Sarah Palin calls Glenn Beck an 'inspiring patriot'

Andy Barr - Apr. 29, 2010 10:30 AM
POLITICO.COM .

Sarah Palin has warmly expressed her fondness for Fox News's Glenn Beck as an "inspiring patriot" and someone to "admire."

Both Palin and Beck were named Thursday to Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people, and the former vice presidential nominee — and Fox News colleague — wrote a glowing introduction for the magazine on the controversial host.

"Who'd have thought a history buff with a quirky sense of humor and a chalkboard could make for such riveting television?" Palin wrote. "Glenn's like the high school government teacher so many wish they'd had, charting and connecting ideas with chalk-dusted fingers — kicking it old school — instead of becoming just another talking-heads show host."

Beck and Palin are the king and queen for much of the tea party movement, and the two have made a habit of publicly touting each other.

Soon after Palin signed her contract with Fox, Beck sat down with the former governor for a glowing full hour on his show. In turn, Palin has talked up Beck in posts on her Facebook page and in speeches to conservative groups.

In her piece for Time, Palin depicts Beck as a sort of crusader who dares to go against the norms established by the mainstream media.

"Glenn, 46, tackles topics other news shows would regard as arcane," Palin wrote. "Consider his desire to teach Americans about the history of the progressive movement: he's doing to progressive what Ronald Reagan did to liberal — explaining that it's a damaged brand."

"His love of the Founding Fathers inspires others to learn and respect our nation's history," she continued. "Best of all, Glenn delights in driving the self-proclaimed powers-that-be crazy."

Palin applauded Beck's high ratings in her tribute to the Fox personality.

"Even his critics (whom he annihilates in ratings) have to admire his amazing ability to galvanize everyday Americans to better themselves and peacefully engage their government," she wrote. "Though he sometimes dismisses himself as an aw-shucks guy or just a 'rodeo clown,' he's really an inspiring patriot who was once at the bottom but now makes a much needed difference from the very, very top."

The Arizona Republic is a member of the Politico Network.

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