# Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor" rally will not be political (& other Tea Party nonsense) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 26, 2010, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517 "2010-08-26T11:13:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/121 "2010-08-28T20:01:27Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > Am I being ridiculous here? It just seems I’m seeing more and more racism and bigotry lately- justified through nationalism and not IMMEDIATELY shut down in polite society It boggles my mind. Well, it’s a little hard to call the rally itself racist and bigoted, given that it’s almost impossible to figure out what the point of the fucking thing is to begin with. Well, other than Beck and Palin stroking their monumental egos, that is. I mean, “restoring honor” is catchy enough and the poster art is pleasing in a 1930s WPA vein, but there appears to be little actual content, except for some vague platitudes about _Gott und Land_, and the ever-popular “supporting the troops”. OK, I will say that for someone who so often invokes echoes of the Third Reich in organizations he disagrees with, Beck seems awfully fond of huge rallies and snappy nationalistic imagery. In addition, in a couple of the video clips I’ve looked at, Beck seemed to be almost begging for someone to incite anti-rally violence today. Fairly disturbing, that. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/122 "2010-08-28T20:24:54Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Are you party to a lot of conversations where people say, “that Glenn Beck, he’s really looking out for America?” I’m from Bakersfield, California- not only is this area notoriously the most right leaning area in California, but I’ve read poli sci theories that focus entirely on this area as one of the most bizarre political anomalies in the whole country. So, suffice to say, it’s mighty conservative here. Hell, I live across the street from a city councilwoman who still has a garage full of pro Palin signs. I posted earlier on my FB about this rally (I know, I know) and was immediately attacked by a bunch of local folks, saying that Glenn Beck is a patriot and true American and how dare I suggest he is ignorant? What kind of liberal elitist am I? I have clients come into my office every day who talk about being active Tea Party members and how Obama has ruined our country, is a racist, etc. (whatever Beck and Co’s lines of the moment are). Am I pretending that my experience is typical of folks in other parts of the country? Of course not. This place I live is a particularly odd little niche. So, maybe that is coloring my perception of how rampant this movement is. I accept that. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/123 "2010-08-28T20:29:49Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > > [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > > > You know, the optimistic side wants to agree with you, but these people are _loud_ and it seems like they are growing more and more every day. Perhaps it’s just propaganda- I fully acknowledge that, but someone just told me half a million people marched at that Beck rally today. If that’s true. . . > > I went looking around for numbers and everything I’ve read seems to paint the rally as the peaceful “Yay America!” and “Yay Christianity!” fest that Beck said it would be. I know, I’m as shocked as you are. I don’t think anyone ever said it wouldn’t be peaceful. It’s ridiculous for Beck to say it isn’t _political_, though. Of course it is. The event has no coherent message or theme other than the usual “we hate Obama” bullshit. It’s giant, teabagger wankfest, just like they always are. They’ll get a moderate crowd because Palin draws morons like shit draws flies, but at the end of the day, it will amount to nothing, and do neither good nor harm. The only thing that will be accomplished at all is to give Beck some more media attention and money. Aren’t the righties starting to tire of these empty rallies, by the way? Aren’t they started to add up to a lot of time and expense to basically accomplish nothing but standing around holding misspelled signs along side people who agree with them for a couple hours? I think these events are going to start reaching a level of diminishing returns sooner or later. It’s not like they change anybody’s mind. Nobody goes to these teabagger things who didn’t already hate Obama in 2008. It’s not like they’re picking up any new converts or anything. It’s just the same bunch of retards it always was. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/124 "2010-08-28T20:41:36Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > > > Are you party to a lot of conversations where people say, “that Glenn Beck, he’s really looking out for America?” > > I’m from Bakersfield, California… You have my deepest sympathy. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/125 "2010-08-28T20:55:06Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > > [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > > > I’m from Bakersfield, California… > > You have my deepest sympathy. 😃 Thank you- your kind words give me strength :D. I moved in 3 days before the 2008 election. When I was moving my furniture, I saw the 10,000 Palin signs in the lady across the street’s yard. I literally said to my friend, “Even in Bakersfield, who the fuck has that many pro Palin signs? I’m sure even Sarah Palin doesn’t have that many pro Palin signs.” Then I met her and she’s the notoriously right wing city councilwoman (if you stand out as notoriously right wing around these parts. . . that says something!). Next election, I feel there’s going to be a war of signs. Epic war. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/126 "2010-08-28T21:07:44Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Aren’t the righties starting to tire of these empty rallies, by the way? Aren’t they started to add up to a lot of time and expense to basically accomplish nothing but standing around holding misspelled signs along side people who agree with them for a couple hours? Are you kidding? That’s a politician’s wet dream. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/127 "2010-08-28T21:31:14Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > I moved in 3 days before the 2008 election. When I was moving my furniture, I saw the 10,000 Palin signs in the lady across the street’s yard. I literally said to my friend, “Even in Bakersfield, who the fuck has that many pro Palin signs? I’m sure even Sarah Palin doesn’t have that many pro Palin signs.” Then I met her and she’s the notoriously right wing city councilwoman (if you stand out as notoriously right wing around these parts. . . that says something!). > > Next election, I feel there’s going to be a war of signs. Epic war. 😛 I’m seeing a business opportunity in the manufacturing of signs for both sides. 2012, Bakersfield, here I come!! ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/128 "2010-08-28T21:31:30Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > > > Does anyone here think that this rally will be as presented: a non-partisan, peaceful rally to celebrate American values? > > Conservatives have been trying for decades to force values into politics. Now one of them says he wants to keep politics out of his values? He’s being self-serving and disingenuous. Naw, he’s just redefining _politics_ to mean _other people’s politics._ Same way conservatives define _values_ as _our values._ ---
**Author:** ![Chicagojeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@Chicagojeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicagojeff)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/129 "2010-08-28T21:35:45Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > > [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > > > Aren’t the righties starting to tire of these empty rallies, by the way? Aren’t they started to add up to a lot of time and expense to basically accomplish nothing but standing around holding misspelled signs along side people who agree with them for a couple hours? > > Are you kidding? That’s a politician’s wet dream. Well just wait a few years.. When the repubs win back the White House (everything is cyclical) and they began the tax cut fuck the deficit piss on you call it trickle down all of my righty co-workers will once again began referring to themselves as Libertarians. What is the thing.. the tie the incident or threat that can actually make sensible people work together again? Not Beck.. that’s a clown show.. but sensible people? ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/130 "2010-08-28T21:48:01Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > > [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > > > I moved in 3 days before the 2008 election. When I was moving my furniture, I saw the 10,000 Palin signs in the lady across the street’s yard. I literally said to my friend, “Even in Bakersfield, who the fuck has that many pro Palin signs? I’m sure even Sarah Palin doesn’t have that many pro Palin signs.” Then I met her and she’s the notoriously right wing city councilwoman (if you stand out as notoriously right wing around these parts. . . that says something!). > > > > Next election, I feel there’s going to be a war of signs. Epic war. 😛 > > I’m seeing a business opportunity in the manufacturing of signs for both sides. 2012, Bakersfield, here I come!! Not worth it. Trust me. Not worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/131 "2010-08-28T21:48:53Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > > [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > > > I moved in 3 days before the 2008 election. When I was moving my furniture, I saw the 10,000 Palin signs in the lady across the street’s yard. I literally said to my friend, “Even in Bakersfield, who the fuck has that many pro Palin signs? I’m sure even Sarah Palin doesn’t have that many pro Palin signs.” Then I met her and she’s the notoriously right wing city councilwoman (if you stand out as notoriously right wing around these parts. . . that says something!). > > > > Next election, I feel there’s going to be a war of signs. Epic war. 😛 > > I’m seeing a business opportunity in the manufacturing of signs for both sides. 2012, Bakersfield, here I come!! And you’ll need a graphic designer and illustrator to create those signs. But I’ll telecommute, because I’ve been to Bakersfield. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/132 "2010-08-28T21:49:33Z")
So Rev. Sharpton and a few thousand others held a march later in the afternoon that went down to the future MLK memorial site. The route had them crossing paths with people still leaving the Beck rally. [ > [@AP](#): > > People wearing “Restoring Honor” and tea party T-shirts looked on as Sharpton’s group chanted “reclaim the dream” and “MLK, MLK.” Both sides were generally restrained, although there was some mutual taunting. > > One woman from the Beck rally shouted to the Sharpton marchers: “Go to church. Restore America with peace.” ]([http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US\_DC\_RALLY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-08-28-17-22-36](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_DC_RALLY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-08-28-17-22-36)) How do I make the :rolleyes: smiley louder? I got a kick out of the first sentence of that article, tho: > [@](#): > > **Conservative commentator Glenn Beck and tea party champion Sarah Palin appealed Saturday to a vast, predominantly white crowd** on the National Mall to help restore traditional American values and honor Martin Luther King’s message. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/133 "2010-08-28T22:27:10Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > > [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > > > I went looking around for numbers and everything I’ve read seems to paint the rally as the peaceful “Yay America!” and “Yay Christianity!” fest that Beck said it would be. I know, I’m as shocked as you are. > > I don’t think anyone ever said it wouldn’t be peaceful. It’s ridiculous for Beck to say it isn’t _political_, though. Of course it is. The event has no coherent message or theme other than the usual “we hate Obama” bullshit. It’s giant, teabagger wankfest, just like they always are. But that’s the thing. Every news report I’ve read really reinforced the notion that the rally was all about Beck’s “Yay America!” message. There were no politicians there and all of the quoted soundbites are people asking the crowd to make America a better place. For once, he wasn’t bullshitting us. That’s twice now that I’ve been pleasantly surprised by Glenn Beck. I feel kinda dirty. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/134 "2010-08-28T22:39:17Z")
Pix: [Glenn Beck’s Slob Picnic About What You’d Expect](http://wonkette.com/417786/417786#more-417786) [America’s Special People Arriving For GlennBeckPalooza](http://wonkette.com/417780/americas-special-people-arriving-for-glennbeckpalooza) ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/135 "2010-08-28T22:48:25Z")
> [@joebuck20](#): > > Please. Do you honestly believe Glenn Beck gives a shit about the Founding Fathers or the Constitution? If this guy thought he could make a buck sucking off the corpse of Lenin, he’d be flying to Moscow at warp speed. Yes, I do. You see, I am not a blind bigot. I’ve listened to him for a couple of years now. As I said, he’s an annoying pain in the ass when he wanders out into the weeds of religion, but I have yet to hear him say anything that isn’t based on common sense or fact. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/136 "2010-08-28T22:50:34Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > > [@joebuck20](#): > > > > Please. Do you honestly believe Glenn Beck gives a shit about the Founding Fathers or the Constitution? If this guy thought he could make a buck sucking off the corpse of Lenin, he’d be flying to Moscow at warp speed. > > Yes, I do. You see, I am not a blind bigot. I’ve listened to him for a couple of years now. As I said, he’s an annoying pain in the ass when he wanders out into the weeds of religion, but I have yet to hear him say anything that isn’t based on common sense or fact. Like that Barack Obama hates white people. Fact, that’s what that is. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/137 "2010-08-28T22:59:30Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > > [@Clothahump](#): > > > > He’s making the point that anyone who makes an issue of skin color in any way is a loser, and I agree with that totally. > > You mean like the guy who said, “[Obama is] a guy who has a deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture … I’m not saying he doesn’t like white people. I’m saying he has a problem. This guy is, I believe, a racist.” Did Beck make an issue of skin color in that statement? No. He did, however, point out that Obama’s actions indicate that he has an issue with skin color. Such as when Obama heard that a white police officer arrested a black professor and immediately said that the police acted stupidly without knowing one other frickin’ fact about what happened. Which is what prompted Beck’s statement in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/138 "2010-08-28T23:01:39Z")
I like it when he pretends to cry. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/139 "2010-08-28T23:15:25Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > > [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > > > You mean like the guy who said, “[Obama is] a guy who has a deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture … I’m not saying he doesn’t like white people. I’m saying he has a problem. This guy is, I believe, a racist.” > > Did Beck make an issue of skin color in that statement? No. He did, however, point out that Obama’s actions indicate that he has an issue with skin color. Such as when Obama heard that a white police officer arrested a black professor and immediately said that the police acted stupidly without knowing one other frickin’ fact about what happened. Which is what prompted Beck’s statement in the first place. I still claim this was the defining moment when the wheels flew off Obama’s cart for “fly-over America” or when it became apparent the Emperor wore no clothes - take your pick. As for the Restore Honor rally, despite Beck, it came off with both a unifying message and a message of individual strength. True to Beck’s promise, it was about as politics free as a gathering of this sort can be. I wasn’t able to watch 100% of the program but did catch a vast majority of it. Never heard one mention of Obama, the current administration, or the usual socialism, Islamic radical, bankrupting America buzzwords one would expect. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2010, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517/140 "2010-08-28T23:41:19Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > > [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > > > You mean like the guy who said, “[Obama is] a guy who has a deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture … I’m not saying he doesn’t like white people. I’m saying he has a problem. This guy is, I believe, a racist.” > > Did Beck make an issue of skin color in that statement? No. He did, however, point out that Obama’s actions indicate that he has an issue with skin color. Such as when Obama heard that a white police officer arrested a black professor and immediately said that the police acted stupidly without knowing one other frickin’ fact about what happened. Which is what prompted Beck’s statement in the first place. Is white a skin color? Yes he made a point about skin color and called Obama a racist. “deep seated hatred” of white people seems a neutral expression to you I guess? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glenn-becks-restoring-honor-rally-will-not-be-political-other-tea-party-nonsense/551517.md?page=8)