Glenn Beck Book Tour Makes Bizarre Visit to Heartland America

[marmar]

AlterNet / By Nina Berman



December 19, 2010 | Peddling a book called Broke in a city busted through and through, Glenn Beck rolled into Wilmington, Ohio last week to gleefully proclaim miracles.

Styling himself as a real-life Santa Claus, Beck promised the city a celebrity stimulus surge. He would host live shows at a downtown theater, charging people $125 a ticket and $500 for breakfast meet-and-greet. Up to 20,000 people would come, and what was left in their pockets would be spent on Main Street, buying chocolate chip cookies, Tupperware and homemade handbags.

Maybe it was the cold weather. Maybe Beck overestimates his appeal. The anticipated 20,000 topped off at about 3,000, according to police. And while there was a buzz on Main Street, particularly in the bookstore where Beck signed copies of Broke, what was startling about his visit to Wilmington, a city with nearly 16 percent unemployment, was how many people either didn’t know who he was (“Beck, you mean the guitarist?”), or didn’t care (“I’m not seeing his show, he’s just a man, not a God.").

Accompanied by an entourage of young male assistants, Beck was a charmer in person, doughy, approachable and eager to please, dressed in jeans and an upscale Loro Piana scarf. Most of the face time required a fee, either $500 for a photo with him at breakfast, a $125 ticket to one of his shows, or $30 for a book that came with a prayer if asked. He spoke at one free evening event on an outdoor stage and by that time, the local police were treating him more like a candidate than an entertainer, with barricades and no-go zones.

In Beck’s eyes, the 12,000-strong Wilmington is a shining example of the righteousness of his own conservative narrative. He describes the town as a place too proud to accept federal stimulus or government handouts even after losing thousands of jobs when the DHL distribution hub closed in 2008. On his November 22 radio broadcast he said, "This town hasn’t taken any money from the government. They don’t want any money from the government." During his visit he described Wilmington as ”going through liberating strife,” which sounds a little like Rumsfeld’s “freedom can be messy.” ................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/teaparty/149257/glenn_beck_book_tour_makes_bizarre_visit_to_heartland_america/

[Bluzmann57]

1. Seems kind of stupid. Charging $125.00 per ticket

In a city which has 16 pct. unemployment. If a person who is unemployed wants to spend that much money, they will likely spend it on stupid crap like food and clothing. Come to think of it, an employed person will likely spend it on food and clothing as well.

[Anakin Skywalker]

2. 3,000 teabaggers did show up. Enough money for Glenn Buck to invest more in gold!

[saras]

3. Wrong Beck

If I went to all the trouble of going into town, and it wasn't either Jeff Beck or Beck Hansen, I'd be PISSED!

I wonder how much this butthole has cost them both in sales? It's not quite as bad as being called Anthrax and going on tour right when the right-wing anthrax attacks happened, but still...