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BREAKING NEWS | |
COUNTY NAACP JOINS PROTEST AGAINST “GLENN BECK DAY” IN MOUNT VERNON
September 19, 2009
(REGIONAL) -- The NAACP has now added its voice to the protest against Mount Vernon Mayor Bud Norris' controversial decision to present FOX news TV and radio talk show commentator Glenn Beck with a key to the city Saturday September 26 in a $25 dollar a ticket event called "Glenn Beck Day" in Mount Vernon.
The Snohomish County Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People announced its protest Friday with president Janice R. Greene, saying “Holding him up in honor stimulates the worst impulses of human nature and makes a mockery of our nation's values," highlighting Beck's inflammatory July 28th remark that he believed President Obama to be a "racist."
The statement cost Beck over three-dozen national advertisers who ordered their commercials not run within his show.
Beck is also known for such on- air musings as pondering about the killing of filmmaker Michael Moore (who’s new movie is “Capitalism: A Love Story”) and poisoning House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as well as perpetuating the long discredited "death panel" false claim about proposed health-care reform.
In statement released to media, the NAACP chapter said it sent a letter to Norris requesting a meeting on the matter adding, "Beck has a history of making divisive, offensive statements. [His] ideology is inflammatory and insulting to many of your own constituents."
The NAACP statement went on to say, "we cannot stand idly by while actions are taken which deliberately seek to stimulate the lowest impulses of human nature: using techniques of insult, intimidation, falsity, and fear. The Executive Committee of the Snohomish County Chapter has indicated its unanimous and strenuous objection to this ill-considered action. We have faith that this type of rhetoric and behavior is not embraced by the majority of the citizens of Mount Vernon or those residing in the surrounding communities."
< NORRIS SAYS NAACP IS ENTITLED TO THEIR PERCEPTION >
Norris has declined to respond to the NAACP’s statement or letter, adding the elements in the letter constitute “their perception of his career” or positions Beck takes on his TV show.
Norris declined to meet with the NAACP saying it wouldn't serve a purpose as the event is confirmed and the venue booked. The booking has been in the works for several months and coincides with an appearance Beck is making in Seattle the same day.
Norris estimated that feedback he's received has been about “50/50 if not a little bit more on the side wanting Beck to appear.
The event was Norris’s idea and was not voted upon by the city council. When Norris asked City Council members if they wanted tickets, six of the seven declined. To date the event is sold out at some 700 tickets.
Kristen Whitener, director of Mount Vernon's Chamber of Commerce has said the chambers has gotten calls from people who are very upset and are threatening not to shop in Mount Vernon.
Norris' news release about the event says Beck’s introduction to media came after winning a contest and doing an hour show on Mount Vernon's KBRC radio station after which he moved on to Seattle radio.
Beck's Web site says he began his radio career in Seattle when he was 13 and worked as a disc jockey at radio stations around the country after graduating from Bellingham's Sehome High School. His talk radio career began just 7 years ago.
The Glenn Beck radio show is now heard on more than 350 stations. His Fox TV News show debuted in January after he had hosted a nightly show on CNN Headline News for the previous two years.
< BELLINGHAM COUNTERS WITH JON STEWART DAY >
Not to be outdone by neighbors to the south of him, Bellingham’s Mayor Dan Pike says he's offering a key to his city to Jon Stewart, host of Comedy Central's satirical news/comedy program "The Daily Show" and a classic left wing, anti-hero antidote to Beck’s right wing appeal
Pike says if Mount Vernon can give native son Beck a key to the city, "perhaps Bellingham could provide a key to Mr. Stewart for the better reasons of providing cogent yet comedic analysis of news events and personalities."
The connection here? Pike says he and Stewart attended the same New Jersey high school. As of last word Pike had not heard back from Stewart.
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