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The Spectacle Blog
I really like Bernie Goldberg. Here's a guy with lots of experience in the media, totally unafraid to speak his mind (and write it!). He is fearless, his regular O'Reilly Factor appearances something to look forward to.
But last night, he perplexed. Trying to make the argument that some on the right can get out of control in the rationality department on Obama (surely true), he cited two things that he of all people should get instantly. They were the razzing of Obama of his "57 states" mistake during the campaign, and his presidential stop-by of a hamburger fast-food place and asking, on camera, for Grey Poupon mustard.
What surprises is that Mr. Goldberg, of all people, doesn't get this. The reason for the 57 states attention by some is the crystal clear realization by many on the right that if it had been said by (here's a short list) George W. Bush, Sarah Palin, Dan Quayle or Ronald Reagan, it would have been endlessly recycled by the mainstream media as proof-positive that the speaker was a) dumber than a post, b) a blithering idiot, c) a perfect fool or d) anything worse than a, b, or c. The real point, of course, would be to try and convince Americans that policy x, y, or z is crazy because the person in question is quite obviously a, b, or c. This is a routine left-wing tactic, and surely by now just about everybody on the right gets the game. Surely those who persisted on this were trying to play the game back with Obama. Not, admittedly, the highest of callings, but certainly it isn't hard to figure out why it's done.
Ditto with the Grey Poupon episode as a piece of verbal symbolism about how Obama really thinks. Grey Poupon, by its choice, has positioned itself as the upscale mustard of elites. At one point there was, I believe, a Grey Poupon TV ad that involved a guy in a Rolls Royce. Obama (he of the "bitter clinger" remark and multiples of others) is regularly accused by righties (along with liberals in general) of being an out-of-touch elitist. Asking for Grey Poupon on your hamburger, and on camera in such an effortless way as to suggest this is a regularity, only added to what many believe is a true picture of the man -- that he may live in the White House but his head is in the Harvard Law faculty lounge somewhere as he makes all these wildly bad decisions about trying KSM in New York, nationalizing health care, cap and tax, spending trillions etc. etc. etc. Everyone around him would think him perfectly sensible as they dab the Grey Poupon on their burgers because they too are impractical elitists.
For some reason, the estimable Bernie Goldberg, who seems to have a golden gut for picking this stuff up, missed a beat on these two things.
We won't hold it against him.
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More Blog Posts by Jeffrey Lord
http://spectator.org/blog/2010/02/02/bernie-goldberg-gets-the-right
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Grzmlyk| 2.2.10 @ 12:22PM
I thought it was odd as well. Surely Goldberg understood the 57 state brouhaha, I thought. But sometimes I wonder about Bernie.
For the umpteenth time, the sad reality is that we will never get anywhere by being nice and polite. We have to jump on these faux pas and misstatements and gaffes because if we don't, who will? Not O'Reilly, who inexplicably thinks Obama's a great guy who's just a bit misguided.
Paul Ramone| 2.2.10 @ 2:41PM
You're 100% correct about O'Reilly, that's the main reason that I rarely watch him anymore.
jody| 2.2.10 @ 4:07PM
It was just today that I decided I just can't take it anymore, anymore O'Reilly. I don't record programs, or I would watch something else at that time. I got into a bad habit. I'm sure I'll find something to do besides TV!
c.j. acworth| 2.2.10 @ 5:26PM
jody
I gave up on TV years ago, no longer have it in my house. Books still work.
Charles Romer| 2.2.10 @ 6:29PM
Ditto!
Ken (Old Texican)| 2.2.10 @ 1:01PM
GRZ, thanks again.
I for one, though, will always be polite and nice to these murdererererering, scum-sucking communist,(pardon the shorthand), America hating sons of quite beautiful labrador retrievers.
Margie| 2.2.10 @ 5:53PM
HAHA!! :^)
Tim| 2.2.10 @ 1:06PM
If only I had been there when Obama ordered that burger:
"You want grey poop on what?"
prehist51| 2.2.10 @ 2:04PM
Watched Bernie last night and thought he was totally out of line in his comments on right wing talk show hosts. Everyone that has been watching conservative news for the pasty 10 years knows that pseudo conservatives like O'Reilly, Goldberg, etc. are mostly jealous of true unapologetic conservatives like Rush, Sean, and Glenn. The conservative movement actually listens to what Rush, Sean and Glenn have to say. These guys actually sway elections and fire up the base. O'Reilly and the likes of Goldberg wish they could wield that kind of power. But neither guy has any conservative bona fides, in fact both of these guys are really a part of the elite mainstream media. O'Reilly's love affair with Obama has become sickening. His constant denials that Obama is a socialist shows O'Reilly's and Goldbergs total ignorance. If Obama is not a socialist then the sun rises in the west and sets in the east, thats how far from reality that O'reilly and Goldberg live.
Grzmlyk| 2.2.10 @ 2:55PM
I particularly love O'Reilly's sweeping excuses for Obama whenever Mr. "No Spin Zone" chastises real conservatives who dare to call a spade a spade.
Someone like Dick Morris (just as an example) will opine that Obama's trying to implement the Cloward-Piven strategy to overwhelm and bring down our institutions, and O'Reilly cuts them off with a dismissive response like, "Come on. Obama loves America as much as you or I do." And then he moves on. No supporting arguments, just a sweeping absolution, as if, ipso facto, everything Obama does is done in good faith for the good of our country. In the face of mounting evidence directly to the contrary.
By contrast, O'Reilly never misses an opportunity to demonize those evil oil companies and their nefarious, mustache-twirling, villainous execs along with their selfish, greedy, amoral motives.
It's clear that O'Reilly's bought Obama's BS hook, line and sinker and America's most malevolent and inept president gets a free pass - but oil companies? No matter what they do or say, they are EVIL. Case closed.
I really can't fathom why people like O'Reilly. A conservative, he ain't. No, he takes pride in being a fierce "independent." Which is a fancy way of saying he is a slave to political fashion.
Margie| 2.2.10 @ 6:38PM
I think O'Reilly likes to think he's different. Cooler than most. Which strikes me as immature and disingenuous.
Isn't he one of these "I'm a Social Liberal but fiscal conservative" guys, like Libertarians are? Really. a Liberal.
SoCon| 2.3.10 @ 12:29AM
O'Reilly's pro-life--he took a lot of heat for the numerous negative stories he ran about the late Dr. Tiller the baby killer, (sorry, I had to).
I have to give credit to anyone who sticks up for the babies.
Margie| 2.3.10 @ 4:16PM
Agreed. Kudos to Mr. O'Reilly, then. And kudos to you for giving him credit.
Charles Romer| 2.2.10 @ 6:41PM
O'Reilly is a stereotypical canny Irishman with his eye on the till at all times. He has the ideology and integrity of a cash register.
For all their talk of “Fair and Balanced,” at the end of the day all the Fox Cable Channel folk (with possible exception of Beck and maybe Cavuto) are died-in-the-wool mainstream media types that should be trusted about as far as you could throw one of them, which in O'Reilly's case for sure is not very far.
Simon Templar| 2.2.10 @ 7:51PM
Grzmlyk! You have done it again! Took every word out of mouth and once again hit the nail on the head. Hey, American Spectator..HIRE THIS GUY!
Ken (Old Texican)| 2.2.10 @ 2:11PM
Prehistory,
heh.
See my post above.
O Reilly and Goldberg are simply being "polite".
Tammy| 2.2.10 @ 8:46PM
I agree, Old Tex. O'Reilly bends over backwards to provide 'balance' for FOX. He's a populist.
He's pro-life and he defends Glenn Beck --so I tolerate him.
PCC| 2.2.10 @ 2:13PM
I think the "57 states" remark is rightly criticized for the reasons stated in the article.
As for the Grey Poupon incident, who can be so petty as to knock a guy for what he puts on his burger? It's only mustard.
LE Powers| 2.2.10 @ 2:27PM
You should not be surprised by Mr. Goldberg's comments; he is, after all, an acknowledged liberal. Why he is popular is because he is intellectually honest, like Camille Paglia. So you cannot fault him for allowing his bias to show by giving a pass to somebody for whom he probably voted.
Of course, you can't blame conservatives for razzing the Anointed One, either...
Ken (Old Texican)| 2.2.10 @ 2:30PM
PCC, that's funny. Grey Poupon is French mustard as opposed to American "French's Mustard".
Screw the French.
Kathy Kenslow| 2.2.10 @ 2:36PM
There is so much hatred out there for President Obama that it is very disheartening. it started immediately! Glen Beck is scary and paranoid.
Grzmlyk| 2.2.10 @ 3:05PM
I'm sure, Kathy, that you were ever-so gracious to our president when his name was George Bush, right? Let's see, when did the hatred, the name-calling and the demonization begin? Oh yes. Before Bush was even sworn in, when the Dems tried to steal the election in Florida.
And Bush wasn't an enemy of the people, as is the current puerile, ignorant, doctrinaire, would-be dictator in chief.
I'm not nuts about Beck personally. He's definitely obnoxious, emotionally exhibitionistic and apocalyptic.
But he's also factual. And that's why liberals hate him the most. They call him names all day long, but they never get around to refuting any of his assertions.
caitmo30| 2.2.10 @ 3:36PM
But Glen Beck is not always factual. Some of the things he says are on the ridiculous side and easily researched to prove false.
I expect politicians to lie. He says he wants to educate people, but when he is only being a showman, for ratings=$$$, he is not what I consider a good man.
Obama made some stupid mistakes with the 57 states and mustard and conservatives will bring it up and make fun of it because that's what people do. They make fun of their opposing side. My favorite magnet on "The Onion" is one with a photo of Obama holding up his hands. The caption reads, "Black man asks nation for change." By the way, my liberal brother-in-law loved it.
Missy| 2.3.10 @ 12:02AM
You've got to back up your claims or your post will be dismissed--just like I've dismissed yours.
If it's so easy to disprove Beck, why didn't you do it?
caitmo30| 2.3.10 @ 7:24AM
Beck has said the following which are not true: that under under Obama's health care plan, dogs would be included, that less than 10% of Obama's cabinet appointees have experience in the private sector, that the U.S. is the only country that has automatic citizenship at birth, that John Holdren proposed forced abortions and putting sterilants in the drinking water.
This information came from politifact.com, which I know many conservatives believe has a liberal bias. However, when politifact catches Obama in a lie, do the web site's dissenters ignore that as wrong because of the source? The same thing regarding what Beck says; if politifact rates one of his sayings true, is it discounted because of the source? Truth is truth.
Nick| 2.3.10 @ 2:07PM
caitmo30,
You have shown yourself to be lazy.
You found a site that agrees with your bias.
Prove Politifacts claims are true.
The easiest would be the "less than 10% of Obama's cabinet appointees have experience in the private sector" claim.
List the cabinet officers and what private sector experience they have. With sources, of course.
Ken (Old Texican)| 2.2.10 @ 2:46PM
Hi Kathy.
I have no hatred for Mr. Obama. Actually, I forgive him for being.....a scumsucking communist, (pardon the shorthand), terrorist loving son of a quite beautiful labrador retriever. heh.
Al Adab| 2.2.10 @ 3:55PM
Ken, Grz:
Shouldn't we just tax the Grey Poupon in all 57 states? That could pay for health care. After all only the rich... Poor people eat potatoes (sic)
Kathy Kenslow| 2.2.10 @ 4:28PM
Here is an example of what Beck said:
As long as these people are not in control. They are taking you to a place to be slaughtered!
He is a demogogue of the worst kind and Ken and Grzmlyk are full of hate.
I won't come here again ..it's too depressing.
Wiseman| 2.2.10 @ 7:27PM
WOW! you can repeat the false talking pionts of Arionna Huffintion's. Didn't take much thought on your part did it. What is it like not having to think for yourself ?
wiseman| 2.2.10 @ 7:29PM
Sorry about the misspelling of points. Fat fingers today.
Simon Templar| 2.2.10 @ 8:06PM
Hate? Yeah, seems anything that disagrees with your liberal agenda seems to be labeled hate.
Please do not speak to us about hate. Your party wrote the book on it in the last century particularly in the last 10 years winning the oscar of political deception and hate. I suggest you do a little reading and pick up the book, Liberal Fascism by Jonah Goldberg and learn a little bit of history about the illustrious past of your liberalism and progressivism. When you do this..you are more than welcome to come back to this site and then we can have a more honest and intelligent conversation.
SoCon| 2.3.10 @ 12:09AM
So true. Living through eight long-suffering years watching hideously contorted liberal faces screeching BUSHITLER!! Talk about disheartening.
Liberals live and die by hatred and they just can't see it. I truly believe liberalism is a mental illness.
We've got to fight back now--or we will lose our beloved country for sure.
SoCon| 2.3.10 @ 12:19AM
You're wrong, Kathy--Ken and Grz are good and decent American men; it is an honor to know both of them.
There's no hate within either one of these guys; they just don't want to lose their country. Neither do I.
You came here and saw what you wanted to see, and it had nothing to do with reality.
Margie| 2.2.10 @ 5:57PM
Not having t.v. either, I actually didn't know that Obama asked for Grey Poupon on his burger. Must've missed it. Hilarious! Got a good laugh today!
As for poor old Bernie G, well you have to remember.. how many years has he spent in Liberal media? :^)
kingsmill| 2.2.10 @ 6:06PM
My exposure to O'Reilly was 20+ years ago on Channel 7 in Boston. At that time he was a pre-pubescent blowhard, now he is an elderly one.
However, I wonder if his barmy defenses of the One are an Ailes' strategy. O'Reilly gives the impression that he is an "independent" opinionator (left of Beck and O'Reilly). Not sure, on a personal level I can't stand the guy.
Ken (Old Texican)| 2.2.10 @ 6:38PM
Hey Kathy,
you will be back.
Under a thousand different names.
I am delighted you are depressed by grownups though.
Tell Mr. Soros hello for us. Your boss there at the whitehouse too.
Jeffrey Lord| 2.2.10 @ 7:23PM
Kathy...
Glenn Beck was referring to the economy. Not to us. As the saying goes, every one is entitled to their own opinions, but not their own facts. You are, factually, wrong. Sorry, but feel free to come back.