Glenn Beck - he has one of the highest-rated shows on the top cable news network. He's had a number of bestselling books and he's called attention to some unsavory characters working in the Obama administration. Yet - he's somehow considered to be a risky business decision for the powers in charge at Fox News.
On CNN's Nov. 29 "Reliable Sources," host Howard Kurtz pointed out Glenn Beck accusing Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., of "hooking" for the so-called $300 million "Louisiana Purchase" provision of the health care bill.
"He's talking there about Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu, who did get a provision in order to get her support for breaking the filibuster on the health care bill - $300 million for Louisiana," Kurtz said. "He said she was ‘hooking,' basically called her a prostitute."
Kurtz compared the reaction on Fox News back in October to Rep. Alan Grayson's, D-Fla., use of the word "whore" to describe a lobbyist. He asked two of his guests, liberal radio show host Bill Press and National Review's Jim Geraghty if Fox News personalities were engaged in some sort of double standard for not calling Beck out.
"Bill Press, I didn't hear anyone else on Fox News criticizing Glenn Beck for essentially calling Mary Landrieu a prostitute," Kurtz said.
Press' response: Glenn Beck is hazardous for the TV airwaves.
"I have to tell you, look, I'm a talk show host," Press said. "I am totally for talk show hosts almost getting away with almost anything they, on the radio particularly. But I'm amazed how much Fox News lets Glenn Beck get away with. I think he is a ticking time bomb and one day he's going to explode in the face of Roger Ailes and they're going to be sorry they gave him that television show."
Geraghty, a regular contributor to National Review Online disagreed with the opinion that Beck should be held to the same standard as a sitting U.S. congressman when it comes to the question of decorum.
"Well, it's a little bit crass, but nobody elected Glenn Beck to Congress, yet," Geraghty said. "[I] think I expect more out of a member of Congress than the 5 p.m. hour of Fox News."
