Is Glenn Beck's Restoring Honor Rally Racist, or Just Free Speech?

I am not getting emails notifying me that there were any comments to this thread!

There are too many people here who have accused The people who were skeptical of Beck's intentions during the rally as "racist." I think that (and yes, I am typing this behind the secure confines of my keyboard) that people had the right to question Beck's motives - and the motives of the Tea Partiers who attended.

Thank goodness, the event went well. From what I understand there were a few ill-conceived T-shirts, but fine...no one was hurt. I think that Prof. Kim has stated what I would have said if I had known the amount of comments in this thread, a lot better and with a more civil tone than I would have.

Sticks and stones, people............

Contributing Editor - Race, Ethnicity & Culture

Blog: Writing is Fighting: www.lainad.typepad.com ( http://www.lainad.typepad.com/ )

Writer: Hellbound:

oh, the irony...

where were stones cast?

CoffeeJitters.net ( http://coffeejitters.net/blog )

money

I think the people who attended Beck's rally have more access to resources and ability to travel than those who attended Dr. King's rally.

Also, we live in the communication age - Beck's message is being spread farther and wider than Dr. King's was able to be in the days and weeks prior to the rally.

In the long term however, Beck's speech will be forgotten, Dr. King's speech is eternal.

CoffeeJitters.net ( http://coffeejitters.net/blog )

Unless there is proof that someone that attended is legally discriminated against, there is no harm no foul.

The accusation of racism is groundless, unless someone has been prevented from exercising their rights based on color, gender or creed.

That hasn't happened.

If and when it does I am sure the media and the pundits will be all over it like dogs on meat.

Until then, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh etc., have just as much of a right to march or rally or give speeches whenever and wherever they choose as their counterparts on the left, like Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Keith Obermann, etc.

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It would be very interesting and pretty wonderful if our next president was a black conservative. One who has experience. Perhaps someone who has run a business and has an economic clue. Not someone with a load of Marxist, divisive and radical pals, someone who has risen up through the corrupt Chicago political environment. Someone who doesn't dishonor our country by traveling to other countries meekly apologizing for our existence. Someone who is a huge supporter of capitalism and the free market, not constantly demonizing any big corporation or anyone who is well off. Someone who doesn't say people are clinging to "guns and God" like it's the most distasteful thing he's ever had to utter. Someone who understands that raising taxes and putting unreasonable demands on the people who hire and create jobs is NOT the way to make economic progress. A person who actually bothers to attend events that honor our military, and doesn't view NASA as any form of Muslim outreach. A president who actually understands that when the polls show a majority of our citizens want something done, we mean it and it's not some kind of anomaly. A president who will respect the will of the people, and not disregard it like some sort of elitist powermonger.

Black conservatives like Lloyd Marcus, Kevin Jackson and even Alveda King are willing to stand up for what they believe, in spite of the abuse, disrespect and dismissal that they take from far left people of all races. Kenneth Gladney knows a bit about that kind of abuse and hatred.

The cherry on top of this scenario would be that every time some far lefty wrote or spoke out against the new conservative policy, and every time a group of people on the left peacefully organized in protest, conservatives could sit there all day long and call them racists. We wouldn't have to do our homework and debate the issues. We could just keep repeating that they were racist, and loudly, so that they would eventually give up in frustration. A rally that calls for a return to religion, with no political policy discussed? Racist. Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow, Huffpo, Jon Stewart and Janeane Garofalo? Absolute racists. Democrat controlled congress? A virtual Ku Klux Klan. Harry Reid, Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi? White power.

At least professor Kim argues the issues. She doesn't seem to play overt race police like others here.

Thanks for the invitation to attend a Tea Party event. I'm happy to do so, as an observer and reporter, which is how I attend any political event. I've covered conservatives before, both BlogHer Contributing Editor ( http://blogher.org/blog/kim-pearson )|KimPearson.net ( http://kimpearson.net )|

The bigotry was the overwhelming response on this thread. It was quite disappointing and nearly enough to make me never want to come back her. Anyone that accuses 300,000 people of "insidious racism" before an event based on little evidence is wrong. In fact, I think it fringes on hate speech.

At this point, the record of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has been so distorted that I don't believe anyone on either side of the aisle can claim accuracy.

I went to the event because I enjoy seeing real Americans from outside the Beltway. I've attended hundreds of protests in my life, and I wanted to see why this one was supposedly different. It was on every level.

America's honor has been maligned by Hollywood actors like Jane Fonda. It's been absolutely devastated by President Obama (i.e. his speech in Germany) and comments like Michelle Obama famously made on the campaign trail about being proud of her country for the first time.

Democrats have demonized their on constituents at townhalls and events. For what? Questioning health care? Showing up at rallies and holding signs about the Constitution? We're attacked repeatedly in the media (see Howard Dean's comments over the weekend) for merely exercising our Constitutional Rights?

Did you see this video created by Rep. Boehner's office? In it, soldiers fighting abroad were clearly discouraged by the "I support our troops but not the war" rhetoric.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw70cFpn3xc&fea...

That's the loss of honor we have. Our politicians can't even support troops who are dying for our country. Americans are attacked for simply questioning the legislation put before Congress. That's dis-honor.

America's honor rests in the belief that we are different. We are exceptional. We are a nation founded on honor, virtue and God where everyone had the opportunity to pursue their dreams. That belief is no longer reflected from the White House or Congress. That's where America's honor has been lost.

Furthermore, I challenge all of you to attend a Tea Party, just to observe. During the Bush Administration, I worked near the White House. I frequently went to war protests and environmental rallies to see what was happening and what was being said. How many of you have done that and given the people who attended the Restoring Honor rally a chance?

First of all, there have been a number of commemorative March on Washingtons since the '63 march and most of them haven't been all that well attended.

Second, if memory serves, Beck announced his event long before Sharpton announced his. I've read that there were travel agents taking bookings for this and the 9/12 tea party rallies well in advance of the event. Sharpton doesn't have that kind of infrastructure. The civil rights organizations with whom he allies himself don't have that kind of infrastructure any more, either, for a variety of reasons.

For all of the media attention he gets, Al Sharpton presents himself as someone who is stuck n the 1970s. I'm commenting on the packaging, not the message, which is another conversation. Given all of that, it's not surprising that his rally was not well attended.

Kim Pearson
BlogHer Contributing Editor ( http://blogher.org/blog/kim-pearson )|KimPearson.net ( http://kimpearson.net )|

Your comments provoke so many questions.

I said that Beck and Alveda King misrepresented the historical record. That is a statement of fact, which I'm happy to back up with citations. How do you infer bigotry from that? Other commenters can respond for themselves.

I know conservatives who are also critical of Beck, not only for the reasons that I cited, but for other things that he has said that are provably incorrect.

Now I have some honest questions. What do you hope that the rally will accomplish? What drew you there? Did you get what you were hoping to get?

I also share the question that many others have raised - how has America's honor been sullied in a way that requires that it be restored?

As for November, I haven't read anyone who thinks tha Democrats will fare well. A bad economy is always bad for the party in power. So this putative "liberal" is expecting to see a lot more Republicans in office.

I do hope that you'll respond. If we are really going to get anywhere in this country people have to be willing to keep talking when they don't agree.

Peace,
Kim

Kim Pearson
BlogHer Contributing Editor ( http://blogher.org/blog/kim-pearson )|KimPearson.net ( http://kimpearson.net )|

I am beyond shocked at these bigoted comments. Every single one of you are bigoted and judgemental, not the people who attended the rally.

Glenn Beck is hardly my favorite person, but I went to the rally. In fact, I volunteered because I wanted to see who would be there an what would happen.

NOTHING, absolutely nothing negative happened. In fact, I attend church with a federal law enforcement officer who worked at the rally. She said that in a crowd of 300,000, there was absolutely no problems. Every single person was polite. The Mall was left cleaner than an any other event, and the only problems were the obnoxious liberal hecklers that attended.

Americans are sick of what's going on in this country. If you believe Tea Parties are entirely racist, you are stuck in your liberal enclaves and have lost all perspective of what most Americans experience. November is going to be a very bitter pill. Your myopia makes you a shameful Americans. We should all have the ability to exercise our Constitutional Rights. No one should be judged for that.

Just because you disagree with my political views does not mean that you have a right to express your views more than me or that you are smarter or better.

At the very least, you should respect my right to hold these views and the rights of every other member of the Tea Party movement from Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck on down. Every complaint, every whine shows how narrow-minded and elitist you are.

As Americans we all have the right to arrive at our distinct and different values and beliefs. The fact that you call 300,000 peaceful Americans gathering in front of the Lincoln Memorial and singing "Amazing Grace" racists is the worst case of liberal bigotry that I have ever seen.

Perhaps, all of you might benefit from attending a Tea Party and reading a copy of the Constitution that they usually distribute.

With all due respect, paranoia bleeds from your deductions. How do you know there are 'code words'? Where is the 'insidous' racism in Beck's message? You listed the responses to the announcement that the rally will be held as "mild skepticism and outrage". That's IT? What about enthusiasm 500,000 - 600,000 strong? Attendees poured in from overseas and around the nation.

The vitriole against Beck and Palin never ends. You could wade into the objectivity of such detractors and barely get your ankles wet. It is a cheap shot to offer pity to those who travelled to hear Palin as she is "barely coherent". That statement is your opinion stated as fact.

My question is, why such fear? Why such suspicion? Why is every unfortunate comment Beck or Palin uttered held against them as the litmus test of their credibility while Harry Reid's racists remarks about the "clean" President, the President calling the Police "stupid", others outright lying about military experience are categorized as mis-speak?

I am no apologist for Beck or Palin. However how is it those with opposing opinions or negative impressions air those as legitimate journalistic endeavors? That's what I ask, and this contrived suspicion and over monitoring, faux psychologizing of such events needs to calm down. Civility please. You asked, I answered. That's what I think.

Where did Laina "cast stones?" And do you have any thoughts about the questions she raised?

Kim Pearson
BlogHer Contributing Editor ( http://blogher.org/blog/kim-pearson )|KimPearson.net ( http://kimpearson.net )|

At least some of the people at Beck's rally were probably paid to attend and most no doubt had their bus fare subsidized. See “The Billionaires Bankrolling the Tea Party” by FRANK RICH at
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/opinion/29rich.h... ( http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/opinion/29rich.h... )

Karen Bojar

http://www.the-next-stage.com/

Thank you for your comments.One of the things that bloogers have mentioned is that Beck's rally had at least 5 times the amount of people than Rev. Sharptons / Kings... Why do you think this is?

Contributing Editor - Race, Ethnicity & Culture

Blog: Writing is Fighting: www.lainad.typepad.com ( http://www.lainad.typepad.com/ )

Writer: Hellbound: ( Http://www.hellbound.ca/ )

If this event was in fact non-political, then why wasn't Obama invited? Or anyone else from the Democrat party? If he wants to restore honor, what about reaching across the political divide to come together to solve our nation's problems, rather than stirring up controversy or paranoid delusions? If this wasn't a haters event then why put yourself in a position of "us" versus "them?"

Frankly, this whole "Take Back America" thing is a bunch of hooey. If Beck, Palin, and the other numb-nuts wanted real progress, they would have called their movement "Let's Work Together."

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Confessions of a Random Chick: Woman. Wife. Mother. Member of an Insane Society. ( http://www.confessionsofarandomchick.blogspot.com/ )

It is really easy to cast stones sitting behind a keyboard isn't it, Iainad?

and it's a peaceful, diverse crowd.

Politics & News Contributing Editor
Erin Kotecki Vest ( http://queenofspainblog.com/ )

Beck is clearly trying to forge the widespread anxiety many feel about the economy, threats to national security and social movements such as the push for gay rights into a "populist" movement. However, it's a movement whose founding myths mix real issues with manufactured controversies such as the ACORN sting and the President's citizenship. It runs on a narrative that inverts and distorts history.

For example, Alveda King said today that the founding fathers put "In God We Trust" on our currency. Not true. Their motto was "E Pluribus Unum" -"Out of Many, One." Congress changed it to "In God We Trust" in the 1950s, as part of its anti-communist fervor. Alveda King's Uncle Martin was a victim of the red-baiting of that period.

Beck's claim that Dr. King's agenda was not about social and economic justice is an even larger and more dangerous distortion of the historical record. Linking Dr. King's message to militarism is another error of historical analysis. One could not imagine that the Martin Luther King of Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin's creation BlogHer Contributing Editor ( http://blogher.org/blog/kim-pearson )|KimPearson.net ( http://kimpearson.net )|

I think we should be worried about the rally just as much as we should be worried about this so-called Tea Party/"take back America" movement.

It makes me so angry I could spit.

This whipping up of racial hatred for political gain is very scary to me and unfortunately, just like the inflammatory hyperbole of the abortion debate, may result in violence.

I sincerely hope I'm wrong but if it happens, Beck, Palin and all those politicians like them will have blood on their hands.

Megan

TV/Online Video Contributing Editor ( http://www.blogher.com/blog/megan-smith )

Megan's Minute ( http://www.megansminute.com/ )

Meg's Rad Reviews ( http://www.megsradreviews.com )

As you ask, Laina: "Who are 'we'?" I want to know who the civil rights movement needs to be claimed for and reclaimed from whom? How can a rally be apolitical when the headline speaker is a (former) politician who invites grading her performance based on her success in endorsing politicians?

This is an excellent column ( http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/08/25/1790858/this... ) answering that question.

BlogHer Contributing Editor ( http://www.blogher.com/blog/maria-niles ) PopConsumer ( http://consumerpop.typepad.com/popconsumer ) Beyond Help ( http://mariax.vox.com/ )

She's the leader of the Coffee Party movement:

"Martin Luther King's march was called the 'March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.' While so many of us are immensely distracted by Mr. Beck and other wedge issues of the day, Rome burns. If we continue to follow Pied Pipers who want to see our country fight itself rather than come together to solve our problems, what problems can we expect to solve?"

More here: http://coffeepartyusa.com/content/what-do-i-think-...