On his TV show Friday, Glenn Beck explored the Tea Party movement, bringing together representatives of the various tea party organizations.
Joining Glenn on the set were Mark Skoda, Nat’l Tea Party Federation; Jenny Beth Martin of Tea Party Patriots; economist Matt Kibbe of Freedom Works; and Yvonne Donnelly, national chair of 9-12 Project. Amy Kremer of Tea Party Express joined by phone later in the program.
The show opened with Glenn at the chalkboard illustrating a 1970s Leftist map depicting the eight various stages of social movements. Glenn pointed to Stage #5 — Perception of Failure — a sense of powerlessness, an identity crisis, saying that is where the Tea Party movement is right now.
Beck compared what’s happening within the movement to the pre-revolution colonies, and 18th century minister George Whitefield’s attempts to bring the 13 colonies together — they didn’t much like each other, were quite independent and separate entities that preferred to stay that way.
Glenn asked “Are we (Tea Party movement) at a crucial point? Absolutely.”
Glenn said, “It’s not about politics, but some of you have endorsed candidates or gotten rid of others?”
Tea Party Express chairman Amy Kremer joined the discussion from a remote location in Alaska for a brief telephone “appearance”, during which she was placed in the unenviable position of having to defend former TPX Chairman Mark Williams’ recent comments.
Amy Kremer was introduced and asked by Glenn about Mark Williams’ statements about the Muslims, the President, and the NAACP.
“Do you reject those statements and those ideas?” Glenn asked her.
And instead of seizing the opportunity to be a “George Whitefield”, Glenn threw in with them. So much for Tea Party unity.
Of note: The Tea Party Express is preparing to launch its 4th national tour, unofficially titled Tea Party Express Tour IV – “Liberty at the Bailout Box”.
I watched the show , and was disappointed .
I think what will dilute the success quicker than anything is when righteous behavior is allowed to be the center of the debate . and that goes for the host of the show as well …..
Not having heard or seen the event puts one at a disadvantage. But it appears that Beck just plays the same leftist tune of putting people on the spot to respond to the usual charges. What’s the point of pressuring those whose views and positions you supposedly support and making them as uncomfortable as the general media does?
I don’t know the “leadership” of the Tea Party Express, but I DO know a lot of the people that give their hearts and souls to the movement through the organization. All I can say is what a shameful division and rift after so many have given their time, heart and soul to making a difference.
Chrissy — It’s what happens when hungry egos seek relevance. Power grabs ensue. The “performance” by the self-righteous on that set illustrates it perfectly. Exactly who appointed these people the “leaders” of a grassroots movement? They themselves did. It’s their 15-minute claim to fame.
And Beck walked right into it, just like he did when he was initially taken in by ACORN’s Bertha Lewis. Glenn sometimes jumps in when instead he should stand back and observe with a questioning eye and ask “what is the motive of these people and how credible are they?”
He’s two for two. Let’s hope he doesn’t strike out…
I disagree. The Tea Party Express missed an opportunity to do the right thing here. Ms. Kremer should have firmly distanced the TPE from Williams’ statements and thoroughly condemned them. Instead, she made half-baked excuses. Additionally, by letting him resign instead of booting him out solidly, they chose to “not throw a conservative under the bus” instead of showing beyond any doubt that they condemn the idiotic racist statements Williams’ made. The only way for the TPE to completely shed the filth from Williams’ ridiculous behavior now is to cut Kremer loose as well. If they are smart, they’ll boot her, affirm that racist comments are completely unacceptable, and move on. Anything else is bad for the Tea Party movement at large… which is why the TPE has been shunned by the rest of that growing community.
That’s what I like — a spirit of unity. Get off my page, ya big dope!
You can’t have unity with someone who wants to repeal the 13th & 14th ammendments… at least not if you believe that “All mean are created equal.” And you can’t have unity with an organization that doesn’t condemn that view. Kremer didn’t condemn that view. She was more concerned with a fellow conservative saving face (how’s that for sefl-righteousness?) than doing the right thing for the movement. It’s the movement that deservs loyalty – not some half-wit biggot.
@big dope comment: So much for intellectual conversation.
Chris is right, Kremer folded on her defense of williams. It was pathetic, Williams made racist comments and he’s out.
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Thank you. Now if I could figure out how to add a blogroll to this WordPress site, I’d reciprocate in kind!
What a shame. I thought GB would try to bring TP and TPX together, not make the gap bigger. I thought Jenny Beth Martin would also try to help TPX out of the hole they had dug, they all missed a big chance to bring the movement together.
TPX needs to do some deep soul searching.
This isn’t the first time Beck has decied to “shed light” on those that appear to be fighting for the same cause, and then add to the division of people. It really flys in the face of his “let’s find those things we can agree on and move on from there”. I used to be an avid listener of his both radio and tv but something about him isn’t right and though I still listen when I can I temper what I am hearing. Beck is NOT perfect and DOES NOT HAVE THE PERFECT insight into what is going on. He is making a judgement or assessment based on some facts and History as he understands it. YOU MUST factor in his foundation, his perspective and his JOB and his PAY and then draw your own conclusions. THINK…isn’t that what he says?
IT IS DANGEROUS TO BELIEVE THAT EVERYTHING THAT COMES OUT OF HIS MOUTH IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT!
I think Beck offers a lot of food for thought BUT I don’t necessarily believe his direction is always right on. America has lived over 200 years of basically self governing and the people have in their DNA as they say FREEDOM and I don’t think the American people are going to roll over and do whatever a small group of people say…on the other hand it doesn’t take much to make a serious change with the right people in place…I have more confidence in the American people, their values, their strengths, their fortitude and their fighting spirit!