Thread: Glenn Beck Goes to Seattle. Key to City of Mt Vernon

Protesters, supporters greet Glenn Beck as he visits Seattle, Mount Vernon
As expected, Glenn Beck's return home was not met with quiet.

By Nick Perry and Susan Gilmore

MOUNT VERNON — As expected, Glenn Beck's return home was not met with quiet.

For a moment, it seemed a possibility. Inside McIntyre Hall, where the radio and TV personality was to receive a key to Mount Vernon, the sound system balked, causing a brief delay Saturday in a much-anticipated event that had fired emotions and attracted throngs of Beck supporters and critics.

"It's a left-wing conspiracy!" one woman shouted.

The crowd laughed, the sound system recovered, and the event went on. Beck accepted the city's key, receiving a standing ovation that lasted about a minute.

The presentation capped a day in which Beck appeared in Seattle and Mount Vernon, attracting large crowds of fans. Outside the venues, protesters gathered — by the dozens in Seattle and the hundreds in Mount Vernon.

Early Saturday evening, outside McIntyre Hall, Beck's supporters and critics mingled and occasionally broke into debate. Cars and trucks paraded down the street, with honking and jeering. One group made an enormous sign playing off the Mad Hatter pouring a cup of tea, only their sign said "Mad Hater" — a reference to Beck and the national "tea-party" protests.

Many Beck supporters waved American flags and held signs saying Beck deserves the key and is unafraid to tell the truth.

The crowd outside peaked at about 800 people, Mount Vernon Fire Department spokeswoman Erica Work said. She called it the largest demonstration that anyone could remember in Mount Vernon, a place known more for colorful tulips than fiery politics.

Many in the crowd — which seemed fairly evenly mixed between protesters and supporters — welcomed the outpouring of passion.

"It's the biggest demonstration of freedom of speech that's ever happened in Skagit County," said Glenn Bordner, a Mount Vernon resident for all of his 68 years. "That people should care about government this much is great. For them to get out, get involved and express their opinions on issues — that's what make democracy function and that's what defines the USA."

By early evening, there had been one arrest — of a man, standing in traffic, who had ignored repeated warnings to get off the street, Work said. He was booked into the Skagit County Jail on suspicion of disorderly conduct.

Protester Kristy Kottkey's sign said: "I drove up from Oregon to say ... I've got no respect for Beck, or Bud Norris for that matter."

It was Norris, the mayor, who decided to bestow this honor upon Beck, a Mount Vernon native whose radio show appears on hundreds of stations. Mount Vernon's City Council distanced itself, passing a resolution Wednesday saying it "is in no way sponsoring the Mayor's event on Sept. 26, 2009... "

After receiving the key, Beck spoke for about an hour, reminiscing about growing up in Mount Vernon, which he described as a "magical place," connected to the values of small-town America.

"I believe in Norman Rockwell's America," he said.

He talked about the old wooden flagpole in town, the time he got busted stealing chewing gum, and how he used to act as the remote control in his household by sitting close to the TV.

For the most part, Beck stayed away from politics.

When he talked about going to the Lincoln Theater with his mother, Beck wept. He said that Saturday's event, a fundraiser for the theater, had raised $10,000 — which he would match with another $10,000.

Beck said he didn't remember politics being divisive growing up, and that if people now could just stop "tearing each other apart" there was a bright future for the country.

Earlier, Norris gave thanks to some of the public officials who showed up to the event, including two Mount Vernon city council members, the mayor of La Conner, and state Sen. Val Stevens, R-Arlington. The mayor introduced his son-in-law, who he said had completed six tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Then he asked other people who had served to stand up — and dozens did.

Norris said it's been an interesting six weeks, with all the attention, but he wanted to emphasize that the honor was for Beck's professional success rather than his political views.

Saturday afternoon, Beck appeared at a Safeco Field event sponsored by the Evergreen Freedom Foundation. Before 7,000 fans, he described himself as the voice of reason in a divided America.

"I am a flawed human being," he said. "But I'm in a position to ring the bell of warning."

Beck came to Seattle amid a torrent of anger over his proclamation on July 28 that President Obama was a racist and that he believed the president has a "deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture."

Outside the stadium, about 30 protesters rallied against Beck.

Don Sly of Seattle held a huge, tongue-in-cheek sign that said, "Sure he's an idiot bigot, but he's our idiot bigot, Welcome Glenn."

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/l ... ck27m.html

Good going Glenn Beck.

Glenn Beck Attracts Crowds to Seattle Talk

Saturday, September 26, 2009 9:40 PM

Glenn Beck warmed up for his touted return to his Washington hometown with an appearance Saturday at Seattle's Safeco Field that drew crowds of loyal fans but also some protesters.

The Fox News commentator took the stage and joked about the controversy his planned visit to Mount Vernon, Wash., for "Glenn Beck Day" has prompted.

Beck will receive the keys to the city from Mayor Bud Norris.

That event has been criticized by some who claim Beck is too polarizing a figure. The City Council passed a resolution saying "Mount Vernon City Council is in no way sponsoring the mayor's event on Sept. 26, 2009, and is not connected to the Glenn Beck event in any manner."

Beck, a vocal critic of President Barack Obama, has garnered a strong national following, taking aim at such standard conservative targets as illegal immigration and big government spending.

The support was evident at Safeco as Beck drew cheers for declaring that winning the war on terror was more important than healthcare reform. Then booes erupted as photos of Obama and Democratic Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire appeared on a large screen.

Beck said 7,000 people attended Saturday's Evergreen Freedom Foundation's "Take the Field with Glenn Beck" at Safeco.

"He's not a racist," Craig Hartmann of Redmond, Wash. said after Beck's talk. "The race card being played by the left side of the aisle is wrong."

Outside, meanwhile, a few dozen people protested, expressing their displeasure with Beck for calling Obama a racist who hates white people.

One protester, Don Sly of Seattle, held a tongue-in-cheek welcome sign that said: "Sure he's an idiot bigot, but he's our idiot bigot."

Beck, 45, said on July 28 that Obama was a racist and that he believed the president has a "deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture."

According to Beck's Web site, he began his radio career in Seattle when he was 13 and worked at various radio stations around the country after graduating from Bellingham's Sehome High School. The Glenn Beck Program now appears on more than 350 radio stations.

Source: Associated Press.

http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/glen ... 65236.html

More here:
ALL the links have video reports

http://www.komonews.com/

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/61940897.html
W. Washington greets Glenn Beck with huzzahs, hisses

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/59799007.html
NAACP blasts Mt. Vernon award to Glenn Beck


http://www.kirotv.com/news/21104736/detail.html
Glenn Beck's Homecoming Riles Up People In Wash.


http://www.king5.com/
http://www.king5.com/topstories/stories ... 228ff.html
Glenn Beck given key to Mount Vernon

AOL POLL AT SOURCE

Glenn Beck's Homecoming Riles Locals
By MANUEL VALDES
AP
posted: 2 DAYS 19 HOURS AG0

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. (Sept. 24) - Glenn Beck's visit to his hometown in Washington state this weekend seemed simple enough on the surface, with a ceremonial key to the city awaiting him and the mayor naming the day in the Fox News personality's honor.

But this being Glenn Beck, nothing is that easy.

Groups have demonstrated on the streets and in city council meetings over the conservative commentator's visit. Petitions have been collected calling on the cancellation of the visit. A small business owner put up a sign that says: "Glenn Beck & Hatred not welcome here." And the leader of a nearby city has offered the key to his city to Jon Stewart in sort of a mayoral rebuttal.

Welcome home, Glenn.

Mount Vernon Mayor Bud Norris came up with the idea to honor Beck, proclaiming Sept. 26 as "Glenn Beck Day" as a way to honor his success as a nationally known broadcaster. The event at which Beck is scheduled to speak sold out.

The media circus and the strong public reaction over the event has not fazed Norris, who says people have sent him gifts from across the country to give to Beck.

"I knew him here as a kid," said Norris, a Republican. "I was really unaware, really, of what he was doing in the last 25 years or so until I became aware he was on CNN ... I decided to recognize him for his professional achievement, not for his political views."

Nearly on cue, though, the announcement sparked a wave of opposition, riling up the liberal base in and around Mount Vernon, an agricultural city of 26,000 people 60 miles north of Seattle.

In neighboring Whatcom County, where Beck went to high school, the mayor of Bellingham offered the keys to his city to Stewart, the host of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show."

"For me the bottom-line issue is, is somebody adding to the national conversation in a good way, are they adding to civic culture and civic discourse or not? I don't think Glenn Beck does. I think Jon Stewart does," said Bellingham Mayor Dan Pike.

Comedy Central did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment on the proposal.
In a statement, Beck said "the people of Mt. Vernon are great people and I'm humbled by this honor and proud to be from there." Beck added he learned the value of hard work at his family bakery.

In his show, though, Beck poked fun at the surrounding controversy and mocked Seattle residents.
"I'm afraid of even landing in my own home state. It used to be sane in Seattle. In the outlying areas, it used to be sane. Now, not so much," Beck said on his radio show on Sept. 2. "You don't know some of these people in Seattle ... They don't have a life. They're out hugging salmon and setting them free."

Beck's roots in Washington are deep. His father ran a bakery in downtown Mount Vernon. His mother drowned while boating in the Puget Sound when he was a teenager.

In high school, he moved to Bellingham and attended Sehome High School. Throughout his days here, he seemed keen on making a living on radio and television, landing radio and television gigs early on and a DJ job out of high school.

"I remember very well, him laying out his life goal at 12, 13 years old," said Bruce Wersen, one of Beck's childhood friends and now a local pastor. He wanted to "follow in the footsteps of Johnny Carson."
Beck's fame has soared exponentially since then as he got a show on CNN three years ago and later moved to Fox. From his syndicated radio program and TV show, Beck has become a vocal critic of President Barack Obama and shepherds a strong national following. His targets are standard conservative targets: illegal immigration, big government spending, and so on.

On a guest spot appearance in a Fox News morning show earlier this year, Beck said Obama had "deep-seated hatred for white people." That comment sparked a boycott of his Fox show and many companies pulled their advertisements.

Norris saw the controversy after the Obama comment, but he forged ahead with his plans for the event, despite opposition from his own city council.

"A person's recognition shouldn't hinge on a single statement," Norris said. "I wouldn't have said it, but I'm not going to try and tell him what to say in his profession. That's up to him."

Norris said he had worked on this visit for over a year. He's paying for it himself. But that doesn't matter to people. They see a mayor who unilaterally chose to honor a polarizing figure such as Beck.

One organization claimed it had collected more than 16,000 online signatures decrying Beck's visit. The chapter of the NAACP in neighboring Snohomish County also joined in protest, singling out Beck's comment about the president.

Demonstrations are expected at the event Saturday. His supporters are expected to show up as well.
"I'm really sorry that it is happening," said Rosie Gates-Malone, a 59-year-old Mount Vernon resident. "I think Glenn Beck is an extremely divisive, controversial person. He doesn't bring people together. I think it was a big mistake on our mayor's part."

Allison Moreland, who owns a business in downtown Mount Vernon, was vexed by the call for boycotting local businesses after Norris' announcement.

"I think the mayor has the prerogative to do what he wants," Moreland said. "The little bit I've listened to, I pretty much go along with (Beck's) stuff, what he's saying about the government. I think a lot of people need to hear it."

In the business next door, called the Mount Vernon Cafe, owner Ray Moseley shrugged off the hoopla.
"We got a lot of problems in this world," Moseley said. "There's a few of them we shouldn't get too excited about. This one being one of them."

http://news.aol.com/article/glenn-becks ... icid=main|

Love it!

"I think the mayor has the prerogative to do what he wants," Moreland said. "The little bit I've listened to, I pretty much go along with (Beck's) stuff, what he's saying about the government. I think a lot of people need to hear it."

Yeah!! I watch his show everyday now... I can't wait to see what "corruption" he will EXPOSE next!!!