Glenn Beck and advertising: Feedback from both sides of the debate
Glenn Beck Controversy Comes to Tax Masters
Whether you are a current, prospective or past customer of ours at TaxMasters, or simply pay attention to the commercials that run throughout the day on cable and network TV, it’s likely you have seen a TaxMasters commercial.
There has been a recent wrinkle to these advertisements though and it’s not without controversy. It relates to FOX News and Mr. Glenn Beck – but I’ll get to that in a moment.
Our reasons for advertising via television are fairly straightforward. Tax payers across the United States are dealing with tax problems like large debts owed to the IRS and past due returns that are still un-filed. Our growth over the past two years illustrates just how large the demand is for help with tax problems and dealing with the IRS.
Not surprisingly, the best way to reach – and help – these taxpayers, is television. CNN, MSNBC and FOX News and others are among the outlets where you’ll see commercials (with my smiling face) talking about how TaxMasters can help those with tax problems.
Back to the controversy.
FOX News host Glenn Beck has been the focus of passionate debate and discussion – for and against him – for most of his career. That has only intensified in recent years as Mr. Beck has chosen positions on issues that have offended and angered some, while finding support among others.
So what does this have to do with TaxMasters? We recently have been hearing from individuals that are opposed to our advertisements running during Mr. Beck’s program.
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is among the organizations that are encouraging people to contact us and share their opinions on Glenn Beck and why we should not advertise during his show. In fact the SEIU has a dedicated site that encourages folks to contact us (you can view it here).
On the flip side, we’ve received the same passionate outreach from supporters of Mr., Beck’s show. It’s no exaggeration to say that emotions run high on both sides.
It’s important we do hear these concerns and we want the feedback! I am inviting people from both sides of the debate to contact us and share their position on this topic. We have set up a dedicated phone line at 281-497-4226, ext. 7000 to give everyone the proper forum and help us understand both sides of this debate.
You can also share your feedback via the comments here on the blog. Please remember, be constructive and respectful and comments will be moderated.
Patrick Cox Tax Masters
Patrick Cox is President, CEO, and Board Director of Tax Masters, Inc. (TAXS), a company dedicated to helping consumers solve their tax problems. Patrick Cox is a tax expert who founded Tax Masters in 2001, which has become one of the most effective IRS tax relief teams in the tax representation business. Patrick Cox and Tax Masters are located in Houston, Texas.
There isn’t a debate when it comes to Glenn. There are those that find value in the facts and information he provides. They might disagree with his conclusions or even his approach, but you will have that with anyone.
On the other side are those that are out to smear Glenn Beck because he is talking about the facts and information that the other media sources avoid…well, probably because they cower to the smear campaigns & threats.
Glenn embodies the American spirit and he is getting in the way of SEIU’s plan to fast track communism.
Again, facts are not debatable except maybe in a philosophy class.
btw: I do like your “capitalist” way of using this publicity to build your email list
God bless.
The other media does not attack the deceased mother of our president, only Beck would do that to get ratings. Fox needs to fire him. There is nothing positive from him only negative. He’s not a patriot, he does not stand behind our president unconditionally like a true patriot.
I am an SEIU shop steward. I am a Glenn Beck listener. I am a conservative and a registered Republican. If I ever have a need for a tax lawyer I will contact your company first. So far, I haven’t been selected for an IRS “random” audit.
As I become more politically active, that is likely to change.
Thank you for the work you do, and for your continued support of Glenn Beck.
Oh, and before anyone gets around to saying that an organized boycott stifles the free speech rights of corporations or individuals… that’s just absurd. Think about it. Boycotts provide FREE ADVERTISEMENT! I probably would have never gone to this website if it were not for the boycott!
I urge you to continue to advertize on the Glenn Beck Show. He provides a good informational service and, although controversial, touches on historical areas others have ignored for decades. He is both valuable and popular and the exposure you get to his large audience should override the bullying tactics of SEIU. Please do not allow the de-facvto censorship of Glenn Beck at the hands of the Left in this country.
I just don’t understand why anyone would be contacting sponsors because they disagree with what Glenn has to say. I mean, ok, I suppose you could contact them and let them know why you don’t use their products, but to try and intimiate them into pulling their sponsorship as a means to shut Glenn up is just silly. Instead, why don’t you work on winning the debate. I have read the issues that people have with Glenn and a most of them are just pieces they’ve taken out of context. The rest is that they don’t agree with his point of view. Then don’t watch his show! Why would a business pull their ads from a show or a network that has the ratings that Fox does? And they can know how their clients/customers feel by the ratings – as ratings will go up or down depending on how many people agree with him as will their business.
Oh, and FYI – I would not have know anything about Tax Master’s if it weren’t for their ad’s on Fox News & Glenn Beck.
If you wish to see why sponsors have pulled their ads most provide statements. Take a look at the dropped sponsors list vs. the remaining sponsors list at stopbeck.com, many sponsors have provided statements behind their reasoning. Becks show in the UK has not had any sponsors for 2 mos, due to the UK effort. Also if I am correct FOX News is not allowed in Canada at all. They must agree with the senator who has decided Fox News has an agenda which is not in the best interest of our country. I’m sure the ad exec’s at more than 120 corporations have more knowledge about what is the correct thing to do than we.
I believe that Glenn Beck is one of the most honest men on t.v. He backs up his talking points with facts.
Beck tells everyone, if he is wrong, he will correct it.
If I owned a company I would run ads on his program.
Thank you for your support on Glenn Becks Show.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/19/jon-stewart-glenn-beck-parody_n_505329.html
I am happy to see you are still a sponsor for Glenn Beck. I may not like him personally, but I do appreciate the education he is providing Americans who seem to have forgotten our Founding Fathers, our Constitution,and our Bill of Rights. Glenn shows us daily how and where our rights are being stolen from us. Thank you for your support of the Glenn Beck show and you love of our United States. Friday
Which right have you lost? What has changed so much?
Since all of Glenn Beck watchers are honest americans making a living and actually paying taxes, it is in Taxmaster’s best interest to continue to advertise on the most watched television network.
I find Glenn Beck informative and factual. Just because Andy Stern doesn’t like what he says does not mean it is not true. Neither Andy Stern nor Glenn Beck run my life.
Please continue to advertise on Glenn Beck program. We need people to stand up against radical people like Andy Stern. He is out for what he can get for himself on the backs of lower wage workers.
Thank you.
Glenn Beck is a man of TRUTH. If you succumb to a bunch of thugs like SEIU, @STOPBECK on twitter and all his buds and anyone else that is threating YOU of adverstising on the GLENNBECKPROGRAM you let us know here on twitter and we will slauder them into OBLIVIAN where they belong. Please do not let people threaten you for advertising where you want to. I do nto understand people that get scared of these thugs like SEIU, GEORGE SORAS,Obama & Company, Color of Change, and all the other scumbags that are trying to do this to GLENN BECK as well as your company. Don’t nut up. That’s what they want. Do you want the THUGS TO WIN ?
WISE UP. Stick with Glenn. You will get a lot of Business. Have you seen his viewship ratings ? AWESOME.
Truth is Truth. Some people can’t handle the truth… I would encourage you to continue to support his show. It is truly in your best interests. Look how Rush’s advertisers have done! Don’t be afraid. The Left make a lot of noise, but the Right spend the money because they are the ones earning it and paying taxes!
Mr Glenn Beck may be the first man with enough integrity to speak out, awaken the masses and save this country from the incredible threat it faces from the socialist forces attacking it from within. It all comes down to the Constitution once again. Do you want to maintain your free speech rights as a corporation, or cave to what is so obviously an organized campaign SEIU/Center for American Progress/MoveOn/HuffPO cabal to silence someone who is telling the frank truth about a radical agenda in government?
Nothing Glenn points out is unsubstantiated without quotes directly from the person being discussed. He puts together FACTS which give the watcher clarity about the threat within the US> He always corrects any mistakes he might make. His life is clearly open to everyone, he is brutally honest about his history. He is an educator, and also an entertainer. Satire works for the left, but is called as inappropriate from the right?
The only hate and vitriol is coming from those who support social justice (code for socialism) and want to tamp down on the educator of WeThePeople who own the real power in this country constitutionally. I support TaxMasters and will use it should I develop any tax problems as a result of speaking out against our government.
If you want to see specifically how those contacting you on the left really attack, in the most vial terms, just assign one of your staff to monitor hashtag #glennbeck on Twitter. It will be clear to them within minutes. SEIU and it’s ilk are using the “Persuasion of power” to quote SEIU head, Andy Stern, to abridge 1st Amendment rights of Mr. Beck and put patriot groups on notice. Will you stand with those threatening the US and capitalism, or stand with patriots and the Constitutional freedoms to speak out? Ultimately, a leftist agenda, left to flourish, will negatively affect your business. Thanks for the opportunity to speak out.
Norine H
Hampton VA
I have a huge post here I’ve worked on through out the day while I’ve had time, with numerous links proving inaccuracies and out right lies. However, it flags my comment as spam so I will email it in I guess.
[admin: Heather's full message appears below]
I hope you and others read the whole thing here, because such an issue cannot be summed up in a short answer that will convey it’s importance.
By advertising on Glenn Beck’s show, you are helping to fund mass misinformation that has a hugely negative effect on our country. Glenn’s program is watched by millions every night. Here’s a sample from TV by the numbers, which tracks these things: http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/04/07/cable-news-ratings-for-tuesday-april-6-2010/47687 Comparing his numbers to other shows like his, he has the most influence out of any pundit out there today, which is why this issue is so important.
Here’s a recent example of one of Glenn’s specialties: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,590506,00.html Here, Glenn asserts that Net Neutrality (henceforth called NN) is a horribly evil thing out to squash free speech and dissenters such as himself, when it is in fact the complete opposite.
Here is the true definition: “Network neutrality (also net neutrality, Internet neutrality) is a principle proposed for user access networks participating in the Internet that advocates no restrictions on content, sites, or platforms, on the kinds of equipment that may be attached, and on the modes of communication allowed, as well as communication that is not unreasonably degraded by other traffic.” See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_neutrality and http://www.huffingtonpost.com/craig-newmark/consumer-reports-what-is_b_341541.html
NN’s end game is to ensure everyone can visit the legal sites they want, and say what they want online, unlike countries like Iran and China where the internet is heavily monitored and restricted. While these things may not be happening NOW, NN would protect such things from happening in the future to keep Beck’s fears, not facts, from becoming a reality.
Another example is Beck insinuating that the Czars are some evil evil people without any merit. http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/29083/ (search the log for evil) “Czars” refers to a short INFORMAL nickname (used as far back as Roosevelt!) for a much longer title and more currently also as a moniker for someone filling a posiion w/o senate confirmation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._executive_branch_czars Also see http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/the-truth-about-czars/
One last example also steps way over the boundaries of what a pundit on political issues should be discussing. Beck railed against social and economical justice preaching churches, urging his viewers to leave these places, when that’s what Jesus taught. He healed the sick, gave to the poor, eschewed wealth, etc., but somehow that is evil and un-Christian according to him. Even his Mormon church issued a statement saying they preach social justice as well, but I do not see him running from there. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/12/us/12justice.html
Most telling, Beck rarely offers any proof to back up his accusations of these things, like calling numerous people Nazis/Maoists/Socialists/Communists, all the examples I posted above, and more. He may try to hide behind the fact that he’s a pundit and it’s an opinion show where he’s supposedly “just asking questions”, but he has long ago moved away from that format.
So I’m urging you to please do some research into this issue and don’t just rely on what people on both sides of the argument are saying if they’re not backing up their claims. And then when you finally realize this guy is fabricating and/or distorting, I hope that you’ll agree: Sponsoring Glenn Beck is a bad idea.
Thanks for your time!
The reason nobody else is airing Beck’s “facts” is that he makes them up. It’s like saying nobody ever played Van Halen songs before Van Halen existed.
I mean, apparently there’s a massive Communist conspiracy to take over the country even though there is practically nobody (especially in politics) that will identify as a Communist? How does that even work?
He urges his listeners to check his facts, knowing they never will. When confronted with proof of his lies, Beck fans just sneer at whatever source you present them and call it liberally-biased – even when it’s a conservative source, or a source that simply plays back unaltered recordings of Beck’s own words?
Beck encourages people to build this stifling walls around themselves that are basically impenetrable to all sane and rational logic. Geez, just look at the comments on here! People ranting about the Communist menace under their beds, capitalizing random words, grouping unrelated organizations together and insisting that they’re all in on massive conspiracies – it’s just complete craziness, and it distracts horribly from the actual problems in this country (which may very well be its intent).
Sorry for the filtering, Heather. We temporarily upped the number of links we will accept to 20 in a post. Keep it under that and give it a shot again. We appreciate all the feedback we are getting from everyone and are monitoring this situation very closely. Please encourage others to participate in the discussion. We honestly thought there would be more attention and interest than the level we are receiving.
Appereciate you,
TaxMasters
There is way too much anti-intellectualism in these comments. The constant regurgitation about “Truth” and the inappropriate capitalizations everywhere really only go to prove that many of you lack the willingness to challenge your own beliefs by actually informing yourself with anything more than the rantings of an entertainer, who profits off of being exceedingly controversial. The idea that a seemingly large portion of my country lack the will, and possibly the ability, to be intellectually engaged in issues, and not accept the words of an entertainer as some sort of gospel, is pretty disappointing.
Running around screaming in ignorance, while proclaiming to be enlightened, is so obviously transparent that I think it’s amusing that you actually believe you are informed. Then again, if you do truly believe you are informed as you listen blindly to entertainers, pass around disingenuous and usually false chain emails, and revel in the idea of getting angry at windmills, while fantasizing about charging them with your lances(Don Quixote reference for those who don’t know ;] ), I can’t help but to pity you, for you sit in ignorance, screaming about “Truths”, and ironically drive this country’s progress into the ground, all in the name of selfish interests or ignorantly induced justifications.
For those of you who proclaim to be some sort of religious people, I wonder how you manage to be at ease with your conscience when you don’t even follow the examples of your Jesus Christ; helping the poor, not judging others, loving thy neighbors. I mean, you’d rather bitch and moan about taxes going to “lazy black people and illegal aliens” even when a single payer, universal health care system would end up saving you money over all. And, you bitch about this while in your own Bible it says that Jesus said, “Give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s (taxes) and Give unto God what is God’s (admiration, following, BEING GOOD PEOPLE)
16And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
17Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
18But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
19Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
20And he saith unto them, Whose is this image (picture) and superscription (engraved name)?
21They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.
22When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.
Anyways, I don’t this comment will make any of you question your hypocritical or intellectually lazy ways, but I can at least hope so, I suppose.
Keep advertising on Glenn Beck if it helps your bottom line.
I don’t associate your advertising with Beck anyway.
Please don’t bow down to the agenda of these corrupt union bosses.
I’ve emailed my large comment into the gentleman that contacted me since I was still unable to get it to go through.
In the mean time, I would like some more information from a few people, and urge those who are in support of Beck’s program continuing to be supported by Tax Masters to cite proof with their allegations.
Andrew Palashewsky, what “historical areas others have ignored for decades?” Please back up your assertion with some sources.
Kristy: For me, I’m contacting sponsors to hopefully send a message to FNC that these sponsors have agreed with us that Beck is twisting words, misrepresenting, or even outright lying, and the best way to do that with any large company is money. I’m also hoping more people come to realize this and check the “facts” themselves.
Friday: Which rights are being stolen from us? Generally people use this phrase talking about health care reform. Which in reality huge handout to insurance companies that was pretty darn close to what AHIP wanted http://www.ahip.org/content/pressrelease.aspx?docid=25126
Maria: There are plenty of people on the “Left” that work hard, earn money, and pay taxes. My boyfriend just filed his and is actually owed money back! Do some research and see why most poor people continue to be poor, and keep this conversation about why Glenn should or shouldn’t be sponsored by this company!
Norine: What Socialist forces? Can you please cite some examples of who and how they are acting that way? What threats is the US under that only Glenn Beck can uncover them, Shadow Governments? Lizard people?
Well, I was surprised to see that this forum was here to express my views on this subject, but I think everyone who posted here is kind of missing the point. I don’t think its about whether you like Glenn Beck’s program or not. Taxmasters advertises on many other programs as well.
My objection is that the whole purpose of the service Taxmasters offers (or at least the message in the commercials) is to enable tax cheats. Believe me, I hate taxes, hold strong Libertarian beliefs, and would prefer a massive simplification and reduction in the federal tax code. But when your ads say “if you OWE the IRS” back taxes (not “if you’ve been incorrectly audited by the IRS”), you are promising to help people pay less than their share, at the expense of people like me who don’t try to cheat the system. We need to pay lower taxes by changing the system rather than failing to pay and having a lawyer get you a deal from the IRS.
Now here is my only tie-in to Glenn Beck – if he is such a Libertarian and believes in self reliance and self determination, then he would see the facts here as well and wouldn’t accept TaxMasters as an advertiser. According to at least one study, 58.2% of Americans in 2007 took more from the government than they contributed (up from 28.7% in 1950). I am one of the remaining 47% that is stuck supporting the rest of the dependent population, and I think that a service like TaxMasters just helps contribute to that. I think Beck is a fraud, not a Libertarian/conservative at all, but an entertainer who sucks people in with emotional appeals and nonsense logic. If anything, he is the Progessive’s greatest weapon by painting all patriots as kooks.
I had to post after what these so called Americans have done today. These fools have mailed a FAKE anthrax envelop to Tax Masters headquarters. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6950170.html
These people like “nanc” who posted above “stand behind our president unconditionally like a true patriot” are the weak-minded and foolish tools the Obama administration/advisers want and need to destroy America. History tells us they are the sheep who voluntarily go to the slaughter. Which sometimes just has to happen to thin the herd. But when they start BULLYING hard working true American’s to stop growing their businesses, is where it has to stop. America is great for one reason, freedom to pursue an opportunity to provide a better life for yourself. Tax Masters provide a valuable service to their customers and have a right to advertise anyhow they want. AMERICA LAND OF THE FREE!
Wake up! those of you who are blindly (unconditionally) following Obama. You are not patriotic, just ignorant to the real world.
If you are emotionally affected by anything Beck says, you should have your head examined. The issues of Obama, his administration, and individuals that influence his thinking have nothing to do with YOU!!
Instead of mailing FAKE Anthrax, go prove Glen Beck wrong. Work hard and get your own t.v. and radio show and prove him wrong. Your organization leaders are Obama’s Advisers!! They want you to act this way so you don’t noticed your life getting worse. Stop, think, and be respectful to the businesses that we all depend on to make America great.
Chris, I hope that you read or continue reading the rest of the book you quoted.
Any smart, diligent, hard working individual is going to pay their taxes, but they also want to make decisions for themselves and their family. We do want the government to make the decisions.
It is always the people that are out of touch with reality and are incapable of make a good case for change that depend on government to bend the people by force.
Here is the ultimate questions for you that want a big government. What do you do with an all powerful government when Beck’s son becomes president?? Leaders and their agenda’s are temporary but the foothold of government in your life is….? Well, very hard to overthrow. God wants you in control of your own life not enslaved to Obama/Bush/Beck/SCIU/… people. Besides, health care and social justice are not a right given by God, it is a privilege one works for. And the Bible Belt (people that read the entire book and live it) give more in charity than the east and west cost combined.
When you have to take away all our God given rights to benefit a few, stop and get an extra job and support them yourself.
Thank you for continuing your ads on Fox News. That means you are standing up for freedom in America. You have that right without people telling you which airways are acceptable for you. Any sensible business person is going to want to advertise where the viewers are. Anyone checking into viewer statistics knows that is Fox News.
Anyone whose best dictionary and encyclopedia for factual data appears to be Wikipedia and Huffington Post really shouldn’t be taken seriously.
It seems that Beck puts on the film and tapes of these people saying things. Then lo, and behold, here come the zombies accusing him of lying!! When one says he is a communist, another says Mao is one of her favorite philosophers, another says that Chavez does it the right way finally, when he takes control of the media outlets in Venezuela, Mr. Beck doesn’t have to make up the story. He can just show the film. These people have been asked to call and discuss these issues.
By the way, being a patriot does not mean supporting the President on every thing. I’m reasonably sure you did not support our past president on every thing; does that mean you were not a patriot?
Thank you, TaxMasters, for standing up for American principles.
Lain: Why do you blame the left for the fake anthrax? And, even assuming it was someone of a left leaning political ideals, it’s still better than the nut job “Patriots” who are smashing bricks through windows, sending death threats to politicians, and cutting gas lines at politician’s family members homes. Its pretty hilarious how you try to discredit the majority of the population of America with a story about a hoax.
Anyways, yes, this is America, land of the free and where freedom of expression and (somewhat) free market are. This means consumers have the right and obligation to speak with their dollars, something Beck just loves to preach about. Given that the majority of Beck’s sponsors have pulled their ads from his show, it just goes to prove how ridiculous Beck is and how rational and non-intellectually lazy American’s feel about him.
Also, no one is demanding a huge, intrusive government, so take that rhetoric and shove it somewhere nicely. Wanting universal health coverage for the nation is not demanding totalitarianism, regardless of how many times the entertainer, Glen Beck, tries to use it as a scare tactic as he minces and obfuscates words and phrases to worry people. Real Americans want a healthy country, a population of strong workers, and a society that focuses on the safety of its people, rather than the profits for corporations that only exist to profit off of denying you health care. Real Americans want cheaper health care and don’t want to pay more than any other first world (and many third world) countries, while receiving so much less in return. Real Americans are tired of corporations gouging them more and more every year and want price controls to stop the run away price increases. Real Americans voted Obama in to work to fix that, and due to the constant blind opposition of Republicans trying to appeal to their ignorant voters, we ended up with a ridiculous health care bill that was basically the republican bill proposed during Clinton’s attempt to stop this ridiculousness a decade ago. Congratulations, your childish politicians allowed the corporations to get yet another hand out with this bill, instead of giving them competition with a proper public option. You literally stopped people from having more options.
But, back to your post. If you want to talk about blind followers, just look at these comments on this page you are posting on about how Beck only speaks the truth.
Here’s a link that you probably won’t read and http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2010/0426/entertainment-fox-news-simon-schuster-glenn-beck-inc.html , but it talks about Beck and has quotes from him about how he makes money being an entertainer and doesn’t even care about politics. Here is an excerpt from it, in case you’re too busy sticking your fingers in your ears and screaming “la la la”.
——————————————
With a deadpan, Beck insists that he is not political: “I could give a flying crap about the political process.” Making money, on the other hand, is to be taken very seriously, and controversy is its own coinage. “We’re an entertainment company,” Beck says. He has managed to monetize virtually everything that comes out of his mouth. He gets $13 million a year from print (books plus the ten-issue-a-year magazine Fusion). Radio brings in $10 million. Digital (including a newsletter, the ad-supported Glennbeck.com and merchandise) pulls in $4 million. Speaking and events are good for $3 million and television for $2 million.”
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Now, you talk about God given rights being taken away from us, while at the same time saying social justice and health care are not rights, merely privileges. So, what are these God given rights are complaining about losing? Taxes. You are crying about taxes. You don’t want to pay your fair share into a country that has given you the opportunities to have had, that many other likely did not. Again, you are being a selfish, hypocritical religious charlatan, much like most of Beck’s audience, and you lack the guts to admit your selfishness out loud, and probably to yourself, as you justify it with excuses. You should be ashamed of yourself that you give Christians a bad name with your selfish desires for worldly accumulation of wealth, at the expense of others’ suffering.
It says a lot about you as a person when I, as a non-religious person, care more about my fellow citizens than you do, and I don’t even have a prophet telling me to be a good person or face eternal hell.
And to all the ignorant “Patriots” commenting here, your life is bathed in socialism all around you in this country. Socialism isn’t inherently bad, and just like “pure capitalism” is a bad thing, existing no where in the world, so is “pure socialism”, which exists no where, either. America is built on a mixed economy and never was this fictional corporate utopia you think it should be. So, stop turning into retarded children whenever you hear word “socialism”, because you are living in it every single day.
Here is an old post that came up in a discussion a while back that I love when it comes to this topic:
” I AM AN AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE SHITHEEL
This morning I was awoken by my alarm clock powered by electricity generated by the public power monopoly regulated by the US department of energy. I then took a shower in the clean water provided by the municipal water utility. After that, I turned on the TV to one of the FCC regulated channels to see what the national weather service of the national oceanographic and atmospheric administration determined the weather was going to be like using satellites designed, built, and launched by the national aeronautics and space administration. I watched this while eating my breakfast of US department of agriculture inspected food and taking the drugs which have been determined as safe by the food and drug administration.
At the appropriate time as regulated by the US congress and kept accurate by the national institute of standards and technology and the US naval observatory, I get into my national highway traffic safety administration approved automobile and set out to work on the roads build by the local, state, and federal departments of transportation, possibly stopping to purchase additional fuel of a quality level determined by the environmental protection agency, using legal tender issued by the federal reserve bank. On the way out the door, I deposit any mail I have to be sent out via the US postal service and drop the kids off at the public school.
After spending another day not being maimed or killed at work thanks to the workplace regulations imposed by the department of labor and the occupational safety and health administration, enjoying another two meals which again do not kill me because of the USDA, I drive my NHTSA car back home on the DOT roads, to my house, which has not burned down in my absence because of the state and local building codes and fire marshal’s inspection, and which has not been plundered of all it’s valuables thanks to the local police department.
I then log on to the internet which was developed by the defense advanced research projects administration and post on freerepublic.com and fox news forums about how SOCIALISM in medicine is BAD because the government can’t do anything right.”
I only wish it included something about being on medicare or military tricare health insurance to make it even better.
Patrick,
Thank you for your continued support of Glenn Beck by choosing to spend your advertising dollars with him. We all have to stand strong for what we believe in as our freedoms are being attacked from every angle. Truly scary times, as the future I thought my family could look forward to is in jeopardy with every passing day.
Don’t let those SEIU bullies push you around.
Boulder, CO
Lain – you don’t understand the concept of ‘burden of proof.’ It is not up to us to prove Glenn Beck wrong – it is up to Glenn Beck to support the crazy lies coming out of his mouth. Unfortunately, his supporting evidence consists of more disinformation, twisted views of history, and generally unfounded positions. Even more unfortunately, his audience buys all of this hook, line and sinker because they are, sorry to say, too lazy to fact check his claims, or all to happy to just roll with it regardless because he happens to appeal to their inner child. You’ve been taken in by a con artist who is more interested in making money than actually bothering to tell his viewers the truth. You say, “Work hard and get your own t.v. and radio show and prove him wrong” – but as Glenn Beck has shown, you don’t need to work hard and say worthwhile things to become successful. You just need to make as many ludicrously crazy claims as possible, insist that you are “just asking” questions and fail to prove your assertions in any way, shape or form beyond ill-conceived chalkboard scribblings. Our sincere apologies if it is so hard to take seriously a man who, several years into his act, still can’t coherently or factually define terms like ‘socialist,’ ‘progressive,’ etc… These are things that many first year college students can do without a problem. Why are you – his loyal, concerned viewers – so unconcerned about the fact that fact is precisely what is missing from his show(s)?
Patrick – I must admit I was surprised to see your add on Glenn Beck’s show since I never notice who is supporting what show. However, I support your support of Glenn. I love Glenn Beck. He speaks the truth. I know since I lived through much of the history he speaks of. Where else can we hear truth in today’s world? Certainly not from the polititians and not in many history books used in our schools. It makes my blood boil to know some of the things our children are learning in school these days.
I watch the Fox Channel on TV and some music because there is hardly anything else on except for sex and murder and explosions on the other channels. Nothing I want to see.
The Internal Revenue Service not only audit people who are trying to cheat on their tax; they also audit people who they want to put some pressure on when they are condeming property for government use.
It all depends on who you want to reach with your advertising. The far left will not be watching the Glen Beck show. You will reach a whole different crowd by advertising there. Keep advertising on the Glenn Beck Show.
See, people like Patrick are the intellectually lazy, ignorant people I was talking about. The ones who repeat “Glenn Beck is Truth” over and over but who never actually bother to check if what he says is true. Much easier to just be lazy and take his nonsense as gospel.
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2010/0426/entertainment-fox-news-simon-schuster-glenn-beck-inc.html
Read this link and stop being fools. Glenn Beck is an entertainer and nothing more and its why people like him and Limbaugh will never actually run for office, because they can’t lie, fear monger, and distort the truth in order to fool people and make money off of it without real consequences. In fact, the controversy they create only makes them more money.
Chris – You are misguided in your belief that Obama, Bush(s), Clinton, McCain republicans, and most of the Dems don’t want to grow government for the simple reason to control and tax. Their greed for power is a hundred times that of the worse corporation. They don’t give a crap about your health, they just want your ability to control your own life given to them. They know best. You think that government provided our comforts and safe living? Conservatives did by creating checks and balances!
You don’t think the your man in the house isn’t out to make a buck?? Wake up. They have had the votes to pass any type of health care, that is, if your own party would agree and stop fighting for power and special privileges. Stop blaming others for your short comings, own up to them and accept that its a bad idea for government to provide health care.
What did all the poor sick people do over the past 60 years, for that matter for the last 1000 years. They went to work!!!
It’s not greed driving most Americans to stop the government from controlling 1/6th of our economy and taking more control our own money. It is responsibility for self.
And did the fact that Christians have done more good than any agnostic government slip by you.
Not all of the founding fathers believed in God, but they all knew that history repeats itself. (all of Europe crushed the hopes of the people, and social redistribution burned Rome to the ground) So they used their wisdom and intelligence to limit government and empower the individual. Sure it comes with risk, but a life is not worth living without risk and a government telling how to live.
You and a few others may have voted for Obama to create a government run health care but the rest did not. Just like conservatives did not vote for Bush to pass the part D pharmaceutical benefits.
It not greed or not caring for people, when a conservative expects everyone to earn privileges like good health. It is motivation for your dependent, government relying, voters to stop buying in to your promise to end hunger, end poverty, end war, end global warming, end global cooling, end illusory discrimination.
By the way, how is that war on poverty going? 40 years a nothing to show for it.
We conservatives have not, and will never use government to bend or nudge social change. Because, freedom and the right to pursue opportunity (property) will always correct itself. It is the only TRUE equal opportunity!! There is Good and there is Evil. Both Corporations and Governments are capable of doing each. But the major difference is that profits and consumer trust absolutely controls corporations, but what or who controls a government in control of us by making us dependent on handouts.
I know that you think you have all the answers and your superior intelligence and generosity is unmatched by all conservatives. But please stop getting hung up on parties and your religion of no religion and exercise your God given right to do with your money as you wish. I would suggest that you stop paying your extra taxes and give it to the family down the road that need to pay for health care. Oh, you probably don’t pay any extra tax, do you? You must be greedy.
Andrew, Change the channel! I do when Bill Maher and Rossie come on! Get over it and stop boycotting companies that you never have heard of until your leader told you to boycott them.
Stand up as an individual and own your life. You and I will be better off.
Stop politicizing this issue, it isn’t about right wing or left wing. What it is about, however, is Glenn Beck saying terribly racist, sexist, and factually untrue things as if they’re gospel. I don’t have to be a Republican or Democrat to be offended by him trivializing Slavery, for example, by stating the healthcare bill is the exact same thing as what my ancestors went through in this country’s early history.
I couldn’t care less if he goose-stepped around his stage spouting about the glory of communism, political ideologies have nothing to do with him being a racist tool. A cursory google seach about the subject will come up with a wide range of various things completely messed up about the man. He’s gone so far as to imply the government is trying to control the population through involuntary sterilization!
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/jul/29/glenn-beck/glenn-beck-claims-science-czar-john-holdren-propos/
As well, here’s a good list of statements made, expertly debunked and proven as lies.
http://www.politifact.com/personalities/glenn-beck/statements/
I cannot, in good conscience, accept any business in good standing that does not vehemently refuse to connect to Glenn Beck :\
Lain: “We conservatives have not, and will never use government to bend or nudge social change.”
Seriously?
Anti gay marriage laws, abortion laws, blue laws, etc, etc. Think about your words before you type them.
Also, yes, we know that conservatives are quite happy to never see any positive social change for anyone who isn’t white and Christian. This is not admirable.
And the fact that you consider not dying to be a privilege should tell people all they need to know. I mean: Life, Libery and the Pursuit of Happiness – it’s the first one!
I’m going to give Glenn credit here… for being a master manipulator.
Look at his previous show and his youtube videos prior to being signed on FOX. I didn’t see any Beck ranting about “Government big brother” when the PATRIOT Act allowed for wiretapping of Americans, or such. Heck, look at Glenn’s youtube video after his surgery and he rants AGAINST the healthcare industry for not caring about “the little guy”. Why would Glenn suddenly go from that to “healthcare is socialism”? Because that’s what the people who watch FOX want to here.
Many of the comments here praise Glenn as “speaking the truth” and things “other people don’t say”. There’s a very good reason to this: he makes it all up. Look at a minute of Glenn’s show, it’s him in front of a chalkboard (to reinforce the idea that he is “teaching”) taking pictures of Obama and a myriad of google-searched pictures of politicans and people considered “unamerican” (this includes FDR, Wilson, various others) and drawing lines between them. Does Glenn back it up with facts? No!
Here’s a challenge to anybody, Glenn supporter or not. Watch one episode of his show. Take everything he says, and research into it. Don’t take it at his word, just research it. Go to a library (another socialist invention), read a book on his subject, and look and see the lies that he spits through his teeth.
Nevermind that, nobody should be advertising on his show, if anything, just because he promotes violence against the government and says plenty of thinly veiled racist comments. Remember his “Obama is racist/hates white culture” comment? Do you also remember his response during an interview where he was asked what “white culture” is? He couldn’t answer. He is too busy promoting another American Revolution in the meantime, comparing himself to the Framers and telling people how Obama/ACORN/various other acronyms is trying to kill them, and then afterwards says “but i’m not promoting violence or anything!” Really? If you tell anybody that somebody is going to destroy them and their country, are you going to expect them to stay calm and quiet? Do you also remember his “the government thinks minorities are worth more than whites” comment? He is appealing to the stormfront ideology of “white america under attack”, on the most watched cable news network in America. On an added note, it’s only the most watched network simply because of immense brand loyalty. Because, according to FOX, every other network is a liberal promoting lying communist network.
That’s journalism for you, America.
Glenn Beck is not just stupid and crazy, he is harmful.
Also, to the person who stated “What did all the poor sick people do over the past 60 years, for that matter for the last 1000 years. They went to work!!!”
I’d like to think we progressed a little bit over the primitivity of the past.
If Tax Masters sold official NASCAR-branded home sterilization kits, my vote would go to blitzing the entire Fox news network twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week forever (or until the money ran out).
But unfortunately, Tax Masters doesn’t appear to sell such a product. In which case my advice to Tax Masters and anyone else who reads this is:
Sleep well at night.
Beck exploits his audiences stupidity and ignorance for (hilarious amounts of) money and I can’t imagine that increasing business with his audience is worth tying your reputation to *that.*
It would be like running your advertisement during a Jersey Shore episode or even worse than that. I do not take advertisements seriously that I see during such shows because they pander to the inept.
Lain,
A boycott is just as much an expression of one’s opinions as is changing the channel. Boycotting, however, creates a greater impact. As the old free market saying goes, consumers “vote with their feet”, and when I vote to boycott companies that advertise on Glenn Beck’s deplorable program, I do so hoping that these companies will take notice of the beliefs of their potential customers. The most savvy companies are always the ones that are in tune with the will of their target market, and if enough people disagree with their implicit support of Mr. Beck’s program (by advertising in his slot) then hopefully these companies will discontinue their support and weaken Mr. Beck’s ability to maintain his show.
Essentially what I’m doing is saying to these advertisers:
“Hey! If you’d rather not appear sleazy in the eyes of a potential customer, don’t advertise on Glenn Beck’s time slot!”
This is not about forcing advertisers to do anything or forcing Glenn Beck off the air waves; that would be wrong. It’s just another form of protesting. If enough advertisers pull out then Mr. Beck’s program will not be profitable and Fox News might discontinue it. Again, it’s not about forcing my opinions on anyone else or just boycotting to “get my way”. It’s just a protest, pure and simple.
It’s also my belief as an individual. I don’t do this just because I was told to.
Lain, like I said, you are a greedy, hypocrite and you sit in denial about it. You use fallacies and absurd justifications to rationalize to yourself that you aren’t. You are the embodiment of the “[REDACTED] you, Got mine!” mindset in America.
[admin--Careful, Chris. Keep it respectful and rated G.]
—-”Their greed for power is a hundred times that of the worse corporation. They don’t give a crap about your health, they just want your ability to control your own life given to them. They know best.”—-
I see, you are one of those paranoid and delusional Alex Jones listeners…
—-”You think that government provided our comforts and safe living? Conservatives did by creating checks and balances! “—-
Haha, what does this even mean? First of all, “checks and balances” has existed long before the United States of America has, and it was not the Republicans who are responsible for its inclusion in our government. Regulations, social welfare, taxes, and our mixed economy are where our comforts and safe living come from. Unless you live in a gates community, with a private police, private military, and private fire station. Lol, your delusions are just sad.
—-”You don’t think the your man in the house isn’t out to make a buck?? Wake up. They have had the votes to pass any type of health care, that is, if your own party would agree and stop fighting for power and special privileges. Stop blaming others for your short comings, own up to them and accept that its a bad idea for government to provide health care. “—-
Obama got the bill he wanted, a corporate hand out. The same bill your Republican politicians wanted. The reason it got passed is because your despicable congressman and senators would rather play the election campaign obstructionist game and give a free pass for Obama and the Democrats to water down the bill in the name of “Bipartisanship”. There were not enough noble politicians to get proper healthcare passed with corporations lobbying with millions of dollars and childish Republican obstructionism running rampant.
—-”What did all the poor sick people do over the past 60 years, for that matter for the last 1000 years. They went to work!!! “—-
No, they went to the ER, skipped on the bills, and you pay higher insurance premiums because the hospitals charge more to spread their costs around and your insurance company works harder to cut their losses by refusing treatment to people. Do you realize how reality works? Apparently not.
—-”It’s not greed driving most Americans to stop the government from controlling 1/6th of our economy and taking more control our own money. It is responsibility for self.”—-
Repeating the “1/6″ of the economy talking point meme is as fucking stupid as saying “the bill is x number of pages”. Please stop doing it because it makes you look like simpleton. And yes, it is either greed, misguided ignorance, or absurd paranoia that causes people to not want effective change to stop the rampant problems and price gouging in the medical insurance/care industry.
—-”And did the fact that Christians have done more good than any agnostic government slip by you. “—-
You mean things like the Crusades, Salem Witch Trials, and the impeding of scientific advancement because it was showing to be contradictory to Religion? Sorry the world isn’t flat and that the sun doesn’t revolve around it, but religion is a relic from a time when people needed guidance and purpose and has long been used to control people and take money from them, a tax if you will.
_________________________________________
“Not all of the founding fathers believed in God, but they all knew that history repeats itself. (all of Europe crushed the hopes of the people, and social redistribution burned Rome to the ground) So they used their wisdom and intelligence to limit government and empower the individual. Sure it comes with risk, but a life is not worth living without risk and a government telling how to live.”—-
Yes, religion in Europe caused people to run from it, though you are grossly ignorant of what caused Rome to fall. Though I doubt you would actually bother to educate yourself on that topic and would rather use something you heard from Glenn Beck as an argument.
The founding did NOT want to simply limit government power, they wanted checks and balances of what was done with that power. Something George W. Bush despised and constantly ignored. And the government has never told you how to live, so stop repeating that retarded rhetoric. The very fact that you can say this absurd trash is proof to that.
—-”We conservatives have not, and will never use government to bend or nudge social change”—-
Yes, its obvious that Republicans enjoy such things as slavery, a racist and sexist society, and the status quo. It is painfully obvious.
—-”Because, freedom and the right to pursue opportunity (property) will always correct itself. It is the only TRUE equal opportunity!!”—-
What the hell does this even mean? Could you possibly explain your generic talking points or would that be too much trouble for you?
—-”There is Good and there is Evil. Both Corporations and Governments are capable of doing each. But the major difference is that profits and consumer trust absolutely controls corporations, but what or who controls a government in control of us by making us dependent on handouts.”—-
Governments are changed by votes and corrupted by selfish voters. Corporates are ONLY beholden to increasing profits for shareholders. You need to back up this absurd notion of altruistic corporations and evil governments with any sort of facts or sources if you want me to respond to this with anything of than rolling my eyes and vomiting in disgust at your pitiful mindset.
—-”But please stop getting hung up on parties and your religion of no religion and exercise your God given right to do with your money as you wish.”—-
Currency is not a god given right. The fact that you think it is, while saying being healthy is not a right, only shows your selfish hypocrisy in blinding light.
—-”I would suggest that you stop paying your extra taxes and give it to the family down the road that need to pay for health care.”—-
I would gladly pay a tax that goes towards helping my neighbors get life saving medical care (and not go to for profit insurance companies who simply hand my money to a doctor, an industry that has no right to exist) and I would hope they would want to do the same for their neighbors when they are in need. Its almost like something Jesus would tell me to do! Well, if I believed him him, that is.
—-”Oh, you probably don’t pay any extra tax, do you? You must be greedy.”—-
Care to elaborate on this comment? I’m finding it hard to follow your logic, but then again you don’t seem to follow any logic yourself. Maybe you’re just trying to make a joke, but we already know Republicans have no idea what humor is.
Maybe next time health care reform issues come up, you will spend your efforts to make proper, money saving changes rather than letting for-profit insurance vultures get mandatory enrollment and government handouts as a round about way to save individuals money on health care costs. But, no, you had to run around screaming about Nazi Communism Socialist zombies taking over America and killing grandma with death panels. What is wrong with you people? You can’t even be sane enough to let your greed save you money with a public option or single payer because your ridiculous outlook is that if corporations aren’t profiting off of it then it isn’t right. Then again, I guess you can’t expect much more out of people who don’t even understand that there are huge differences between Nazism, Communism, and Socialism or that there is already Socialism mixed into America (Medicare, Law enforcement, military, military medical insurance, fire services, roads, regulation agencies, social security, grants for starting business, grants for going to school, etc etc etc) and has been for their entire lives.
Most of the comments on here are totally insane. If this company advertises on Glenn Beck and FOX, that is the audience they want to reach: the ignorant, easily misled, easily scared, non fact checking, right wing, selfish, money hungry, backward people that are engrossed by them.
CHRIS: you are wasting your time.
I don’t watch Glenn Beck, but I guess I’ll have to check it out now. It is abhorrent that a union like seiu (that is full of corruption (ie..acorn) and doesn’t support everyone’s right to a secret ballot is spending time & effort to run a campaign to inundate advertisers – because they can’t make a legitimate argument to win the hearts and minds of the public about a subject. If Tax Masters didn’t get business from Glenn Beck viewers they would pull the ads. Obviously they are getting business, so people must be watching Glenn Beck. If people are watching Glenn Beck he must be saying things the people want to hear.
“If people are watching Glenn Beck he must be saying things the people want to hear.”
Yes, people don’t like to hear the truth so they watch Glenn Beck’s entertainment program instead. That isn’t a valid point towards his support, though.
Let me start by saying that; I arrived from Cuba via PAN-Am flight in Feb 24 1962 at the age of 13+. My first experience with racism was on a bus were a was astounded to see the back of the buss painted black and full of ppl of color, while the rest of the bus was empty with the exception of an older white lady and me, my first thought. What kind of place is this? Where have I landed? Later after President Kennedy was assassinated theories and rumors about a Cuban conspiracy of involvement made my Junior Hi a torment, I was harassed even for being a white Cuban(third generation Spaniard) So when Glenn Beck surfaced on Fox and got on the racist bandwagon and started insulting Americas first black President, insinuating that we have to take him out at all cost, calling him a Communist, calling for a rebellion against the Government. His words, mannerisms, the truth twisting and miss-information reminded me of how Fidel Castro got to be in power. His revolution to give the country back to the ppl was a lie and we all know how that ended. In synthesis let me state the obvious there is no government take over, nobody is going to take the guns away from the ppl, there is no Communist plot,we dont need a Revolution. What we need is ppl like Glenn Beck to “stop” using his pulpit to spread lies and paranoid behavior to divide this nation. The road from the 60s has been a hard one. We dont need to re-visit those horrible decades. I will end by saying that any company that sponsors a man with those types of beliefs are doing this Nation great disservice and harm they are morally wrong. Glenn Beck hypocrisy knows no bounds. There is a difference between Freedom of spech and “fighting words”and he is walking a thin line a line no CEO would want to be. Thank You for your kind invitation and sorry I took this long Sincerely Mariano A Herrera Fine Artist
Please edit out the word “not” from no CEO would not want to be
Thanks for your input, Mariano. Edit made.
With all due respect to Senor Mariano, he seems to be confused? On one hand he cites Fidel Castro’s failed system, but fails to reconize the Actions of our President.
I think it is because he was never educated in Our “Constitution” and how a true system of a “government of the people” works. At any rate, TAX Masters should consider one thing only!!
Is Glenn Beck telling the truth? If so then Tax Masters should have the courage to keep adverizing on Fox.
Not let an organization with a special agenda dictate how run their business.
I used to be a steward in SEIU when employeed by a local County GOvernmnet, and I can tell you that the Union did not do want was good for empolyees, rather what was good for the “Union’s” political position so as to control the local government through their empolyees.
It’s all about who is going to be in power!!!
Anthony Intiso
I am a small business owner. My business has been attacked for supporting the property rights of rural America. Smear campaigns do exist and I can testify to that. Our county is the target of the “Environmental Justice” and “Monument” folks. There is a socialist agenda at work in this country. I would not have believed this a year ago, but it is most certainly true. I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies both foreign and DOMESTIC. Taxmasters, I urge you to examine your motives in what ever decision you make. As for me,
(and my business), I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees. I do not always agree with Mr. Beck, but I would defend to the death his right to speak.
Free speech is what keeps our country free. It should be encouraged. Glenn is a hero to many of us. He gives a different perspective than most news shows. He backs up his conclusions with statements and facts that can be verified. He is thought provoking, makes us think. That is something that is being lost in our society. I don’t always agree but because of his presentation I know why. I can’t say that for most news. I will be very disappointed if we loose his view on the news. I believe you will get customers you would not otherwise get by supporting his program.