Glenn Beck Rewrites American History: The Big Lie Technique!

Conservative Fox News talk show host Glenn Beck gave the keynote address last evening at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, DC, and in so doing, he rewrote American history, creating his own distorted, warped view of the past.

Anyone who teaches or is a scholar of American history needs to condemn what he has done, as the use of lies and deception and false statistics to mislead the American people!

What did Glenn Beck have to say? Well, according to him, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Herbert Hoover, and Franklin D. Roosevelt were villains, while Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Ronald Reagan were heroes! The recession of 1920 was worse than the Great Depression of 1929 in the sense of economic statistics, but Harding and Coolidge saved the day, while Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt destroyed the economy and made things worse!

US involvement in World War I and World War II was wrong, as international involvement was not necessary, as we could retreat from the world and stop caring what other nations think and do!

The real culprit is Progressivism and Liberalism according to Beck. It all began with Teddy Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson, who decided that “big government” and “international cooperation” were essential. It continued under Herbert Hoover, who was a Progressive according to Hoover, and made worse by the ultimate Progressive and Liberal, Franklin D. Roosevelt!

Under Warren G. Harding and particularly Calvin Coolidge, the middle class became the largest in history it has ever been, according to Beck. Ronald Reagan knew his history, Beck declares, when he said Coolidge was his favorite President in the sense of economic success!

All of the above is totally whacko! The vast number of historians and scholars accept, of course, that ALL presidents have their definite shortcomings, blunders, and weaknesses, and a true historical assessment always balances pro and con. Certainly, this author accepts that one must understand the complexity of Presidential personalities and deeds and statements.

But, it is a fact that Theodore Roosevelt is rated in most polls Number 4 among Presidents; Woodrow Wilson is rated a little lower down in the top ten of Presidents; Franklin D. Roosevelt is rated Number 2 or 3 among all Presidents; and Herbert Hoover is rated as being a Conservative, not a Progressive, and as either a failure, or certainly below average in his time in the Presidency.

Warren G. Harding is rated a failure in the White House, in the bottom five; Calvin Coolidge is rated at best as below average, sometimes below Hoover and sometimes just above Hoover, as he is blamed for the economic policies that caused the Great Depression, while Hoover is primarily blamed for slow reaction to the reality of the Depression.

Wilson and FDR had to take us into World Wars I and II, as Germany in both wars and Japan in the Second World War were real threats to our national security. Certainly, however, neither one rushed to take us to war, but events forced the issue.

To say that the Recession of 1920 was worse in many ways than the early days of the Great Depression is a mind boggling statement that has never been enunciated by any serious economist or historian!

Ronald Reagan is rated as above average by historians, usually the bottom of the top ten or just below that. But one must remember that his economic policies harmed the middle class, made for a new growth of poverty, and his tripling of the national debt was the beginning of the debt crisis we now face. Remember, our national debt was one trillion dollars when he came in, and three trillion when he left, and a good part of our present problem is due to him and another “conservative” President named George W. Bush!

Also, realize that the national debt grew far less under Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, than under Ronald Reagan and both Presidents Bush!

So Glenn Beck is promoting what was once called the Big Lie technique. If you are creative enough in lying, and know how to deliver a speech and impress your listeners, as Glenn Beck has the talent to do, you are indeed dangerous!

Oh, by the way, in conclusion, who is famous for utilizing the Big Lie? A man named ADOLF HITLER! 🙁

10 comments on “Glenn Beck Rewrites American History: The Big Lie Technique!

  1. Stephen Clark May 15, 2010 3:30 pm

    Pure unadulterated pap! Beck has done his homework, as have I, and Woodrow Wilson was a dictator pure and simple (perhaps I should say Colonel Edward House was the dictator, Wilson was just a puppet). Here are a few items for you to ponder.

    Woodrow Wilson instituted the Committee on Public Information to control public opinion. The CPI printed millions of posters, buttons, pamphlets, that did just that. A typical poster for Liberty Bonds cautioned, “I am Public Opinion. All men fear me!… If you have the money to buy and do not buy, I will make this No Man’s Land for you!”

    Here are a couple of his quotes.

    “No doubt a lot of nonsense has been talked about the inalienable rights of the individual, and a great deal that was mere sentiment and pleasing speculation has been put forward as fundamental principle…”

    “The competent leader of men cares little for the internal niceties of other people’s characters: he cares much–everything–for the external uses to which they may be put…. He supplies the power; others supply only the materials upon which that power operates…. It is the power which dictates, dominates; the materials yield. Men are as clay in the hands of the consummate leader.”

    Under the Sedition Act he imprisoned thousands, some with no trial at all.

    What a swell guy! I could list literally dozens more but you get the point (I hope).

    As for FRD he drove this country into a state of socialism that is still causing major problems. I could list hundreds of reasons for this. To deny the negative impact of the massive growth of government, and socialized programs under this man is purely self delusional.

    The lists of the “Best Presidents” are totally untrustworthy solely due to the propaganda that we were all fed in the public school system. I was never told of the TRUE nature of these men. Were you?

    Like I said I and Beck have done OUR homework, perhaps you should do the same.

  2. Michael May 21, 2010 11:59 pm

    So your evidence that Beck is nuts is that a bunch of historians say so. Perhaps you could go back to original sources and data, as Beck has done, and provide the basis for your contention.

    Alternatively, you could just state that you have different values than Beck. He admires economic growth and prosperity that bring the hard working and successful material comfort. You admire wealth redistribution to produce equality of results.

    The roaring 20s fits with Beck’s values, as most people worked and were able to purchase their first radios, cars, appliances, and power it all with electricity (and gas). The great depression brought people unemployment and misery, but Roosevelt what he could to mitigate the misery by redistributing wealth and nationalizing industry (especially utilities).

    These historical facts certainly form the basis for an alternate story line to the historians’ conventional wisdom, as reflected in their ranking Harding near bottom. Beck has done just that. I don’t think that qualifies as a “big lie.”

    So like progressives to tar anyone they disagree with as “just like Hitler.”

  3. Boscoe July 9, 2010 5:57 pm

    @ Michael: the “just like Hitler” line is clearly meant to be ironic considering the people constantly using Hitler rhetoric are right wingers like your pal Beck. -Who would be bankrupt if he had to pay a royalty for every time a Nazi reference were used on his program.

    But so like conservatives to project their own flaws onto others.

  4. Terry July 9, 2010 10:26 pm

    Hitler’s supporters were National Socialists. National Socialist also know as NAZIs. National Socialists are Fascists. They believe the Government should control all major companies. Companies would run as empty shells where Capitalism is falsely portrayed. This is what is happening to the US currently with GM, Chrysler, All the major banks, financial institutions and healthcare.
    Fascism and Communism leads to the same result. There are select groups who are targeted for Annihilation. Germany’s annihilation of 6 million Jews, China’s annihilation of 60 million foes of Moe (who was on a White House Christmas Tree ornament) and Soviet Union’s annihilation of 20 million foes of Stalin.
    Nazi’s were not “right wing”. They were far left wing just like communism. Germany, China and Soviet Union kill off people who support them into power to prevent the fascist/communists from being removed. Once those in power has been established, they no longer need supporters who have a voice that could work against them.
    A quick fact on why socialism and communism fails everywhere tried. Imagine everyone working for the government and the government decides how much money you should receive. No incentive to work hard when wages are not based on production. In both cases, elderly are killed off as they are not productive for the government. This has been stated by Obama with “a senior citizen with cancer shouldn’t receive expensive cancer treatment. They should be given pain killers” Healthcare is being taken over to provide for children, working age and illegals and $500 Billion taken was from Medicare. Next there will be retirement “resorts” for our parents and grandparents from which we will never hear from them again.
    Please read history of Fascists and Communists and you will see these and more examples of trends that lead to enslavement and annihilation of citizens. We have “progressives” (cover for Fascists and Communists) in both parties.
    The internet makes it easy to find the facts to back up why government spending and taking over industries are bad for everyone. I spent thousands of hours in libraries digging into how Fascism and Communism are established. Most people would not be able to sleep if they spent more than 20 hours looking it up on the internet.
    Capitalism isn’t perfect but is much better than Fascism and Communism.
    Before disputing the above facts, please tell me one country where Fascism, Communism or Socialism has been successful.
    Currently the two top per capita income countries are 1) Switzerland 2) USA. Interesting that Obama has tried to pressure the Swiss banks to disclose American’s bank account information to the US Government. It is important to destroy #1. Just as Government Motors is out to destroy Toyota. 200,000 Toyota/Lexus engines being bad makes more news in June than GM recalling 1.5 Million vehicles that can catch fire. Interesting how the media promotes this garbage.
    I hope this will allow a few to have an open mind and explore Progressivism for what it truly is and will lead this country toward. I know there are many who dispute without fact just like the opening trash on Glenn Beck where the basis of facts are other progressive/fascist/communist Historians. As Stephen Clark stated, Glenn Beck and he did their homework. PLEASE, PLEASE look into the facts yourself and you will change your view.

  5. Carter July 11, 2010 2:05 am

    @Terry

    You should do yourself a service and expand your reading list. Saying that Nazi’s were leftist socialist is a ludicrous claim supported by a handful of far right historical revisionist. In shortest terms Nazis were simply nazis. The Nazi party had a range of views to that can’t be neatly categorized by the modern political labels of “progressive” or “conservative”. Hitler himself had dim views of many of the tenets of liberalism, and an outright disdain for Marxism. But you don’t have to take mine, Beck’s, or some lefty elite historian’s word for it… just pick up a copy of Mein Kampf and read it yourself. Finally, the use of the word “socialist” is clearly a misnomer. Unless of course you would care to argue that the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea is actually a democratic republic. What about the People’s Republic of China?

  6. Terry July 14, 2010 12:35 am

    Carter,

    No I won’t read an autobiography by Adolf Hitler as a historical source. I won’t read anything dictated by Stalin or Moe either.
    Since you won’t read history, please allow me to expand further. Hitler was a Socialist with a Fascist twist. He took over Volkswagen, Made Jews an enemy to take over the Financial Industry and also took over Healthcare to allow healthcare to focus on “pure” Germans. Now please tell me what US president did a similar set of acts.
    My use of Socialism, Communism, Fascist and Marx are in their true definitions. Please look up the definitions and use accordingly. Anyone can play games with changing word definitions such as Korea or “People’s republic of China”
    Our country is going down the same road as Nazi Germany and Italy under mussolini where the economy is driven by empty shell companies run by the government. Please keep in mind that Governments are a leach off the hard workers driving the economy.
    I don’t think you will be able to associate Fascism with any conservative view. Right and Left wing has whatever meaning someone wants to give it. If you look at a bar chart where Left is Communism or Fascism (both far left) or very limited government just to keep mob rule under control (military and police to enforce laws and protection) far right The best Government protects the country from outside enemies and protecting citizens from crime personal harm and allows free and fair commerce. Please read our constitution and bill of rights. When you can find where it allows the government to implement social programs or tax specific races as is taking place in the US, please let me know. Isn’t it interesting that nobody has said anything about the Tanning Salon/WHITE TAX? Social Justice where whites are forced from their jobs for minorities? Any country that pits one race against others never ends well.
    Taxation….
    Interesting how China and Russia have learned that taking 70+% of income (one key factors for defining Communism, 50-69% defines socialism) doesn’t work. China and Russia have their corporate and personal income tax rate at 18-20%.
    The highest per GDP level for taxation in any economy is 17-18%. As a country increases the tax rate above 18%, the economy falls. Decrease the tax rate as Kennedy, Reagan and Bush Jr. did and you see an expanding economy and tax revenue. Increase tax rates is only a one year fix and decreases money for everyone and the government. It fails with increasing effect in years 2+. The thought that taking from one pocket, giving to a government to distribute to another pocket and the economy increasing never has or will happen.
    I don’t like to see people suffer. I want the United States to return to a FREE country. Our politicians took a sworn oath to protect our constitution. The politicians are not protecting our constitution. Either the politicians go or our country will be destroyed very soon.
    Since there are so many wonderful 3RD WORLD socialist or communist countries. I’d be happy to start a fund raising program to provide one way travel for anyone wanting a government to tell them how to live and how much money they can earn.

  7. Thomas Martin August 24, 2010 5:43 pm

    You need to stop smoking pot and snorting cocaine. You’ve warped your brain.

  8. psh September 29, 2010 9:30 pm

    The Real Calvin Coolidge believed in fair no loophole progressive income taxes, frugal low expense living, ardent protectionism, anti-monopoly, share the wealth policies, .

    Some quotes and positions of Calvin Coolidge that Glen Beck forgot to mention:

    On tax free (municipal bonds): “Another reform which is urgent in our fiscal system is the abolition of the right to issue tax exempt securities. The existing system not only permits a large amount of wealth of the nation to escape a just burden, but acts as a continual stimulant to municipal extravagance. This should be prohibited by constitutional amendment. All the wealth of the nation ought to contribute its fair share to the expenses of the nation.” Annual Message to Congress, 12/6/1923, Mind of the President p. 113; Silent Cal’s Almanack, David Pietrusza ed., 2008, p.116.

    Tax rates: “Surplus income will go into tax exempt securities. It will refuse to take the risk incidental to embarking in business. This will raise the rate which established businesses will have to pay for new capital, and result in a marked increase in the cost of living. If new capital will not flow into competing enterprise, the present concerns tend toward monopoly, increasing again the prices which most people must pay.” Speech to the National Republican Club, 2/12/1924 Id.

    On Wealth: “accumulated wealth will be of very little value to society unless it voluntarily comes to the rescue in time to prevent public suffering.” Id. p. 121; Calvin Coolidge Says, 10/10/1930.

    Self-Government: “The normal must care for themselves.”

    Protectionism: “My observation of protectionism is that it has been successful in practice, however unsound it may appear in theory. That must mean the theories have not taken into account all the facts.” 3/10/1924, Id. p.95

    “We wish to protect our own wage earners, our agriculture and industry from the result of dumping produce on our markets at a price which they could not compete. But the policy has a deeper significance than that. We are unwilling to profit by the distress of foreign people. We do not want their blood money. Our efforts are are not only to protect our own people from cheap goods, which President McKinley said meant cheap men, but we propose to set up a standard that will discourage other nations from exploiting their people by producing cheap goods. Our policy requires fair wages for both domestic and foreign production. We have no market for blood and tears.” 11/26/1930

    Prosperity: “Prosperity is only an instrument to be used, not a deity to be worshiped.”
    Id. p. 94

    Social Justice: “Let justice and the economic laws apply to the strong; but for the weak there must be mercy and charity; not the gratuity that pauperizes, but the assistance that restores.” Adequate Brevity, p. 53; Id. p. 72

    Government Spending, Taxes, and Budgets: ” I have never had a proposal from anyone as to what could be done to save any money.”

    Against federal aid to local government: “the wiser policy is to leave the localities, as far as we can, possessed of their own sources of revenue and charged with their own obligations.” Id., p.67.

    “One incidious practice which sugar-coats the dose of Federal intrusion is the division of expense for public improvements or services between state and national treasuries.” 5/30/1925, Id. p. 59.

    “It is preeminently the province of government to protect the weak.” Id. p.65

    “The people ought to take no selfish attittude of pressing for removing of moderate and fair taxes that might produce a deficit. We must keep our budget balanced for each year. That is the cornerstone of our national credit, the trifling price we pay to commant the lowest interest rate of any great power.” Id. p. 44

    “The first object of taxation is to secure revenue… if the rates on large incomes are so high that they disappear, the small taxpayer will be left to bear the whole burden. If on the other hand, the rates are placed where they will secure the most revenue from large incomes, then the small taxpayer will be relieved.” Id. p. 112.

    Foreign policy: “we can best deal with a nation that maintains our standard of living.” 7/30/1930 Id. p. 64.

    “Nations which are torn by dissension and discord, which are weak and inefficient at home, have little standng or influence abroad. Even the blind do not choose the blind to lead them.” 5/1/1927 Id.

  9. JJJ March 6, 2011 2:13 pm

    Talk about rewriting history the liberal progressives are famous for it and this posting is proof of it. Americans as a group are poorly lacking in their knowledge of their own history and this article uses public opinion polls to just justify the quality of past presidents. Gimme a break.

  10. Ronald March 6, 2011 2:31 pm

    Americans ARE poorly lacking in their knowledge of American History, but they are NOT going to gain insight from the rantings and ravings of Glenn Beck, who is a total propagandist for the purpose of enriching himself and inciting hate and violence! Even responsible conservatives such as Bill Kristol, George Will, and David Frum have condemned him in no uncertain terms!

    Accomplished scholars understand Presidential leadership far better than people who rely on Glenn Beck for knowledge and insights, since he has absolutely NONE!

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