Without a doubt, Glenn Beck has been an important figure in recent times. He can fairly be credited with strongly supporting the tea party movement, helping to fight ObamaCare, and taking on a number of radicals and corrupt officials in government. Surely, he has become something of a banner carrier for hordes of disaffected, freedom-loving Americans, myself included. Some developments, though, have got me seriously thinking about who this man actually is. Not his sincerity, but rather his methods and behaviors.
For one, Glenn has always been a passionate guy who can tend to get emotional at times. For a while this was just one facet of his persona, and it made his discussion of intense issues, like his past or his special needs daughter, all the more genuine. Lately, though, you can count on Glenn to start breaking up just about every time he talks about America or the founding fathers. The other day, he started losing it just talking about reading Thomas Jefferson. Needless to say, 9/11 made him a mess, which is perfectly understandable. The other times, though, have got me thinking that either it is an act, or this man is seriously unstable. I can't imagine trying to talk to him. If I met him I'd be tempted to insult the Constitution or Benjamin Franklin just to see him weep. I seriously think he might. Or if he didn't, he would prove that it was all an act. It's really a no-win situation.
That tendency, in fact, brings up the other main area that has been bothering me about Glenn. He has always been a religious man, which is fine, regardless of my feelings about Mormonism. Increasingly, though, nearly everything he talks about has taken on a religious feel. He reveres the founding fathers as virtual gods, and talks about the Constitution as being "divinely inspired." His method for dealing with our present crisis? Getting on your knees and praying. Only then will we defeat the forces of evil (literally, he calls them evil) and witness "mighty miracles." For someone who is not especially religious, all of this can get pretty damn uncomfortable. What am I, and thousands of others like me, supposed to do if we don't pray or go to church? Are we hopeless, Godless heathens who are powerless to do anything? Is that really the only thing we can do, sit around and beg God to save us?
All of this points to what I believe are core questions about Glenn. Is the man a suitable leader for me and all the other people who love liberty but don't share his religious views or emotional nature? Is he in fact putting on an act, or is he being genuine? If he is being serious, is he really psychologically healthy? And with all of this considered, should conservatives and libertarians continue to support him, or does there come a point where we realize that he is too dogmatic, unstable, or fake to listen to? I'm not saying I'm anywhere near that point... but I do want to figure some things about about this man. I think we should be constantly perspicacious regarding who we follow and support. For all of Glenn's great qualities, I think we have to take an objective look.
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