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June 13, 2010 in Opinion
George E. Curry: Beck’s offer of contrition rings hollow
Glenn Beck has issued a tepid apology after mocking President Barack Obama’s 11-year-old daughter. I do not accept his apology. Not because I am unforgiving. I don’t accept it because it is halfhearted, and Beck’s latest outburst is part of a larger pattern of personal attacks on the president’s family.
Previously, Beck has made sexist comments about Michelle Obama’s appearance, falsely asserted that Obama’s parents abandoned him for Marxism, and claimed to have taken a cane from one of Obama’s aunts.
During a news conference last month in which he fielded questions about the BP oil spill, Obama said Malia had asked him, “Did you plug the hole yet, Daddy?” The next day, Beck mocked Malia and questioned her intelligence on his radio program.
Just two days earlier, commenting on an author who decided to move next door to Sarah Palin while writing a book about her, Beck said, “You don’t go after Chelsea Clinton. You don’t talk about the Bush kids.… You leave the families alone.”
But Beck didn’t take his own advice. The following is according to a transcription by the watchdog group Media Matters for America:
Beck (imitating Malia): Daddy, did you plug the hole yet? Daddy?
Co-host Pat Gray (imitating the president): No, I didn’t, honey.
Beck: Daddy, I know you’re better than (unintelligible).… And I was wondering if you’ve plugged that hole yet.
Gray: Honey, not yet.
Beck: Why not, Daddy? But, Daddy.
Gray: Not time yet, honey. Hasn’t done enough damage.…
Beck (continuing to imitate Malia): Why do you hate black people so much?
Gray: I’m part white, honey.…
Beck (laughing): This is such a ridiculous – this is such a ridiculous thing that his daughter – (imitating Malia) Daddy?
Gray: It’s so stupid.
Beck: How old is his daughter? Like 13? … “Did you plug the hole yet, Daddy?” Is that their – that’s the level of their education, that they’re coming to – they’re coming to Daddy and saying, “Daddy, did you plug the hole yet?” Plug the hole!
Beck later issued a statement saying: “In discussing how President Obama uses children to shield himself from criticism, I broke my own rule about leaving kids out of political debates. The children of public figures should be left on the sidelines. It was a stupid mistake and I apologize – and as a dad I should have known better.”
Beck was right when he said family members should be off-limits. And he’s wrong when he continues his tasteless attacks on Obama’s close relatives. Beck can save his weak apologies for anyone gullible enough to believe them.
George E. Curry is a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer. His e-mail address is gcurry@phillynews.com.
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liarsinnews on June 13 at 11:00 a.m.
I guess we all have said something at one time or another which we regret saying. I know I have. Reading some of the comments lately I`d guess their are a few sanctimonious who will pontificate saying Beck is worse than everybody because he talked about Obama`s children. I agree it was stupidity on his part. I made a comment many years ago (50) that haunts me even today. I realize it is said and done but still feel uncomfortable having saying it.
misjustice on June 13 at 6:05 p.m.
Egads! Beck’s a dad????
Dazzeetrader11 on June 13 at 9:17 p.m.
http://www.apbspeakers.com/speaker/george-e-curry
George is an Obama clone. The attack on conservatives continues. What’s new??
Orange on June 14 at 10:06 a.m.
Does Beck still have an audience?