon.

I want to turn this into an internet meme: Gryphons against Fox News! They want to eat the foxes, not listen to them!

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[info]weirdedsel
2008-06-05 07:15 pm UTC (link)
Glenn Beck is on CNN ;)

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[info]elrond_rambles
2008-06-05 09:08 pm UTC (link)
Yes, but Gryphons against CNN doesn't sound as catchy.

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[info]rion_nipal
2008-06-05 08:23 pm UTC (link)
I watch Glen Beck and Nancy Grace just to hear what kind of biased bullshit they'll preach next

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[info]2_gryphon
2008-06-06 12:41 pm UTC (link)
Oh Gods, Nancy Grace. I hate that bitch so much I wouldn't even be able to compose myself long enough to write a civil e-mail to her. She's an ignorant southern cunt with far more spotlights on her than her ineffectual opinions deserve.

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[info]marauderosu
2008-06-06 12:16 am UTC (link)
I posted a Carnac about him once: http://marauderosu.livejournal.com/291267.html

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[info]thenewac
2008-06-06 12:31 am UTC (link)
Glenn Beck lies by omission. He excludes a very prominent counterargument just so what he says has more weight. He is also very much a sensationalist broadcaster: the very same broadcasters that he criticizes. Mentioning that misquote by Ahmadinejad is just the tip of the iceburg.

I remember when he invited Ron Paul on the show about a few months before Paul suspended his candidacy. Beck said to Paul, "You should know that your supporters have constantly threatened me and my family and I don't appreciate it, sir." Ron Paul looked at him with this puzzled look. "I don't dictate what my supporters should do." Beck cuts to commercial and says he has YouTube videos showing threats made to Beck by Ron Paul supporters. They come back from the commercial and Ron Paul said to Beck, "It sounds to me you're sensationalizing things. I don't know these people and you assume that I'm somehow behind what people -- on their own accord -- are saying about you and to you."

Oddly enough, when Glenn Beck ran later, Paul's comment was omitted from the broadcast and the program started with Beck asking what Paul's thoughts were about the videos shown.

I can run through several examples of Glenn Beck's sensationalism but I think 2 summed it up nicely. In layman's terms, Beck is a douchebag.

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[info]ellywashere
2008-06-06 04:49 am UTC (link)
Well how about that. I've seen the story about this in the papers a lot, and so far haven't seen any mention of it being a mistranslation. 2, how did you find out the actual translation? Did a news program or paper report it?

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[info]2_gryphon
2008-06-06 12:37 pm UTC (link)
That's probably because you've been reading American papers. You're not going to find many, if ANY, admissions of this misquote in the American media because they want us to believe he said it. Remember, the government and the media is trying to gear the public to go to war with Iran right now, just like they did with Iraq.

Here's some information on it.

http://www.themiddleeastnow.com/wipedoffthemap.html

Here's a little more.

http://www.projectcensored.org/top-stories/articles/24-media-misquotes-threat-from-irans-president/

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[info]furlock_the_666
2008-06-06 05:38 am UTC (link)
Nicely worded, 2. I'm always pleased with the way you speak, as it shows me that not all competent people are dead or in hiding.

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[info]blackjokerfox
2008-06-06 05:07 pm UTC (link)
Thats why the only man in the media I trust is Stephen Colbert.

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[info]sonious
2008-06-06 08:03 pm UTC (link)
The reply will go something like this.

Beck: I even got Obama supporters agreeing with me, saying "I could not agree with you more. Though I am an Obama supporter, sensationalist news ultimately covers the truth of the matter, and ultimately helps no one. And, like you, I don't like that very much."

Beck: So to the media, you may want to turn it down a few notches. And now, for the new news, Osama has made a tape for the world to see, in which he thanks the Democrats for going soft."

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[info]bloogryffe
2008-06-06 09:25 pm UTC (link)
My favorite Glenn Beck moment was hilariously ignorant. This was when he was on his tyrade against Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth".

The weekend that Happy Feet released to theatres he ran a segment comparing the environmental message in Happy Feet (we're ruining animal habitats, leave them alone) to the horrors and lies of An Inconvenient Truth (Global Warming).

I laughed for months.

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[info]nitrofox2112
2008-06-09 07:17 am UTC (link)
i thought the message in happy feet was "fuck religion... and oh yeah, leave animal habitats alone"

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[info]adonisus
2008-06-11 08:10 pm UTC (link)
Beck, O'Reily, Coulter, Limbaugh and their ilk all represent everything I hate with modern political 'commentary' in America.

These people aren't commentators. They're basically glorified streetside ranters.

William F. Buckley, Jr......now THAT was a political commentator. True, he was a conservative (of the old school variety), and some of the statements him and his magazine occasionally made were deplorable, but you still loved the man because he was intelligent, non-confrontational, and eloquent.

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