Fox News Channel host Glenn Beck has already shown he's a rating success and is leaving a mark in cable news. However, he may have pulled one of his most successful performances yet.
Beck interviewed Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal on his March 30 broadcast. But, the radio and TV host took the opportunity to tell Blumenthal what he thought of his investigation into the bonuses received by American International Group (AIG) executives - whose company received federal bailout money.
"Look, you know what you have done, know what you have done?" Beck said. "You have - you are an insult to George Washington, sir. George Washington made it very clear that we are a respecter of laws, not of men. For your own political gain, you have decided to go after these people at AIG because it is a popular thing."
Beck pressed on, demanding to know what law the AIG executives broke that warranted Blumenthal's involvement.
"And while I may agree with you that it is obscene, I would like to know, is not what's right as a rule of thumb - not what makes us feel good," Beck continued. "You, sir, are to protect people and, and to stand for the law in Connecticut, so, again, I ask you, sir - what law gave you the right to go after them? What law did they break?"
Blumenthal claimed the AIG executives were "undeserving" of the bonuses. Blumenthal also pointed out the bonuses paid out were to increase next year. However, Beck pressed Blumenthal on the legality of that and Blumenthal came up blank in this exchange:
BECK: Is that against the law?
BLUMENTHAL: Well, it is against public policy. And it is unsanctioned by law.
BECK: Is that against the law?
BLUMENTHAL: It should be against the law.
BECK: Is it against the law?
BLUMENTHAL: It's against the public policy and against the taxpayer...In my view it is unrequired by law.
BECK: It is a yes or no question. Counselor, it is a yes or no question. Is it against the law?
BLUMENTHAL: It is not against the law and I have never said that it is against the law, and I have never said that we would bring an action.
BECK: Then you know what you should do? You should enforce the law. You shouldn't use your bully pulpit to gain popularity.
After another exchange over Blumenthal's behavior, Beck likened Blumenthal and New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to a "vampire," accusing him of capitalizes on a populist sentiment.
"You are twisting it," Beck said. "It has everything to do with the excuse that AIG used to say we had to do that. And you're exactly right - it has nothing to do with that. But that has nothing to do with the little vampire fangs that you all of a sudden sprouted and tried to grab on to - to make yourself, you and Andrew Cuomo, tried to make yourselves the king of the world, and look at me - I'm the savior here. I'm going to help everybody, the little people. All you're doing is trying to make yourself look good in a populist move. I think it's wrong."
Beck's broadcast style has drawn a lot of attention since he made the move from CNN Headline News to Fox News earlier this year. He was featured in a front-page article in the March 30 New York Times that examined his sudden rise in popularity.
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Comments Policy
You know we are in deep deep doodoo
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 19:40 ET by 10ksnookerWhen the Conn AG says the law is "because they don't deserve it".
I assume the laws of men, not the government of man does not apply to the AG? He really looked stupid.
Are you surprised?
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 21:06 ET by WorriedHe's a Democrat.
In Fact...
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 09:43 ET by Wildcatter1980...he is a member of the political class.
As Beck rightly pointed out, Blumenthal is exploiting the AIG situation in a populist move for his own personal benefit. This is the same thing as what all those D.C Democrats and Republicans--those who railed against AIG--did last week.
But, what is troublesome is that so few of us are expressing concern about the intimidation tactics of Blumenthal, Cuomo and others in the political class to silence even legitimate dissent. Again, as Beck pointed out, Blumenthal did nothing of any consequence to quell the awful protests, threats and intimidation of the families of AIG employees.
--
We already have term limits. They are called elections. We can & should vote out those who do not represent & serve us! - Me
The Last One
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 07:58 ET by BeanManThis AG will be among the last of the high level democrats to appear on Beck's show unfortunately.
Since government is coercion, politics is largely the exercise of deception regarding the intended use of coercion - George Orwell
Beck melted this guy into a
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 19:40 ET by d1carterBeck melted this guy into a puddle of goo...
THE FUSION OF ENTERTAINMENT & ENLIGHTENMENT...
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 01:29 ET by danybhoyGlenn Beck has sevral things going for him...
1.He is viewed as a wild & whacky guy, he puts himself out there. He laughs, he cries, he uses props to make examples, & he is real...
2.He is totally an "outside of the box" guy, because he is self educated, & because of that, he comes at issues from angles that "well conected MSM types" don't even think to...
3.He is considered an "entertainer" since he is a former DJ turned radio talker, & he calls himself a "rodeo clown"...
4.Some try to dismiss Beck because of his past drug use & that he is LDS...
And because of the things I listed, & other things I had'nt thought of, some don't take him seriously. The ConnAttGeneral shows up & figures how tough of a venue can it be with THIS BECK GUY? He is smarter then he gives himself credit for(at least he will never say he is a brainiac), but he usually crushes people when he is in an arguement. That is because unlike most lib in the MSM, his (radio)job has to engage & to debate callers & guests on his show, he just does that now on TV- like Hannity & O'Reilly. Beck is just a bit unconventional in his delivery, which is what makes his show fun compaired to anyone else in cablenews.
The fact that he is crushing Matthews, Shuster, BathTubBoy, Mancow, & the rest of MSNBC, as well as his old haunt at CNN/CNNheadline, is the funniest thing. Plus, he has just picked up by WOR in NYC on the radio side, & is kicking the @$$ of his WABC compitition...MSNBC's own Joe n' Mika. I'm loving that.
"The Fairness Doctrine = Jim Crow laws for Conservatives". Jim Quinn from "Quinn & Rose"
→ Conn AG beatdown
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 20:01 ET by Cool ArrowThat Atty General reminded me very much of a character with a sign on his back who creates a new thread in FORUM every day, then bends over hoping people will plant their steel-toed boots in his backside.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
§ BECK Destroyed Blumenthal !!!
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 20:04 ET by TheSterWOW!!
I saw it...did the Rewind...saw it AGAIN!!
WATCH THE VIDEO LINK!!!
OMO!!
Ster.
My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives.
Ouch, this was painful to
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 20:07 ET by USA4freedomOuch, this was painful to watch.. so I tivo-ed it and played it 3 times.
Get em, Glenn!
Even though he is quite goofy, I like him. He has hit a nerve with all of us that see this country going down the tube.
Ronald Reagan, 1962: I did not leave the Democratic party, the party left me.
Insert: your name, 2008, and the Republican party.
→ Me too USA
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 20:09 ET by Cool ArrowI DVR Cavuto and Beck, among others.
Those two I definitely watch first.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE!
That Was Awsome!
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 20:25 ET by HeavyChevy'nuff said!
glen beck
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 20:09 ET by larry on LIreduced the conn. aj to the level of the village idiot that he is.
I saw part of this and
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 20:24 ET by RD Kingthis so - called attorney could not name a law or any 1/2 law that would back up his stance, but with osama obama in command you don't need any, it's wing it and damn the torpedoes. This my friends is not America, it is maobamalalaland.
Troubling!
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 10:00 ET by Wildcatter1980This is what is quite troubling. If we had a--ahem--responsible news media in our country, I would think we'd be seeing nothing but headlines about how Blumenthal and Cuomo have no legal standing to go after the AIG employees. Most pundits would be calling for special prosecutors to seek evidence of prosecutorial misconduct on the part of these Attorneys General.
Of course, we would also be seeing big, bold headlines about how the D.C. politicians knew and approved the AIG bonuses not to mention the hard-hitting reporting we should be seeing on how the government is way out of bounds from its Constitutionally-bound authority.
--
We already have term limits. They are called elections. We can & should vote out those who do not represent & serve us! - Me
Watched this and was CHEERING Glenn on! The AG
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 20:30 ET by Cape Conservativecouldn't stop himself from righteously expressing his "feelings" - they "don't deserve the money" - NEVER ONCE coming up with a LAW giving him the authority to demand the return of these monies owed the executives - by contract!
The AG failed miserably in presenting his reasons for either the bonus return demand or the lax protection of CONNECTICUT CITIZENS from the threatening mobs brought to the homes of AIG employees by the likes of ACORN and other 'community organizers'!
This is unconstitutional - as is the firing of the GM CEO! President Obama appears to be riding an out-of-control stallion toward socialism, inciting class warfare along the way. He had better 'hope' he doesn't lose control of that horse!
It is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue. ~ Sam Adams
Cape Conservative...
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 20:52 ET by dborschjr68"He had better 'hope' he doesn't lose control of that horse!"
I'm not only hoping he does, I'm also counting on it.
------------------------------------------------
Brace yourselves for the backlash of your ignorance, liberal puppets.
Exactly Cape
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 21:05 ET by RESTLESS 1Throughout the whole video I was thinking "shouldn't the AG be defending the rights of all citizens, even the unpopular ones?". The law is the law and can only be changed in a handful of ways. It is this idiot's duty to uphold it, whether it is popular or not. That is what a MAN, (or a good woMAN :)) would do.
(PS, I mean no disrespect to our fine female posters here. They know what I mean)
"This
liberal would be all about socialize -- uh, uh, would be about
basically taking over and the government running all of your companies."-Maxine Waters 2008
Glad you agree, Restless
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 18:37 ET by Cape ConservativePS This is one woman who takes NO offense to such silliness! Man / woman not an issue - vive la difference! Only those insecure with themselves jump and scream - and I think you can determine from my postings that I don't fall in that category ;-)
It is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue. ~ Sam Adams
Dictatorship
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 20:31 ET by nadadhimmiBy what right or law did the "savior" fire the chairman of GM? These dems and rino's think they are the new rulers of Soviet Amerika. These Oligarchs will learn a harsh lesson soon. There is a revolution brewing in this country and they are to f#cking stupid to perceive it. When middle age Dr's and union members alike talk of revolution by the average people, the polititians had better well be scared. I predict when the feds try to confiscate the guns and ammunition from the homes of the people, it will set off a 2nd revolution just as the redcoats set off the first. Enough is just about enough of this socialist bullshit. The real problem will occur in 2012 when the vote count is rigged by Obama just as Chavez rigged it in HIS shithole country. The irony is, Obama may very well NOT be a natural born citizen, and the revolution will in fact be a restoration of the Constitution.
Good for Glenn
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 20:53 ET by general companyBECK: Then you know what you should do? You should enforce the law. You shouldn't use your bully pulpit to gain popularity.
They are only screaming about this to hide their own failures. It's not just the Law, it is also the fact that they use to vilify privet citizens. The posturing is probably influencing business as well. These folks are incompetent.
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Both Blumenthal & Cuomo should both be disbarred
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 21:08 ET by R D HelmThey are there to enforce the law, not violate the Constitution, as both have blatantly done in the case of the AIG bonuses.
-Dave
This coup has gone on long enough. The time to put it down is NOW.
The man should write an Almanac.
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 21:56 ET by Mike BrattonPoor Richard Blumenthal, that is.
Obviously, he's not qualified to be involved in law enforcement at any level, much less as a state's Attorney General.
Pull a Wagoner, Richard. Resign, effective immediately.
--Mike
www.thebrattonreport.com
Dear Bill O
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 21:59 ET by MANstreammediaThis is how it's done. This is how you should have handled Barney Frank.
Investigate the AG
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 22:01 ET by TN MomBECK: Is that against the law?
BLUMENTHAL: It should be against the law.
BECK: Is it against the law?
Best Interview Ever! I watched this today and immediately jumped up to email Beck a quick thanks for asking (& re-asking!) the tough questions to Connicut Atty. General Blumenthal.
Democrat Blumenthal has over-stepped the bounds of his office.
Did anyone else get a chill down the spine when they said...
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 22:20 ET by xcor057BECK: Is that against the law?
BLUMENTHAL: Well, it is against public policy. And it is unsanctioned by law.
The constitution places restrictions on government. The law places restrictions on human behavior. That Libs now in charge believe they must sanction our behavior before it is legal is absolutely frightning.
Classic
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 22:38 ET by CaringwhiteguySome of the best TV I've seen in quite a while. Too bad more people haven't stood and faced down this hypocritical fraud.
Anger of the people! Few get it yet
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 22:53 ET by jefflebowskiWashington elected politicians (not leaders) get it. Very few conservative radio hosts get it. The taxpaying, middle class conservatives are fighting mad. When has this group EVER taken to the streets like what is about to happen on April 15th?
The conservative sleeping giant is awake and hungry. Know what he eats? RINOs and big spending liberals!
Angry White Dude
www.angrywhitedude.com
Right on, brother!
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 23:02 ET by SlyrrWay to go Glenn - stick it to those communist hypocrites! In a roundabout way, he exposed this guy as a lawbreaker. He used his position to persecute people who had NOT broken the law. Blumenthol-yptus should be thrown in jail. Maybe he should have an angry mob whipped up and planted in HIS front yard so he knows exactly how it feels.
Then maybe, just MAYBE he'll think twice before he does it to anyone else.
Go get em Glenn
Mon, 03/30/2009 - 23:55 ET by DelsaThese people had contracts with a company. Those contracts included bonuses. Those bonuses should have been paid out per contract!
End of story. I am so sick of these people.
Why don't they go after the heads of unions this way?
The heads of companies loose their jobs and the union heads???
Stay out of it AG of NY an Conn.
Bravo Beck
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 00:06 ET by BarkerIt is high time to take the gloves off and engage in this bare-knuckled Fight for Freedom. Hit hard, hit often, and beat these sobs down to a bloody pulp. Arm yourself with the Constitution; Protect and Defend it against the Domestic Enemies of our day, until they, too, are thrown into the Harbor of History, like so much tea. *
*politically speaking, of course.....so don't shoot
Hear! Hear! Good job
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 00:25 ET by bigtimerHear! Hear!
Good job Beck!!!
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Nice
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 00:53 ET by RizzoNicely done Glen. Everyone should be grilling these people like this. Journalism is dead in this country. Nice to see someone has the stones to do it.
"It's against the
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 01:54 ET by zf"It's against the taxpayer."
First of all, if he was so convinced they didn't deserve the bonuses then the Demorats shouldn't have supported forking over any money to AIG in the first place. AIG deserves money, just as long as the money is not in the form of bonuses? Talk about being selective and a double standard. And the idea of the "bonuses" was as retention money, i.e. an incentive to keep people at AIG who otherwise whould have run away from this government created and fostered psuedo-private mutation of a company to stay on and try to keep it from tanking.
And second screwing and being against the taxpayer is the Demorats main policy so who is this clown to talk?
And third, the idea that the government will now dictate and arbitarily decide who is deserving of what is scary. Talk about enforcing your morality on others! Can we take away Blumenthals salary if the public feels he is underserving?
A contract is a contract, a deal is a deal, the government screwed up and unsavory or not, those "bonuses" are legal and binding. What does that do for contract law when it's okay to retroactively break an written agreement when you decide that even though it is legally binding, you just don't like the terms of the contract anymore?
Maybe if our "public servants" had actually read the freaking "stimulus" bill instead of playing Chicken Little and rushing it into law this situtation would never have happened.
Beck & the AG
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 05:30 ET by PShannonI watched this segment.
Beck ate this guy's lunch. The AG was completely unable to answer Beck's insistant question to cite the law.
The AG hemmed and hawwed and made crap up and it was obviously crap.
Well done
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 05:49 ET by kiwikitI watched this interview and it was particularly sharp because it started with Beck asking Blumenthau why he hadn't commented on activities of Chris Dodd and Blumenthau said that was beyond his pervue because it was a federal matter and his area included only the state. The AIG bonus makers not only didn't break a federal law they certainly didn't break any CT law but Blumenthau is just trying to make hay out of the populist hate for anyone making money at this time. What a opportunitistic creep he is!
"I watched this interview
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 09:02 ET by ckc1227"I watched this interview and it was particularly sharp because it
started with Beck asking Blumenthau why he hadn't commented on
activities of Chris Dodd and Blumenthau said that was beyond his pervue
because it was a federal matter and his area included only the state."
Funny how that line moves, considering the "bonuses" were paid with FEDERAL dollars?
Well done Mr. Beck. It won't
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 06:34 ET by msh1973Well done Mr. Beck. It won't be long before they come after Beck, Limbaugh, Hannity, Ingraham, Malkin and Levin to shut them up.
It Happened This Morning
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 07:02 ET by CaringwhiteguyWillie Geist and the entire Joe-led group of buffoons on MSNBC's Morning Joe (with special guest star Tina Brown) went after Beck with a vengence. The tactic was to demean Beck by using very short clips of Beck showing his emotions on air. Following the clips there were rounds of ridicule and hysterical laughter.
A fun time was had by all.
I missed that but tuned in
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 07:22 ET by SeashellI missed that but tuned in to the show later and heard that they had received a lot of angry emails defending Beck.
Saul Alinsky RFR
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 08:14 ET by FlyOverCountryGood catch on MSNBC. The morning agitators are using Saul Alinsky Rules For Radicals tactics...ridicule your opponent to deflect from the substance of the argument.
I see this everyday in the presstitutes quest to cover for SlimShady and his band of Community Agitators.
The difference.
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 08:29 ET by Mike BrattonConservatism is deep--based in facts, grounded in issues.
Modern liberalism is shallow--based in emotions, grounded in nothing.
That is the core of RFR: "We liberals, we radicals, have nothing of substance to work with, so we must resort to misdirection and character assassination."
--Mike
www.thebrattonreport.com
Here's Rule #5
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 09:08 ET by CaringwhiteguyNormal
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RULE 5: "Ridicule is man's most potent
weapon." There is no defense. It's irrational. It's infuriating. It also
works as a key pressure point to force the enemy into concessions.
Sorry for the gibberish above the rule, but the system won't let me edit it out. That stuff did not appear when I simply cut & pasted. I'll take it out if someone can tell me how.
Beck said. "You have -
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 07:04 ET by MidAmericaBeck said. "You have - you are an insult to George Washington, sir. George Washington made it very clear that we are a respecter of laws, not of men.
I was casually watching the show and fixing some munchies and when I heard Beck say that I stopped mid-munch and said to my wife "Did you hear that!?". After all these years of the 'New Tone' and McCain's "My Friend" it is so remarkable to hear someone say what we think.
I will drop...
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 08:25 ET by Mike Sargent...for a moment, my ability to express myself in clear, concise terms of the English language, just long enough to say:
PWWWWNNNNNED.
For those of you folks out there who don't know what I'm talking about, the term "pwned" refers to one individual's demonstration of superiorority over another's. For example, if Chuck Norris fought Pee-Wee Herman, the result would be that Herman would be "pwned."
That right there was Chuck Beck vs. Pee-Wee Blumenthal. PWNED.
BOOM! HEAD SHOT!
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 10:10 ET by aakaakaakThis was the first time I saw Beck on Fox. PWNT is an understatement. The AG had to fee some form of physical pain at the end of that interview. It was a rather painful, gut-wrenching, GLORIOUS AND AMAZING thing to watch. Beck has gained a viewer....
...I just hope he doesn't fall into the same Hannity-eque memes. Please, God, don't become another Sean Vanity.
Did anyone else notice
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 09:34 ET by jjkDid anyone else notice Blumenthal's eyes? Was he channelling Gilbert Gotfried?
And even as they
did not like to retain God in their knowledge,
God gave them over
to a reprobate mind,
Then they will be
called liberals!
Related to Sidney Blumenthal?
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 09:37 ET by TruthMattersThat guy looks similar to Sidney Blumenthal. Are they related? Obviously they are related idealogically, but are they biologically related?
He reminded me of Elliot Spitzer - shifty eyes and all!
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 18:42 ET by Cape ConservativeIt is no dishonor to be in a minority in the cause of liberty and virtue. ~ Sam Adams
Hey TruthM... I thank you
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 18:49 ET by bigtimerHey TruthM...
I thank you so much...when I watched that last night... I was thinking where or who does that leftist remind me of...and you did me a big favor, that is who I was thinking of...funny too, I just mentioned good ol' Sidney somewhere here in the past three days or so...I remember him well, he has been out of the spot-light for quite awhile now, last we heard about him he was arrested for speeding and a DUI wasn't it after Hill's primary in NH?
Anyway...He does fit the bill to a tee!
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
I saw this
Tue, 03/31/2009 - 18:23 ET by misterbee241All the AG could do is sit there grinning like a fool. Beck asked him several time what specific Connecticut law was broken. After all the ducking and weaving, it turns out no law was broken, but in the mind of the AG, these people did not serve the public interest and had to be prosecuted.
"I dont need to read a newspaper to know the world's been shaved by a drunken barber."
Walter Brennan, The Colonel, Meet John Doe, 1941