Business

‘Jellyfish Capitalism’: Beck Hammers ‘Business Without Backbone’ Amid ‘Linsanity’

Anyone who has listened to a Glenn Beck broadcast for more than a day or two can probably glean that Beck is not much a sports fan.

So why has he been so focused on the recent episode involving ESPN’s firing of a staffer who crafted the now notorious “Chink in the Armor” headline about NBA star Jeremy Lin?

While he has discussed it on a broadcast or two, today Beck crystallized his arguments in two ways.

First, he published a full column on the subject:

This is jellyfish capitalism. It is business without backbone. Pressure groups target companies and their advertisers to create just enough fear to make them ask themselves: “Who cares what is right? Why bother fighting?  Where’s the upside for us?”

We’ve come to a point where freedom of speech only exists when others like it.  Where we only accept differing opinions from professors, as those professors won’t accept differing opinions form their own students. Where business owners routinely turn control of their companies over to whichever outsider is screaming the loudest.

Why should you care? This is far bigger than one online writer. This isn’t about any one story, one company, or one industry. Sure, it’s easy to sit down and watch a headline writer you don’t know go down in flames. But if you don’t speak up for him, who will be there to speak up for you? More to the point: why should anyone be there to speak up for you?

The column appears in the new “Contributor” section of The Blaze.  You can read the complete column here.

Then, on the Monday night broadcast of his GBTV program, Beck delivered a passionate monologue about what he sees as the collision of free speech with “fear and greed.”  Here it is in full:

Comments (45)

1 2
  • Canada_Goose
    Posted on February 28, 2012 at 11:53am

    Here we go again. What’s so hard to understand about the concept of free speech? Just read the constitution it’s about congress or the government being prohibited from making laws abridging the freedom of speech.

    ESPN is a privately held corporation they can fire whomever they want. If the headline writer believes he was unjustly dismissed he can sue them for millions. In this case the firing happened so quickly there was hardly anytime to organize an ad boycott.

    Ultimately these two were fired not because they were racially insensitive it was because they obviously suck at their jobs. Who cares if they’re nice guys who do charity work. Any idiot can see that the headline can have a double meaning which would be offensive. In broadcasting once you mess up there is no undoing the mistake so the Disney brand is damaged forever.

    Mr. Beck should know since he damaged the FNC brand by calling Mr. Obama a racist. This one utterance cost the company millions of dollars.

    At the end of the day corporations are acting in what they believe to be in the best interests of their shareholders. I doubt that Disney is a jellyfish corporation, just try using any of their intellectual property without permission and see what happens.

    Report Post » Canada_Goose  
  • sizzlinsexybeckster
    Posted on February 28, 2012 at 11:17am

    “***** in Armor” – I honestly never heard of that old slogan before. My first reaction to the title was “huh?” If you didn’t personally know the writer or understand the old slogan, you’d think the writer was just being as ass. I’m glad Glenn (in the video) is sticking up for the writer. Perhaps the writer can work for GBTV. His colleagues should all walk out as well, just like Glenn suggested… to stick up for the guy, otherwise if they don’t – they will be next…. then they’ll wonder, “hey, why isn’t anyone sticking up for me?” What goes around comes around. Always stick up for your friends and colleagues, even if the guy wasn’t your personal friend, you stick up for the basis of the purpose. I’ve never watched any McGuire movie – not a Tom Cruise (come outta the closet!) fan. More into Brad Pitt and all the same actors Quentin Tarantino rotates in all his films. Anyways, at least Glenn is sticking up for this guy. I’m not a sports fan either, well, if you call the bedroom a sports event, then, well, (haha!)… Always stick up for what is right – despite the consequences – there are a lot of close-minded people out there, and if you think it’s your boss and you are afraid to stick up for what is right, then you need to stop being a spineless doormat and stop thinking and just DO. Stop being a cowardly worry wart with excuses and stand up tall for what is right…

    Report Post »  
  • alexanderofyork
    Posted on February 28, 2012 at 9:30am

    Hello? isn’t anyone else thinking that The Blaze like any well rounded news outlet, needs a SPORTS DEPARTMENT! I think I’ve heard of a good writer that is available. Wouldn’t you like to read stories on players like Lin and Tebow from BLAZE SPORTS? @glennbeck @gbtv

    Report Post » alexanderofyork  
  • marybethelizabeth
    Posted on February 28, 2012 at 9:06am

    In the Glenn Beck fascist utopia, business is king and can say whatever hateful things it likes. The people should know their place and if they are offended, know that they should keep their mouths shut.
    Mr. Beck makes his living hating, pointing out and ridiculing every difference from his Aryan ideal.

    Mr. Beck has said the pendulum has swung too far in the direction of the minorities. Now is the time to restore love…. to the true masters.

    Report Post » marybethelizabeth  
    • Abraham Young
      Posted on February 28, 2012 at 10:22am

      You’re an economic idiot, MB. You need to get a real education not a leftist spoon fed one. Read some real economics books by Hayek, Hazlett, Smith. This may lift you up out of the shallow waters you swim in.

      Report Post »  
    • 4XGrace
      Posted on February 28, 2012 at 1:35pm

      That’s a LINjustice!!!!!
      TFF!!! ROFL
      I spoke to a friend recently (under 30) and she had never heard of the saying “a ***** in the armor”.
      The language is changing and not in a good way. It’s being loaded with PC crap.
      Remember when being gay was another way of saying happy, light hearted, joyful and bubbly?
      Remember when a ****** was a skin flint, a tightwad and a mean spirited person – Scrooge?
      What other words are there that have taken on odious meanings?
      Very soon an English speaking white person won’t be able to say anything without offending anyone because every word in the English will be loaded. Freedom of speech is being eroded in many ways.

      Report Post » 4XGrace  
    • Gravejoke
      Posted on February 28, 2012 at 9:47pm

      That’s right! When the true masters return to their rightful status they will dictate all we need for us white folks. Beck doesn’t care about those little minorities, they’re not really American anyway since the American conglomerate was established by the Bilderbergs when they landed on North American shores. We’ll bring down the Fed and give all the money to white protestant bankers all over the U.S. and ignore all the merits and achievements of those other people. We‘ll worship and cater to the rich again and only the best and most deserving among us will breed and hold office and we’ll send those superfluous minorities who were endowed with certain inalienable rights by their creator—not Glenn Beck’s—to war and hope they kill the enemy so us white folks can take their oil and their women. And in that utopia only rich white protestants will have the right to vote because they can pay for it. trolololol

      Report Post »  
  • Itsjusttim
    Posted on February 28, 2012 at 8:32am

    Glenn doesn’t follow sports because Glenn is a Man, and only men of men like to follow sports.

    Report Post » Itsjusttim  
  • hungry4food4u
    Posted on February 28, 2012 at 8:21am

    If we are Not self Reliant we are SERFS to Foreign Imports and thats not what USA Independence means !!! Its Means we are out of economic balance and the Insolvency is that evidence in agreed international debt settlements effecting peace .
    This is amazing info , http://tdarkcabal.blogspot.com/
    Watch the video in this link
    http://politicalvelcraft.org/2012/02/28/dark-cabal-in-the-u-s-aka-bushes-clintons-obamas-their-minions-have-been-delivered-a-death-blow-massive-resignations-have-started-like-barney-frank/

    Report Post »  
  • hungry4food4u
    Posted on February 28, 2012 at 8:20am

    If we are Not self Reliant we are SERFS to Foreign Imports and thats not what USA Independence means !!! Its Means we are out of economic balance and the Insolvency is that evidence in agreed international debt settlements effecting peace .
    This is amazing info , http://tdarkcabal.blogspot.com/
    Watch the video in this link
    http://politicalvelcraft.org/2012/02/28/dark-cabal-in-the-u-s-aka-bushes-clintons-obamas-their-minions-have-been-delivered-a-death-blow-massive-resignations-have-started-like-barney-frank/
    State Banking to compete with Wall Street !!!!!!!! This is the way to fight the 1 % with a 99 % solution free market competition !!!!! http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=29511

    Report Post »  
  • Ceefour
    Posted on February 28, 2012 at 8:03am

    Disgusting….would that I were able to say “Im not going to watch espn any more” but,since I have no interest in watching espn and never have, I can’t. I might take a quick look to see who the advertisers are. At any rate I question the level of intelligence of the weasels who are running that lashup.

    Report Post »  
  • wordsworth
    Posted on February 28, 2012 at 7:44am

    Glenn should just say what he really wants to about Fox, and stop sugar coating this pretending it’s about the Lin headline. His reaction to Lin makes me think he’s lost all perspective.

    Report Post »  
  • BehindBlueEyes
    Posted on February 28, 2012 at 7:03am

    @DOCROXALL
    The trolls are so clueless they probably can’t comprehend what you just said. Just sad mindless individuals that get a charge out of trying to yank peoples chain.

    Report Post » BehindBlueEyes  
  • midwesthippie
    Posted on February 28, 2012 at 6:27am

    …and gbtv is a hot topic today?

    Report Post » midwesthippie  
    • old white guy
      Posted on February 28, 2012 at 6:51am

      and there is too much government and it is not in elected reps it is the unseen bureaucracy that needs pruning.

      Report Post »  
  • Docroxall
    Posted on February 28, 2012 at 5:45am

    That’s right, just because, in the past, the government of the United States SEIZED all gold that was not numismatic coin, doesn‘t mean they’ll do it again. You can’t use past history to justify preparation for future action…history is just another capitalist manipulation LIE! (LOL, you troll libs are the biggest IGNORAMUSES I have EVER heard of…hey, why don’t you step into my shower here…get REAL clean like…that’s right, come on in…just because the Nazis gassed people in showers, doesn’t mean it will happpen to you!)

    Report Post »  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on February 28, 2012 at 3:32am

    …
    America has too many Liberals and too much Political Correctness.

    Report Post »  
    • TXPilot
      Posted on February 28, 2012 at 4:19am

      If anything truly manages to destroy this country, it will be a combination of apathy and indifference.

      Report Post » TXPilot  
    • BehindBlueEyes
      Posted on February 28, 2012 at 6:36am

      @TXPILOT
      Can I add Soros and Obama to that destructive combination?

      Report Post » BehindBlueEyes  
  • discus02
    Posted on February 28, 2012 at 2:54am

    I am a Christian Capitalist, I give to charities because I want not because I have to. Christian Liberals think everyone but themselves should give!

    Report Post »  
    • carbonyes
      Posted on February 28, 2012 at 3:47am

      Not so sure there really is such a thing as a Christian liberal. I know some liberals who claim that they are Christians, but based on who they support for President, as well as other political offices, it is doubtful that in reality that they are truly Christian. How could that be said?

      Take a “so called” Christian liberal who supports Obama. Obama is not only a big supporter of a women’s right to aborting babies, but Obama also has supported infanticide – killing babies who are born alive after a botched abortion. If letting babies die without medical treatment isn’t killing them, I do not know what is.

      Obama also supports all facets of rights faccets, including adoption, marriage, etc. God and His Christ consider the h0m0′s lifestyle aberrant and an abomination.

      Obama supports stealing from the haves to give to the lazy @sses, have nots. Industry, getting off your @ss and working to feed yourself and your family is not part of the liberal “Christians dialogue, and the list goes on and on.

      These kind of supposed “liberal Christians” may find themselves on the end of the commandment, “Depart from me you workers of iniquity, I knew you not!” Needless to say, there will be a lot of unhappy campers.

      Report Post »  
    • jasmer
      Posted on February 28, 2012 at 7:50am

      @Carboneyes – don’t be silly. Of course there are Christian Liberals; just because you‘re a Christian hardly means you’re intelligent or wise. The whole point is that you KNOW you’re a screw-up so you rely on Jesus. The social dynamics of holding a gun figuratively to another’s head is FAR beyond the thinking of a significant segment of the population – they’d rather be watching Snooki.

      Report Post »  
  • drenfroe
    Posted on February 28, 2012 at 2:21am

    I absolutely agree with you Glen. This is the same thing that has been going on all around the world. They are placating theses trouble makers and fear mongers. They are so spineless they are selling out America and other God fearing countries. If you speak out you might get into trouble so no one speaks out. The people out here have first hand experience in this, we were the first ones they sold out. Higher ups won’t protect us; they grovel to these war mongers and twist some kinda of imaginary slur into everything. They look for reasons not to hire us and give away our jobs to people they bring in from other countries. They are favoring one religion over all other beliefs. They are using fear to curb our speech and trying to control our way thinking. They have cameras everywhere and want to use more technology to track us.This is how they are control us. We’re being locked in the barn yard. Next comes the slaughter of the lambs. (We’re the lambs by the way.)

    Report Post »  
  • night owl
    Posted on February 28, 2012 at 1:58am

    Hi Glenn and welcome to Texas. I have lived here 17 years and love it. For me it’s the #1 state. We do carry our guns and bibles and damn proud of it..

    Report Post » night owl  
  • ZengaPA65
    Posted on February 28, 2012 at 1:44am

    What do you expect from a guy whose best and ONLY friend is Rick Santorum, discernment?

    Report Post » ZengaPA65  
  • Razorhunters
    Posted on February 28, 2012 at 1:41am

    War Criminal Bill Clinton Among Nobel Peace Prize Nominees
    http://www.infowars.com/war-criminal-bill-clinton-among-nobel-peace-prize-nominees/

    Report Post » Razorhunters  
  • aChameleon
    Posted on February 28, 2012 at 1:10am

    So how have you been Anthony Weiner?

    Report Post » aChameleon  
  • Chet Hempstead
    Posted on February 28, 2012 at 12:44am

    The only people who have absolute freedom of speech are those who speak for free. When you turn it into a business you have the same restriction as anybody else in any other business – you don’t insult the customers because it’s bad for business. When you expect to get paid for having something to say, then you have to say something that people will like, or that if they don’t like it will make them mad at somebody other than you. When you get paid for no other skill than the ability to use words more intelligently than other people, you can’t expect to keep getting paid when you use them more stupidly.

    Of course I could understand why you would see all that as some kind of major injustice if you were some guy who used to make millions of dollars a year and reach millions of people a day until your employers got tired of you ignoring the obvious rules of the capitalism of speech.

    Report Post »  
  • maizie45
    Posted on February 28, 2012 at 12:32am

    If the author had never used the (commonly used) phrase before, I would be more skeptical about his intentions. I do think someone probably should have caught that & nixed it before its publication, but I don‘t think the kid should’ve lost his job over it.

    Report Post »  
  • aChameleon
    Posted on February 28, 2012 at 12:23am

    We are a multi-billion dollar company. The public wants a scalp. Investigating the truth, doing our best to discover the intent, soberly explaining the situation to the public, and patiently trying to do the right thing—does nothing for us.—– Watch out Glenn, using the term “scalp” might offend Native Americans.

    Report Post » aChameleon  
  • TRONINTHEMORNING
    Posted on February 28, 2012 at 12:21am

    I’m afraid stories like these that Glenn is giving priority; is why Mark Levin has replaced him on the radio where I live. There are much more important issues than this story. Levin seems to understand that.

    Report Post »  
    • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
      Posted on February 28, 2012 at 12:23am

      Levin is on where I live too, but I still have my podcast.

      Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
    • KickinBack
      Posted on February 28, 2012 at 12:31am

      I think it’s because its that time of year that radio stations switch things around. The station I listen to dumped Michael Savage for Mark Levin. Though I cared little for Savage, he does have a bigger demographic than either Beck or Levin…It depends on the area and who is listening to what.

      They also dumped Coast to Coast to AM…Though strictly an entertainment show, it was one of my favs… :(

      Report Post » KickinBack  
    • TRONINTHEMORNING
      Posted on February 28, 2012 at 12:31am

      I‘ve had Mark on my show and he’s just got more going for his listeners than Beck. I really can‘t stand the ’morning zoo‘ stuff on Beck’s or anyone else’s show. I like substance and energy; and though I’m small tomatoes, it works for my listeners.

      Report Post »  
    • TRONINTHEMORNING
      Posted on February 28, 2012 at 12:40am

      @KICKIN.

      Perhaps in other markets, they switch, but not in Colroado Springs. They put Mark Levin in the live slot rather than the pre-recorded because people demanded it. Now, Levin is on another station, but he comes on my show and it really ticked off the staff at the station that has Rush, Hannity, Beck and Levin. Naturally, I love that but they had to do something so hence, the switch. Plus, Levin just simply is best live and frankly, best of all; in my view.

      Report Post »  
    • midwesthippie
      Posted on February 28, 2012 at 6:24am

      …if Lin weren’t a man of faith would glenn make this a big issue? maybe he’s just a knick fan?

      Report Post » midwesthippie  
    • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
      Posted on February 28, 2012 at 8:52am

      Hey TRON, I didn’t know you were in the springs. What time is your show on?

      Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
    • JayCee
      Posted on February 28, 2012 at 9:05am

      The gist of Glenn’s op ed must have zoomed right over your head.
      What ESPN did to Anthony Federico, Hank Williams Jr., and Rush Liimbaugh due to corporate ultra PC paranoia run amuck is newsworthy.

      Report Post »  
  • lukerw
    Posted on February 28, 2012 at 12:18am

    How can one be a Christian Capitalist? In truth, Profit causes a Debt upon one… which one must resolve with Deeds & Charity. So, look to the Deeds & Charity… and if absent, as in ESPN, then one sees the NonChristian Evil!

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • Jas0n
    Posted on February 28, 2012 at 12:10am

    Linsanity is one thing, a ***** in the armor is quite another. An fortune cookie flavored ice cream named Linsanity is unforgivable. Try that crap with a picture of Michael Jordan and Fried chicken watermelon flavored ice cream called redbone and see how it feels.

    Report Post »  
1 2

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now
Restoring Love