The Fair and Balanced Channel - Not

Kudos to Media Matters for making this available. They received the behind the scenes clip from an anonymous "tipster."

This is what was happening while the Fox "News" reporter - Griff Jenkins - was on the air.

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This is what was shown on Fox by Glenn Beck

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So what about Beck. Is he as way right as he seems, or is it entertainment hype? Well, it would seem that he is as way right as he seems. One of his political heroes is apparently W Cleon Skousen, as presented in a 9/16/09 Salon article by Alexander Zaitchik. Skousen was one of the intellectual founders of the contemporary ultra right wing - even to the right of the John Birch Society. This is an association which is affirmed by Beliefnet "Conservative politics and religion" writer Rod Dreher (who shows a Republican icon as part of his by-line) in his article "Glenn Beck, Cleon Skousen, Evan Mecham." Dreher, who is actually arguing against this type of "crackpot" activity notes:Glenn Beck is now the best-known devotee of the radical rightist Cleon Skousen. However, Dreher also partially recanted on Skousen with "I was wrong about "5,000 Year Leap"" a re-released book by Skousen, and which Beck has written the forward for (and pushed over the last year).

Where did Beck come from, and how did he land a gig on FOX? Well, he comes from a DJ and radio background. Which seems to be the pool that cable channels are fishing (for MSNBC, both Maddow and Schultz come in from radio). While being born and raised a Catholic, he converted to Mormonism - not surprising given how Skousen (a Mormon) "changed his life." Like another railing provocateur - Limbaugh - Beck has struggled with alcoholism and drug abuse.

As the Media Matters clips clearly show, despite Beck's alleged religiosity, he is not above deceiving to make his play. The current renditions of "conservatism" have clearly demonstrated that "the ends justify the means." This is where I am most dumbfounded by these supposed "religious" leaders of modern day conservatism. There is a seeming total embrace of this anti-Christian belief. Apparently lying, cheating, manipulating, are fine for "the cause" - even if people get killed (as with the Bush deceptions). Creating a propaganda at an event that was manufactured out of thin air and promoted by a media outlet that promotes itself as "news" is small potatoes I guess. One has to wonder though what Beck, and Murdoch, and Limbaugh, and O'Reilly, and Dobbs (to name a handful) see as "The Cause."