Does Glenn Beck Even Know What Glenn Beck Says?

Posted by Eric Boehlert, Media Matters for America at 4:02 AM on June 17, 2009.

Or are there many Glenn Becks with nationally syndicated radio shows running around saying lots of different things, and that's what's causing the confusion?

Or maybe Beck can't stop making stuff up. (We're betting No. 2.)

From Beck's WashPost.com online chat:

During the Iraq War, for anyone who cares to know the truth, I was on the air chastising people that were saying that Hollywood should shut up or that if you have a different opinion you should shut up. I was of the opinion that there's nothing wrong with vigorous debate, what George Washington called the "battlefield of opinion."

Beck wants everyone to understand that during that very emotional time around the start of the Iraq War, Beck was one of the level-headed ones. Beck was asking for calm and urging dissenting voices to speak up to be heard. He wanted vigorous debate.

Riiight.

This is from April 23, 2003. Glenn Beck's website for his radio show posted the results of a listener poll which asked the question, "Who has hacked you off the most over the last 6 months." These were among the finalists, and remember, Beck now claims he was most definitely not saying that liberal celebrities should shut up about the war.

Dixie Chicks: Not necessarily the whole group, but definitely the fat butter hog that spoke out against Bush while in Europe only to say later that it was a joke, and then again later to say she stands behind what she said in the first place.

Martin Sheen: One of the more vocal members of 'Not in our Name'. Overall, he was just a big jackass.

Michael Moore: Where to begin.... Really, there is just way to much stuff to list.

Sheryl Crow: From "WAR IS NOT THE ANSWER" to "I DON'T BELIEVE IN YOUR WAR, MR. BUSH!" she proved herself to be just another loud and annoying Hollywood type.

Susan Sarandon: No description required

That was from Glenn Beck's website. But today Beck has a much more pleasing tale to tell. Today, we're told that back in 2003 Glenn was pushing for vigorous debate and was defending Hollywood celebrities and their right to speak out against the war.

Tagged as: war, bush, iraq, hollywood, obama, conservatives, glenn beck, michael moore, sheryl crow, right-wing media, martin sheen