Glenn Beck and Some of the Rest of the Trashy Trash Talkers

Glenn Beck

Remember when the attention seeker’s manta was, “It doesn’t matter if you say something bad about me, just spell my name right”

OK:  “G-L-E-N-N  B-E-C-K.  N-E-WT  G-I-N-G-R-R-I-C-H.  R-U-S-H  L-I-M-B-B-A-U-G-H.

Actually those three have changed things around a bit.  Instead of “If you can’t say something good about somebody, don’t say anything “, they changed that to “If you can’t say anthing BAD about a person…” etc. etc.

Their latest schtick ,defined as “comic theme or gimmick”, is the careless UNfunny use of the word “Racist”  Let’s see here: Gingrich and Limbaugh said that Supreme Court nominee Sonya was one, and Beck is joining  Parade of the Demagogues by calling out President Obama with that same offensive word.

Of course, it won’t be offensive to those among their followers who are racists themselves,  just itching for an excuse to apply the term to people of color.  That way they can justify their own bigotry.

Beck and the others are motivated by still another long time cliche:  “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it any more”.  Face it.  Most of us are angry, and for good reason.  We don’t need someone to exploit that by whipping  us up into a frenzy simply to keep TV ratings up.

But they don’t care.  These guys go on their nasty way.   If their divisive rants make it more difficult than ever for our country to come together on anything.  All that matters is getting viewers to tune in and lining the “Base” up for political support.

The irresponsible invective comes not just from the right.  There are an equal number who call themselves “Progressives” who are just as willing to demean their opponents using even more contemptible language.  How many times have we heard the grotesque word “Nazi” thrown at someone.

How sad that the “Competition of Ideas” that is supposed to bring out the best from all sides has been consumed by  rhetorical brutality, wielded by opportunistic hustlers, who could not care less about the damage they do. They are motivated by another bromide that will never become outdated:  “Whatever Sells”