What Do NY Times Readers Think of Beck Profile?

The story hasn't even hit newsstands yet, but already, New York Times author Mark Leibovich is drawing lots of attention over his exclusive peek into Glenn Beck's personal and business lives.

Glenn seemed to be ok with it, but what do Times readers think? During an online TimesCast Q&A Wednesday, Leibovich fielded readers' various questions, including, “Why give this crackpot a forum?”

"The reason is quite simply that this is someone who’s attracted a major following in recent months," Leibovich replied. "He is someone who’s been consigned to a lot of caricature, and also a lot of worship, depending on where you come down. … We wanted to spend some time with him and hopefully give readers a fuller sense of the dimensions that make him and make his views."

Another reason to write about him, as Mediaite points out, "Glenn Beck is hot right now. Keith Olbermann loves reading about him, Jon Stewart is alleged to be obsessed with him, and Greta Van Susteren  thinks he is 'nice.'"

Among other questions Times readers had for Leibovich included: “Does Glenn Beck seriously believe what he preaches, or is he the best actor the world has ever witnessed?” and “Why is everything either black or white, communist or capitalist, all good or all bad with Glenn Beck?”  Jump ahead to latter half of the video to see Leibovich's answers: