RSS Feed MenuAndrew Sullivan directs attention to this fascinating query:
All of this gets me to Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck. Both of them have been in the news a lot for their outspoken and controversial views. And once again, people don’t seem to understand that their jobs are entertainment, nothing more…
Talk show hosts have no legal or ethical obligation to do anything but entertain. And judging by their successes, Limbaugh and Beck are brilliant at their jobs. I find it mind boggling that anyone believes a TV talk host is expressing his own true views…
Do you think that Limbaugh and Beck have the same views in private as they spray into the entertainmentsphere?
That question is easy: Yes of course Limbaugh and Beck express the same views in private as in public. Consistent hypocrisy demands exorbitant levels of imagination, energy, and cynicism. Much less exhausting over time simply to bring your private views into alignment with what you are paid to say in public.
Let me put the thought experiment slightly differently however. Suppose an agent arrived in the offices of Limbaugh/Beck/Hannity/O’Reilly etc. with an offer. “I can guarantee you a deal that will pay you twice as much – bring you twice as much fame – and extend your career twice as long – if you’d say the exact opposite of what you are saying now.” Which of them would sign?
My nominations: O’Reilly accepts for sure. Beck likewise almost certainly says yes. Limbaugh would want to think it over, but would ultimately say no. Mark Levin: certainly not. Sean Hannity would need the offer explained a few times. Ann Coulter – that one puzzles me – but probably no. Roger Ailes? Do you even need to ask?
mvpel // Oct 19, 2009 at 2:01 pm
AnneMargaret wrote:
“If they wanted to effect change, they would run and put their money where they mouths are.”
Sarah Palin “effected change,” in the form of derailing and demolishing an entire section of the ObamaCare bill, with a single Facebook post – without even casting a single vote or even holding elected office.
Does anyone remember when Congress was aiming to ram through the healthcare bill before October recess? Does anyone remember why they couldn’t?
If you think that Beck, Limbaugh, and others are not effecting vastly more change than they could ever dream of while wielding merely one vote out of four hundred and thirty five in Congress, then your level of understanding of their influence on the national conservative debate is clearly lacking.
Remember, one vote in Congress didn’t turn out hundreds of thousands of people in Washington DC on September 12, the conservative media and blogosphere did.
“The power of the periodical press is second only to that of the people.” – Alexis de Tocqueville
momo33 // Oct 19, 2009 at 3:59 pm
WHO is this Frum guy? And who really cares? He is obviously really stupid if he does not know what True Conservatives are all about. We don’t just change our belief system for payoffs like Libs do. Rush and the rest would never take the deal, they do not need the money and are secure in their thoughts being RIGHT.
We have the TRUTH and FACTS on our side and will always win in the end no matter how much the Libs fuck things up.
Why would we ever change from that? The good vs the evil lies the Lib Heads have. It is a no brainer!
metroryder // Oct 19, 2009 at 4:05 pm
Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck are true American heros and deserve ticker-tape parades in every major city and town across America in their honor!
May God continue to bless Rush and Glenn and direct them to helping defeat the insidious vile and vermin in the White House, and in this country known as liberals, communists, anarchists, progressives, fascists, elitists, statists, Marxists and most Democrats.
candle // Oct 19, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Who is “David Frum”?
candle // Oct 19, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Ahh, I think he’s that balloon kid’s dad. nm…
Conservative Intellectual // Oct 19, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Hotair.com is mocking this mindless David Frum column right now.
I do have a problem lumping Beck in with Rush. Beck’s alright but he’s no Rush. He needs to get a handle on that crying on tv thing.
candle // Oct 19, 2009 at 4:48 pm
I think, considering what’s happening in washington, a good cry on tv is appropriate. He can cry whenever he wants, doesn’t bug me in the slightest. I may cry with him.
Peddler66 // Oct 19, 2009 at 5:53 pm
Here’s a little thought experiment. What if liberal media out-lets let you and Sully on their programs on a regular basis because you spend the majority of your time crying about Conservatives? Oh, they already do.
joest73 // Oct 19, 2009 at 6:08 pm
I guess the kooks on the left believe everything they say….right?
I think I’ll take Rush and Beck any day over Olbermann and Olbergirl Rachel Maddow.
Conservative Intellectual // Oct 19, 2009 at 6:38 pm
This may be the most inspirational thing that I’ve read on the internet:
“Rush Limbaugh is basically the combination of Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton best qualities and none of their worst qualities, and these two founding fathers were bitter political enemies. He shared Jefferson’s distrust of big government and support for low and fair taxation, yet he also embraces capitalism and the “merchant” economy that Hamilton advocated as opposed to Jefferson’s vision of an agricultural based society. Rush is probably America’s greatest orator since Hamilton, and he has the ability to control the debate like Hamilton did, much to Jefferson and Madison’s chagrin” Conservative Intellectual
apollo11 // Oct 19, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Conservative-intellectual is obviously a FEMALE conservative ideologue — not to be sexist about it, but her emotions obviously get the better of her on these pages….
Conservative Intellectual // Oct 19, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Women did to vote for liberalism because it’s an appeal to emotion, not reason.
Conservative Intellectual // Oct 19, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Women did to vote for liberalism because it’s an appeal to emotion, not reason.
Midas // Oct 19, 2009 at 8:07 pm
As usual, Frum doesn’t disappoint. I can always come here and reliably find him spouting the usual uninformed delusional rubbish.
Conservative Intellectual // Oct 19, 2009 at 8:27 pm
I think it’s funny how Frum characterizies his hit pieces on Rush and other conservatives as “Frum vs Rush”, etc. He never debated Rush….just wrote a nasty article about him in the leftwing Newsweek that nobody reads. He also acts like he and Ann Coulter have had one on one debates, but they are usually joined by at least two other talking heads. It seems like he’s trying to superficially raise his stature in pundit-land when he says Frum vs Some Conservative Way More Popular than Frum.
Your Monday Random-Ass Roundup: What Up? « PostBourgie // Oct 19, 2009 at 9:42 pm
[...] Estranged right-winger David Frum conducts an interesting thought experiment: “Suppose an agent arrived in the offices of Limbaugh/Beck/Hannity/O’Reilly etc. with an [...]
johnmarzan // Oct 20, 2009 at 12:45 am
lefties and democrats attacking glen beck is like conservatives attacking jon stewart. both are entertainers.
Rush Limbaugh is Scut Farkus or something… | MT Pundit // Oct 20, 2009 at 1:30 am
[...] the White House calls out FOX News for not being actual news and now more on the left are taking that ball and running with it. Talk about comin’ out both barrels blazin’. Forget debating the issues, [...]
Exclusive: SIRIUS XM Producer Responds to David Frum | Parcbench // Oct 20, 2009 at 10:16 am
[...] response to David Frum’s article “Do Limbaugh and Beck Believe What They Say?“, Nick Rizzuto, producer of The Wilkow Majority on SIRIUS XM Radio (www.wilkowmajority.com) [...]
carapace – Not your father’s america » Tuesday October 20, 2009 – Honesty is incompatible with amassing a large fortune. – Ghandi // Oct 20, 2009 at 10:45 am
[...] Say? David Frum, New Majority http://www.newmajority.com/do-limbaugh-and-beck-believe-what-they-say http://www.newmajority.com Complete article [...]
whecht2 // Oct 20, 2009 at 12:20 pm
I love Rush. I think he is the best in the business.
El Rushbo himself says that he is an entertainer and he wants to be able to charge a lot for his ads and for his advertisers to be happy because it is money well spent.
If Rush really wanted to change the world then he could cut back on his ads and take less money.
Rush has often commented that the liberal talk shows all fail.
The reality is that, for whatever reason, talk shows need to be conservative to make money. If half the country is right of center then it should be fairly unusual that 95% (made up stat) of talk show hosts are significantly right of center. Shouldn’t a left of center talk show, at least just one, be somewhat successful?
Oldskool // Oct 20, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Frum is right to be worried. Conservatives no longegr have intellectuals leading their party. Once upon a time they did but they spent those years in the wilderness. It was only in the late 70’s and early 80’s that they discovered they could use a certain kind of populism to get certain people angry enough to vote, even though most of them wound up voting against their own self-interests. So it’s enjoyable to watch it backfire as their party turns into a clearinghouse of hyperventilating loudmouths.
Rush, Race and The Right « Blog de KingShamus // Oct 21, 2009 at 12:17 am
[...] why do some so-called conservatives seem to despise Rush? Check out David Frum’s latest missive for a clue. Let me put the thought experiment slightly differently however. Suppose an agent [...]