http://www.statenews.com Speaking about America’s identity brought TV and radio personality Glenn Beck to tears as he addressed its failures and the surprisingly positive role they play in the country. en-us Gryphon 2.2.3b-tsn (woodward)/Foundry5 Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:06:04 -0400 webmaster@statenews.com http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43882 Studley’s comments as quoted are ironic, given Beck’s demagoguery. How does (mis)labeling your opponent a racist and misrepresenting his positions widen “the circle of discussion”? Isn’t boycotting or protesting also “speech”? In any case, I’m delighted to learn of Studley’s (and, we assume, the Chamber’s?) commitment to robust dialogue, and will look forward to news that they’ve invited a progressive speaker for their next event. Fair and balanced, right? Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:10:24 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43882 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43884 I’m writing to contest the State News account of MSU ACLU’s role at the Glenn Beck event. Rather than protect the free speech rights of a well-guarded speaker at a privately-organized event, we were there to ensure that the first amendment rights of the protesters were adequately safeguarded. As you may recall, MSU’s record with handling of protests against controversial speakers (whose free speech rights have not been infringed upon in recent memory) is mixed at best. Please run a correction that clarifies the involvement of the MSU ACLU in this event. Regards, John Simpkins Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:22:08 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43884 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43897 Hundreds of protesters? Haha, this makes me laugh. Passed by a few times, definitely not hundred(s). Wed, 16 Sep 2009 08:26:41 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43897 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43914 I hope GB dies in trapped in a car fire. People seem to shout Free Speech in defense of him, and I can understand that, but at the same time, if you listen to him, this isnt a difference of option, this GB is insane, and has several deep seated emotional/mental problems. Plus he in a position to spread these lies and crazy talk to other people. This wouldn’t be a problem untill crazy people start showing up in town halls, slowing down the progress of the most needed thing in American history since universal suffrage ( womens right to vote for you glen beck viewers ) So yea, Glen Beck, if anyone sponsors you I won’t ever buy there product again. Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:55:39 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43914 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43924 My name is Kristin Healey and I was mis-quoted in this article. What I actually said was the we need to get the CORRUPTION out of Washington… not “competitiveness” as she stated I said. Also, it is a flat out lie that there were hundreds of protestors. I saw with my own eyes. I believe the official count was 29 anti-Beck and 41 pro-Beck. Yes – folks came out in support of this fine gentleman, Glenn Beck. In the end …. the truth always wins out. Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:29:55 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43924 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43926 I was at the event filming for about 2 hours and the number of protesters was about 120 by my rough headcount… I don’t think I’m off by more than 20 either way. I would say it was about 90% anti-Beck, 10% pro. The best protesters were definitely the ones that showed up dressed as stereotypical rich people, carrying signs that said stuff like “Coal Barons Support Beck!” Very funny. Second runner-up was a woman carrying a sign that accused all the protesters of having been paid by George Soros to show up. She was chanting, “Stop cirrhosis!” which took me quite a while to figure out — I think she was implying that the “hired student protesters” were going to drink away all their AstroTurf money. Also, the fake Billionaires refused to break character at all, even when really angry pro-Beck protesters tried to argue with them, which led to bizarre, one-sided arguments with them wholeheartedly agreeing with anything the pro-Beck protesters said. The pro-Beck protesters were getting just a little bit flustered by it… Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:33:19 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43926 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43927 and a comment about the person above me who hopes Beck dies in a car fire…… so now you want a person who you believe spreads crazy talk to burn to death? Who’s the crazy one exactly? Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:33:32 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43927 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43929 Kristen, that is a flat-out lie and I’m sure you know it… there were certainly not more Beck supporters than Beck protesters. I’ll be posting footage of the crowd later so people can see for themselves. I’m hoping against hope that you just swapped the numbers as you were typing quickly — sorry about your misquote, by the way, that’s why all good journalists should have a tape recorder backup in addition to written notes! Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:36:45 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43929 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43933 Perhaps Kristen mistook the plutocrat fauxtesters for Beck supporters. Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:55:41 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43933 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43936 Glen Beck is what is wrong with this country..This guy is a crazy prpagandist from FOX NOISE..a ridiculous propaganda machine..for the far right..He and they have no solutions and are only determined to protect the status quo..Big Health Insurance Companies and Drug Companies and the wealthy..They are not interested in fixing anything-they are strictly obstructionists and their only goal is the failure of the current adm. They care nothing for the middle class or anyone but the ultra rich. They use fear as a tactic to stir up people who are uninformed.Educate youselves. “Don’t get fooled again “ Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:14:02 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43936 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43938 Glenn Beck moved to tears is such a Phony act it makes me want to puke. He and others like him prey upon the ill-informed..He is nothing but a tool for big banks, big corporations, health ins. co’s, drug co’s, and the very rich..He and others from the far rt. propaganda machine at fox news make me sick. They have no answers except stay the course..Keep the status quo wealthy and forget the middle class and the poor. I hope MSU has plans for a rebuttal to this Clown by someone with a commonsense view. Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:54:11 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43938 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43949 I’m the guy who hopes GB dies trapped in a car fire. I often question my sanity, I believe its a healthy thing to do. Setting GB car on fire with him in it would be the acts of a crazy person. To hope that he gets into an accident, gets trapped, and then catches on fire is just being an optimist. Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:49:45 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43949 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43972 I’m not part of MSU, but I am a Lansing resident. I’m sorry I didn’t hear about this ahead of time, as I would have joined in protesting this hypocritical crazy man. For example: 16 months ago he was on the air saying how “broken” our health care system is. Now, according to this nut, it’s the “best” in the world! It never ceases to amaze me that people actually belief the lies he spews, and w/o question. To the protesters: Thanks for showing him that Lansing-E.Lansing isn’t buying his crap. Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:21:37 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43972 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43976 I agree with “Melissa” — kudos to students who protested Beck’s appearance at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Forum last night. Beck’s rhetoric interferes with rational, civil discussion of important national issues. He inspires and provides a platform for those citizens looking for someone to legitimize their bigotry. Beck is a fear monger — inciting people to anger; anger that is mostly misplaced. Beck is a con-artist — laughing all the way to the bank. Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:02:57 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43976 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43985 hi again. to follow up on an earlier post regarding number of protestors that attended – the number I quoted was the number that was confirmed by a third party BUT it was prior to the event starting. I was there before 5:30 so it is safe to say that the crowd did not hit until after that time. The exact numbers aren’t what matters I love that people are able to demonstrate like that! …. I was just upset that I was mis-quoted. I contacted the State News this morning but have not received a return call yet. Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:16:52 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43985 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43988 To Melissa: “For example: 16 months ago he was on the air saying how “broken” our health care system is. Now, according to this nut, it’s the “best” in the world!” You are 100% wrong. He has always admitted that the system is broken. Even in this state he has always said it is the best. Interesting how you are quick to judge someone without knowing exactly what they have said. To tapdancer: “Beck is a fear monger” And the President announcing that without a $700B stimulus package our nation would return to the dark ages is what? Is he just being over cautious? Or is he the Fear-Mongerer In Chief? I think it’s the latter. Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:38:20 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43988 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43998 The number 250 came from an estimate from the MSU police. So to those scoffing at the “hundreds” of people in protest, check your sources (unless you don’t trust the police.) And by the mathematical logic of the “1.4 million” at the healthcare rally in DC (courtesy of a university Beck could not remember), there were roughly three thousand protesters in attendance last evening. Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:29:23 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/43998 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/44000 To John Simpkins (post #2) I find it interesting how defensive you are regarding the involvement of the MSU ACLU at this event (“I’m writing to contest the State News account of MSU ACLU’s role at the Glenn Beck event”). On the other hand, I’m not surprised. You certainly wouldn’t want the MSU ACLU to be portrayed as supporting a non-liberal event or point of view would you? Might result in sanctions from national… Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:50:52 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/44000 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/44005 To KJ: I was simply attempting to reframe some careless reporting. Rather than take a partisan stance, of which you baselessly accuse me, I am bringing to light the facts about the event’s overall dynamic and the reasons for MSU ACLU’s presence. Perhaps you should know that conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was present at “national’s” last convention; we remain committed simply to the protection of Constitutional freedoms. Please further note that our role as observer followed MSU’s history of protest suppression, not a political slant. Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:58:25 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/44005 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/44006 To Matt: G.W.Bush, Rumsfeld, Cheney, Paulson, DeMint, Wilson, Palin, Bachmann, Coulter, Hannity, Limbaugh, Malkin……We could go tit for tat on fear mongering for a long time….I’m talking about Beck. He does a dangerous disservice to this country. Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:01:11 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/44006 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/44013 To tapdancer: If the actions of the President contradict your statement, then why use it? The only person doing a disservice to the country is yourself. People like you ask questions only when someone is in office YOU disagree with. The true patriots question EVERYONE in power regardless of their party affiliation. Thu, 17 Sep 2009 07:03:00 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/44013 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/44015 Glenn Beck as keynote speaker? I thought the Chamber of Commerce was a legitimate organization with a serious purpose. Guess I was wrong. Thu, 17 Sep 2009 07:21:16 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/44015 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/44020 Again to Matt: You’re doing exactly what Beck leads people to do. You labeled me (“people like you…) and question my patriotism without knowing anything about me. I respect and support the current President, but have also written many messages expressing my concern for some of his actions, ideas, etc. If necessary, I will not vote for him again. I have watched and listened and read Beck for a long time. He is divisive and polarizing and I choose to point that out when I can. expressing an opinion. Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:13:16 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/44020 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/44033 Glenn Beck as keynote speaker? I thought the Chamber of Commerce was a legitimate organization with a serious purpose. Guess I was wrong. Same here man, I wrote them a letter saying that they made an enemy today. To the people who are vaguely defending GB’s sanity:“Glenn Beck is awesome”:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQc_TH4iVV8 Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:58:16 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/44033 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/44034 woops lets try that again, I know cut and paste is hard for some people. Glenn Beck’s sanity Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:00:34 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/44034 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/44063 These protests only create partisan tension. This is a college campus. Be open. Have a well informed, intellectual debate instead of launching around half-formed opinions and name calling. Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:11:43 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/44063 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/44150 Um yea. Why do you think we hate Beck so much? He does nothing but create poop to sling. He doesn’t have a different point of view, he has a social disorder. Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:06:04 -0400 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/44150