Dana Milbank Says Glenn Beck Is Dangerous

Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank on Sunday said conservative commentator Glenn Beck is dangerous.

Discussing his new book about Beck with Howard Kurtz on CNN's "Reliable Sources," Milbank said, "When a man is frequently talking about Hitler and Nazis, and then you see the Tea Party rally with the same quotations of Tea Parties and Nazis... you have to say, where does all this come from and why is it suddenly out in the open?" 

This came moments after Milbank stated, "While you can't be blamed for any individual act, it is evidence that he is disseminating a very dangerous doctrine."

When Kurtz questioned him about whether or not he really believes this, Milbank responded, "I think it's been manifestly true that he's dangerous" (video follows with transcript and commentary):  

HOWARD KURTZ, HOST: OK. Well, you talk about going too far, and maybe this is related to this.

There was a 2009 murder in Pittsburgh, and allegedly committed by a guy who believes that the New World Order and government are plotting against our citizens. You say in the book, "It goes a bit too far to blame Glenn Beck for this, but Beck's words are inspiring the fringe."

Now, isn't that guilt by association?

DANA MILBANK, WASHINGTON POST: Well, except that the people who are committing these acts often mentioned Glenn Beck themselves. We had another case of a guy shooting at the cops out in San Francisco, attempted to blow up the Tides Foundation, which was mentioned on Beck's show.

KURTZ: But what if somebody committed a violent act and said, you know, I read Dana Milbank's columns and I really think -- I'm --

(CROSSTALK)

MILBANK: That's why I say it goes too far to hold him responsible for that. But when you have a guy who's taking, as the Anti-Defamation League says, these fringe conspiracy theories and giving them an audience of, I don't know, 10 million people a week on the radio, nearly three million a night on Fox News, you're elevating something that has always been on the fringe in American politics and putting it front and center. So while you can't be blamed for any individual act, it is evidence that he is disseminating a very dangerous doctrine.

KURTZ: You think he's dangerous?

MILBANK: Well, I think it's been manifestly true that he's dangerous, but he's very powerful as well. 

KURTZ: You haven't proven that he's dangerous. You've proven that -- you've argued that he says a lot of things that you don't like.

MILBANK: Well, and when a man is frequently talking about Hitler and Nazis, and then you see the Tea Party rally with the same quotations of Tea Parties and Nazis, the one-world government, the United Nations taking over civilization, posters of Dachau, you have to say, where does all this come from and why is it suddenly out in the open?

So, yes, that's why I think it's dangerous.

KURTZ: So you mentioned his big audience. I mean, he gets a huge number in the afternoon on Fox, radio audience. So what makes him so popular? What do you make of the people who tune in for inspiration?

MILBANK: I think it is just that. I mean, in a country of 310 million people, two million watching him is not a huge number. But it's a huge number -- a small number of very passionate followers.

Now, I mean, I think some of this is he very cleverly speaks to -- he's a Mormon, very cleverly speaks in terms of Mormon prophesy and conspiracy theories. I think that generates some of his audience. And some of it is also out of fear.

He talks about the world is ending. People advertise for vegetable seeds on his show so you can keep it in a locked box, and when the apocalypse comes, you can plant it and grow vegetables in your back yard. He's pushing gold coins. So, his audience is very frightened people who really think the end is coming.

Something fascinating here is that earlier in this segment, Milbank said that Beck has changed his views on many issues over the years, and as a result, it's difficult to know whether he believes what he's saying or is just good at branding and marketing himself.

Makes you wonder if Milbank was projecting a bit: does he really believe Beck is dangerous? Or does writing a book about it, and going on television shows saying it, ensure sales of said book.

Maybe Milbank is the one presenting a falsehood for financial reasons. 

After all, the book comes out Tuesday.  

Hmmm.