Comments on: Glenn Beck Misses the Point (Again)

By: Mike Rogers

Mike Rogers — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:29:55 +0000

Like another skinny Chicago orator, Lincoln had many fine words, and many dirty deeds.
(I have read DiLorenzo)
The ends do not justify the means, not in 1861, not in 1917, not ever! Statists have broken many millions of eggs, but they've never made a successful socialist omelette, because it can't be done.

By: Mike Rogers

Mike Rogers — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:29:30 +0000

Darned right Josh, thankyou. I've been forming very negative opinions of Teddy Roosevelt (a given), Alexander Hamilton (and the Fed – a monster even he could not have imagined), and lately Lincoln, that Republican icon. What a joke!
If you really know your history, you would choke every time you are asked to say the pledge of allegiance – not out of disloyalty to out great nation, but for the progressive ideals which it represents!
Also, if you know your history and your Lincoln, you'll know that the civil war was about tariffs and the North attempting to strangle the South as a side effect of protecting its own merchant class. The Emancipation Proclamation was icing on the cake, even a smokescreen, to dress up a very bloody war that did not need to be fought. Slaves were being educated and freed, and slavery was a naturally doomed institution in a nation such as the USA – Lincoln just glommed onto it to make himself look good.

By: Jeff Matthews

Jeff Matthews — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:46:17 +0000

I don't think he is as interested in this as we'd hope. Fox news disappoints me. That network and its programs are too entrenched in national politics. It is where they get their publicity, acclaim and money. They could just about care less when it comes to states' rights. It provides no avenues for them to sway national policy. They have as much stake in trying to control the nation as the leftist media outlets. That's why, over there, they soft-peddle the hypocrisy that broke the GOP and still press along with their GOP-promoting agendas.

I certainly prefer Fox over MSNBC and CNN, but in the end, I have concluded that Fox is still "one of them." At best, it represents the lesser of two evils.

Good luck getting Fox on board. I've tried, as well.

By: MichaelBoldin

MichaelBoldin — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:06:21 +0000

Rick – an interesting point. I do believe it's essential to encourage people – to give them positive feedback and keep them moving in the right direction. That's a must with Beck. I also feel it's essential to point out shortcomings, and I think Josh made a pretty good case here in his post.

But – I can absolutely assure you that Glenn Beck and his entire team are well-aware of the 10th Amendment movement. He's cited the Tenth Amendment Center in a number of his reports on Fox News Channel, our PR people have been in contact with his team repeatedly with phone calls, emails and press releases, and I've personally talked with his producers a number of times regarding a potential interview on either his radio or his TV show. Just hasn't happened yet.

So, if you want the 10th Amendment movement to grow, and believe that Beck is in a position to help make that happen – get on the phone or send an email to let him know that you want this issue discussed, and that you want him to interview someone from here at the Tenth Amendment Center!

By: Rick

Rick — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:56:47 +0000

Whoops. I should have hit "Reply" before submitting my last post. It's below. :^)

By: Rick

Rick — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:53:36 +0000

I could be wrong, but I think Beck is trying to get people involved on ALL levels, not just the national level.

I also think he would be VERY open to joining this 10th Amendment effort if approached. I came across this site by accident and was, frankly, amazed at how stupid I have been until now. Sure, I was all for the 10th Amendment being followed (as Beck has said he is), but it never occurred to me that doing that *and nothing else* solves almost all of our problems (ending the Fed is a close second). I believe finding a way to implement a proper understanding of the 10th Amendment is the single most important thing any of us (including Glenn Beck) can do to save the country. What is needed is more exposure for the effort, and Beck is the perfect avenue for that. Instead of criticizing him for not going far enough, we need to encourage him to go further and take up this cause. If we can get his ear, I think we'll get his assistance.

By: drawlr

drawlr — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:40:08 +0000

Lincoln did not want to end slavery. He said so on more than one occasion. In fact, he made several offers to the CSA to come back into the Union on the same footing as before the war. In other words, he wanted things as beforem, which meant that the South could keep its slaves. Although slavery was an obvious issue for the South, they fought for a more basic principle – that of economic freedom. They were being held in economic slavery to the North because of high tariffs, and keeping their slaves was not going to end their economic bondage. They were fighting for the same kind of freedom that the Thirteen Colonies had fought for. The mercantilism of the British Empire kept the colonies in economic bondage. For two years, Lincoln managed to keep slavery from being the main issue of the war. In his mind, cheap Southern raw materials for Northern industry and revenue were the issues. It was the radical abolitionists in the Republican Party and other radicals who forced him to use slavery as the poster issue of the war. Lincoln was related to slaveholders through his wife. These and many other reasons are why Beck should not choose the Lincoln Memorial for a rally.

By: Josh

Josh — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:16:48 +0000

Mark,

You're right, of course. But we have gone so far from the founding principles that these days the old federalists have become nationalists and the old anti-federalists have become federalists.

Sort of like how "liberal" used to be a good thing.

I would settle for a federal government. I won't submit to a national one.

By: Josh

Josh — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:12:55 +0000

Rick,

Sure, libertarian leaders would be a good thing. But the incentives in Washington, D.C. are all wrong. Not even Ron Paul could change that.

Until people remember that the states and the feds were supposed to compete with each other for power, using the Constitution as a guide, we will never change those incentives.

My fear is that Beck is so focused on the national level he is neglecting the fact that without robust state sovereignty, there is nothing to check the growth and power of the federal government, no matter how well-intentioned our leaders may be.

I wish Beck had just encouraged the 9-12 and Tea Party groups to go out and take over their local governments. Then move up to the state level and fight D.C. until they beat the feds back into their constitutional box.

That's the only way we can win.

By: Rick

Rick — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:20:29 +0000

"Organizing is fine, but without a solid intellectual alternative to Washington, D.C.-dominated politics, all Beck’s legions are likely to do is get riled up and vote a bunch of Republicans back into Congress."

I disagree. I think Beck is more libertarian than conservative, and definitely has a better appreciation for the 10th Amendment than many conservative commentators. I think his viewers and listeners absorb and agree with that libertarianism. If they run for office and win as Republicans, isn't that a good thing?