MEDIA MATTERS INVITES BECK TO CALL ITS RED PHONE

An interesting little development that might warrant Glenn Beck taking a look to avoid the hypocrisy label or at least being perceived as being guilty of the same thing he accuses the White House of doing - ignoring his claims. Media Matters, led by John Podesta, has send Glenn Beck a letter and installed a "red phone" specifically for Beck to call so that he can set the record straight on his claims and clear up any discrepancies between those claims and Media Matters' "facts".

Yes, Media Matters is a shameless arm of left wing apparatus but if Beck doesn't call them, president of Media Matters, Eric Burns will be able to demonstrate, if at least to some degree, that Beck's ignoring them makes him no different than those he accuses.

Burns gets credit for an interesting tactic but it is just that and nothing more. If Beck responds, it derails him from his agenda (even if only slightly). If he doesn't respond, Burns can paint begin the assembly of his talking points - Beck won't do what he expects others to do.

Here is some of the letter to Beck:

January 5, 2010

Mr. Beck,

On October 13, you unveiled a “red phone” that the White House could use to call in and “correct the mistakes” on your show. On Monday, that red phone made another appearance, as you – responding to Media Matters naming you 2009’s Misinformer of the Year – again asserted your commitment to the truth:

If I’m not telling the truth, then why not just call me? That’s all you have to do. Call. Why is it that you attack this program, this network and anyone, the tea party goers, anyone who stands in your way, Washington? Why attack? You see, lies are so easily stopped. Lies that are broadcast nightly to an entire nation are easily stopped. They’re called laws — or here’s an idea, standards. Even if you think I’m wildly irresponsible, you have to know that News Corp. is not stupid. It’s a company worth billions of dollars. Do you really think this corporation would risk everything on an irresponsible crazy guy? That doesn’t make sense. And yet, the phone still doesn’t ring. Truth.

While we do not have the number for your red phone, we have on many occasions corrected falsehoods and misinformation from Fox News’ Glenn Beck and Premiere Radio Network’s The Glenn Beck Program – you simply refuse to acknowledge it. You claimed our decision to name you 2009’s “Misinformer of the Year” was not backed up “with any facts.” However, that decision was based on the 175 research items we posted in 2009 alone addressing claims made on your radio and television shows. For example:

To read the examples cited by Burns, click HERE. Personally, I found most of them not related to Beck's most central points and more about attempting to beat Beck at his own game by using sheer volume.

Interesting tactic but Burns' attempt falls very flat. For example, this one:

Beck falsely claimed Anita Dunn “worships” “her hero” Mao Zedong. Throughout most of his October 15 Fox News program, Glenn Beck falsely claimed that White House communications director Anita Dunn “worships” and “idolizes” “her hero” Mao Zedong. In fact, in the video that Beck aired as evidence to support his claims, Dunn offered no endorsement of Mao’s ideology or atrocities — rather, she commented that Mao and Mother Teresa were two of her “favorite political philosophers,” and based on short quotes from them, she offered the advice that “you don’t have to follow other people’s choices and paths” or “let external definition define how good you are internally.”

Burns apparently doesn't get it that defending someone for having a "favorite political philosopher" on par with Hitler is generally not a good idea. Nonetheless, Burns goes there.

This was a very lame attempt on Burns' part but I'll give him credit for creativity.

That said, Beck should call the phone during his live television show and respond to at least a few of the points Media Matters lists. This would embarrass Media Matters and allow Beck to demonstrate that he's willing to walk the walk by doing what he's challenging the White House to do. It would set a tremendous example in the arena of public perception of how Beck is willing to stand by his own claims and simply expects the White House to do the same.

For the whole thing, visit MEDIAITE