Glenn Beck: “I am developing a 100 year plan”

Dude.

- Education is key, and not just for our children. To that end, we will be conducting a series of conventions. These will be full-day experiences where you will be immersed in learning about topics ranging from self-reliance, community organizing, the economy and how to be a political force in your own neighborhood and country. The first one will be in Orlando at UCF Arena on March 27th…

- All of the above will culminate in The Plan, a book that will provide specific policies, principles and, most importantly, action steps that each of us can take to play a role in this Refounding.

- On August 28, 2010, I ask you, your family and neighbors to join me at the feet of Abraham Lincoln on the National Mall for the unveiling of The Plan and the birthday of a new national movement to restore our great country.

He mentioned the “100-year plan” this afternoon at The Villages too, reportedly framing it as a way in which we need to “think like China.” Which … is an interesting model for a libertarian to emulate. Plenty more at that link, including Beck supposedly all but calling for the end of the two-party system. That’s according to a blogger who was tweeting it as it happened; reserve judgment until we get verbatim quotes from news reports later. I’ll update if/when we do.

The NYT interviewed him about all of this, and while he was tight-lipped about specifics of The Plan, “he made clear that he intends to help elect politicians aligned with his limited-government world view.” A quote from the piece:

Mr. Beck rejects the labels like “leader” for himself, saying he is “comfortable with the title of ‘citizen fed up.’”

August 28, the date of the D.C. event, happens to be the anniversary of the “I Have a Dream” speech. Given the allusion to the Lincoln Memorial in Beck’s letter, I’m guessing that’s no coincidence. Eschewing the title of “leader” is thus a curious display of modesty from a guy who thinks his book launch is worthy of a modern-day March on Washington with him in the MLK role. No doubt he’s using the date and location as an homage to King, and will cite his example in bringing about another necessary “Refounding” of America. But I’m willing to bet that that’s not how it’ll be received; it’ll be treated as a window onto his ego and an endless opportunity to sidetrack his movement with racial politics. This is, after all, the guy who famously accused the first black president of having a “deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture.”

Here’s YouTube vid from his book signing this morning. Exit question: Aren’t all his books versions of “The Plan”?

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