As we reported over the weekend, conservative media maven Glenn Beck came to Tampa on Saturday, the 2nd of 3 stops across the Sunshine State on behalf of his promoting his new tome, Arguing With Idiots. It was in the Villages that he made his much hyped announcement – that he would, in his own way, do a Barack Obama and become a community organizer by promoting voter registration drives and sponsor a series of seven conventions across the country featuring "libertarian speakers."
According to a story in Sunday's NY Times, Beck said, "You're going to learn about finance. You're going to learn about community organizing. You're going to learn everything we need to know if you want to be a politician."
Judging by many of the comments CL heard from some of the thousand plus Beck enthusiasts waiting in line at Borders on Dale Mabry in Tampa, his followers will eagerly await his instructions on making a difference.
As a man who slightly resembled former Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell named Paul from Sarasota said of Beck, ""He's a very for real person and the closest thing to politics for me.I've never been involved much in the past, but his TV program has been very helpful. It's good knowing what's going on, I guess I just didn't follow the news."
Phyllis Tropea from Palm Harbor said, "He's wonderful. He scares me, but he's wonderful." What scares you, I inquired? "Well, if you hear what he says and you listen to him you understand the trouble America is in, economically, every which way. We need a different president to fix these problems."
Upon entering Borders, Beck stood on top of a chair with a megaphone, where he declared, "This is where it all began." (Beck was on 970 WFLA from 2002 to 2002, where he was then picked up nationally. In 2003, he then moved the show to Philadelphia).
He then teased the crowd about his upcoming declaration at the Villages, and that his 9.12 project was created to "let you know you weren't alone, that there were like minded people around the country, and it's taken off with the tea parties, it's really quite amazing what's been happening. We're going to the next level…"
Beck's 9.12 project is a reference not only to the day after the terrorist attacks, but also to a mission statement composed of nine principles and 12 values.
Beck is emphasizing that he will not endorse political candidates. That could be part because both the Fox News Channel and his production company could contend with campaign finance laws if they are too engaged in overtly political activities.
We intend to publish more about the Glenn Beck phenomenon in next's week Creative Loafing.
(Photo courtesy of Max Steele).
This article appears in Nov 18-24, 2009.