300,000 or More

[EasyEd]

According to the very left-wing NBC news, Glenn Beck's rally yesterday at the Lincoln Memorial drew about 300,000 people. Other estimates were higher. That's a lot of right-wing kooks.

[CAHoya07]

Yes, that is.

[strummer8526]

Prove to me that it wasn't 87,000 please. I can't prove that it was 87,000, but I also assume that you can't prove it was 300,000.

So how about we leave it at this: there are way too many people willing to waste a beautiful Saturday listening to Glenn Beck preach at the Lincoln Memorial.

[The Stig]

And the 2 million at Obama's inauguration proves there's a lot of radical anti-American socialists out there, I guess.

The reality is that attendees does not equal supporters. I know a lot of liberals who attended Glennbeckapalooza, and I know plenty of conservatives who went to Obama's inauguration.

Anyways, the talk of turning America back to God worries me, since I want America to have a place for me (an agnostic) as well.

[jerseyhoya34]

I have not paid much attention to the coverage of this spectacle. Were there any affirmative policy ideas that the speakers put out there?

[strummer8526]

Aug 29, 2010 20:51:22 GMT -5 @jerseyhoya34 said:

I have not paid much attention to the coverage of this spectacle. Were there any affirmative policy ideas that the speakers put out there?

I tuned in via WAPO online for the last 45 minutes or so. A decent portion of that time was spent on the following: (1) a singing of Amazing Grace accompanied by bagpipes, (2) an on-stage (or on-steps, I guess) appearance by dozens of random religious leaders from all different faiths, (3) a closing prayer, and (4) a country singer who I never heard of singing America the Beautiful as well as an original tune somehow inspired by a soldier killed in Iraq (because nothing says "honoring our veterans" like cashing in with a few cheesy country music lyrics inspired by their sacrifice).

I did not see Palin or any speakers before Beck, and I'm not sure how much of Beck I missed. But what I saw was ALL RELIGION. He tried very hard to act like a uniting figure, speaking to "Republicans, Democrats, and Independents," "all of us together," we as a "unified" nation, etc., etc. And it actually might have worked on anyone dumb enough to forget every hateful, ignorant, borderline dangerous thing he's ever said on his asinine show.

But as for policy, there was absolutely none. There was one line where he mentioned how we don't need to "transform" the United States, but rather "restore" the United States. (I'm not sure to what mythic period of greatness he thinks we need to be "restored," and he didn't specify; I'll just assume he meant the Founding. Gooooo slavery! That was some good free market action we had going.) He also rammed "Faith, Hope, and Charity" down everyone's throats. One interesting segment revealed that apparently, Glenn Beck thinks it is important for children to see their parents pray on their knees because then, the kids will learn to be humble before God. Humble. Glenn Beck was telling other people to be humble. Maybe I don't know what humble means, but the man standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on the anniversary of....Oh, forget it.

I did catch a 30 second clip of Palin. She made a maddeningly sarcastic quip about how "no matter what you say about [her, she] raised a combat vet." Her daughter—the unmarried teenage mother who, in an astoundingly Palin-like bit of hypocrisy, lectures others about abstinence—went unmentioned (at least in the clip I saw).

In short, if Beck had been replaced by almost any preacher in the country, this whole thing wouldn't be worth discussing because from what I can tell, nothing of significance was uttered. I just find it enraging because this man has no credentials at all in the fields of constitutional history or legitimate journalism, and he has even fewer as a religious leader. Anyone who actually takes their religion seriously should be appalled by his selfish highjacking of "faith" in such a transparently political moneymaking venture. Anyone who takes political policy seriously should just ignore the whole rally in its entirety.

As a side question to the more religious folks on here: Is religion in this country in such a sad state that people will actually accept Glenn Beck as some kind of spiritual leader?

[kchoya]

Aug 29, 2010 20:51:22 GMT -5 @jerseyhoya34 said:

I have not paid much attention to the coverage of this spectacle. Were there any affirmative policy ideas that the speakers put out there?

I wasn't aware it was a policy summit.

[HoyaNyr320]

Aug 29, 2010 21:28:48 GMT -5 strummer8526 said:

Aug 29, 2010 20:51:22 GMT -5 @jerseyhoya34 said:

I have not paid much attention to the coverage of this spectacle. Were there any affirmative policy ideas that the speakers put out there?

I tuned in via WAPO online for the last 45 minutes or so. A decent portion of that time was spent on the following: (1) a singing of Amazing Grace accompanied by bagpipes, (2) an on-stage (or on-steps, I guess) appearance by dozens of random religious leaders from all different faiths, (3) a closing prayer, and (4) a country singer who I never heard of singing America the Beautiful as well as an original tune somehow inspired by a soldier killed in Iraq (because nothing says "honoring our veterans" like cashing in with a few cheesy country music lyrics inspired by their sacrifice).

I did not see Palin or any speakers before Beck, and I'm not sure how much of Beck I missed. But what I saw was ALL RELIGION. He tried very hard to act like a uniting figure, speaking to "Republicans, Democrats, and Independents," "all of us together," we as a "unified" nation, etc., etc. And it actually might have worked on anyone dumb enough to forget every hateful, ignorant, borderline dangerous thing he's ever said on his asinine show.

But as for policy, there was absolutely none. There was one line where he mentioned how we don't need to "transform" the United States, but rather "restore" the United States. (I'm not sure to what mythic period of greatness he thinks we need to be "restored," and he didn't specify; I'll just assume he meant the Founding. Gooooo slavery! That was some good free market action we had going.) He also rammed "Faith, Hope, and Charity" down everyone's throats. One interesting segment revealed that apparently, Glenn Beck thinks it is important for children to see their parents pray on their knees because then, the kids will learn to be humble before God. Humble. Glenn Beck was telling other people to be humble. Maybe I don't know what humble means, but the man standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on the anniversary of....Oh, forget it.

I did catch a 30 second clip of Palin. She made a maddeningly sarcastic quip about how "no matter what you say about [her, she] raised a combat vet." Her daughter—the unmarried teenage mother who, in an astoundingly Palin-like bit of hypocrisy, lectures others about abstinence—went unmentioned (at least in the clip I saw).

In short, if Beck had been replaced by almost any preacher in the country, this whole thing wouldn't be worth discussing because from what I can tell, nothing of significance was uttered. I just find it enraging because this man has no credentials at all in the fields of constitutional history or legitimate journalism, and he has even fewer as a religious leader. Anyone who actually takes their religion seriously should be appalled by his selfish highjacking of "faith" in such a transparently political moneymaking venture. Anyone who takes political policy seriously should just ignore the whole rally in its entirety.

As a side question to the more religious folks on here: Is religion in this country in such a sad state that people will actually accept Glenn Beck as some kind of spiritual leader?

^^^^^^

ditto. this post was just perfect. thanks strummer! I'm still trying to figure out what precipitated the need to "restore" our country. Other than Beck's desire to line his pockets with $$$$$$$$, was there any other "non-political" motivation? Where was this "non-political" fervor during the Bush Administration? I guess America had tons of "faith" and "values" between 2000-2008.

[EasyEd]

Many, many people - over 300,000; or 67,000 - take your pick - assembled at the Lincoln Memorial to support the concept of returning to God. This was a free exercise of their constitutional right to freedom of speech and assembly. You are free to accept or reject the message.

[TC]

Can someone explain to me what this had to do with civil rights?

Glenn Beck having his event at the Lincoln Memorial on the anniversary of the "I Have a Dream" speech seems to me exactly analogous to the mosque situation in terms of sensitivity and tastefulness.

[theexorcist]

Aug 30, 2010 8:15:53 GMT -5 TC said:

Can someone explain to me what this had to do with civil rights?

Glenn Beck having his event at the Lincoln Memorial on the anniversary of the "I Have a Dream" speech seems to me exactly analogous to the mosque situation in terms of sensitivity and tastefulness.

This one I really don't get.

There are only so many weeks in the summer. I guarantee that, in 2011, you won't know what day Dr. King spoke (and I will guarantee that many people will think that it was on Martin Luther King DAY). On previous years, there hasn't been anything in the paper on the anniversary of the speech. Sorry, complaint fail.

[kchoya]

Aug 30, 2010 8:15:53 GMT -5 TC said:

Can someone explain to me what this had to do with civil rights?

Glenn Beck having his event at the Lincoln Memorial on the anniversary of the "I Have a Dream" speech seems to me exactly analogous to the mosque situation in terms of sensitivity and tastefulness.

So only black people are allowed to speak at the Lincoln Memorial on that day?

[hoyawatcher]

Aug 30, 2010 8:15:53 GMT -5 TC said:

Can someone explain to me what this had to do with civil rights?

Glenn Beck having his event at the Lincoln Memorial on the anniversary of the "I Have a Dream" speech seems to me exactly analogous to the mosque situation in terms of sensitivity and tastefulness.

Having Alveda King be a speaker at this event seems to me to be the kind of outreach and bridge building I wish the Mosque developers were doing.

[HoyaNyr320]

Aug 30, 2010 8:01:25 GMT -5 EasyEd said:

Many, many people - over 300,000; or 67,000 - take your pick - assembled at the Lincoln Memorial to support the concept of returning to God. This was a free exercise of their constitutional right to freedom of speech and assembly. You are free to accept or reject the message.

Let's not try to kid ourselves. The only Almightly that Glenn Beck wants to return to is the Almightly $$$$$$, and he's happy to have tea party "Patriots" funding his "returns."

[Buckets]

Aug 30, 2010 8:52:19 GMT -5 theexorcist said:

Aug 30, 2010 8:15:53 GMT -5 TC said:

Can someone explain to me what this had to do with civil rights?

Glenn Beck having his event at the Lincoln Memorial on the anniversary of the "I Have a Dream" speech seems to me exactly analogous to the mosque situation in terms of sensitivity and tastefulness.

This one I really don't get.

There are only so many weeks in the summer. I guarantee that, in 2011, you won't know what day Dr. King spoke (and I will guarantee that many people will think that it was on Martin Luther King DAY). On previous years, there hasn't been anything in the paper on the anniversary of the speech. Sorry, complaint fail.

So, if Obama had chosen this day to speak on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, I suppose that Beck would have accepted this as a mere coincidence?

Considering Beck's constant mocking of Obama's supposed self-portrayal as a messiah, I find it especially ironic that he chose not to prepare a speech in case God chose to spoke through him.

[kchoya]

Aug 30, 2010 9:26:20 GMT -5 HoyaNyr320 said:

Aug 30, 2010 8:01:25 GMT -5 EasyEd said:

Many, many people - over 300,000; or 67,000 - take your pick - assembled at the Lincoln Memorial to support the concept of returning to God. This was a free exercise of their constitutional right to freedom of speech and assembly. You are free to accept or reject the message.

Let's not try to kid ourselves. The only Almightly that Glenn Beck wants to return to is the Almightly $$$$$$, and he's happy to have tea party "Patriots" funding his "returns."

So you don't believe Beck that all proceeds are going to charity?

[Deleted]

Aug 30, 2010 8:01:25 GMT -5 EasyEd said:

This was a free exercise of their constitutional right to freedom of speech and assembly. You are free to accept or reject the message.

**

**This statement not applicable for Muslims seeking to build a place of worship in Lower Manhattan.

[TC]

Aug 30, 2010 9:16:17 GMT -5 hoyawatcher said:

Having Alveda King be a speaker at this event seems to me to be the kind of outreach and bridge building I wish the Mosque developers were doing.

Really? Getting an Alexis de Tocqueville fellow to speak at your conservative rally is considered "outreach"?

[The Stig]

Aug 30, 2010 9:58:59 GMT -5 kchoya said:

Aug 30, 2010 9:26:20 GMT -5 HoyaNyr320 said:

Let's not try to kid ourselves. The only Almightly that Glenn Beck wants to return to is the Almightly $$$$$$, and he's happy to have tea party "Patriots" funding his "returns."

So you don't believe Beck that all proceeds are going to charity?

Proceeds from this one (free) event, maybe. But let's not kid ourselves, this, like most of his public appearances, conveniently doubles as an advertisement for his show, and the proceeds from his show certainly don't go to charity.

Remember, Beck's pre-Fox conservative credentials are as weak as his credentials as a religious leader. He only jumped on the conservative bandwagon when an opportunity popped up to make a heck of a lot of money from being a conservative.

[HoyaNyr320]

Aug 30, 2010 9:58:59 GMT -5 kchoya said:

Aug 30, 2010 9:26:20 GMT -5 HoyaNyr320 said:

Let's not try to kid ourselves. The only Almightly that Glenn Beck wants to return to is the Almightly $$$$$$, and he's happy to have tea party "Patriots" funding his "returns."

So you don't believe Beck that all proceeds are going to charity?

No, I don't think he's lying about that. However, I believe his motivation for having this event was to boost his own ego money-making ability so that he can now write 3 more nonsense books about how important religion suddenly is to him and how America has "lost its way".... in a non-political sense of course.