Beck  producer: "To most rational people," Beck's CA  wildfire 
 
Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2007 19:03:05 -0400

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<p><b>Beck  producer: "To most rational people," Beck's CA  wildfire	comments
not uncivil </b></p>
<p><a href="http://mediamatters.org/items/200710230011?src=item200710230011">http://mediamatters.org/items/200710230011</a></p>

<p>An October 23 <a href="http://mediamatters.org/rd?src=item200710230011&to=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.usatoday.com%2Fondeadline%2F2007%2F10%2Fradio-host-says.html" title="http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/10/radio-host-says.html">post</a> at <i>USA Today</i>&#39;s On Deadline blog highlighted 
nationally syndicated radio host Glenn Beck&#39;s statement -- <a href="http://mediamatters.org/items/200710220003?src=item200710230011" title="http://mediamatters.org/items/200710220003">documented</a> by <i>Media Matters for America</i> -- concerning 
the Southern California wildfires that "I think there is a handful of people who 
hate America. Unfortunately for them, a 
lot of them are losing their homes in a forest fire today." The entry also noted 
that Chris Balfe, the producer of Beck&#39;s radio program, "expressed surprise that 
bloggers are seizing on this quotation as an example of incivility." On Deadline 
quoted Balfe saying: "To most rational people, unfortunately still means 
unfortunately." The On Deadline entry gave no indication that Balfe addressed 
Beck&#39;s statement linking the "handful of 
people who hate America" and 
the destruction of homes by the California wildfires. 
</p>

<p>According to CNN, the 
evacuation triggered by the fires is the largest evacuation forced by a natural 
disaster since hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. 
</p>

<p>From the October 23 On 
Deadline entry:</p><blockquote>

<p>Conservative talker 
Glenn Beck is under fire today for comments he made about some of the victims of 
the southern California wildfires during yesterday&#39;s 
edition of <i>The Glenn Beck 
Program</i>.</p>

<p>Media 
Matters for America, a liberal watchdog group, recorded Beck making the comment 
on his radio show during a lengthy monologue about the importance of coming 
together as one nation, with the understanding that: <i>We all love America. We all love America. We just disagree on how we 
should function, what we should do, big government, small government. It doesn&#39;t 
mean you hate America. I think there is a handful 
of people who hate America. Unfortunately for them, a 
lot of them are losing their homes in a forest fire today. There are a few 
people that hate America. But I don&#39;t think the 
Democrats are those. I think there are those posing as Democrats that are like 
that.</i></p>

<p>In 
addition to the radio program, Beck hosts a prime-time TV show on CNN&#39;s Headline 
News. We have requested comment from Beck and will update this posting if he 
gets back to us before the end of the day.</p>

<p><b>Update 
at 10:17 a.m. ET: A spokesman for Beck expressed surprise that bloggers 
are seizing on this quotation as an example of incivility. "To most rational 
people, unfortunately still means unfortunately," Chris Balfe, the show&#39;s 
producer, tells On Deadline through a 
spokesman.</b></p></blockquote><table width="100%" style="background: #e8e8e8; 
border: 1px solid  #ffffff; font-size: 80%" cellpadding="1">
<tr>
<td style="border-right: 1px solid  #ffffff;" 
width="40%">
</b> Contact: <br />
<b>Glenn Beck</b></td>
<td valign="top"><a href="mailto:me@glennbeck.com">Glenn Beck</a></td>
</tr>
</table>
<table width="100%" style="background: #e8e8e8; 
border: 1px solid  #ffffff; font-size: 80%" cellpadding="1">
<tr>
<td style="border-right: 1px solid  #ffffff;" 
width="40%">
</b> Contact: <br />
<b>Glenn Beck Program</b></td>
<td valign="top"><a href="mailto:me@glennbeck.com">Glenn Beck Program</a></td>
</tr>
</table>



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