The Political Environment: Lewis Black On Glenn Beck On The Daily Show

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Lewis Black On Glenn Beck On The Daily Show

Black skewers Beck's overuse and misuse of "Nazi" analogies, in case you missed it.

10 comments:

Anon Jim said...: I have to commend Lewis Black for one thing - he is one of the very few in your camp that will actually admit he is a Socialist.

That someone thinks, with all the serious issues we face today, the comments by 2 mediocre comedians on a TV show about the use of analogy by a radio talk show host is significant . . .

That is just sad.; May 13, 2010 at 2:49 PM
James Rowen said...: Black is a Socialist? In what bit did he say that.

I feel sorry for your inability to laugh along with The Daily Show.; May 13, 2010 at 2:54 PM
Anonymous said...: This specific topic, that Glenn Beck got called out on the fact that he will say anything to support his overall right-wing republican thesis, was done well, but something all not completely brainwashed people know. The bigger issue is the mixing of news and entertainment. "infotainment" I believe that infotainment is polarizing, as it gets people riled up about beliefs that they already had, and get reinforced by masters of the soundbite, with little to no facts behind them. This is true for both the left and the right. I will say that the right uses more hype and less facts, in their arguments, and all the Hitler comparisons, are just silly, but then again, infotainment has turned Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, as well as Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann into characatures, rich rich rich characatures, pretty much beyond the ability to have a reasoned discussion about any tough topic, in which the left and the right both tend to have valid points on; May 13, 2010 at 3:00 PM
Anon Jim said...: "Black is a Socialist? In what bit did he say that."

Unlike you James, I get my information from sources other than a show on Comedy Central.

Here is an interview with Mr. Black in The Progressive in which he discusses being a Socialist:

Lewis Black Interview

Btw it would be really difficult for me to laugh along with a show I have never watched.

So you don't have to feel sorry for me, but I appreciate your concern.; May 13, 2010 at 4:01 PM
James Rowen said...: You are really culturally disconnected if you have never watched The Daily Show.

By the way, I took a look at The Progressive interview. Black does not say "I am a socialist."

Here are the graphs:

Q: You describe yourself as a socialist.

Black: From the time I was kid, I saw the broader context of how we live here in the U.S. When I was twelve, I saw Edward R. Murrow’s Harvest of Shame and that was it. It led me to uncover the image versus the reality of how people live. I then learned to pronounce “apartheid” and saw the treatment of blacks here in this country as they struggled for civil rights. It made me question deeply and ask myself: How can people like migrant workers who are helping us eat not have a pot to piss in? I started learning about countries that have a “share-the-wealth” system and I said to myself, “There is nothing wrong with that. This makes sense.”

Capitalism’s problem is that it has nothing to say about how to combat greed. For all the moralizing this country does, people don’t get it: They’re greedy. And it’s gotten worse in my lifetime. You don’t even have to have socialism. I am talking about minimal things. Put money aside to fund playgrounds and high school football teams. Are you kidding me? The Grammy Awards has to make a plea to keep music in schools? I mean, what planet are we on? I guess I am asking another question in my work as well: What happened?; May 13, 2010 at 6:29 PM
Anon Jim said...: James - if you really consider The Daily Show to be an important aspect of your definition of culture, that speaks for itself.

Guess what, it has been decades since I watched any other culturally important shows like Jay Leno, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, etc.

I realize what a cultural Luddite you believe this makes me, but I just cannot bring myself to watch these mind-numbingly moronic programs.

Regarding the Lewis Black thing, just try googling it once – if you don’t understand the question and implication contained in Black’s answer – I would never be able to explain it to you.; May 13, 2010 at 10:07 PM
James Rowen said...: To Anon Jim: You say you don't watch these shows - - and there is a variety in what you list - - and never watched The Daily Show, but you know they are "these mind-numbingly moronic programs."

Quite the trick.; May 13, 2010 at 11:45 PM
James Rowen said...: One more thing, Anon Jim; When you cut yourself off from a program like Stewart's, you miss seeing a variety of authors that Stewart, the intellectual, likes to feature.

Last night, it was the free market expert Ian Bremmer. Very informative.

Stewart's guests range across the spectrum.

All in all - - your loss.; May 14, 2010 at 1:21 PM
Anon Jim said...: James - was there something in my comment from this morning that merited it being edited out and if so, what was it?; May 17, 2010 at 9:16 PM
James Rowen said...: I didn't think it added much that you hadn't said already.; May 17, 2010 at 10:33 PM