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Video: The obligatory “Glenn Beck interviews leader of American Communist Party” clip

posted at 9:05 pm on March 4, 2009 by Allahpundit
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What’s the occasion? No occasion, really — except the fact that the guy gave a speech a few weeks ago asserting that the communist agenda’s being fulfilled by Hopenchange. Over to you, Cathy Young:

To those who remember the murderous horror that was the USSR, this flippant use of Communist and Soviet analogies should be deeply offensive, indeed obscene – the right-wing equivalent of the leftist habit of flinging Nazi metaphors at conservatives. Lenin, Stalin and Obama are as much of a trio as Hitler, Mussolini and Bush. Lenin and Stalin did not want to tax the rich a little more; they wanted to confiscate all their property and either kill them or send them to concentration camps (and to eliminate all political opposition and independent opinion)…

No sane person today would argue the merits of communism or Soviet-style socialism vs. democratic capitalism. But the size and role of government in democratic capitalist societies is very much a subject of legitimate debate. Most people favor some balance between security and flexibility, more equality and more individual opportunity. We proponents of small government should be able to argue for flexibility and opportunity without painting the other side as evil – and to criticize the Democrats’ proposals without resorting to a Red Scare.

Of course, demonization cuts both ways. Fairly modest Republican attempts to curb the welfare state have been habitually painted by Democrats as plans to starve orphans and throw grandmas out on the street. Now, we have Republicans equating federal student aid with the gulag. Reasoned debate in politics? More wishful thinking.

Exit question: How thick are the walls of Beck’s bomb shelter? Over/under is two feet.


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Comment pages: 1 2

“They’ve killed hundreds of millions of people!”

“I don’t agree with that.”

Oy.

capitalist piglet on March 4, 2009 at 10:48 PM

“just saying”

sven10077 on March 4, 2009 at 10:43 PM

Do those things kick like the rest?

MadisonConservative on March 4, 2009 at 10:49 PM

Enough with the Beck bashing AP. I had to quit frequenting LGF because it became an evolution blog; now HA (with the help of AP)seems to be turning into an anti-independent-conservative blog. Sheesh, is it the atheism thing that makes your type so sour?

melachiro on March 4, 2009 at 10:49 PM

logis at 10:36 PM-

Communism is forcing life into a Theory.

Capitalism is forcing theory into a life.

profitsbeard on March 4, 2009 at 10:50 PM

i’m unaware of this:

To those who remember the murderous horror that was the USSR, this flippant use of Communist and Soviet analogies should be deeply offensive, indeed obscene…

No sane person today would argue the merits of communism or Soviet-style socialism vs. democratic capitalism.

last i checked, “brown-baiting” conservatives as nascent or simply reconstructed nazis was a truism that cnn hosts rattle off without deliberation, while communist butchers are pop idols and marxist frames are staple elements in liberal arts curriculums.

further, the two moments in u.s. history in which there was any popular critical confrontation with marxism are tarred with the pejorative “red scare”, and critical confrontation with marxists at any point is relegated to a place beyond the pale alongside and associated with the affirmation of nazism.

soviet-style socialism is so unperturbing to mainstream liberals that no major news organization in the liberal west thought it was note-worthy that each and every one the major public protests against the liberation of iraq was organized primarily by the unreconstructed stalinists of the workers world party. indeed, liberals could be counted on to mis-portray the events as spontaneous and liberal.

if one sees a swastika or a hammer and sickle in public, one can predict the intent of the displayer easily. break it down mathematically: only one out of the dozens of possible intentions are socially acceptable – the swastika is being displayed as a negative insinuation against an opponent to displayer’s political left and the hammer and sickle (or yellow star or whatever) is being displayed as a positive self-identification. all other possibilities – the swastika as a pejorative against someone to the left, the hammer and sickle as a pejorative at all – lie beyond the pale of discourse that liberals will tollerate.

eh on March 4, 2009 at 10:58 PM

I rather think [liberalism is the result of] helplessness on the part of the supporters. They have envy combined with the feeling of inadequacy. They know they can’t achieve the success by their own accord so they latch onto someone like Obama, who seeks power provided by these people, in the hope that he will provide for them.
genso on March 4, 2009 at 10:43 PM

Think about what percentage of Democrats are on one form or another of fixed-income. Union employees, welfare recipients… And the other end of the spectrum: the relatively useless children of successful parents, who know they can never significantly change their station in life. Even the wildly over-represented media figures — each of them know dozens of equally talented people who are flipping burgers somewhere — sure, their agents negotiate exorbitant fees; but again, that’s not based on what they do; it’s based on who they are.

Of course that engenders envy and inadequacy. But that’s only the seed. Envious and inadequate people can sit around and seethe forever – that doesn’t hurt anyone.

Someone has to come along to fan the flames; to convince them all that they DESERVE infinitely more than every rule of civilized society says they deserve. And that’s the role that liberalism plays. We must never forget how seductive that philosophy can be to the people who have nothing else to live for.

logis on March 4, 2009 at 10:58 PM

oops. should be…

…only one out of the dozens of possible intentions are socially acceptable – the swastika is being displayed as a negative insinuation against an opponent to displayer’s political left right, …

eh on March 4, 2009 at 11:00 PM

Lenin, Stalin and Obama are as much of a trio as Hitler, Mussolini and Bush.

Er … right-o …

Except that Bush never sought out fascist professors, didn’t attend a church taht preached a neo-mussilini philosophy, didn’t immerse himself in the writings of Hitler’s or Mussilini’s philosophical underpinnings … whereas BHO actively sought out marxist professors (by his own account, in one of his moronic books), went to a church taht preached black liberation theology (a marxist offshoot for militant black theologians), hung out with marxists every chance he got, looks at the world in terms of a major class war, wants to redistribute wealth and achieve “social and economic justice” (i.e. revenge) which includes redistributive policy (or whatever he called it), wants to dictate industrial policy on as large and wide a scale as possible which is being implemented via the phantom of anthropogenic global warming, …

Sorry, Cathy, but your attempted analogy falls far short and ends up only showing what it, ostensibly, is meant to refute. The Precedent is very close to Stalin and Lenin (though I agree with the earlier posters who peg him as more a Lenin type (though his anger and desire for revenge is very Stalinist). ANd you don’t have to listen to the left talk about how “capitalism failed” for too long before you understand the delusional world the left lives in.

Fairly modest Republican attempts to curb the welfare state have been habitually painted by Democrats as plans to starve orphans and throw grandmas out on the street.

Well, leftists are lying scum. They’ll say anything to get their way. They’ll even starve orphans and throw grandmas oout on the street if it will get them a little more political power. The left are despicable people who hate themselves (leading to their policies that work to destroy everything and everyone that looks like them or reminds them of themselves) as much as everyone else hates them.

Now, we have Republicans equating federal student aid with the gulag.

Uh … what? No, I think it was the left’s attempt to drive our country in to total bankruptcy, to kill our industries, to take over everything they can, and their desires to totally squelch all opposition that leads to the idea of gulags. We’ve all seen how the left loves to weild government power against private individuals and the jump to gulags is not that far, especially how the Precedent’s good buddy, Bill Ayers, spent time contemplating the murder of 25,000,000 capitalists in order to clean the place out.

progressoverpeace on March 4, 2009 at 11:03 PM

the communist agenda’s being fulfilled by Hopenchange

Well, duh.

baldilocks on March 4, 2009 at 11:03 PM

You can read this guy’s speech on the CPUSA website. And you’ll never guess what he ends with:

“Yes, we can.”

capitalist piglet on March 4, 2009 at 11:03 PM

Communism is forcing life into a Theory.

Capitalism is forcing theory into a life.

profitsbeard on March 4, 2009 at 10:50 PM

Capitalism simply motivates one to achieve. The only thing that’s forced upon one is death.

If socialists or communists start living forever, I’ll reevaluate my stance.

AES on March 4, 2009 at 11:04 PM

logis on March 4, 2009 at 10:58 PM

Well stated. Indeed, those who have been convinced that they have nothing to lose and much to gain are the most dangerous of all. I think many of us are disappointed to find that those numbers are so great.

genso on March 4, 2009 at 11:07 PM

The only thing that’s forced upon one is death.

AES on March 4, 2009 at 11:04 PM

Death is simply a fact of life and nothing more.

thomasaur on March 4, 2009 at 11:10 PM

Death is simply a fact of life and nothing more.

thomasaur on March 4, 2009 at 11:10 PM

That’s my point. Under our Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence, we exercise our God given rights and then expire.

What I keep hearing is that we need some change. I disrespectfully disagree.

AES on March 4, 2009 at 11:18 PM

I saw this guy on Glen’s show today. Couldn’t believe what an uninformed guy he is.

cjs1943 on March 4, 2009 at 11:22 PM

Beck is just calling it like it is. The communist party leader made a speech that basically said that the administration is putting into place policies and heading in the direction that makes the communists happy.

Beck did not compare President Obama to Stalin at all. He was calling into question the CPUSA’s leaders position that communism is good.

Typical liberal response though….bring out the straw man.

Why the bunker comment regarding Beck?? Beck is saying people should prepare. He isn’t saying to go out and build a house out of a missile silo. Since when did basic preparation become taboo, a subject of ridicule and reason to be labeled a loon?

‘Just in time’ logistics has turned the American public against common sense behavior. Now, we buy stuff daily, only when we need it instead of buying enough to skip going to the store for a month. Foolish.

cryptojunkie on March 4, 2009 at 11:25 PM

I know who else would own this commie in an argument.

FontanaConservative on March 4, 2009 at 11:27 PM

Communism/socialism is for naive, ignorant, peasants, and that’s what this guy is. And, apparently, many Americans have, probably as a consequence of television and 3rd rate educations, become exactly that as well. It doesn’t take an economic genius (talk about those profit/earning ratios!) to realize that there’s no free lunch: what drives economic growth is production and improvements in productivity wrought by competition, not consumption.

I wonder if Ogabe actually believes that the marginal tax revenues generated by the increased economic activity that results from the bogus “stimulus” package will be sufficient to even pay the interest on the consequent debt? If he does, then he’s a fool; if not then he knows he’s destroying wealth on a massive scale. Either way, he’s going to be a disaster.

mr.blacksheep on March 4, 2009 at 11:28 PM

The guy has been a member of theCPUSA for 40 years and makes 26K annualy, that should tell you all you need to know.

thomasaur on March 4, 2009 at 11:30 PM

I wonder if Ogabe actually believes that the marginal tax revenues generated by the increased economic activity that results from the bogus “stimulus” package will be sufficient to even pay the interest on the consequent debt? If he does, then he’s a fool; if not then he knows he’s destroying wealth on a massive scale. Either way, he’s going to be a disaster.

mr.blacksheep on March 4, 2009 at 11:28 PM

There will be “pump-tards” proclaiming the great success of this stimulus for decades to come. Hopefully we won’t hear it in the “free bowl of pinto beans” line.

AES on March 4, 2009 at 11:40 PM

Do those things kick like the rest?

MadisonConservative on March 4, 2009 at 10:49 PM

like a mule…part of the fun of a nagant though….

sven10077 on March 4, 2009 at 11:43 PM

Capitalism is not a theory. It is reality. In the end supply and demand will dictate the consequences of inefficiency every time. All human beings will do what is in their best interests, and that will determine the decisions regarding goods and services. You can cruft up their understanding of what is in their best interests with a lot of politically convenient fictions, but the unavoidable scarcity of resources will prove thosr fictions to be what they are.

spmat on March 4, 2009 at 11:58 PM

Communism is forcing life into a Theory.

Capitalism is forcing theory into a life.

profitsbeard on March 4, 2009 at 10:50 PM

Capitalism simply motivates one to achieve. The only thing that’s forced upon one is death.

If socialists or communists start living forever, I’ll reevaluate my stance.

AES on March 4, 2009 at 11:04 PM

Final say: Capitalism is merely the absence of oppression.

JohnJ on March 5, 2009 at 12:00 AM

Beck is a borderline deity of all things, with the noted exception of Islam. that’s still pretty good in my book.

awake on March 5, 2009 at 12:01 AM

I hate to sound like a crazy person but I kind of agree with Beck underlying doubt the sustainability of the United States.
Don’t know if he has the details right but I’m sure people in the Ukraine never imagined a day they would not be part of the soviet union(until it happened).
Why should Texas and oklahoma pay for bankrupt states like California.
If the USA were a corparation we would downssize it and sell off the money losing parts of the buisness.
Let’s see if we can auction off Detroit to Canada or whoever wants to buy it.

kangjie on March 5, 2009 at 12:07 AM

What makes Ms. young think that Obama intends to stop at Euro-Socialism? The left is more than capable of “going all the way”, just read “Liberal Fascism

johnsteele on March 5, 2009 at 12:19 AM

You know I don’t often watch Glen Beck but I did today. I thought Beck made some good points…

The Communist Party of America does not use union labor and has tax exempt status. Those two things alone are so typical of the American left wing. Hypocrites all.

Also the Communist guy tried to use that old canard about Nazi’s and the right. But Nazi’s were SOCIALIST! Communism AND Nazism are much closer to the left in America than the right. The only people who want freedom to continue are the right wingers.

It’s like the left is playing a game of radical politics because they, the left, don’t think it could ever really happen here. I think it is a dangerous game and one that Barack Obama is taking way too seriously.

petunia on March 5, 2009 at 12:26 AM

I didn’t think I’ve had to say it again 20 years after the end of the Soviet Union.

“Better dead than red.”

AaronGuzman on March 5, 2009 at 12:36 AM

I have been listening to Glenn about a year now and have seen and feel of the effects in one way or another of his Perfect Storm analysis.
I heed the cautions in his message

hawkman on March 5, 2009 at 12:47 AM

Sorry if this is a double post. Nothing seemed to show up after my first attempt and refresh.

However much you may disapprove, this isn’t communism. Don’t fall into the trap Young describes.

Allahpundit

At what point in Germany were people allowed to officially a proclaim it was Nazism? What year were Italians allowed to officially believe it was Fascism? Somehow I think in both countries there were people saying “watch-out” this thing is happening… and I’m sure those people had many friends, compatriots and News column writers telling them not to fall into such a politically incendiary trap.

Unfortunately, a lot of people died and suffered because to many were worried more about looking like a political loon, than were worried about their country, family, or self preservation.

It would be nice if with the extra advantage of newsclips, video documentation, internet blogs, instant access to knowledge around the world and other advantages of being 21st century citizens we have, we could at least entertain the idea of learning from the past. If not shoot for a modicum of less denial in the face of obvious, uncharacteristic changes, than the last generation did.

Cassandros
PS My first post here, but I’ve been reading for a really long time. Thanks to everyone here for making it the kind of place I read first thing every morning.

Cassandros on March 5, 2009 at 1:11 AM

In case anyone missed the story in WND:

“Communist Party chief: U.S. on road to socialism”

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=82498

JeffVader on March 5, 2009 at 2:13 AM

The sad part is libs always bring up McCarthy like he was pure evil….of course McCarthy was right. We have had commies infiltrating our culture and government.

reaganrules on March 5, 2009 at 3:32 AM

Beck didn’t do it for me in that clip. He was far too soft on that Commie bastard. He also made virtually no attempt to defend capitalism and let the commie get away with blaming the economic crisis on Bush. Also, he sounded like a freaking socialist himself at times, blaming the crisis on big business who “treat the individual like a consumer” and all that baloney. Dammit we need someone on TV who is well read, who knows about the ideas of Hayek and Hazlitt and Mises and Rand and Reisman and who can articulate a defense of capitalism from a philosophical, moral, economic and historical position. Instead we get a bunch of lightweights who allow commie screwballs like this to get out of an interview alive. I’ve enjoyed Beck on previous occasions but he didn’t even try in this one.

Sharke on March 5, 2009 at 3:37 AM

To those who remember the murderous horror that was the USSR, this flippant use of Communist and Soviet analogies should be deeply offensive, indeed obscene – the right-wing equivalent of the leftist habit of flinging Nazi metaphors at conservatives.

Nazis, communists… Six of one, half a dozen of the other, I guess.

Except, you’d have to be 64+ years of age to have been alive in a time when there was an officially Nazi country in the world, whereas anyone born today still is alive in a world with five officially communist countries still in existence.

Everyone who is 30+ years of age on this day has been alive in a world where communism was seemingly winning.

If Glenn Beck had found one avowed Nazi who said he loved GWB because Bush was Nazi-fying the country, I’d step back and question my support for Bush’s policies.

But if Beck brings on a communist who praises Obama, I should ignore that because it’s just so… gauche to think that progresives and communists have anything in common.

Is that about right?

SteakRules on March 5, 2009 at 4:31 AM

Beck agrees with altruist ethics and tries to justify his profits by showing off how much he gives away, all while denouncing the greedy.

In other words, he agrees with the comrade on the utilitarian principle of the greatest collective good.

Once he surrenders on all the fundamentals, what is left for them to argue about?

Beck basically argues for private socialism, which means non-objective socialism. And thus the comrade can endlessly argue that socialism should be systematic and equal to all (it’s stated goal).

He was even incapable of recalling the full name of the Nazi party (National Socialist German Worker’s Party) or bringing up their “progressive” policies: nationalizing banks, education, transportation, health-care, the draft, sacrifice to the collective, etc.

In the end you get Beck hysterically screaming at an old man.

You can’t defend capitalism like this, it won’t work. Capitalism can only be defended on the principles of life, liberty, and property.

ebrawer on March 5, 2009 at 4:55 AM

You can read this guy’s speech on the CPUSA website. And you’ll never guess what he ends with:

“Yes, we can.”

capitalist piglet on March 4, 2009 at 11:03 PM

I think I could have guessed that. I have a message to him in response: Not without one hell of a fight and a lot of dead Commies, buddy. If you think the rest of us are just going to roll over and let you destroy what generations of our ancestors fought and worked and sacrificed to create, you’re delusional.

AZCoyote on March 5, 2009 at 5:59 AM

Do you hate Glenn Beck? I am confused.

lacegirl on March 5, 2009 at 6:00 AM

Exit question: How thick are the walls of Beck’s bomb shelter? Over/under is two feet.

This time, before I go all Internet Warrior on Allah, I want to be dang sure that I understand his thoughts behind this quote… Allah, are you saying you question Beck’s mental state? Do you think Beck is a righty loon, a tin-foil hat wearer? Do you think Beck is wrong in his pose that Obama IS leading America towards Socialism? Are you still defending the Administration’s direction or do you think us REAL Conservatives are over-reacting????

I’ll wait to hear from you before I call you out this time.

Maybe I’m reading your snark wrong… We’ll see…

Mark Garnett on March 5, 2009 at 7:23 AM

I’ll wait to hear from you before I call you out this time.

Maybe I’m reading your snark wrong… We’ll see…

Mark Garnett on March 5, 2009 at 7:23 AM

AP is on “staycation” but, and I type this as someone who calls his shots at AP, AP seems to think that yes yes Ogabe may well be discussiong nationalizing banks, and yes yes Ogabe seems patently unbothered by watching 4 trillion or so in Pension funds and personal savings implode, and yes Ogabe wants to tell industry what it can build and consumers what choices should be available, but by GOD it ain’t Communi$m!

When it is pointed out to AP that Marxists often use Capitalism and then pervsive socialist intrusions on said capitalism to “build a nation worth hijacking” he is off sipping at his Orange-Banana Swirl Daiquiri staring at West 57th Street longing for K-Pow’s approval….

but I digress….

sven10077 on March 5, 2009 at 7:35 AM

The guy has been a member of theCPUSA for 40 years and makes 26K annualy, that should tell you all you need to know.

thomasaur on March 4, 2009 at 11:30 PM

I wonder if that has been adjusted for inflation all these years? And who has he shared the suffering with? In another culture, another time, the term auto de fe would have held special meaning for this guy.

genso on March 5, 2009 at 7:35 AM

I wonder if that has been adjusted for inflation all these years? And who has he shared the suffering with? In another culture, another time, the term auto de fe would have held special meaning for this guy.

genso on March 5, 2009 at 7:35 AM

I think that the fact that the guy is cheerleading for deficit spending that has thus far cost about 25,000 a taxpayer is ironic….

sven10077 on March 5, 2009 at 7:38 AM

You and me both, Brotha.

Kill a commie for you mommy, I always say.

Boy, Glenn slaughtered this chump.

TheSitRep

Yep, he sure did and I died laughing when he was going to offer him only “one peep”. This Commie needs to review History. GB says it like it is and will talk about current situations that needs to be talked about, unlike other TV stations.

corvettelady on March 5, 2009 at 7:49 AM

Think about what percentage of Democrats are on one form or another of fixed-income. Union employees, welfare recipients… And the other end of the spectrum: the relatively useless children of successful parents, who know they can never significantly change their station in life. ***
logis on March 4, 2009 at 10:58 PM

I see two major classes of people who are Democrats:
1) People who are dependent, or who perceive themselves as dependent, on the beneficence of Government for their well being. This includes people on welfare, retirees who are dependent on social security, union members, government employees, and others.
2) Elitists who feel guilty over their station in life or wealth and who seek to quench that guilt by advocating tax & transfer programs that they mistakenly believe will advance the “lower classes.” (”If only we have more welfare, poor people could rise into the middle classes or beyond!”)

Outlander on March 5, 2009 at 7:49 AM

President Obama’s policies mirror most if not all of the
Communist Party of USA 2008 Election Platform
Check it at the following or read it below:
For our full program visit
http://www.cpusa.org
We invite you to join us.
information call:
212-989-4994

Immediate Relief
A moratorium on foreclosures and evictions.
Reset mortgages so payments are affordable.
No bailouts for banks.
Extend unemployment compensation, increase payments and
eligibility.
Increase food stamps, WIC, children’s health ins., low income energy
assistance.
Assist state and local governments.
Fund “ready-to-go” infrastructure projects.

A Peacetime, Green Jobs Economy for All
Enact massive public works.
Make existing buildings energy efficient.
Construct new schools, affordable housing, mass transit and bridges.
Major clean, affordable energy dvpt project for solar, wind, and
biomass.
Program to cut greenhouse gas emissions, environmental cleanup.
Restore energy regulation and public ownership of utilities.
Enact the Employee Free Choice Act.
Enact HR , US National Health Insurance Act, single payer.
Fund public education, pre-school through higher and technical.
No privatization of Social Security or Medicare.
Expand and improve SS & Medicare benefits.

Restore Civil Rights, Bill of Rights, Separation of Powers
Restore Civil Rights Act enforcement, affirmative action.
Outlaw hate crimes.
Preserve Roe v Wade.
Immigration reform with path to citizenship, no militarization of
borders.
No exploitative guest worker programs.
No human being is illegal.
Repeal the Patriot Act.
Investigate and prosecute Bush administration violations.
Expand voting rights.
Enact publicly financed elections.
Same-day registration.
Voting rights for ex-felons.
Restore Fairness Doctrine in media.

Strength through Peace
Withdraw US troops from Iraq with no bases or US corporations left behind.
Full care for returning veterans.
No war on Iran.
No expansion of troops in Afghanistan.
Assistance to Iraq to rebuild Iraq.
New foreign policy of diplomacy, respect for all nations.
Renew commitment to UN.
End trade policies that enrich corporations and destroy jobs.
Ratify Kyoto Treaty and other climate change agreements.
Enforce nuclear non-proliferation.
Work to abolish nuclear weapons.
Cut Pentagon spending in half.
Close down US bases around the worl

Patrick49 on March 5, 2009 at 7:49 AM

I think that the fact that the guy is cheerleading for deficit spending that has thus far cost about 25,000 a taxpayer is ironic….

sven10077 on March 5, 2009 at 7:38 AM

Nothing like being all in for a cause, I guess. He gave $500 back to the paper. That leaves $500 that the dirty bastard has taken for personal use. Wait til the committee hears about that.

genso on March 5, 2009 at 7:57 AM

Good morning comrades…………..go to work so you can pay my mortgage!

Cinday Blackburn on March 5, 2009 at 8:11 AM

Patrick49 on March 5, 2009 at 7:49 AM

As I have said many, many times and I’m sure will say again:

The Messiah is a clear and present danger to America and Americans, The Constitution and our freedoms…

I’d rather fight and die then live as a cultist of Obama…

Mark Garnett on March 5, 2009 at 8:15 AM

Good morning comrades…………..go to work so you can pay my mortgage!

Cinday Blackburn on March 5, 2009 at 8:11 AM

/facepalm

rofl

Mark Garnett on March 5, 2009 at 8:15 AM

The best part of yesterday’s show was after the communist party guy he had Penn Jillette and a couple of other guys on and the conversation involved a ugly totem pole and a $20 dollar bet.
I think I am a Libertarian cause all those guys were and they were cool. I want to be cool again.

Just A Grunt on March 5, 2009 at 8:34 AM

Beck basically argues for private socialism, which means non-objective socialism. And thus the comrade can endlessly argue that socialism should be systematic and equal to all (it’s stated goal).

ebrawer on March 5, 2009 at 4:55 AM

The point of Capitalism and liberty is so that you can do what you want with your money. One of the greatest benefits of capitalism, is that it creates wealth which one inturn can use to do good for another. If you are saying that it is bad for an individual to give I think you are missing something. It’s that part of the reason America is so great is that we give.

The communist might be able to try and twist this like you say, but he obviously didn’t in this scenario with Beck. He couldn’t really come up with anything to say.

profgubler on March 5, 2009 at 8:45 AM

As I have said many, many times and I’m sure will say again:

The Messiah is a clear and present danger to America and Americans, The Constitution and our freedoms…

I’d rather fight and die then live as a cultist of Obama…

Mark Garnett on March 5, 2009 at 8:15 AM

Baracko is as clear and present a danger as a roaring out of control fire in drought conditions and heading for our homes. All the chatter and clucking about leftists like Matthews and Maureen Dowd “re-thinking” or the crap about a rift between Baracko and Stretch Pelosi is sound and fury signifying nothing. More theatrics from the left just as is the attack on Limbaugh. They disgust me ad nauseum. Of course they are dangerous. They are leftists.

And just a general comment: I swear there are days when I think all moderates should have to face a firing squad or make a choice.

kooziegirl on March 5, 2009 at 8:45 AM

ts SOOOO easy for people who live in a free society to say.
OOH look at me I’m a comunist. I’m a socialist.
Thats because they are living off the freedom of a free state, and at any time they can go back to circle K and get their coffee cigs et al.
Let them go live with Castro, like the common man does there, for a good length of time and see if their attitude changes!

-Wasteland Man.

P.S. Like that Tool from rage against the Machine for example.

WastelandMan on March 5, 2009 at 9:14 AM

Can I see your papars comrade! Union card, DNC membership, subsrciption to the NYT. OK, you go to the short bread line.

Hazmat on March 5, 2009 at 9:15 AM

So what do we do to prevent the slide into socialism? No disrespect to anyone here, but writing and following blogs won’t do it. As a matter of fact, the opposition loves that conservatives/libertarians spend so much time organizing tea parties and pissing away the hours getting worked up over the issues online. It’s energy directed away from real action.

We all want conservative politicians who will stand up for God
(Christianity for me, thank you), our Constitution, and the liberties they represent. Where are they?

When we watch them on the tube we see them walking on eggshells trying not to offend the opposition while hoping that the base will understand their “political realities.” Bah!

Most folks are plain-spoken people who don’t mince words when talking to their neighbors, and most good, hardworking people would make fine public servants, but they see the mealy-mouthed on TV and deduce that they could never be a politician it would be impossible not to say what they think. Again I say, Bah!

I’m a plain spoken fellow (Southern Missouri raised) who promised on this forum after the November elections that I would run for city council where I live.

My name is on the ballot.

But I will not smooth over my principals and I will not betray my convictions. I will be talking to a group of Libertarians this Sunday and will participate in a Town hall meeting organized by local unions on the 24th. My message to both groups will be IDENTICAL.

If I lose the election, I will lose with my dignity intact. My children are watching and they will remember how i conducted myself long after I’m dead.

Who here is willing to run for something?

Who is willing to take a risk, get on a ballot, and push back?

I have sobering news for you–blogging alone won’t prevent the slide to socialism.

pugwriter on March 5, 2009 at 9:21 AM

You can make fun of Glenn all you want, but my kids love his show. At 5 it’s a mad scramble for the tv. He is entertaining enough that my 10 year will watch his entire show and that leads to great talks at the dinner table. I mean if we are going build up a younger base, then someone in the media must appeal to the younger set and Glenn fits the bill.
love the bit with the commi taking his water *grin*

Swaydo on March 5, 2009 at 9:24 AM

The leader of American Communist Party? Obama is the leader of the American Communist Party, I don’t know who that guy is with Beck.

Maxx on March 5, 2009 at 9:35 AM

As the Messiah once said “words have meaning”. “Bail-Out” no longer used, “welfare” now equals tax credits and “Card Check” equals secret ballot. Should be a political dictionary printed so we can keep up with the changing meanings these political idiots use.

hillbilly on March 5, 2009 at 9:35 AM

No sane person today would argue the merits of communism or Soviet-style socialism vs. democratic capitalism.

Cathy Young

Ha! The Democrats do it all the time, every time thy argue for higher progressive taxes and more “social” programs. When do they ever stop arguing for those two things? Oh, and the Nazis were socialist, they were on the American political LEFT too.

Maxx on March 5, 2009 at 9:41 AM

What are the goals of Communism? How many of those goals have been achieved within the United States?

Below you will find the goals of Communism as stated by W. Cleon Skousen, from his book “The Naked Communist.” Skousen worked for the FBI for 16 years, taught at the university level, served as a Chief of Police in Salt Lake City and was a Field Director for the American Security Council in Chicago. His book was deemed so important that the excerpt below was actually read into the United States Congressional Record on January 10, 1963.

As you read the goals set forth below, ask yourself two questions. (1) Has this goal been achieved within the United States? (2) If so, which political party pushed this goal toward completion?

You might also ask yourself which goals have yet to be achieved and which political party is working toward fulfillment of the remaining few?

==================================================================

Communist Goals (1963)
Congressional Record–Appendix, pp. A34-A35

January 10, 1963

Current Communist Goals

EXTENSION OF REMARKS OF HON. A. S. HERLONG, JR. OF FLORIDA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Thursday, January 10, 1963

Mr. HERLONG. Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Patricia Nordman of De Land, Fla., is an ardent and articulate opponent of communism, and until recently published the De Land Courier, which she dedicated to the purpose of alerting the public to the dangers of communism in America.

At Mrs. Nordman’s request, I include in the RECORD, under unanimous consent, the following “Current Communist Goals,” which she identifies as an excerpt from “The Naked Communist,” by Cleon Skousen:

[From "The Naked Communist," by Cleon Skousen]

CURRENT COMMUNIST GOALS

1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war.

2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war.

3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament [by] the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength.

4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war.

5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites.

6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination.

7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N.

8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev’s promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N.

9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress.

10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N.

11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.)

12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party.

13. Do away with all loyalty oaths.

14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office.

15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States.

16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights.

17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers’ associations. Put the party line in textbooks.

18. Gain control of all student newspapers.

19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack.

20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions.

21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures.

22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to “eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms.”

23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. “Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art.”

24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them “censorship” and a violation of free speech and free press.

25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV.

26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as “normal, natural, healthy.”

27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with “social” religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a “religious crutch.”

28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of “separation of church and state.”

29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis.

30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the “common man.”

31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the “big picture.” Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over.

32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture–education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc.

33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus.

34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities.

35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI.

36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions.

37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business.

38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand [or treat].

39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals.

40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce.

41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents.

42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use ["]united force["] to solve economic, political or social problems.

43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government.

44. Internationalize the Panama Canal.

45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction [over domestic problems. Give the World Court jurisdiction] over nations and individuals alike.

Congressional Record, Vol. 109
88th Congress, 1st Session
Appendix Pages A1-A2842
Jan. 9-May 7, 1963

(from the book)
“The Naked Communist” by: W. Cleon Skousen
Salt Lake City, Utah: Ensign Publishing Co.
C. 1961 , 9th edition July 1961.

Maxx on March 5, 2009 at 9:53 AM

Nyet

kirkill on March 5, 2009 at 10:36 AM

There are times when Glenn Beck annoys the crap out of me and then there are interviews like this one (and this is at least the second time he’s given this guy a platform to make his case) where I find myself adoring him the way I used to adore Colbert. He assumes that his viewers are capable of thinking for themselves and are able to see the point.
.
HopeNChange is good for the American Communist Party. Obama and the communists are on the same page. The fact that there are people – like myself – who are going to resist this change to our last dying breath, as they did in the USSR, has been factored in.
.
Remember that Obama doesn’t win on the merrits of his views, he clears the playing field by any and all means neccessary. He is clearing away Rush. He will go after the rest of talk radio. He will drive other mediums that oppose him to bankruptcy or regulate them into the ground.
.
It’s coming. I had doubts at first, but it is clearly coming and anyone who is still on the fence hoping it’s not is kidding themselves.
.
Interesting times. In a million years I would never have believed this was possible.

BrideOfRove on March 5, 2009 at 10:50 AM

Thanks for that Maxx…As I’ve always said, there is not such thing as a socially liberal Conservative.

kirkill on March 5, 2009 at 10:54 AM

Let the guy speak, Beck. He can hang himself better than you can do it for him.

Tzetzes on March 5, 2009 at 11:05 AM

Cathy Young: “Lenin, Stalin and Obama are as much of a trio as Hitler, Mussolini and Bush ….”

Note to Cathy Young: Hitler and Mussolini were socialists. So were Lenin and Stalin. So is Obama. Bush is not.

When Obama reconfigures the country to a command economy, coercion will be required to enforce it and stamp out those pesky patches of capitalism called the black markets and labor unions. When the people resist that coercion, sterner measures will be necessary. Does anyone doubt that Rahm Emanuel could play the part of Che for Obama?

Tantor on March 5, 2009 at 11:21 AM

Remember that Obama doesn’t win on the merrits of his views, he clears the playing field by any and all means neccessary. He is clearing away Rush. He will go after the rest of talk radio. He will drive other mediums that oppose him to bankruptcy or regulate them into the ground.
.
It’s coming. I had doubts at first, but it is clearly coming and anyone who is still on the fence hoping it’s not is kidding themselves.
.
Interesting times. In a million years I would never have believed this was possible.

BrideOfRove on March 5, 2009 at 10:50 AM

15 years ago I would not have believed this could happen. After 8 years of the Clintonistas, Monica Lewinsky, “…it depends on what the meaning of is is…” I knew we were in serious trouble. Then after the re-election of Bush in ‘04 and Bush turned his back on us refusing to seal our borders, only someone blind, deaf, and dumb could not finally see the writing on the wall.

Remember that the left is not constrained by morality, ethics, integrity, or concepts of right and wrong.

With Soros at the helm the left has the resources to accomplish whatever they want by any means necessary.

kooziegirl on March 5, 2009 at 11:25 AM

Does anyone doubt that Rahm Emanuel could play the part of Che for Obama?

Tantor on March 5, 2009 at 11:21 AM

No doubt about it.

His effeminate appearance only masks his ugly ideology and intentions.

kooziegirl on March 5, 2009 at 11:29 AM

How thick are the walls of Beck’s bomb shelter? Over/under is two feet.

Allahpundit

Bomb shelters were a good idea during the Cuban Missile crisis and the government actually encouraged you to build one. I think the crisis about to come could be just as bad. I’d say a good bomb shelter should have at least ten foot thick walls, what’s up with this two foot stuff?

Maxx on March 5, 2009 at 11:38 AM

You can make fun of Glenn all you want, but my kids love his show. At 5 it’s a mad scramble for the tv. He is entertaining enough that my 10 year will watch his entire show and that leads to great talks at the dinner table. I mean if we are going build up a younger base, then someone in the media must appeal to the younger set and Glenn fits the bill.

Swaydo

Got that right!! My youngest daughter age 13 loves GB as well as entertaining to watch, then we talk at the dinner table as well as reviewing and discussing the Amendments to the Constitution/Bill of Rights. Never too late to learn and the earlier the better informed they are!

corvettelady on March 5, 2009 at 12:10 PM

However much you may disapprove, this isn’t communism. Don’t fall into the trap Young describes.

Allahpundit on March 4, 2009 at 9:47 PM

No it is not communism and Beck knows this too, he is clearly exaggerating for effect. But what is also clear is Obama is a Socialist, he believes in government solutions over free markets and individual liberty.

I love all the “centrists” who don’t understand socialism. Increased government control is socialist, reduced is capitalist. There is no “shades of gray”. Go ask the Messiah what he prefers socialism or capitalism. He will give some “balance” bullshit answer or spin it. But he will not say capitalism and thus endorse socialism.

Economic Illiterates always fail to recognize the growth of socialist (government) policies for what they are – socialism.

No wonder the United States is so screwed up, it is filled with economic illiterates.

AP, you need to study economics and you are not going to get the education from Kathy Young.

Poptech on March 5, 2009 at 12:16 PM

AP turning HA into the Daily Dish one post at a time.

besser tot als rot on March 5, 2009 at 12:59 PM

Glenn Beck so owned the commie!

HotAirJosef on March 5, 2009 at 1:09 PM

However much you may disapprove, this isn’t communism.

Allahpundit

You need to read again the definitions of Communism.

Communism: (1)the Marxist-Leninist version of a classless society in which capitalism is overthrown by a working-class revolution that gives ownership and control of wealth and property to the state

(2) any system of government in which a single, usually totalitarian, party holds power, and the state controls the economy

I suppose you won’t recognize it as Communism until the men with guns show up at your door to escort you to the re-education camp.

Maxx on March 5, 2009 at 1:14 PM

The guy claimed he didn’t know what Nazi stood for, translation, National Socialist Party…that’s one dumb commie.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Socialist_German_Workers_Party

Dr Evil on March 5, 2009 at 4:22 PM

logis on March 4, 2009 at 10:58 PM

Perhaps that should be a warning to those who wish to undermine citizens when they look for work.

See the Republican party and their issue with offshoring.

sethstorm on March 5, 2009 at 4:50 PM

However much you may disapprove, this isn’t communism. Don’t fall into the trap Young describes.

Allahpundit on March 4, 2009 at 9:47 PM

+100.

sethstorm on March 5, 2009 at 4:50 PM

I see two major classes of people who are Democrats:
1) People who are dependent, or who perceive themselves as dependent, on the beneficence of Government for their well being.
2) Elitists who feel guilty over their station in life or wealth and who seek to quench that guilt by advocating tax & transfer programs that they mistakenly believe will advance the “lower classes.”
Outlander on March 5, 2009 at 7:49 AM

If your only knowledge of America came from watching TV (including listening to politicians), you would think that’s all this country consisted of: masses of utterly helpless people living in abject ignorance and poverty; and people who possess infinite wealth, knowledge and power.

And it’s not a coincidence that is the same view of the world upon which communism, socialism and liberalism are predicated.

logis on March 5, 2009 at 5:16 PM

I agree with a lot of what Beck said in the interview…but can’t he, and the rest of the talking heads of a similar nature, just let their guests answer the fucking questions they asked for more than three seconds without interrupting? Even if I disagree with the guest, I still want to hear his explanation in full.

It was incredibly annoying.

Summer on March 5, 2009 at 6:32 PM

Beck is great…

popularpeoplesfront on March 5, 2009 at 7:10 PM

Paraphrasing here: “Are the guys who work on your website union members?”

“No.”

LOL

Pushing for Democratization of government agencies/spending is not in itself bad ideologically, but doesn’t sound practical…and I don’t trust these guys anyway.

Dr. ZhivBlago on March 5, 2009 at 7:48 PM

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