Tears of a Clown: Glenn Beck and the Tea Bagging of America

by Dana Milbank

Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank takes a fair and balanced look at the unsettling rise of the silly Fox News host Glenn Beck.

Thomas Jefferson famously wrote that “the tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.” In America in 2010, Glenn Beck provides the very refreshment Jefferson had in Whether he’s the patriot or the tyrant, he’s definitely full of manure.

The wildly popular Fox News host with three million daily viewers perfectly captures the vitriol of our time and the fact-free state of our political culture. The secret to his success is his willingness to traffic in the fringe conspiracies and Internet hearsay that others wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot death panels, government health insurance for dogs, FEMA concen­tration camps, an Obama security force like Hitler’s SS.

But Beck, who is, according to a recent Gallup poll, admired by more Americans than the Pope, has nothing in his background that identifies him as an ideologue, giving rise to the speculation that his right-wing shtick is just that—the act of a brilliant showman, known for both his over-the-top daily out­rages and for weeping on the air.

Milbank describes, with lacerating wit, just how the former shock jock without a college degree has managed to become the most recognizable leader of antigovernment conservatives and exposes him as the guy who is single-handedly giving patri­otism a bad name.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Biography, Autobiography, Humor, Science, Cultural

261 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Dana Timothy Milbank is an American political reporter and columnist for The Washington Post.

Reviews

[Hailey Burns · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can safely say that this book was incredibly alarming. I didn't know much about Glenn Beck before reading it other than the occasional clip of his rants, but this book showed me that Beck's horrible political/entertainment antics have a huge following and a lot of power. The book was stock full of quotes from Beck, but it was unfortunately lacking in any in-depth analysis about the impact of Beck on the public's political views. Milbank clearly didn't agree with Beck and found him to be hypocritical, dangerous, and violent, but he didn't do much to explain why besides throwing pages and pages of Beck quotes at you. It was an interesting read, but the author could have gone a lot farther as far as explaining why labeling Beck's conspiracy theories, which he presents as realistic, as pure entertainment is so dangerous. Milbank didn't seem interested in offering a solution for becoming a more educated electorate or even for holding Beck accountable.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't have to read this book to discover that Glenn Beck is a boob. I've known that for awhile. But I just had to see what the author had to say about him. This should be required reading for all of the people who listen to him on radio or watch him on Fox "News." What a freaking charlatan! The funny thing is, most of the damning evidence that this guy is a nutjob doesn't come from any hard-hitting investigative reporting. It just comes right from the horse's mouth. To use one of Beck's tactics: "I'm not saying Glenn Beck is bat-poop crazy...but he's bat-poop crazy!" I'm actually beginning to think that he's an unfunny parody of Stephen Colbert rather than Stephen Colbert being a hilarious parody of Glenn Beck and his ilk.

[Jane Dugger · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is my second attempt to write this review. The first one was deleted because my HTML linking skills stink. Here goes round deux.

I concur with a fellow reader: this book could have been so much more. (Let me state for the record: I am not a fan of Glenn Beck. He is an entertainer.) The author heavily quotes Beck and unfortunately doesn't provide a lot of analysis.

Three things bothered me most. One - the author does not cite any of the quotes. Not even dates from which broadcasts the quotes are pulled from. If he wanted to be taken seriously he should have provided this information for readers.

Two - I feel the author misleads the reader on page 48 (hardcover). Milbank writes "The church's (LDS) fifth leader, Charles Nibley ..." This leads the reader to believe Charles Nibley led the LDS Chruch at some period in history. Charles Nibley was the fifth presiding bishop of the church. This is exceptionally different than being the fifth leader. definition of LDS Presiding Bishop. The fifth leader/prophet of the LDS church was Lorenzo Snow. definition of Presdient of LDS Church. The author really rides Beck inability to do proper research but yet has a huge error in his own book. Where was his fact-checker (Emily Kotecki so highly raved in his acknowledgments) on this one?

Three - This goes back to the lack of citing issue. On page 150 Millbank quotes a segment from Beck's show between him and "Beck's guest, from the conservative National Review." The author never provides a name for this guest from the National Review. If you are quoting someone and (should be) providing dates of the broadcast, you better provide their name. Otherwise a reader may think he is making it up. Why not provide this information?

I think Milbank should stick to writing columns in the Washington Post.

As for the content well as Glenn Beck states himself "I'm a rodeo clown" (http://media.glennbeck.com/content/ar...) IMO distracting and entertaining his followers for profit. People should think for themselves and form informed opinions based on their own research whether you are conservative or liberal or who knows what.

[Ananova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book wasn’t that great, but I’ve always found Glenn Beck (and I’m a Conservative) to be a tool. The guy is a shammer - he is as phony as they get. He fired his most popular up and coming star (Tomi Lahren) because she voices her own opinion that wasn’t even on HIS show, she just happened to work for his company that he calls “fair” and “warriors of freedom and FREE SPEECH” lol. Tomi (love or hate her) has gone on to be known pretty well, and made herself into something, while Beck has steadily declined I’d say since about ...2013ish? The guy bashed anyone who thinks differently, he mocks callers on his show who disagree...and while I’m not the biggest Trump fan, his treatment of Trump I think was the nail in his coffin. The fake tears was the lid being slammed shut...yes, sorry...this is more an indictment of Beck, rather than a review of the book...but I’m giving it 4* just because I think Beck is a con man and I CANT support him in any possible way...(does ANYONE anymore!?)

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I laughed throughout Dana Milbank's book, Homo Politicus, and expected the same humor in this book. Alas,this book leaves the reader sad and angry that such antics can affect millions of listeners and viewers. Of those of Beck's targets I quote Albert Einstein who said, "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds."

[Brad Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Supposed to be a pretty thorough rebuking of the farce that is Glenn Beck. Hopefully it follows through on that promise.

Update: this book did not disappoint. Just further proof of the fraud that is Glenn Beck.

[Kate (lkatemm on Storygraph) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes, it is an expanded magazine article, but that's no problem for me since I got it from the library. I think it's a good way to familiarize yourself with Beck's lunacy without having to listen to his voice or see his face. It's pretty scary stuff.

[Mark · Rating 1 out of 5]

Musings of a drug addled brain as reported by Washington Post columnist. How any sane person could believe the fictions and distortions put out by Beck is beyong human comprehension. As Beck would say "I am just saying I think Beck is stupid. I am not saying he is I am just saying."

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

A quick, entertaining glance at the phenomenon that is Glenn Beck, this book is more a collection of the more outrageous of his quotes than an attempt at serious biography. While perhaps valuable for anyone who want to become familiar with Beck's "thought world" but who is unable to watch more than a few minutes of his Fox News program before the bile rises to unbearable levels or the head becomes dizzy trying to follow the logic, it provides little information about Beck himself, giving only a bare bones sketch of his life and only the minimum analysis of his character. Milbank is unable to even decide whether the TV Beck is genuine, if he seriously believes everything he says, all those grand conspiracy theories, or whether the on-air persona is just an act, his fear mongering only shtick used to increase ratings. Course, this indecision may not be Milbank's fault - Beck himself might be confused about this - might not know what he believes with any certainty. Nevertheless, the book does provide a few clues to understanding Beck's thought - particularly in linking it to Cleon Skousen, a Mormon anti-Communist John Bircher who wrote books on Mormon End Times prophesy, and, of course, on politics. Skousen's best known work, "The Five Thousand Year Leap" is an extensive panegyric on the Founding Fathers - relating how they, guided by the Bible, based the Constitution on Christian Principles. Sound familiar? And if you want to know why Beck often repeats his dog whistle phrase: "The Constitution is Hanging by a Thread", Milbanks suggests that the answer may be found in the Mormon "White Horse Prophecy". Although pointing out this Mormon influence, almost in an off-hand manner, Milbanks does little with it, does little to analyze it, to develop its implications. And, as a few minutes spent on the internet reveals, this connection is profound, the Mormon influence is deep. Even the Wikipedia articles on Skousen and his book are quite illuminating on the sources of "Beck Thought". One wonders why Milbank gives only cursory attention to this. Wonders whether he is reluctant to give offense to a religion (even though Skousen and his Freemen Institute are on the far fringes of Mormon thought), or whether the author, regarding Beck as only a clown, feels no need to take his thinking seriously - whether believing it to be only nonsense, he feels no need to analyze it, to describe its sources, its implications. This is the major failure of the book. Because the author sees Beck solely as a clown, his book does not consider the reasons why Beck is so influential, or why he has the backing of a television network, or why the Tea Party Movement that he inspired and still leads has become so politically powerful, or why that Tea Party receives enormous financial support from undisclosed sources. It does not consider just why Beck is considered so useful to those powerful sources, nor the uses to which they put him. Sadly, this book is a very light treatment of a very serious menace.

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

After failing to complete my twelve book reading goal for 2010 I lowered it to ten for 2011. Reading No Logo, although faster than I original thought, took up a big chunk of my reading time and already put me behind for this years reading goal. So after No Logo, In Captivity and a few other comics I knew I had to knock out an easy layup of a book. And that's where Dana Milbank's Tears of a Clown comes in. In the interest of full disclosure I'm not a Glenn Beck fan but on the same note I also watch multiple news outlets and make decisions for myself. Fox News and their talking heads like to boast about what they report and how they report it to their viewers and I would really like to know how many of those viewers actually change the channel and find out for themselves. But, this isn't an attack on Fox. I remember Glenn from his HLN days (owned by CNN) and his transformation to resident flame thrower at Fox has been shocking to say the very least. This book is an easy read and for anyone trying to understand Glenn Beck and his character (sometime literally) this is the best and first place you should start. Written mostly from his own words with clarification, fact checking and history from the author Tears of a Clown is a window peak into this generations news outlets and one of the biggest names in the game. Hiding behind the claim that he isn't a journalist but a commentator Beck give himself the license and defense to claim outlandish accusations, create fires and be a blatant TV televangelist. A mix between crazy insane and insane Beck has taken the mantle of news as entertainment and accountability is just a word without meaning to the furthest extreme possible. During the book Beck is compared to Depression area radio personality Father Coughlins and without a doubt Beck is our eras Father Coughlins. I just hope seventy years down the road Beck will be just as obscure as Father Coughlins is to our generations when the new Beck/Coughlins enigma comes on the scene. Now a days people want entertainment news where a personality tells how to feel and what to think. It's almost impossible to find news in a word of commentary. Beck is allowed to thrive in a world where fear and ignorance trumps all reason. Literally grown people are scared and enraged by the ramblings and at best loosely strung theories without concrete facts on a chalk board. One things that helps back up the facts in this book was a lot of the book I remember happening in real time. Like I said in the beginning I watch the things that I don't agree with to challenge what I do believe in. This book is real and factual and all Beck.

[Nelda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up as an e-book from the library to test my Nook transfer skills. I wasn't REALLY planning to read it because 1) I can't stand to even hear Glenn Beck's name without becoming nauseous and 2) my Nook up til now didn't transfer Digital Editions books well. But it transferred and, lacking anything better to do at 2 AM on a sleepless night, I read the thing. Eh. I WISH I could add an ringing endorsement...anything to bring down this fool would be welcome by me. Unfortunately, this book doesn't quite get there. As I read, I felt as if the author was being rushed to meet a deadline, perhaps. He begins with good quotes and a good premise, then appears to say, "See what I mean?" without any supporting evidence. Don't misunderstand...I am NOT defending Beck, I just with the author would have taken the time to do a bit more follow up and cite his work a bit more thoroughly. That being said, this is probably a good starting point for someone who doesn't know much about Beck's lies and exaggerations, or for someone who is on the verge of believing all the hate and ignorance he spews. Don't count the book out, but approach it with a cautious attitude.

[ltcomdata · Rating 2 out of 5]

A useful book to argue against Glen Beck, if a rational argument with him could be possible.

In this book the author outs Glen Beck as an entertainer per excellence, but nothing more than that. He is depicted as a hate monger, often comparing political enemies to communists, Lao-ists, Marxists, or Hitler. Political enemies of Glen Beck are those who hold views to the left of his very extreme right-wing, delusional, corporatist, jingoist, and super-nationalist views. He contradicts himself quite often, toeing the political flavor of the week that the Republican Party is proposing that day. Above all, he seems to really hate Barack Obama and Woodrow Wilson.

One would get the impression that Glenn Beck is insane, if it weren't for the fact that every attention-grabbing move he makes is coolly calculated to make him millions via his media empire.

As for the "regular" people he claims to represent against big bad government: Glenn Beck stopped being one of them a looooooong time ago, if he ever was.

[Don · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a big way, this book was a waste of time. I mean, I know that Glenn Beck is a radical Tea Party conservative who even other conservatives seem to distance themselves from. Dana Milbank, a political columnist foe the Washington Post, doesn’t cover any markedly new territory in his little book. Even as far as political rebuttal books are concerned, this one is not all that great. Milbank repeats a lot of the anecdotes, sometimes several times, and doesn’t have the wit of Jon Stewart or Al Franken, two of the best in the genre.

On the other hand, if you are not totally familiar with the gross exaggerations, outright fabrications, hypocritical comments, checkered past, and otherwise nastiness in the name of politics that are Glenn Beck, then read this book. Some of the insights into the supposed psychological gambits that Beck uses to advance his points are fascinating.

[Red · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could have been so much more than it was. Heavy on qutations, light on analysis, it would've made a better article for the New Yorker or Vanity Fair. Also, I had been hoping that Milbank would take the time to read Beck's (undoubtedly hideous) writing and report back to me. No such luck. It seems like a major insight into the Beck worldview was overlooked, since the man's written 5 or 6 books of his own. Still, I can't blame Milbank. I flipped through Arguing with Idiots. Even at a glance, it wasn't pretty.

All in all, reading this book was like having a somewhat hazy photo of Beck brought into clearer focus. It didn't really reveal anything unexpected and, ultimately, didn't change my opinion of the man. I think, one way or the other, that's how most readers will feel.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Glenn Beck is a dangerous man not just because of the drivel he spouts and the lies of hate he spreads - but because he irresponsible towards what effect these words can have. So many Americans seem to be just vessels to be filled. Many seems to think he is telling the truth - because he appears on a "news" channel.

This book was an interesting essay on Beck's evolution and methods. Written by an actual journalist (a writer from the respected Washington Post), I really enjoyed it.

Beck reminds me of the radio jocks in Rwanda during the genocide between the Tutsis and the Hutus who incited the people to murderous action. We ignore him at our peril!

[Elizabeth Sulzby · Rating 2 out of 5]

Important but slim and readable book. I learned three very important things: There are religious apocolyptic ties to phrases that Glen Beck uses that communicate to his like minded readers. Second, his actual "base" is a very small percentage f the American electorate. Third is what I drew from the above: his "televangelistic style" has convinced many people beyond his base to give some credence to his unbelievable fear mongering claims.

I usually try to read the "other side" but i haven't wanted to do this with Glen Beck, but I am convinced by Milbank that I need to keep my eyes and ears open to this strange, s t r a n g e person.

[Bea Elwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Glenn Beck makes my skin crawl and now I know why. Very informitive book told almost entirely by quoting Glenn Beck himself while also pointing out his scare tatics and how often he gets his facts wrong or makes them up entirely. I need to read more books like this so I can stand up to right wing nut bags who believe in the end of days or that gays are destroying the country. Was very interested in how often Beck talks about the constitution hanging by a thread which a thinly veiled referrence to the Mormon belief that God will call on his rightoues army to defend the country in the last days before his return.

[Tija · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slick and entertaining. Also, given its subject matter, totally terrifying. Glenn is no idiot, but he certainly isn't working for the good of people. Many people complain that the book does not have enough analysis but I actually think it was quite smart just to let Glenn's words (which there are a lot of) speak for themselves, and the comments that the author does have are totally spot-on. The information given about Glenn's history is interesting and provides important perspective on the career of Fox News's former star.

Overall, a smart social commentary that will leave you with chills. I'm not saying you'll be scared after you read it, I'm just saying... it's scary.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

what a schmuck. (beck, not millbank.)

gave me a better idea of the origins of beck as t.v. persona and his political, thematic and linguistic tactics, but didn't quite delve into what draws people to beck's scattershot, obsessive, breathless style and content. (being breathless, obsessive scattershot types, i guess.) linking the well-researched beck litany in to a wider conversation about our political consciousness would have been made it a four-star book. the intellectual indigestion i get from thinking about glenn beck would make five stars an impossibility.

[Kyla Denae · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this book satiated my inner snarkmeister, it didn't do a lot to actually prove the author's point. There was too much quoting from the show and not enough analysis of what Glenn Beck actually means by what he says on his show, so it's not a good book if you're wanting, you know, political analysis. I could have just watched the show and snarked my way through it, and gotten precisely the same thing out of it. However, it was satisfying for sheer amount of sass, and it did make me feel some better.

[Louis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relying on Jon Stewart-esque method of letting quotes speak for themselves, Dana Milbank provides a biting, yet intriguing profile of Glenn Beck. Glenn Beck is defies simple categorization: political commentator, activist, entertainer, etc. Through a combination of fear and outright conspiracy theories, he has clearly found a substantial following. Is Beck merely a showman or does he actually believe his own strange and powerful rantings? The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. Whatever the truth, Milbank’s book is a great “airplane read” for the politically minded.

[esmepie · Rating 1 out of 5]

A big pet peeve of mine is a magazine article masquerading as a book and this book comes awfully close to that. Very slim book that is mostly all reportage of Glenn Beck's actions/words and very little analysis of what it all means. It felt like reading a book I could have written simply by watching hours and hours of the show and listening to the radio program. Definitely not recommended for someone trying to Beck into context.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never watched or listened to Glenn Beck. I don't watch any news network. I only get my news over the internet. Obviously I've been missing out on the Glenn Beck phenomena and after reading this book I feel disappointed. I didn't know Fox was running a comedy hour masquerading as the Glenn Beck hour.

I think I'm going to continue getting my news from the internet. It may be slightly biased but it comes with less agenda.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

To any rational person, this book isn't that informative. Beck doesn't care much for facts, profits of fear, and demagogues. The first few chapters were worth the read though. Beck's story of his mother's suicide is just that; a story. Glen Beck is a Muslim, transexual, baby-eater. I'm not saying it's true. I just don't have any evidence it's not. He can find my number if he wants to call me and prove me wrong.

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since I can't watch or listen to the idiot, I was glad someone else, (a Wash Post commentator I enjoy reading), looked into his past and wrote, in an entertaining fashion, about some of the ridiculous, uninformed things he says and the silly stunts he pulls. It is chilling that there are people in this country that hang on his every word and that some carry out his violent wishes.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good, although suffers from preaching to the choir-itis. I would've liked to have more of Milbank's commentary, although that would've gotten in the way of his mostly effective method of presenting everything in Beck's own words. Beck is, of course, either a raving lunatic or a fantastic actor, so it is handy to have proof in one thin book.

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

No slam on Dana Milbank, but I couldn't even find a book about this guy to be interesting or amusing. Beck is as tedious as all proselytizing windbags, as insufferable as every non-drinking alcoholics, and as idiotic as any zany morning radio DJ. I stopped reading this maybe 70 pages in. Beck is simply not worth my time.

[Arthur · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've enjoyed Dana on TV, and his prose is good, and his perspective quite witty. All in all it was less substantive than fluffy. I got to hear more of the paranoid rantings and self-contradictions of Glenn Beck than I might have wanted to. But I think it let me form an opinion as to whether or not he's a lunatic or a charlatan.

Not bad, perhaps too shallow a work..

[Joanne Thomson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the beginning very illuminating. It was obvious that the author, however, actively dislikes the subject and I thought in the end that hurt the credibility of the book. It was entertaining tho and a quick read.

[Ted Heitz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Weak sauce. Overwhelming bias eliminates credibility. Facts are half presented to give the storyline support. Thankfully it was short or I'd be upset that it took time it didn't deserve. Skip it...there are plenty left wing pity books if you need them to justify your poor choices.