White House: Glenn Beck, not 'seriously': The Swamp
The Swamp
Chicago Tribune
Posted October 16, 2009 5:00 PM
The Swamp

by Mark Silva

So what does the White House have to say about FOX News Channel's Glenn Beck going after Anita Dunn, the administration's communications director, for identifying Mao Zedong as one of her favorite philosophers?

" I caught some of that from the Glenn Beck show yesterday, but I don't think anybody takes it -- takes his attacks very seriously,'' said Bill Burton, the president's deputy press secretary, aboard Air Force One en route today to Texas, where President Barack Obama is joining former President George H.W. Bush at a "Points of Light'' public service commemoration.

"We're just -- you know, we go day to day in this White House trying to ensure that people know the truth about the policies and programs and positions that the president holds, and we're going to continue to do that,'' Burton told a reporter asking about Beck.

The videotaped comments of Dunn, a seasoned Democratic campaign strategist serving the Obama White House now, have been fodder for Beck's latest attack on some members of the administration whom he accuses of radical tendencies.

Rupert Murdoch, chairman of News Corp. and owner of the FOX networks, told stockholders today that the White House's escalating war with FOX News Channel has been good for ratings and business -- profits will be up next year.

Dunn, who accused FOX of a network-wide bias -- "an arm of the Republican Party,'' essentially -- has suggested it's not really a news network in the sense that CNN is. She said so on CNN on Sunday.

(Her other favorite philosopher is Mother Teresa.)

And Ted Turner, the man who founded CNN in 1980, suggests that all of these cable networks would be better off delivering "less talk, more news.''

Digg Delicious Facebook Fark Google Newsvine Reddit Yahoo

Comments

I take Beck VERY seriously. He is exposing the Obamasiah for the radical socialist he really is.

Keep up the work Mr. Beck. We MUST work for the total and absolute failure of Obama so that the nation can succeed!


Glenn Beck is the rights answer to Comedy Central


Mark,
Leave Glenn Beck Alone!
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9YQO8jPQg4
.


Silva, what's your point of this post? Are you a liberal tool or just sharing opposing views?


The White House and any educated American takes Glenn Beck's poltical entertainment about as seriously as they would Howard Stern. Rupert Murdoch himself is admitting this circus is all for ratings. But the "war" he refers to was started by his own employees/tv personalities - all in the name of ratings - as he said. The same people who buy Star Magazine and the National Enquirer watch Fox 'news'. It's the same caliber and it is very obvious why the White House wouldn't lend it any credence.


Is Glenn Beck trying to beat Joe McCarthy's record of witches hunted?


" I caught some of that from the Glenn Beck show yesterday, but I don't think anybody takes it -- takes his attacks very seriously,'' said Bill Burton

Its not an attack, its on video. All Glenn did was play the video. It speaks for itself. I haven't seen anyone defend or refute this.....only half hearted attempts to say she was joking. Why is Glenn Beck being demonized for show ACTUAL video of Obama's people saying radical things? Its not Glenn's fault, he is only exposing it.


Why doesn't Beck just honestly admit that his boss Rupert Murdoch is in bed with the Communist Chinese gov't.?


Why won't he expose how Rupert dines with Communist leaders in their elite compound, and how Fox News helped China’s state broadcaster develop a "news" Web site. and yes, tell us more about how old Rupert married a Communist.
sadly, Fox News fans are being played by Rupert and his Commie cronies.



Glenn Beck is so transparently a scam to make Glenn Beck rich that I can't believe it's gotten this far. If it wasn't for the low IQ goobers who make up the Republican base, nutjobs like Beck, Druggy Rush and Hannity would be doing late night infomercials for a living right now.


He's incoherently ranting one minute, crying the next, he supports something one day, and denounced it the next, he decries... Glenn Beck on a regular basis as a joke and a clown.


Beck is going to get somebody killed before he finally falls from his gilded perch, that's what makes him so scary.



Does anybody really care what the White House thinks?


Beck's call for a jihad has been heard. It is time for all good right wing religious nutjobs to stand up against Obama's "secret negro army" stand up and fight against the Census and FEMA internment camps. Oh and tyranny....that always makes them feel as if they were "great Americans". Put on the coonskin caps boys, grab your muskets, it's one if by land, two if by your mind. To the harbors....dress as indians and throw that tea into the drink. The outrage, the hummanity of it all. Oh my brain hurts alot.



Why does this White House need to single out those people who disagree with their socialist or entrenched govt policies? They feel the need to pick on individuals - Santilli, Beck, etc etc.

Was fine when it was a campaign - but now it is time to govern.

Makes me regret my vote. Here is to a 30% approval rating for Obama.


"We're just -- you know, we go day to day in this White House trying to ensure that people know the truth about the policies and programs and positions that the president holds, and we're going to continue to do that,'' Burton told a reporter asking about Beck.

The administration's liar forgot this part:

and being the most transparent and open administration ever...


Fox doesn't give the news it gives opinions. and the White House shouldn't even give it legitimacy by commenting on it.Fascist Obnoxious Xtremism


When watching Faux News it's always good to remember what Ronald Reagan once said: "Trust but Verify"


In Faux and Rush's version of reality, Obama is the man behind The Liberal Plot To Destroy America, a long-running conspiracy that includes Federal Special Agents, The Clintons, Nancy Pelosi, Hugo Chavez, George Clooney, Sean Penn, The Dixie Chicks and the woman from the Progressive insurance commericals.


Before watching Faux always be sure of the facts before hand and then take a show to get all of the stupid residue off you.



I just want to thank CNN for all the positive coverage during my reign. It ain't called the Clinton News Network for nothing!


Glenn Beck Fake Cries For Photoshoot:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9j_SWbpOH0


Dear Glenn BecKKK,


Please adjust your Lithium prescription.


Thank You,
The Real World.



It seems FOX news is helping to insure the current administration keeps its promise about transparency. Beck has much more factual information then some are comfortable with. I'll be glad to see the day he pulls the blanket off the animal rights groups and exposes their money making strong arm tactics and the unconstitutional laws they have lobbied to pass.


Who is Glen Beck?


Yes, Glenn Beck has a right to free speech. But to be so widely broadcast as someone whose opinion is worthwhile?


Good, we Americans will simply not take people who idolize Mao, seriously, how about that Mr. Assistant Press Secretary?
p.s. Keep up the good work, Fox's ratings aren't high enough yet.


Ted who? The creator of the Communist News Network? That is funny......less talk, more news...?
Seriously, Ted, you have got to be kidding? Your clowns couldn't even FIND the news of the ACORN scandal. If your reporters were any good...or had any credibility....then perhaps you would have a point...but...alas..that is NOT the case.


Hmmmm, but because of Beck's focus on the nut-job Van Jones, Jones "resigned."

This joke of a badministration also is perhaps the most lying of all administrations!


GLENN Beck is one good muckraker that will NOT go away, long live the gadfly.


The White House will take it damned seriously in November 2010.


That anyone, anywhere on this planet could take Glenn Beck seriously is beyond my comprehension. He'd be an embarassment to any television outlet other than Fox, which itself is a shameless puppet network for Republicans and Conservatives. How has American society slid so far so fast, and why do Fox viewers keep lapping up this nonsense as if any of it were factual? JL


Every member of the Republicans party that supports the racist Glenn BeckerHead Teabaggers should be hung with piano wire from the light posts. EVERY member.

NOTEABAGERS!


Lately Beck just sounds off on the same sociopathic garbage every single day. One day it's Mao, the next day it's Stalin, and the third day it's Hitler....blah blah blah.


Becks just constantly yelling "fire!" and it's getting really tiresome--even boring. It's almost like having a really old relative who just gives you this litany of aches and pains and illnesses when you visit them but they do this for ten years and pretty soon you're thinking to yourself, "Well obviously things aren't as bad as they say."


I think at some point in the future even his viewers (Wingnuts) are going to look out the window, see that the world is still running, the stock market has gone up, people are not paying more taxes, people are finding jobs again, and everyone now has access to health care.


They're going to see that nobody is in concentration camps, FEMA hasn't killed the Republicans, Fox "News" is actually still on the air, as is Rush Limbaugh, grandmas haven't been euthanized, and Bin Laden isn't sleeping in the Lincoln Bedroom, and Beck is going to seem like a nincompoop and a failed Nostrodamus.



Wake up people, all of the media today is bias! If you say otherwise, your not being honest with yourself


Glenn Beck is a racist. Glenn Beck wants our nation to fail. Glenn Beck gloried in the loss of the Chicago Bid for the Olympics. Glenn Beck does not belong in mainstream media. Lonesome Rhodes Beck is a fringe freak show and he needs to be in isolation or really the man "crying in the wilderness".
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Km7_XGkolRM



Well, it doesn't matter whether the White House takes the messenger seriously or not. The fact is that yet another White House functionary has been unmasked as holding views repugnant to ordinary Americans. Anita thinks totalitarian mass murderer Mao is a "philosopher " to be emulated. This, while it may explain her campaign for a totally cowed ONETHINK media, is out of step with all but a tiny leftist extremist fringe in American life.She has embarrassed the President and should resign.


My god, its like McCarthyism all over again. Beck is a Dork.


What I'd really like to know is what was said between White House senior adviser David Axelrod and Fox News chairman and chief executive officer Roger Ailes when the two met privately in Manhattan.

On Dunn - How can anyone be surprised that an Obama appointee likes Mao? Seriously, most of his circle of friends and advisors came out of the universities where it's practically a requirement to be a Marxist, too.


Crazy Glenn Beck and his brainless minions desperately want to return to the way things were on 9/12/01... those were the GOP glory days, when they could get their way by scaring the crap out of everyone and no one would call them on it.


The Wingnut Wacko Teabaggers - asleep for 8 years of Bu$hco war lies and tax cuts for billionaires only to wake up on Jan 20th to find a black man in the White House. Oh, Noes!



You left out on the tape Beck showed her other favorite philosoper Mao, remember that guy who killed 70 million of his own people? Words matter, especially when they're on tape. But hey, I'm sure Anita has evolved since her elevation to the White House staff. The woman is a moron.


Oh that CNN...where the "reporter" argues with protesters...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOrPzVECSjo

and then gets the camera turned back on her while she hears about her slanted journalism. I love this clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1nRYw-OQ_E&feature=related

Oh, yeah the Communist News Network is a "real" news station. LOL!

By the way that reporter was fired.


Seeing how no one in the WH proof has came out and said it wrong, it would seem Beck got it right. And Beck did not have to say it he just played the video of her saying it. So who is really lying here?


Glenn Beck is doing the work the MSM is failing to do.
You lefties really should give this guy some credit... he's taking down your messiah one show at a time.
Most polls have obama in the mid to high forties after the Nobel Prize hoax, but he's heading south again...why?
Because...more people are watching Beck and learning the truth...looks like Dunn is soon to be done. What will obama do now? Appoint a not-so-communist communications director?

Paulo


Does anyone take seriously what this White House says?
Does anyone take seriously what the White House's media buddies say?
It is widely believed that The Swamp is a part of the Democratic Party. The above article only reinforces that belief.


"McCarthyism" is the GOVERNMENT going about "hunting witches." When the PRESS goes after someone and uses actual words and actual video, it's called JOURNALISM. Perhaps NYTimes, NBC, CBS, and the Trib could do some of that? I seem to recall "60 Minutes" doing it and being quite successful. As opposed to NYTimes, NBC, etc. these days. I'm just sayin'.


Yeah sure, the White House doesn't take Beck seriously. That's why they have their communications director attacking. THAT'S TOO FUNNY.

Anita Dunn, also worked on the former Gov Rod's campaign, twice.

She also has been the attack dog:

"I also noted that Dunn is married to Obama thug lawyer Robert Bauer, who tried valiantly to get the DOJ to prosecute conservative critics and punish TV stations for running an ad critical of Obama’s relationship with Weather Underground Bill Ayers."

No wonder Mark Silva ran this article. Anything to run cover for Obama, huh Mark?


Everyone should download and read the paper co-authored by Ezekiel Emmanuel, the Health Czar. It was published January 2009 (PDF):

http://www.factcheck.org/UploadedFiles/emanuel_lancet.pdf


If you don't like Glenn Beck go to ABC.


Is that the same Mao that President visited and shook hands with in 1972?


Mark Silva is cited on Wikipedia saying that he thinks Anita Dunn will keep her job. Wishful thinking?

Are you doing freelance blogging on Wikipedia, Mark? It that part of you being a "jourlnalist? Go to wikipedia and write some "news" come back here and confirm the information, or is it the other way around? Maybe you should use facebook.


I love it. The White House and all of the other networks are tanking and they have no other way to fight. They are attacking Fox and Fox keeps getting bigger. O'Bama has to appease his far left wingers and now he is loosing his independents. The party is over. Na Na Nana hey hey hey GOOD BYE.


Still no one from the WH was said Beck is wrong. Funny can it be they if they did they (WH) would call out for lying again.


People want to point the finger at Glenn Beck and Fox News. Why is it the White House wants to look at them as an Opponent? Why take them on? If the White House feels they are right why not offer facts as to why?

Nixon had an enemies list. Other politicians have had similar lists. People who have nothing to hide or to worry about do not use tactics like this.

More and more people are waking up. More and more people want answers.


Come on guys: Blaming Fox news and their people isn't the problem they aren't doing anything that CNN hasn't done.
The news people are the smallest of problems. Lets start with all elected official in Washington DC and I mean ALL of them. Name me just one who is honest, truthful and have your and mine best interest in making decisions and passing laws that affect you and me.
Can you think of one I can't

PS: My own personal opinion no elected official should be allowed to serve more than two terms in their lifetime.


Keep up the great work Glen, there are many smart and sensible people that thank you for what you have exposed by this current Administration. If it wasn't for you Acorn would still be "in like flint" and Van Jones would still be around. What corruption you expose next? Sensible Americans want to know.


I don't remember former President Bush as giving the leftist media uncalled for snide remarks or attention like Obama is doing now. There's a sense of uneasiness here when the opposing party (conservatives) only wants to voice their opinion. IT'S OUR RIGHT!!! We still live in USA, right?--- where we value our freedom of speech. Bush has literally been attacked by the left like never before. Hey, they made him a movie; as the bad guy! But, did he say anything mean or got on his weekly radio and wasted time criticizing the Hollywood bunch? or the liberals? No, Bush has a lot more class than this new president.


Burton says that no one is taking Beck seriously. Then why were you, the Administration's deputy press secretary, watching his show? When someone goes out of their way to tell you they don't care about something, it usually means they care deeply. This Administration does not deal well with criticism. Out of one side of their mouth, the Administration tries to marginalize this element (e.g., no one takes Beck seriously, etc.) and out of the other they try to trump it up (e.g., Limbaugh is the leader of the GOP, etc.). Neither is a good strategy, and it gives those people more publicity than they deserve. My advice to BO is to stop being so thin-skinned and defensive. There is a certain element that will criticize you no matter what you do/say. Beck and Limbaugh are examples. Just like there is an element that will cheerlead for you no matter what you do/say. Keith Olbermann and Mark Silva are examples. BO should ignore these people, and focus on the silent majority in the middle that neither hates him nor has a bizarre man-crush on him. These people will judge him objectively by his actions, and are not going to be swayed by angry commentators and adoring cheerleaders.


"Keep up the work Mr. Beck. We MUST work for the total and absolute failure of Obama so that the nation can succeed!" Brilliant. Anyone who as much as questioned Dubya's policy was labeled a traitor and "un-American" and all the rest of the smear titles. Bush lied to the world and brought the national deficit to 11 trillion dollars BEFORE OBAMA WAS EVEN IN OFFICE. Now, Obama has some unpopular policies on health care and economics and people say, " We MUST work for the total and absolute failure of Obama so that the nation can succeed!" HOW IS THAT NOT TREASON TO WORK TO MAKE YOUR PRESIDENT FAIL?!?!?!


Over here in Europe we've only just heard of this man Beck. I found myself reading about his bonkers rantings with a mixture of amusement and disbelief.

While I think it is sweet of you American folk to let this chap out of day-release so he can present his show, you really shouldn't be calling it "news".

Oh, and Rupert Murdoch was single-handedly responsible for dumbing down the British print media and introducing topless chicks to UK newspapers long before he decided to be a patriotic American so we know all about that morally upstanding fellow too.


Post a comment

(Anonymous comments will not be posted. Comments aren't posted immediately. They're screened for relevance to the topic, obscenity, spam and over-the-top personal attacks. We can't always get them up as soon as we'd like so please be patient. Thanks for visiting The Swamp.)

Please enter the letter "a" in the field below:

Barack Obama

Latest polls

Features

Cartoon

Joe Fournier

Cartoon

The Lowe- Down

Cartoon

Editorial cartoons

McCain

Presidential trivia