The Right-Wing Extremist Writer Behind Glenn Beck's Worldview

[meegbear]

We weren't aware that Glenn Beck's unique brand of conservative messianic zeal and conspiracy-minded racial paranoia required any particular intellectual underpinning.

But a fascinating article in Salon reveals that a book by a Mormon "historian" deemed too extreme even by the modern conservative movement -- which argues that the U.S. constitution is based primarily on natural law -- has played a major role in Beck's "thinking."

For several years, Beck has actively promoted "The 5000 Year Leap," by the late Cleon Skousen, on his radio and TV shows, and he recently wrote the foreword for a newly-released edition of the book, which was first published in 1981.

For more on this singular figure from the annals of the American far-right -- who appeared for a while to have been consigned to ignominy -- and about Beck's strange rediscovery of him, read Salon's story.

Late Update: As reader J.S. notes, Beck isn't the only conservative leader with a taste for Skousen. In 2007, then-presidential candidate Mitt Romney expressed his affinity for his fellow Mormon.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/09/the_right-wing_extremist_writer_behind_glenn_becks.php?ref=fpblg

I read this article this morning - check it out; it does explain a lot.

[CJCRANE]

1. This might be why he's removed the 9 principles from his website!

They give too many clues about his religious beliefs.

[kestrel91316]

2. Cleon - now THERE'S a good Mormon name if I ever heard one.

The things you notice when perusing old census records while doing genealogical research.........

[sharp_stick]

3. Thanks for that link

I'd heard of that 5,000 year book but never paid it any attention. I wasn't aware of the author or link to poor little crying boy. It does explain a lot about the paranoid fantasies of Becks idiots.

[RandomThoughts]

4. Interesting article, had not heard any of that.

Without having read the book hard to know about it, but if it tries to make what is good based on some economic philosophy, I probably would disagree with it.

Selfishness makes Communism fail.
Selfishness makes unregulated Capitalism fail.

I don't think it is about economic systems, although there are ways to find the best parts and make the systems as transparent and accountable as possible, while adjusting for the flaws in a system. Unfortunately people with a Communism fixation do not look at the flaws of Capitalism, or they do not mind them.

There is a verse in the bible that speaks about those with much getting more, and those with little even losing what they have. I think alot of 'money firsters' think that is about cash, I think it is about other things since the rest of the teachings spoke of not seeing things in terms of money.

Hard to know, but interesting background.

:shrug:

On a side note.

Bunnies jump, frogs leap.

I also heard once that elephants are the only mammal that can't jump.

[louis-t]

5. Oh, they can jump. I've seen video.

It ain't pretty.

[SidneyCarton]

6. Selfishness makes everything fail, including eventually the selfish individual themselves.

One cannot ultimately survive alone in chaos, and selfishness destroys any other form of association.

[Taverner]

10. Thing is Cleon is not a Capitalist or Communist

He is a petty Authoritarian Theocrat

[Taverner]

7. Cleon Skousen was an avowed Anti-Semite

So my question - - and I know the answer already - - but the question is "Is Glenn Beck an Anti-Semite?"

I mean I don't know if he raped and killed a girl back in 1990 but I'd be willing to bet he is an Anti-Semite

[PA Democrat]

9. Skousen was a racist, too.

In his book The Making of America he expressed sympathy for slave owners calling them the "worst victims of slavery because they had to live in the constant fear of a rebellion by their slaves. He also referred to African American children as "pickaninnies."

[PA Democrat]

8. Fascinating article. I'd read a little about Skousen in the past , but this article explains

so much about the origins of Beck's hysterical obsession with communism and even his rant about the artwork at Rockefeller Center.

So a guy who was widely discredited and disavowed by conservatives of his time, is responsible for much of Glenn Beck's worldview.

Thanks for posting.