Glenn Beck and the John Birch Society

WingnutsOctober 2010 • Views: 6,991

NPR’s Terry Gross interviews historian Sean Wilentz about the resurgence of paranoid John Birch Society ideology on the right wing, led by the main promoter of JBS craziness: Glenn Beck: Drawing On 1950s Extremism?

They don’t allow embedding of the audio for this interview, but it’s worth a listen. We’ve been trying to sound the alarm about the resurrection of the John Birch Society for more than a year; it’s important to note that not only is their ideology returning, the John Birch Society itself has made an enormous comeback in the age of the Tea Party, and is now largely accepted in mainstream Republican circles.

Also see

John Birch Society Praises Glenn Beck for Promoting Their ‘Ideas’ GOP Candidate Sharron Angle Speaks at John Birch Society Event John Birch Society at Texas GOP Convention John Birch Society Celebrates Rand Paul Victory

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67 comments

Killgore Trout Thu, Oct 14, 2010 1:19:08pm

NPR crashed?

Charles Johnson Thu, Oct 14, 2010 1:20:01pm

Yes, looks like NPR is down.

Political Atheist Thu, Oct 14, 2010 1:20:48pm

re: #1 Killgore Trout

Wow. I knew this to be a strong referrer but crashed NPR?

Killgore Trout Thu, Oct 14, 2010 1:21:36pm

Paladino aide had gay old time

Roger Stone, a key adviser to the Republican gubernatorial candidate — who called the parade “disgusting” — not only went to the march, but joined in the festivities, doffing his shirt and getting his ear licked by a bosomy, nearly naked babe.
A photo from the event shows a blasé-looking Stone taking his licking from the all-but-topless, body-painted beauty in stride.

Fabulous!

Political Atheist Thu, Oct 14, 2010 1:25:00pm

re: #4 Killgore Trout

Paladino aide had gay old time

Fabulous!

Heh. Transgender “babe”?

rwdflynavy Thu, Oct 14, 2010 1:26:23pm

re: #5 Rightwingconspirator

Heh. Transgender “babe”?

She had the cutest little Adam’s apple!

researchok Thu, Oct 14, 2010 1:27:14pm

NPR is back

PhillyPretzel Thu, Oct 14, 2010 1:28:17pm

Here is an article from Commentary Magazine: commentarymagazine.com

Killgore Trout Thu, Oct 14, 2010 1:32:47pm

re: #5 Rightwingconspirator

Heh. Transgender “babe”?

Probably. She looks to be pretty damn tall, maybe 6 feet tall and nice broad shoulders.

Killgore Trout Thu, Oct 14, 2010 1:33:22pm

re: #7 researchok

NPR is back

Still dead for me.

PhillyPretzel Thu, Oct 14, 2010 1:34:11pm

re: #10 Killgore Trout

Possible overload?

Mad Prophet Ludwig Thu, Oct 14, 2010 1:40:25pm

Simple silly question

When you are looking at your pages, there are clicks and there are views.

Presumably to view, one needs to click. At first, I thought that clicks were unique views, however, one can have more unique comments than clicks. So I am a little confused what the two stats mean.

Mad Prophet Ludwig Thu, Oct 14, 2010 1:40:41pm

re: #6 rwdflynavy

She had the cutest little Adam’s apple!

Coulter?

Gus Thu, Oct 14, 2010 1:41:11pm

re: #5 Rightwingconspirator

re: #6 rwdflynavy

re: #9 Killgore Trout

This stupid crap again? You know non-transgendered women are 6 feet tall. Just because she’s at a gay pride parade doesn’t make her a transperson.

Mad Prophet Ludwig Thu, Oct 14, 2010 1:41:32pm

re: #9 Killgore Trout

Probably. She looks to be pretty damn tall, maybe 6 feet tall and nice broad shoulders.

Coulter?

Mad Prophet Ludwig Thu, Oct 14, 2010 1:42:05pm

re: #14 Gus 802

re: #6 rwdflynavy

re: #9 Killgore Trout

This stupid crap again? You know non-transgendered women are 6 feet tall. Just because she’s at a gay pride parade doesn’t make her a transperson.

Why would Coulter be at a gay pride parade?

Gus Thu, Oct 14, 2010 1:42:34pm

re: #16 LudwigVanQuixote

Why would Coulter be at a gay pride parade?

Oh. OK. Guess transphobia is still accepted at LGF.

Mad Prophet Ludwig Thu, Oct 14, 2010 1:45:25pm

re: #17 Gus 802

Oh. OK. Guess transphobia is still accepted at LGF.

Sorry, I am not coming down on anyone’s sexual preferences or identities.

I just saw comments about a tall woman who looked masculine and had a very large adam’s apple. I thought of Coulter.

Sionainn Thu, Oct 14, 2010 1:45:37pm

re: #17 Gus 802

Oh. OK. Guess transphobia is still accepted at LGF.

I’m a little disappointed in the comments, too.

wrenchwench Thu, Oct 14, 2010 1:47:28pm

re: #12 LudwigVanQuixote

Simple silly question

When you are looking at your pages, there are clicks and there are views.

Presumably to view, one needs to click. At first, I thought that clicks were unique views, however, one can have more unique comments than clicks. So I am a little confused what the two stats mean.

A “view” is when the Page is loaded. A “click” is a click on any link on the Page.

Mad Prophet Ludwig Thu, Oct 14, 2010 1:49:18pm

re: #20 wrenchwench

A “view” is when the Page is loaded. A “click” is a click on any link on the Page.

That makes sense then. Thanks!

PhillyPretzel Thu, Oct 14, 2010 1:50:29pm

re: #20 wrenchwench

Thank you. I was confused too.

goddamnedfrank Thu, Oct 14, 2010 1:50:57pm

re: #17 Gus 802

Oh. OK. Guess transphobia is still accepted at LGF.

Ann’s hands still remind me of this.

/xenophobia

Killgore Trout Thu, Oct 14, 2010 1:54:39pm

re: #17 Gus 802

Oh. OK. Guess transphobia is still accepted at LGF.

I don’t see anyone being phobic or hateful. She’s very tall, broad shouldered, narrow hips and obviously surgically enhanced (those tits aren’t real) and attending a gay pride parade. It’s not an unreasonable suspicion.

simoom Thu, Oct 14, 2010 1:57:58pm

The New Yorker also has up a long article covering the return of John Birch Society paranoid / conspiracy politics:
newyorker.com

The popularity of Beck’s broadcasts, which now reach two million viewers each day, has brought neo-Birchite ideas to an audience beyond any that Welch or Skousen might have dreamed of. Several times a week, Beck informs his audience that socialists (whom he also sometimes calls Fascists or Communists) led by Obama have seized power, and that patriotic Americans must take their country back. His TV show for some time featured “Comrade Updates,” in which Beck described perfidy while the Soviet anthem played in the background. He attacks all the familiar bogeymen: the Federal Reserve System (which he asserts is a private conglomerate, unaccountable to the public); the Council on Foreign Relations (born of a “progressive idea” to manipulate the media in order to “let the masses know what should be done”); and a historical procession of evildoers, including Skousen’s old target Colonel House and Welch’s old target Woodrow Wilson. His sources on these matters, quite apart from Skousen’s books, can be unreliable. On September 22nd, amid a diatribe about House, Beck cited a passage from “Secrets of the Federal Reserve,” by Eustace Mullins. The book, commissioned in 1948 by Ezra Pound, is a startlingly anti-Semitic fantasy of how a Jewish-led conspiracy of all-powerful bankers established the Federal Reserve in service of their plot to dominate the world.

Mad Prophet Ludwig Thu, Oct 14, 2010 1:58:55pm

re: #24 Killgore Trout

The hang drum post you made was awesome. I had never seen those before.

Killgore Trout Thu, Oct 14, 2010 1:59:01pm

re: #24 Killgore Trout

I don’t see anyone being phobic or hateful. She’s very tall, broad shouldered, narrow hips and obviously surgically enhanced (those tits aren’t real) and attending a gay pride parade. It’s not an unreasonable suspicion.

Higher res pics here.

Mad Prophet Ludwig Thu, Oct 14, 2010 1:59:25pm

re: #25 simoom

You beat me to the O’Donnell creationism post. Good post!

Killgore Trout Thu, Oct 14, 2010 1:59:32pm

re: #26 LudwigVanQuixote

The hang drum post you made was awesome. I had never seen those before.

I’ve never heard of them either. Pretty cool.

webevintage Thu, Oct 14, 2010 2:08:42pm

I hate Ann Coulter with the heat of 1000 burning suns, but even with her creepy “man hands” comments about her being a dude/transgender/crossdresser are annoying and just a bit off.

Blue Point Thu, Oct 14, 2010 2:08:48pm

If Barry Goldwater was still alive he would kick Glenn Beck in the nuts.

recusancy Thu, Oct 14, 2010 2:14:13pm

re: #31 nines09

If Barry Goldwater was still alive he would kick Glenn Beck in the nuts.

He opposed ‘64 civil rights act so he’d be hanging out with Rand at the moment. I doubt he’d have a problem with Beck.

Taqyia2Me Thu, Oct 14, 2010 2:14:14pm

While I’d never be a troofer or a birffer, I’d be one of those long before I’d be a Bircher…

Summer Seale Thu, Oct 14, 2010 2:15:53pm

Just had to say: Got it on my podcasts today at work on my ipad and it’s worth listening to. I was gonna email you about it Charles. Glad you heard it already. =)

Also, check out the New Yorker this week online for the article about Skousen, Beck, and the John Birch society. Long article on everything you’ve been sounding the alarm about since nearly two years now.

recusancy Thu, Oct 14, 2010 2:16:00pm

re: #32 recusancy

He opposed ‘64 civil rights act so he’d be hanging out with Rand at the moment. I doubt he’d have a problem with Beck.

That’s what happens to your legacy when you are on the wrong side of a major issue. All those opposed to gay marriage and all AGW deniers beware.

simoom Thu, Oct 14, 2010 2:18:45pm

re: #28 LudwigVanQuixote

You beat me to the O’Donnell creationism post. Good post!

Thanks, I posted it because I didn’t see it being covered in the news, and it really should be. She didn’t even try and couch it in stealth-creationism / psuedo-science (like Intelligent Design) — she just outright said it’s a violation of constitutional rights when a public school isn’t allowed to put creationism on equal footing with evolution in the classroom.

Summer Seale Thu, Oct 14, 2010 2:20:14pm

re: #32 recusancy

He opposed ‘64 civil rights act so he’d be hanging out with Rand at the moment. I doubt he’d have a problem with Beck.

I doubt it. While I disagree with Goldwater’s stance on the Civil Rights Act, he was a true purist - not a pretender like Rand Paul and others. He firmly believed in full Gay rights, for example, and abortion rights as well. He opposed religious interference into society. Basically, he was a real libertarian you could argue with with rational sense - not the bigots today who bill themselves as libertarians with religious overtones.

Charles Johnson Thu, Oct 14, 2010 2:20:26pm

re: #36 simoom

Thanks, I posted it because I didn’t see it being covered in the news, and it really should be. She didn’t even try and couch it in stealth-creationism / psuedo-science (like Intelligent Design) — she just outright said it’s a violation of constitutional rights when a public school isn’t allowed to put creationism on equal footing with evolution in the classroom.

It’s a great Page, thanks. I actually missed where she said that - I stepped out of the room for a minute right before it.

Summer Seale Thu, Oct 14, 2010 2:22:52pm

From Wikipedia on Goldwater:

Some of Goldwater’s statements in the 1990s aggravated many social conservatives. He endorsed Democrat Karan English in an Arizona congressional race, urged Republicans to lay off Bill Clinton over the Whitewater scandal, and criticized the military’s ban on homosexuals:[41] “Everyone knows that gays have served honorably in the military since at least the time of Julius Caesar.”[47] He also said, “You don’t have to be straight to be in the military; you just have to be able to shoot straight.”[48] A few years before his death he went so far as to address the right wing, “Do not associate my name with anything you do. You are extremists, and you’ve hurt the Republican party much more than the Democrats have.”[49]

Max Thu, Oct 14, 2010 2:24:27pm

Allahpundit has an unusually angry and stupid knee jerk response to Behar and Whoopi’s walk-out on The View.

recusancy Thu, Oct 14, 2010 2:24:38pm

re: #37 Summer

I doubt it. While I disagree with Goldwater’s stance on the Civil Rights Act, he was a true purist - not a pretender like Rand Paul and others. He firmly believed in full Gay rights, for example, and abortion rights as well. He opposed religious interference into society. Basically, he was a real libertarian you could argue with with rational sense - not the bigots today who bill themselves as libertarians with religious overtones.

Would secular anarcho libertarian sound better?

Max Thu, Oct 14, 2010 2:28:06pm

re: #36 simoom

Thanks, I posted it because I didn’t see it being covered in the news, and it really should be. She didn’t even try and couch it in stealth-creationism / psuedo-science (like Intelligent Design) — she just outright said it’s a violation of constitutional rights when a public school isn’t allowed to put creationism on equal footing with evolution in the classroom.

Really shows her judicial illiteracy too. She doesn’t even know that the Supreme Court overwhelmingly decided in 1987 that teaching creationism in public school science classes was unconstitutional.

Summer Seale Thu, Oct 14, 2010 2:28:20pm

re: #41 recusancy

Would secular anarcho libertarian sound better?

I don’t know, but I definitely respect Goldwater far more as a legitimate and arguable point of view than I do Rand Paul and the others. =) In fact, I don’t respect Paulians at all, or the Tea Party, or the GOP right now. Not one bit. They’re hypocrites, liars, duplicitous, thieves, and ignorant.

Goldwater wasn’t any such thing. He may have been wrong about Civil Rights, and so was William F. Buckley, but they were arguing from entirely legitimate philosophical points and were good opponents. And in fact, Buckley said later on that it was one battle he was happy he lost and agreed that the Act had to be passed.

They weren’t the idiots of today’s right-wing ilk.

recusancy Thu, Oct 14, 2010 2:29:20pm

re: #43 Summer

Fair enough.

Blue Point Thu, Oct 14, 2010 2:29:41pm

Goldwater wasn’t always right, but he got the JBS right.
Goldwater and the JBS

Killgore Trout Thu, Oct 14, 2010 2:34:41pm

re: #40 Max D. Reinhardt

Allahpundit has an unusually angry and stupid knee jerk response to Behar and Whoopi’s walk-out on The View.

Ugh. Talk about missing the point. The walkout was not about saying that Muslims attacked us on 9-11. It was the collective guilt assigned to all Muslims that O-Reilly thinks should prevent Muslims from worshiping in certain areas.
Oddly when a Glenn Beck fan is inspired to violence the wingnuts are all of a sudden offended by collective guilt.
Idiots.

Decatur Deb Thu, Oct 14, 2010 2:37:34pm

re: #42 Max D. Reinhardt

Really shows her judicial illiteracy too. She doesn’t even know that the Supreme Court overwhelmingly decided in 1987 that teaching creationism in public school science classes was unconstitutional.

Do you think that’s being taught here:

poconorecord.com ?

While we’re all waiting for superman, the religious raid on the public purse goes on.

PhillyPretzel Thu, Oct 14, 2010 2:39:04pm

re: #45 nines09
I agree. Please see #8.

WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Thu, Oct 14, 2010 2:49:30pm

Youtube Video

I never get tired of hearing Casey Kasem swear

Political Atheist Thu, Oct 14, 2010 2:57:47pm

re: #14 Gus 802

re: #6 rwdflynavy

re: #9 Killgore Trout

This stupid crap again? You know non-transgendered women are 6 feet tall. Just because she’s at a gay pride parade doesn’t make her a transperson.

Hey wait a sec. Given Stone’s hypocrisy, and the simply obvious possibility it was a transgender person it is a legit question. Not an insult to the bare breasted person. I just pointed out a possible additional level of hypocrisy and irony at Roger Stone.

Political Atheist Thu, Oct 14, 2010 3:00:23pm

re: #19 Sionainn

If you took my comment as a slam on the woman, you have misread me. The snark is aimed at Roger Stone.

bratwurst Thu, Oct 14, 2010 3:00:25pm

re: #49 WindUpBird

[Video]I never get tired of hearing Casey Kasem swear

This is the clip I always go back to when I need some LULZ:

Youtube Video

darthstar Thu, Oct 14, 2010 3:04:34pm

Fuck Glenn Beck.

APox Thu, Oct 14, 2010 3:11:04pm

I liked the comment about the mercury coin and fascism, and I also like this article m.cnn.com nice to see Obama just riling the crazy right.

Political Atheist Thu, Oct 14, 2010 3:13:29pm

re: #9 Killgore Trout

Nope. I wuz wrong. Well I did put it as a question.
Local NYC model. Bikini shots at her site. NSFW

darthstar Thu, Oct 14, 2010 3:16:22pm

re: #55 Rightwingconspirator

Nope. I wuz wrong. Well I did put it as a question.
Local NYC model. Bikini shots at her site. NSFW

What’s not safe for work about this? She’s just helping the fellow straighten his back?

Blue Point Thu, Oct 14, 2010 3:17:20pm

re: #48 PhillyPretzel
Missed that! Beck is just a charlatan selling snake oil and worn out lies and what disturbs me is how many lap it up.

darthstar Thu, Oct 14, 2010 3:17:32pm

re: #55 Rightwingconspirator

Actually, after looking through her photos, I have to say she’s not all that impressive…

Political Atheist Thu, Oct 14, 2010 3:19:51pm

re: #58 darthstar

And now we know Roger Stone can take a licking and keep on tripping.

darthstar Thu, Oct 14, 2010 3:21:38pm

Image: n155753354104_8618.jpg
I don’t join a lot of groups on facebook, but this one is tempting.

jamesfirecat Thu, Oct 14, 2010 3:28:01pm

re: #46 Killgore Trout

Ugh. Talk about missing the point. The walkout was not about saying that Muslims attacked us on 9-11. It was the collective guilt assigned to all Muslims that O-Reilly thinks should prevent Muslims from worshiping in certain areas.
Oddly when a Glenn Beck fan is inspired to violence the wingnuts are all of a sudden offended by collective guilt.
Idiots.

Wingnuts seem not to believe believe in guilt, or at least don’t ever believe they can be guilty of doing anything wrong….

Killgore Trout Thu, Oct 14, 2010 3:41:43pm

Hot Air is now fundraising for the Chamber of Commerce…..

Glenn Beck: Punish Obama for his smears by donating to the Chamber of Commerce; Update: Biggest donation day ever

It is probably the biggest donation day ever simply because nobody else in history would think it’s a good idea to voluntarily give money as a gift to Fortune 500 international mega-corporations before. I’m sure whatever money they raised is insignificant compared to their actual operating budget.

Sionainn Thu, Oct 14, 2010 3:45:20pm

re: #51 Rightwingconspirator

If you took my comment as a slam on the woman, you have misread me. The snark is aimed at Roger Stone.

The way the comments were worded, that’s not what they appeared to mean. Thanks for the clarification.

Killgore Trout Thu, Oct 14, 2010 3:45:41pm

re: #62 Killgore Trout

Hot Air is now fundraising for the Chamber of Commerce…

It is probably the biggest donation day ever simply because nobody else in history would think it’s a good idea to voluntarily give money as a gift to Fortune 500 international mega-corporations before. I’m sure whatever money they raised is insignificant compared to their actual operating budget.

en.wikipedia.org

The US Chamber of Commerce has emerged as the largest lobbying organization in America. It spent $91.7 million on lobbying in 2008, and $144.5 million in 2009, up from $18.7 million in 2000. The Chamber’s lobbying expenditures in 2009 were five times as high as the next highest spender: Exxon Mobil, at $27.4 million.[18]

These people don’t give a shit if Tea Partiers mail in 20 dollar bills. It’s nothing to them.

Stanley Sea Thu, Oct 14, 2010 3:45:55pm

re: #62 Killgore Trout

Hot Air is now fundraising for the Chamber of Commerce…

It is probably the biggest donation day ever simply because nobody else in history would think it’s a good idea to voluntarily give money as a gift to Fortune 500 international mega-corporations before. I’m sure whatever money they raised is insignificant compared to their actual operating budget.

People are being duped. Duped into doing what’s against their best interest. This is very sad.

Killgore Trout Thu, Oct 14, 2010 3:47:15pm

re: #65 Stanley Sea

People are being duped. Duped into doing what’s against their best interest. This is very sad.

…and parting with their hard earned money in a tight economy to send to billionaires. It’s beyond sad.

APox Thu, Oct 14, 2010 3:57:47pm

They are just supporting the honest private sector so they can dethrone the evil Barack Husain Obama and get hired again once all business regulations are removed!

///

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