Glenn Beck

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following editorial is reprinted from the March 31 edition of The Blue Banner, UNCA’s student newspaper.
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The idea that radio and television political commentator Glenn Beck may actually be mentally unstable is one that many Americans have wondered for years.

But for those considered to be on Beck’s “side” when it comes to politics, it is apparently taboo to question the almighty Beck, as one local radio host found out last week.

According to local media sources, WWNC 570-AM radio host Matt Mittan was suspended after last Thursday’s show when he openly questioned Beck’s sanity on his radio program, “Take A Stand.”

Besides airing “Take A Stand” and Beck’s program, News Radio 570-AM is also Asheville’s home for such radio “talent” as Rush Limbaugh, Neal Boortz and Sean Hannity.

Mittan’s suspension was, quite frankly, dumb and pointless.

The station suspended Mittan from his own radio show for giving his opinion on a relevant and current issue, which is basically the point of the show. It is probably not called “Take A Stand” because it features three hours of Mittan surrendering to the powers-that-be at 570-AM.

It would be one thing if his comments were legitimately upsetting, uncalled for or hurtful. But they were not. He simply questioned the sanity of a man who may, in all actuality, be a mentally unstable human being.

For anyone who has watched Beck’s FOX News show or listened to his radio program, it is easy to see that the man has serious issues that could possibly only ever be solved by many expensive sessions with a therapist, something Beck would have no trouble affording if he so desired.

On Beck’s radio and television shows last week, he questioned whether or not Democratic Party leaders were hoping to be attacked by Tea Party protesters before the health care vote. He even went as far as to say that some Democratic lawmakers wanted to be shot and killed so as to become martyrs for health care reform.

Those statements seem like something only an insane person would say, and Mittan had every right to question Beck’s sanity.
Unfortunately, Mittan’s listeners apparently found his exercise of free speech too harsh, and they wrote and called in to complain to the station manager that Mittan was being just plain mean to Beck.

Apparently, those at 570-AM agreed with their listeners’ idea that free speech has simply gone too far when it means questioning Beck.

The whole idea that people thought questioning Beck’s sanity was too harsh is hilarious and also kind of sad. Not only has Beck repeatedly caused people to question his mental stability through his strange actions and words, the other main personalities featured on the station are just as unstable as Beck.

All of them could use a mental health checkup.

Beck, Limbaugh, Hannity and Boortz are four of the biggest hatemongers and enemies of free speech that are on radio or television today. Mittan is just a guy who questioned whether or not Beck needs professional help.

The fact that people actually listen to those four radio personalities and then think that Mittan questioning Beck’s sanity crosses the line is, in itself, absolutely crazy.

The things that those four say on a daily basis are more hateful, vitriolic, divisive and wrong than probably anything Mittan has ever said in his entire life, on radio or otherwise, yet he is the one who gets complaints and receives a suspension? Go figure.

Perhaps those people should listen to Beck more carefully, as well as the other personalities, and maybe they will begin to understand what so many sane Americans have known for a long time. These guys are (expletive deleted) crazy.