NY Times calls Glenn Beck feminine, compares him to Oprah Winfrey

Posted on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at 04:41 PM

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I have heard Glenn Beck compared to many people, some flattering, some not so but never Oprah WInfrey.

However, the Sunday New York Times magazine says that Beck is secretly a Winfrey wannabe and that there is "something feminine about Beck — the soft features, the crying on the air, the reflexive vulnerability."

Glenny Beck effeminate, gay even, is that what The Times are hinting at?

Beck's staff love the comparison to Winfrey, as does Beck himself apparently.

They point to the fact that Beck has more female viewers than other right wing hosts and that they feel he understands them better than most men.

“Part of Oprah’s appeal is that people see her as a real person,” Joel Cheatwood, the Fox executive who initially brought Beck to CNN’s Headline News and then to Fox told The Times.

“She has struggled with her weight; she is open about it. Glenn is not a pretty boy. He comes off as a regular guy who has also been open about his struggles.It sets him apart from the standard, testosterone-addled rant artists of cable and talk radio."

Just when you thought you might have figured out the Glenn Beck role in American life, the hard nosed evangelist for the Tea Party movement, along comes this interpretation, that it is really all about his soft feminine side and how he wants to be Oprah.

The only comparison I see is that they both like to talk about themselves endlessly and America finds that fascinating enough to tune in in their millions.

And they both laugh all the way to the bank.

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Monsoonman | Oct 03, 2010, 01:00 PM EDT

Yes lad the atheists came in first place overall. They scored highest on the essay question section, which gave them a commanding lead. But buried in the report which I found interesting, was that on the multiple choice part of the quiz, the Fundamentalist Christian Snake-Handlers won hands down. Next time you post something as a fact, please provide all of the pertinent information.

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seanomelbourne | Oct 02, 2010, 11:44 PM EDT

A recent survey in the U.S. asked 3400 people Dorothy Dixer questions on various religions e.g. what religion was Mother Teresa or what did God give to Moses on the mount. Atheists,agnostics and Jews topped the list as "most knowledgeable".The Beck and Palin" show, the last thing we need is another pair of failed Yankee comics.Monsoonman if God existed it would be a wonderful world.

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maloney | Oct 02, 2010, 03:51 PM EDT

I hear Beck & Palin are going to Australia together to convert the heathens & build the tea party for the enlightened masses.

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Monsoonman | Oct 02, 2010, 01:35 PM EDT

A confused lad: Meet the parents. Mom a devout 7th Day Adventist, who dutifully spent days cold calling knocking on peoples doors preaching her religion. Dad, a confirmed atheist, whose door got knocked on by Mom. One thing lead to another with mom getting knocked up and a lad being born. He grew up with a tremendous desire to knock on doors, but when the door would open, he would stand there speechless, not knowing what to say.

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Monsoonman | Oct 02, 2010, 01:18 PM EDT

Does a "false" christian offend an atheists sensibilities and sense of fair play more than a "genuine" christian...jes askin'....Seems to me that in the liberal/atheistic world they both belong in the same category, but what do I know....Maybe they're practicing "fake it til they make it" mentality.

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maireadinmelb | Oct 02, 2010, 09:30 AM EDT

and by writing about it Pat you give him more publicity, we can only hope if we ignore him he may go away!!!

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seanomelbourne | Oct 02, 2010, 02:01 AM EDT

I wonder if Oprah is a reformed drunk/druggo born again false christian like beck.

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kell7757 | Sep 30, 2010, 05:54 PM EDT

A glimpse inside the twisted thinking of a liberal journalist. Obsessing about Glenn Beck sexually and attacking his sexuality. Creepy.

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Monsoonman | Sep 30, 2010, 09:50 AM EDT

Irish American President, O'Bama, said he was “amused” by Stewart’s planned rally in DC, the socialists antidote to the glen bec rally. o'bama said stewarts rally was for people who expect some common sense and courtesy in their daily interactions. So lets see, if you went to the Glen Beck rally in DC you were a discourteous, wild eyed extremist with no common sense. Does that include Dr. martin Luther Kings daughter too mr. o'bama?

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DennisQ | Sep 29, 2010, 11:52 PM EDT

Glenn Beck seems to have inherited the audience that used to watch Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood in the 60's and 70's. They were children then, and they're grown ups today, but they still like soft-spoken guys who gently calm their fears about the big scary world.

One difference is that Fred Rogers used to draw a distinction between real life and make believe, while Glenn Beck drifts back and forth between reality and fantasy. It's no wonder why Beck's viewers get so angry that his sponsors are only in it for the money. They have an infantile fixation on Beck as someone who talks softly to them the way Mr. Rogers did.

Fred Rogers used to devote whole segments to children's fears, which he took very seriously. He once spent fifteen minutes showing children why they won't get swallowed up by the drain in the bathtub. Now the updated Mr. Rogers, Glenn Beck, tells his viewers to buy gold coins so the mean old government won't take them away. When the listeners find out that Goldline actually makes a profit, they demand a congressional investigation.

Night show host Johnny Carson famously refused to allow his children to watch Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. "He's not a good role model for children," said Carson. "He's not manly enough."

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