After all these years (26 in fact) Glenn Beck (KTTH m-f, 6-9a) finally listened to the words of Born in the USA, and has pronounced to his dim but numerous listeners that the words are unpatriotic, if not downright subversive.
Stop loving it, America - because it hates you!
(Beat up on "The Boss" - now there's a great way to endear yourself to the workin' man! Or maybe Beck just wants another smackdown by that other pride of New Jersey, Jon Stewart).
Big Think reminds Beck that right-wing saint Ronald Reagan loved the song and used it without permission as his 1984 re-election theme... until Springsteen made him quit.
The site also points out that in the video clip, Beck urges his viewers to wake up and realize that Woody Guthrie's beloved anthem This Land is Your Land is unpatriotic, even though we all sang it at summer camp.
"Right-wing media have recently targeted 11-year-old Marcelas Owens and his family for attacks after he appeared at a health care reform event to speak about his mother, who reportedly died after losing her health insurance.
...
On the March 15 edition of his Fox News show, Glenn Beck attacked Marcelas' grandmother -- who appeared with Marcelas at the health care event -- for her work with the organization Washington Community Action Network. Beck said the group was "all about economic, racial, gender, and social justice for all" -- "pesky phrases" Beck then tied to "the Soviet Union" and the "democratic socialist republic in China." Beck said of Marcelas' appearance on Capitol Hill: "The trip was paid for by Health Care for America Now -- that's the George Soros-funded, Barack Obama-approved group fighting for health care. Since all of these groups are so concerned and so involved now, may I ask, where were you when Marcelas' mother was vomiting blood?" Beck continued: "Wasn't this the perfect opportunity to help provide a decent quality of life for all -- at least, for one? You had somebody in your own ranks that knew -- her mother knew. Dare I ask: Where was grandma?"
http://mediamatters.org/research/201003160023
I really, really wish I could punch this guy in the face. It'd be so worth the day in jail.
Posted by: Tigsnort | March 17, 2010 at 12:48 AM
So, what do you expect from a guy that rape and murdered a young girl back in 1990?
Well, he hasn't denied it, has he? He hasn't called my red phone to deny it.
Hey, I'm just asking the question, that's all.
Posted by: Bill | March 17, 2010 at 06:28 AM
I figure next Beck goes after the pledge of allegiance when he and his staff discover it was written by the Christian SOCIALIST, Frances Bellamy.
I get the 2nd punch, Tigsnort.
Posted by: Bill | March 17, 2010 at 06:36 AM
Um, "Born in the USU"? Yes, that's un-American.
Geez, Michael, hire yourself a copy editor.
Posted by: Joe | March 17, 2010 at 06:52 AM
He was born at Utah State University?
Posted by: Bill | March 17, 2010 at 06:56 AM
What the hell is the USU?
Posted by: TomF | March 17, 2010 at 07:18 AM
Silly; it's the United States of Ubama. :)
Posted by: Duffman | March 17, 2010 at 07:19 AM
...or possibly United State of U'mama...regardless; you knew what he meant, didn't you.
Posted by: Duffman | March 17, 2010 at 07:38 AM
You do not always know what is going on in Bla'Ms twisted mind, now do you?
Sometimes, what appears to be typographical errors are most certainly twisted attempts at obfuscation.
Posted by: chucks | March 17, 2010 at 07:57 AM
So, what do you expect from a guy that rape and murdered a young girl back in 1990?
Well, he hasn't denied it, has he? He hasn't called my red phone to deny it.
Hey, I'm just asking the question, that's all.
Bill, the proper Beckesian phrasing is "I'm just sayin' what everyone is thinkin'!"
Posted by: mercifurious | March 17, 2010 at 11:26 AM
merci...merci, how're you doin 'ol buddy? :)
Posted by: Duffman | March 17, 2010 at 11:40 AM
The Boss has written some other great songs that I guess are Un-American as well, such as Land of Hope and Dreams, and This American Land, and he also did some good ones with the Seeger Sessions recordings, doing his take on some old songs. Say, is Erie Canal un-American now?
As for Woody Guthrie, thought Beck should know, Woody's song Arlo backs sone Republicans, including Ron Paul. Said that Ron Paul struck him as the only candidate that if he had been around at the time the Constitution was drafted, that would have signed it. There are also two versions of This Land is Your Land, the short version, and the longer, original version written by Woody Guthrie. The longer one, might be considered Un-American by Beck and his Patriotic Music Police.
Posted by: EvergreenRailfan | March 17, 2010 at 12:17 PM
Springsteen is no workin' class guy, he's a rich Jewish liberal elite. He has no talent and no morals.
Beck is correct, these songs are meant to inundate the culture with progressivism, one world order and atheism.
Posted by: MRV | March 17, 2010 at 12:31 PM
Roll on Columbia is a pro dam song, is Beck saying that is a filthy hippie song as well?
Posted by: Coiler | March 17, 2010 at 12:46 PM
MRV = Dim, Christian, Fascist, Bible Thumping Hypocrite. (He cheats on his boyfriend as well.) Who drained your brain out, dude? The song talks of "..killing the yellow man". I'd think it's that kind of talk that gets your little pee pee all stiff and throbbing. You're not a Catholic priest by any chance, are you?
Posted by: Medved | March 17, 2010 at 12:57 PM
Coiler, good point, and I think that is Washington's State Song.
He also did a song about the sinking of the Rueben James, a US Destroyer sunk on 31 October 1941, by German U-Boats during the secret, undeclared US War against U-Boats, that became not secret and declared following Pearl Harbor. Guthrie wanted to put all the names in the song, but I think that woul have made it longer than his son's song, Alice's Resteraunt. Instead, it became "What were their names....."(100 sailors went down with the Reuben James)
Posted by: EvergreenRailfan | March 17, 2010 at 01:30 PM
It's actually Washington, My Home. But Roll on would of been a better choice
Posted by: Coiler | March 17, 2010 at 01:48 PM
Actually, may be best of both, there is the State Song, and then there is the State Folk Song. Roll on Columbia is the latter.
http://www.sos.wa.gov/seal/symbols_songs.aspx
Posted by: EvergreenRailfan | March 17, 2010 at 01:54 PM
MRV: Springsteen isn't Jewish, you drooling retard.
Posted by: Tigsnort | March 17, 2010 at 02:17 PM
It's 'developmental disability', you spaas.
Posted by: Duffman | March 17, 2010 at 02:23 PM
There is a verse in that song that I can't find about "gas going up, wheat coming down"
Posted by: Coiler | March 17, 2010 at 02:25 PM
Actually coiler I think that was from Al Gore's global warmind song 'Burn In The USA'...but, you were close. [smile]
Posted by: Duffman | March 17, 2010 at 02:47 PM
Duffman: people with developmental disabilities have an excuse. MRV doesn't.
Posted by: Tigsnort | March 17, 2010 at 06:03 PM
It has been established that Springsteen isn't Jewish - another poster who doesn't check their facts. Beck is over-analytical (if he actually said that) people won't correlate progressivism (ie. communism lite) with his songs - ridiculous. That was a wingnut comment from the right, as opposed to Medved's opposing wingnut from the left comment.
Posted by: KS | March 17, 2010 at 06:54 PM
God, you're an idiot.
I'm surprised Arlo is a Paul supporter. I wonder if Beck is just testing to see the limits of his influence? Judging from some of the posts above, his reach is remarkable. I wonder if he'll be knocking the Statue of Liberty one of these days because it came from the French? It's almost like he's an experiment to see just how far some people can be led.
Am disappointed in Kucinich's move to support the bill. He said it is about the Obama Presidency. I'm just not sure I want the Obama Presidency to be more important than our health care and principals. All about getting re-elected. Maybe I'll vote for Paul next time myself.
Posted by: joanie | March 17, 2010 at 08:15 PM
Your piehole has bad breath. If you can't debate anything on its face, resort to name-calling like a snotnose.
I am not surprised that Kucinich flipped - why should any leftist be disappointed about that ? If this were to become law (God forbid) this system will eventually morph into single payer after the Government undercuts the private insurers in 5 years or so after inception. This move will hurt the Dems in the midterm elections and hurt the economy worse when the taxes increase beginning next year.
It is shocking and outlandish how many in congress don't care about the economic effects or the fact that the public is against it 48-36% or 53-43% depending on which poll out in the last two days you read. They think they know what is better for us with their sheer arrogance. A recent survey by Beacon Hill estimated that this would lose from 150,000- 700,000 jobs due to tax increases and added regulations. Stupid is as stupid does.
Posted by: KS | March 17, 2010 at 08:42 PM
KS says to joanie:
"Your piehole has bad breath. If you can't debate anything on its face, resort to name-calling like a snotnose."
ah, the irony.
BlaM's latest thread should make you feel better, however.
Posted by: sparky | March 17, 2010 at 09:06 PM
Back at ya with the irony, Sparkles.
Bla'Ms latest thread is twisted and loaded with irony - it doesn't remove reality though. There will be many ensuing court fights - in the event of this passing warrants it.
It will be one giant cluster -f**k ! due to the corrupt narcissists leading in Congress and Chicago style politics rearing its ugly head. It will be a while, but what goes around comes around...
Posted by: KS | March 17, 2010 at 09:37 PM
The right said Social Security and Medicare would be the end of American freedom too. But I guess you guys really mean it this time.
No, really!
Posted by: Tigsnort | March 17, 2010 at 09:52 PM
Joanie, he said that he supported Ron Paul because he seemed to be the only candidate at the time, had he been at the Constitutional Convention, would have signed it. One thing about Arlo Guthrie that I admired, was his special fundraiser for New Orleans he did post-Katrian, played at small venues along the way from Chicago, including Kankakee, Illinois and Memphis, stops along the route in the song he recored, the City of New Orleans. It was the first time he ever rode the train of that name.
[link]http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/130559.asp[/link]
Merle Haggard is one interesting musician, during the Vietnam-era he did the Okie from Muskogee, an anti-anti-war song, while a few years ago he did a song America First.
Posted by: EvergreenRailfan | March 17, 2010 at 11:42 PM
I really, really wish I could punch this guy in the face. It'd be so worth the day in jail.
Posted by: Tigsnort | March 17, 2010 at 12:48 AM
So, what do you expect from a guy that rape and murdered a young girl back in 1990?
Well, he hasn't denied it, has he? He hasn't called my red phone to deny it.
Hey, I'm just asking the question, that's all.
Posted by: Bill | March 17, 2010 at 06:28 AM
Yep, the wingnuts/moonbats are out in full force.
Posted by: KS | March 18, 2010 at 06:34 PM
Why does Blatherwatch perpetuate the lie that you need to have permission from a songwriter to play their songs in public? That is just plain ridiculous!
Artist make money each time their songs are played in public or on the radio. That is why it's called the music BUSINESS!!!! Any political figure is free to play recordings of any artist at political events. This was never an issue until certain left-wingers came out and publicly attacked Republicans from playing their songs.
Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders has made millions from Rush Limbaugh until 1999, then decided to donate the profits to charity. If an artist does not want their song played publicly they are simply being a stooopid partisan idiot.
Posted by: wally | March 18, 2010 at 10:23 PM