Jack Hunter: "On Glenn Beck and the Liberty Movement"

[whippoorwill]

Bump

 

[belian78]

Some are looking for a new idol. Beck isn't that, never was and never will be. In fact, I think it's dangerous to be looking for a person to put up on a pedestal.

The only time I see you stick your head into threads anymore is to snipe at people from the sidelines. It's really not needed.

 

[KurtBoyer25L]

Well that's it then. Jack Hunter changed his mind about a pragmatic political issue within a two year span. Can't trust him. All his libertarian articles since then have been written on Chinese Poison Paper that is meant to chemically change all of our brains to be Communists when we read it. It's all a conspiracy, maaannn.

 

[KurtBoyer25L]

The only time I see you stick your head into threads anymore is to snipe at people from the sidelines. It's really not needed.

I don't know, I think he makes a good point. Instead of following the example of Ron Paul (or even Penn Jillette) and treating everyone as equals who wake up every morning with a chance to be persuaded, libertarians have been either exalting or disqualifying people for keeps based on whether or not we like them personally. Think of the furthest logical extension of this -- what if it were possible to get *every* seat in Congress filled by a libertarian and all we had to do was not angrily shout down every TV journalist who publicizes them? If the TV journalists were bad or flaky guys, would that make it okay to alienate them and sacrifice the positive press (& all of the elections) in doing so?

 

[sailingaway]

I don't know, I think he makes a good point. Instead of following the example of Ron Paul (or even Penn Jillette) and treating everyone as equals who wake up every morning with a chance to be persuaded, libertarians have been either exalting or disqualifying people for keeps based on whether or not we like them personally. Think of the furthest logical extension of this -- what if it were possible to get *every* seat in Congress filled by a libertarian and all we had to do was not angrily shout down every TV journalist who publicizes them? If the TV journalists were bad or flaky guys, would that make it okay to alienate them and sacrifice the positive press (& all of the elections) in doing so?

There is a difference between saying exposure is bad, and saying don't turn these guys who betrayed us skillfully before into perceived titans of OUR movement so they can mislead and betray in the future.

 

[Brian4Liberty]

Hum. That may be the wrong perspective though. It's not as though we are going to ask this guy to run for office on our behalf.

I was vague, but what I meant was flaws that the media would overlook or not in a candidate.

Personally, I'm all for coalition building.

 

[A Son of Liberty]

Ron worked with Barney Frank, and Dennis Kucinich, but at no point did any of us suggest that those people were libertarians, or a part of the liberty movement. Glenn Beck holds some pretty awful views regarding foreign policy. Hey, if he wants to promote liberty in some areas, that is great. Just like Barney and Dennis. But don't for a SECOND suggest that Glenn Beck is a part of the liberty movement.

 

[cajuncocoa]

Ron worked with Barney Frank, and Dennis Kucinich, but at no point did any of us suggest that those people were libertarians, or a part of the liberty movement. Glenn Beck holds some pretty awful views regarding foreign policy. Hey, if he wants to promote liberty in some areas, that is great. Just like Barney and Dennis. But don't for a SECOND suggest that Glenn Beck is a part of the liberty movement.

+Rep

 

[AuH20]

Ron worked with Barney Frank, and Dennis Kucinich, but at no point did any of us suggest that those people were libertarians, or a part of the liberty movement. Glenn Beck holds some pretty awful views regarding foreign policy. Hey, if he wants to promote liberty in some areas, that is great. Just like Barney and Dennis. But don't for a SECOND suggest that Glenn Beck is a part of the liberty movement.

Glenn Beck's foreign policy views aren't awful. In fact, Glenn Beck's foreign policy philosophy doesn't even mesh with the contemporary foreign policy view of the Republican party because it it too far restrained.

 

[dinosaur]

Glenn Beck's foreign policy views aren't awful. In fact, Glenn Beck's foreign policy philosophy doesn't even mesh with the contemporary foreign policy view of the Republican party because it it too far restrained.

Sometimes yes, sometimes no; Beck isn't consistent.

 

[speciallyblend]

keep repenting beck. prove us wrong!

 

[dinosaur]

Going even further with your example. Take Ron Paul going on the Mike Huckabee show from time to time, and that's after they had some pretty testy exchanges during the campaign.

And there were times when Ron skipped the Huckabee show. There isn't one consistent, best way to deal with these people; sometimes it depends on the circumstance, sometimes these media appearances are freindly and sometimes they are an ambush.

 

[dinosaur]

keep repenting beck. prove us wrong!

Amen to that.

 

[A Son of Liberty]

Glenn Beck's foreign policy views aren't awful. In fact, Glenn Beck's foreign policy philosophy doesn't even mesh with the contemporary foreign policy view of the Republican party because it it too far restrained.

Yes, they are awful. Just because they are to some degree less awful than the standard GOP position on FP does not mean they are not awful.

Let's not set the standard for 'awful' at G.W. Bush, okay?

 

[Spoa]

I agree with Jack Hunter. Before I studied the issues, I thought that Ron Paul was all about 9/11 theories and hated war for no good reason. The movement should educate and be welcoming to people even if they don't agree 100% of the time.

 

[kcchiefs6465]

I agree with Jack Hunter. Before I studied the issues, I thought that Ron Paul was all about 9/11 theories and hated war for no good reason. The movement should educate and be welcoming to people even if they don't agree 100% of the time.

I agree. The problem is when people such as Beck apply themselves as libertarians and skew the meaning of the word. Besides there is the point of his past actions of sinking liberty candidates for no reason at all. I'm all for people to begin researching and trying to understanding the libertarian position. The problem is Glenn Beck is probably going to sully the waters and twist the message before endorsing another corporate shill as always. I don't know. I hope he understands his mistakes and apologizes. He speaks of liberty and forgets Medina. He speaks of liberty and forgets Ron Paul. He speaks of foreign policy and bashes Ron Paul before adopting Paul's FP as his own. I don't trust the man as far as I could throw him. That being said I hope he is coming around to the message.

 

[malkusm]

My two cents (and I haven't said anything about Beck in the last month):

Actions speak louder than words. If Beck wants to demonstrate his sincerity regarding his newfound libertarian beliefs, he'll need to do more than talk about them on his show in the political off-season. He'll need to promote libertarian-minded candidates in the height of their campaigns and maybe even publicly donate to their causes, in the way that many other political commentators who make money on the basis of their opinions do.

That said, it doesn't hurt us for him to have Rand, Jack Hunter, Woods, Hornberger and others on his show, even if he does decide not to follow through come 2014 or 2016.

 

[Origanalist]

My two cents (and I haven't said anything about Beck in the last month):

Actions speak louder than words. If Beck wants to demonstrate his sincerity regarding his newfound libertarian beliefs, he'll need to do more than talk about them on his show in the political off-season. He'll need to promote libertarian-minded candidates in the height of their campaigns and maybe even publicly donate to their causes, in the way that many other political commentators who make money on the basis of their opinions do.

That said, it doesn't hurt us for him to have Rand, Jack Hunter, Woods, Hornberger and others on his show, even if he does decide not to follow through come 2014 or 2016.

That's a pretty good two cents worth. I agree, if during the next election he backs liberty I will believe he's had a transformation. Until then I don't pay him any mind, but if liberty gets some airtime because of him, great.

 

[anaconda]

Well that's it then. Jack Hunter changed his mind about a pragmatic political issue within a two year span. Can't trust him. All his libertarian articles since then have been written on Chinese Poison Paper that is meant to chemically change all of our brains to be Communists when we read it. It's all a conspiracy, maaannn.

I like Jack Hunter and appreciate his commentary. But I don't recall ever hearing him say he had changed his mind on his political pragmatism. He might do well to address this and speak about any change in direction he experienced with respect to this. I would find it interesting and insightful, and a possible source of inspiration for working "within" the Republican Party.

 

[Carehn]

I'm sorry, but anyone who even for a moment thinks that Beck is truly coming around, deserves the proverbial kick in the nuts you're going to get once primary season rolls around.

Beck is coming around because his listeners are no longer spending money and he thinks we just might.