Beck Accuses Politico of Lying Over Disagreement with Palin, Demands Apology

Has anyone noticed a leftward tilt by Politico lately? More and more, the respected inside-the-beltway publication seems to be more aggressive in its tack with conservatives.

Here’s one such example: In the Oct. 21 issue of Politico, an article written by Jonathan Martin attacks former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for her political activities and her dealings with other conservative leaders. One of Martin’s examples of Palin “wreaking havoc on the campaign trail” involved a disagreement with Fox News host Glenn Beck:

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According to a source familiar with the situation, she backed out of planned interviews with conservative talk-show hosts Sean Hannity and Mark Levin the morning she was scheduled to talk to them. And her multiple schedule changes so annoyed Glenn Beck that he finally decided not to have her on his radio or TV show to promote the book:

“These are people who support her,” said a frustrated source who knew about Palin’s treatment of the conservative talkers. “Her whole world is chaos.”

However, this drew the ire of Beck. He used this as example of the failings of journalism on his Oct. 21 program.

“I used to believe people in this business,” Beck said. “I don't anymore, I don’t. I don't say this because I work here. I say it because it's true. It's the only network I trust. I mean, you watch everything else, you read anything else? This is from the Politico. This is about Sarah Palin. ‘Hurricane Sarah.’ I read this on the way in the studio today. ‘According to a source familiar with the situation, after her multiple schedule changes so annoyed Glenn Beck that he finally decided not to have her on his radio or TV show to promote the book.’ I saw that and I looked at one of my guys and I said, ‘What book?’”

And according to the Fox News host, it’s all a fabrication. He claimed to his audience that there was no disagreement between him and Palin. And he also added he trusted his staff.

“This is a lie,” Beck continued. “This is an out-and-out lie. Sarah Palin and I don't have problems with each other. We're practically pen pals. There is no problem. None. Where do they get this? They didn't talk to anybody on my staff. You know how I know? Because my staff and I get along. We like each other. We don't knife each other in the back. We're decent people.”

Beck then asked one of his staff members if there was any truth to it, and she replied, “Not one ounce.” Based on her replied, Beck demanded an apology and retraction from Politico.

“Not one ounce. Politico, I demand an apology and a retraction. Or name names ‘close to the situation.’ Close to the situation? Where? In East Germany? It's trash. Sarah, I have to tell you – I don't know how you do it. I don't. I really don't. I know why you do it, because you believe. But jeez, man, there you are. … Here you are, up in Alaska practically getting eaten by bears and you're like – ‘Are you kidding? C'mon, grizzly. C'mon! I dealt with The New York Times this week.’”

And these attacks on Palin based on unnamed source about her dealings with Glenn Beck made Beck question what is going on in the United States.

“It's trash,” Beck said. “How are you going to repair a country when you can't believe what anybody says? I never ever thought – I mean, I don’t know what’s happened to our country, I really don’t.”