CNN's cordial new host

[Guest guest]

as CNN keeps its up its running leap to out rightwing FOX...

 

http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=2803

 

 

Action Alert

 

CNN's " Cordial " Hire

Headline News picks would-be killer Glenn Beck as host

 

1/18/06

 

CNNÂ’s Headline News has hired radio talkshow host Glenn Beck to host a one-hour

primetime show, according to a Daily Variety report (1/17/05). Variety quotes

CNN Headline News president Ken Jautz's description of Beck: " GlennÂ’s style is

self-deprecating, cordial; he says he'd like to be able to disagree with guests

and part as friends. It's conversational, not confrontational. "

 

But Glenn BeckÂ’s hateful rhetoric tells a different story.

 

Beck, best known for setting up Clear Channel's pro-war Rallies for America

shortly before the Iraq War, once described how much he loathed anti-war

presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich (WABC-AM, 3/16/03): " Every night I get

down on my knees and pray that Dennis Kucinich will burst into flames. "

 

In 2004, Beck called Michael Berg, whose son had been beheaded in Iraq,

" despicable " and a " scumbag " because the elder Berg criticized George W. Bush in

the wake of his sonÂ’s death. (Mediamatters.org, 5/17/04)

 

On May 17, 2005, Beck fantasized about murdering anti-war filmmaker Michael

Moore (Mediamatters.org, 5/18/05):

 

 

 

" I'm thinking about killing Michael Moore, and I'm wondering if I could kill him

myself, or if I would need to hire somebody to do it. No, I think I could. I

think he could be looking me in the eye, you know, and I could just be choking

the life out--is this wrong? "

 

Beck also accused Moore of " taking help and money from Hezbollah. "

 

He wasnÂ’t much more charitable to victims of Hurricane Katrina, some of whom he

called " scumbags. " On September 9, Beck said that Katrina victims caused a " near

riot " when ATM cards were distributed to the displaced (Mediamatters.org,

9/9/05):

 

 

" When you are rioting for these tickets, or these ATM cards, the second thing

that came to mind was--and this is horrible to say, and I wonder if I'm alone in

this--you know it took me about a year to start hating the 9/11 victims'

families? Took me about a year.... But the second thought I had when I saw these

people and they had to shut down the Astrodome and lock it down, I thought: I

didn't think I could hate victims faster than the 9/11 victims.... And that's

all we're hearing about, are the people in New Orleans. Those are the only ones

we're seeing on television are the scumbags--and again, it's not all the people

in New Orleans. Most of the people in New Orleans got out! It's just a small

percentage of those who were left in New Orleans, or who decided to stay in New

Orleans, and they're getting all the attention. "

 

In the same broadcast, he explained his animus against the relatives of

September 11 victims (while maintaining that " of the 3,000 victims' families, I

don't hate all of them. Probably about 10 of them " ): " When I see a 9/11 victim

family on television, or whatever, I'm just like, 'Oh shut up!' I'm so sick of

them because they're always complaining. And we did our best for them. "

 

The strategy of out-Foxing Fox by signing up incendiary right-wing talkshow

hosts is a dangerous one, as MSNBC found when it gave a show to hate-radio star

Michael Savage and had to let him go when it turned out that his TV persona

spouted the same vitriol featured on his radio show (FAIR Action Alert, 7/7/03).

Headline News executives may put Glenn Beck on the air in spite of his hateful

baggage, but they shouldnÂ’t be surprised if he doesnÂ’t turn out to be the

" cordial " and tolerant host they are touting.

 

ACTION: Contact Ken Jautz and ask him to explain his characterization of Beck as

" cordial. " Ask him if CNN Headline News supports the hateful and violent

commentary Beck is known for.

 

CONTACT:

Ken Jautz

President, CNN Headline News

(404) 878-5633

 

1000 miles of endless screams, where all the dead heroes lay

I've got the choice to set my knife, I've got the courage to set my life

I've got the day I'll pick to die. Gotta hate someone, I don't know why

I'll fight for a better way, be a dead hero for the U.S.A.