Right Wing Blames Obama for the Glenn Beck Advertiser Boycott

Last updated on August 10th, 2014 at 05:08 pm

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It was only a matter of time before Glenn Beck’s supporters started blaming President Obama for the advertiser boycott of Beck’s FNC program. Many on right claim that the boycott is censoring Beck. So Obama managed to take time away from trying to pass health care reform to pressure Glenn Beck’s advertisers? That certainly makes absolutely no sense.

Over at Politics Daily, they believe that they have found the connection between the group carrying out the boycott, Color of Change and President Obama, “Conservatives have questioned Color of Change’s motives. The co-founder of Color of Change is Van Jones, who was appointed by Obama in May as the special adviser for Green Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation at the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). Jones is listed on ColorofChange.org as: “Former Staff, Van Jones (Co-founder, inactive).”

Politics Daily apparently doesn’t understand the definition of censorship, “The pressure on advertisers has become a politically charged debate about the right to free speech, censorship and what constitutes hate speech.”For the sake of clarity, here is the American Heritage Dictionary definition of a censor, “An official who examines books, plays, news reports, motion pictures, radio and television programs, letters, cablegrams, etc., for the purpose of suppressing parts deemed objectionable on moral, political, military, or other grounds.”

If we apply the definition to the Beck boycott, it is clear that Beck is not being censored. He still has his FNC program, and he is still saying whatever he wants. Glenn Beck is free to pursue his First Amendment rights, just as his advertisers are free to not advertise on his show if they find his speech objectionable. These conservatives don’t understand the free market. Advertisers are free to spend their dollars wherever they wish. They don’t have to advertise on Beck’s show.

It is ridiculous to even entertain the notion that Obama has the time, energy, or desire to carry out a conspiracy against Glenn Beck. Obama has nothing to worry about from Beck. His 2 million viewers despise the president and would never support him in a million years. Beck is nothing compared to the President of the United States.

The reality is that outside of the Cult of Glenn, Beck’s comments about President Obama being a racist were either considered offensive or insane. Beck’s race baiting terrified advertisers and they are fleeing his show in droves. This has nothing to do with Obama, and everything to do with the type of politics that Beck has been engaging in.

Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

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Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association