Glenn Beck's Happy Warriors

Wall Street Journal ^ | James Freeman

[Blood of Tyrants]

Pundits will debate whether the crowd at Glenn Beck's Saturday rally in Washington was the largest in recent political history, but it was certainly among the most impressive.

Mr. Beck is a television host and radio broadcaster with a checkered past and a penchant for incendiary remarks. But if he's judged by the quality of people of all colors that he attracted to the Lincoln Memorial, his stock can't help but rise.

One would not be able to find a more polite crowd at a political convention, certainly not at a professional sporting event, probably not even at an opera. In fact, judging by the behavior of the attendees following the event, you'd have a tough time finding churches in which people display more patience as others make their way to the exits.

[guitarplayer1953]

In the late 90’s when promise keepers met in DC for stand in the gap we had well over 1000000 men there but the people who use to count the crowds would not give an estimate because of the million man march that happened before our meeting was low balled for attendance they quite counting out of fear and PC.

[Boogieman]

Middle-Earth? If they’re letting those sneaky hobbits into the movement I’ll have to take a pass.

[goodnesswins]

Levin addressed it on a Facebook post, also

[Cymbaline]

Dennis Prager did almost the whole show on the rally. He talked about how the MSM was trying to distort and smear those who attended the rally by referring to the “all white” audience, as a way of insinuating that they’re racist.

[streetpreacher]

I liked Beck when he was leading a political movement. Now that he’s trying to launch an ecumenical religious revival in his attempt to mainstream Mormonism, he has lost me. This thing is false hope... and a false revival. It will NOT end well.

[lonevoice]

although assiduously avoiding mention of Beck’s name

Not so. He talked about the Rally quite a bit, and quite respectfully. And, yes, he did say Glenn Beck's name.

Other conservative talkers who spoke admiringly of the rally and of Glenn Beck are: Laura Ingraham and Jerry Doyle.

I wish Rush hadn't been on vacation this week. I would have been quite interested in what he had to say about it. Rush has mentioned Glenn Beck respectuflly on his show before, and Glenn has shown clips of Rush on his tv show.

[iceskater]

I think the Left has successfully moved the Overton window further and further to the left. Time for us to move it to the right!

[iceskater]

If this were Facebook, I’d be pressing the ‘like’ button.

[Peet]

I’ve heard Wilkow and Schnitt both speak about the rally...

[Blood of Tyrants]

But they made a mistake in estimating where the window was. They thought because the media had successfully hidden who Obastard really was, the country had taken an huge leap to the left and they pushed wildly unpopular legislation against overwhelming opposition and it will cost them.

The window has now moved to the right of center and the left is terrified.

[ntnychik]

Savage opened his show Monday with an enthusiastic recap of the impressive weekend rally in Washington. He gave due credit to Glenn Beck by name, marveled over the attendance of “a million”, and crabbed about the press’ failure to report and the President’s failure to acknowledge.

He waited until the second hour to remind us that when he was banned in Britain, he stood alone, with no support from Glenn Beck. He returned, though, to raving about the Restoring Honor event, with more praise for Beck’s ability to make it all happen. Michael at his finest.

What’s with Hannity? No mention that I’ve heard.

[lonevoice]

Yes, I heard the show. That’s why I corrected the poster’s misimpression that Savage hadn’t acknowledged the rally or mentioned Beck by name.

On the other hand, I think Savage is delusional to believe that he can spend a few years calling Beck “The Hemorrhoid”, calling Limbaugh “Hush Bimbo”, calling O’Reilly “The Leprechaun”, Hannity “Sean Vanity”, etc. and expect any of them to defend him. He’s been particularly insulting towards Beck and Limbaugh, and neither of those gentlemen have ever responded to his persistent public attacks on them.

[Arizona Carolyn]

Nope not a peep from Hannity. Did Levin mention it on his show?

[nutmeg]

The 'Restoring Honor rally was definitely inspirational for the millions of Americans that are decent, moral, hardworking (when they can find a job in the Obama economy), patriotic and disgusted with the our 'leaders' in Washington, abusing the people's trust by ramming unwanted laws down our throat and calling anyone who dares question the Obama administration's socialist, job-killing policies everything from 'stupid' to 'haters' to 'racists'. Just like most FReepers, including this one, they're sick of it - and the arrogant politicians that are destroying the moral, social and economic underpinnings of the great country. A country that has been a beacon of hope around the world for centuries. The country our current president feels obliged to apologize for, to the amazement of most Americans.

I think Sarah Palin struck the right note when, in her brief, non-political speech, she intoned: "Look around you. You are not alone!" That, the overall tone of the rally and the huge turnout all combine to act as an encouragement and motivation for the 'average' American to do whatever they can to oppose the left in this country and the road to mediocrity they are attempting to take our great nation.

Great post, Jim Scott. I have to admit I had reservations in attending this rally, as I really didn't know specifically what it would be about. Glenn kept most of it (and most of the speakers) a Big Secret. Now I understand why he did, and I'm so glad we were a part of this incredible event. It wasn't the kind of "red meat" in-your-face, noisy, sign-toting rally I've become accustomed to over the years (ie like the 9/12/09 March on Washington or rallies vs. Code Pink, Cindy Sheehan, etc.).

A few minutes into the "Restoring Honor" rally, we realized the brilliance of Beck's tactics. Sharpton, the liberal media and Beck-haters everywhere got all worked up and wrongly assumed our rally would be an angry, hateful bigot-fest, attended mostly by "old white men". Instead it was a peaceful "church picnic"-like gathering honoring men and women of all races (including the late Dr. Martin Luther King) for their high character and personal responsibility.

"Restoring Honor" was also a show of deep appreciation of the sacrifices of our troops and for their families. Glenn humbly requested that we consider a donation to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF), which provides full scholarship grants and educational and family counseling to the surviving children of special operations personnel who die in operational or training missions and immediate financial assistance to severely wounded special operations personnel and their families.

Check out this article in yesterday's Wall Street Journal. It was Glenn's favorite article (among many) covering the "Restoring Honor" rally, although he said he didn't necessarily agree with the last two paragraphs (the references to the GOP):

Glenn Beck's Happy Warriors

Other related articles, etc.:

Glenn Beck crowd: Not so white as advertised -- Many creeds, colors in attendance refute charges of racism against rally

Restoring Honor attendees (Photo courtesy of Tim Hester and Karla Kuykendall Hester)

Day Gardner (left) and Alveda King at Restoring Honor rally

LIVE THREAD: Restoring Honor Rally with Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin 8/28/10 (Yes, the Metro lines really were backed up over an hour on 8/28 morning!)

ABC News: 'Hundreds of Thousands' At Restoring Honor Rally; Palin Chides AP's 'Tens of Thousands' Great crowd shot from helicopter! (Thanks, kristinn)

Restoring Honor...A Deeply Personal Account From a Friend

Ed Schultz: I bet I could match Glenn Beck (Dream On!)

Glenn Beck Destroys NAACP President's Malicious Suggestion of Racism

The Beck/Sharpton Rallies: A Telling Dichotomy

Glenn Beck’s Rally - Glenn Beck Energizes the Right (by David Horowitz)

Pujols honor at Glenn Beck rally leads to [disgraceful] protest at Busch (St. Louis, MO)

WaPo’s Eugene Robinson Dismisses MLK Niece Alveda King as ‘Figurehead or Puppet’ of Glenn Beck

Glenn Beck wore bulletproof vest while speaking at 'Restore Honor' rally at Lincoln Memorial

Bill O’Reilly Praises Glenn Beck Rally as a “Huge Victory”; Slams Critics – Video

And yes... as always, we picked up every bit of trash and left the area in better shape than we found it, unlike the Obama supporters on 1/20/09. :o)

[A'elian' nation]

Thank you for your clarification.
Like I said - I hadn’t listened to Savage myself just reported another Freeper’s comments.

That was gracious of Savage to acknowledge Beck.
I know Savage would appreciate some support for his being banned in Britain - and it’s not right that he isn’t getting that support from our fellow travelers.

[GOPJ]

...be the change you wish to see in the world, as Gandhi once put it.

Sweet.

[StarFan]

Thanks so much for the link to the WSJ article which one can only access if we buy a subscription.

I watched Geraldo (once in ages) just to see how small Sharptongue would appear afterwards. He looked and sounded so small that he could walk beneath a snake wearing a top hat! What a joy to see him squirm to make his rally more relevant while belittling what Beck truly accomplished. So darn proud of everyone who attended.

[valkyrieanne]

God Bless Glenn for his efforts to bring this country together and back to God.

Uh, Glenn Beck supports gay marriage.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[3catsanadog]

Alveda King - is she related to Martin Luther King, Jr.?