It was around that time that Beck went on CNN Headline News as the token conservative. This is not an uncommon occurrence in radio. Limbaugh, Hannity, Stern, Imus, Colmes, King, and more have all had TV shows, though only Hannity remains. Without exception, those I’ve mentioned have remained essentially the same personality-wise. That obviously isn’t the case with Beck.
Do I know what changed? Of course not. I’m not so arrogant as to believe that I know what happens to a person’s personal life based on a few hours a day in media. But something did change.
Since 2005, Beck has made a concerted effort to have his face everywhere possible, in every means possible. Howard Stern is an admitted egomaniac and has in the past referred to himself as “The King of All Media” but he can’t hold a candle to Beck:
- Multiple live shows every year since then, including simulcast to increase the audience. These shows were initially comedy shows but have evolved into sappy, feel-good Christmas shows as well.
- Books, books, and more books. Political books, historical books, novels, and yes, sappy, feel-good Christmas books.
- His own Internet-based “TV” channel, called GBTV featuring Beck, his staff, and other politically-based original programming.
- The Blaze, an internet-based news service/website.
- Clothing line, American-made with at least some of the profits going to charity
- A book publishing entities.
- Rallies, rallies, rallies.
- A non-profit organization
What makes Beck different from most business people creating their empires is that the enterprises aren’t focused on a single personality above all else. I’ll offer as my strongest example, the cover of Beck’s latest book, Being George Washington. Before and after the book’s release, Beck has emphasized how important George Washington was. I agree. Everything was “this is not about me, this is about you” and how “you need to become a George Washington”. A day doesn’t go by when Beck on his radio show declares that his career doesn’t matter and he would be happy if it went away. He regularly protests that he’s just a messenger and he personally doesn’t matter.
Oh, really? Methinks thou dost protest too much. I wonder. If “Being George Washington” is the most important thing that he is urging people to become, how does he explain this:
When you see that book, whom do you see? The picture of Beck takes up nearly 2/3 of the entire cover. And where is Washington? A bust in the back of the room that’s not even in focus. This is a book whose focus, at least on the cover, is Glenn Beck.
Suppose that President Obama had written a book by the same title. Does anyone believe that Beck and every other conservative wouldn’t level criticism had his cover done the same thing?
What we have, more than anything, is a cult of personality worthy of any charismatic prophet or world movement leader. Now, am I referring to Obama or Beck?

