Beck Uses Drum in Fiery Defense of Freedom & Attack on Obama's Quest for 'Power

As we reported this morning, there was a portion of President Obama's State of the Union address that really struck a chord with Glenn Beck. The section, which focused upon the president's quest for more executive capacity, led Beck to passionately discuss freedom and responsibility on his radio show this morning.

"Let me translate: he means the executive branch," Beck said of the president's proposals. "He is alerting people now 'we need more power in the executive branch and I'm going to consolidate power in my branch.'"

(Related: This Is the One Obama SOTU Clip That Has Beck so Upset)

After urging Americans not to support the move, Beck passionately delivered portions of Thomas Paine's "The Crisis" that were written on the head of a drum. Here's the first portion that he read:

"THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated."

"You're talking about man's freedom," Beck said after sharing the selection. "Is there anything that should -- if heaven affixes the prices of things -- is there anything that should be more costly than freedom? Is there anything more valuable than your right to be free? I don't think so."

He went on to say that the fight for freedom and against tyranny is going to be both tough and discouraging. But he encouraged listeners to take an active roll in the process, rather than shrinking away or ignoring the situation.

"It's not something that we can just pray about and then it will just happen," Beck proclaimed. "This is going to be hard and it's going to be up to us."

He went on to read more of Paine's address, telling listeners about how General George Washington once used the same words to inspire his troops on the banks of the Delaware.  These motivational statements helped rally the colonial troops who were battling the most powerful army in the world at the time.

Here are some of the other lines Beck shared with listeners:

The far and the near, the home counties and the back, the rich and the poor, will suffer or rejoice alike. The heart that feels not now is dead; the blood of his children will curse his cowardice, who shrinks back at a time when a little might have saved the whole, and made them happy. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.

Watch him deliver these statements, below:

"You might get discouraged. You might look at the candidates on the stage and say 'I don't like any of them,'" he continued. "You might listen to the state of the Union address. You might get into spring and see Occupy Wall Street start to happen again...and you might get discouraged and say...'I can't do anything.'"

Despite these feelings and the associated challenges ahead, Beck told the audience, "Don't throw the burden of the day on God. Show your faith by your works and God will bless you."

He encouraged listeners to confront the challenges head-on. Everyone, he explained, would be impacted.

"It doesn't matter where you live. It doesn't matter if you work at a gas station or you're the governor of a state -- the evil or the blessing will reach each and every one of us," Beck said. "Rich or poor, we will all suffer or rejoice together."

Watch him continue this discussion, below: