Glenn Beck Denounces "Born In The USA" as Anti-American

[mod mom]

Glenn Beck Denounces "Born In The USA" as Anti-American

Twenty-six years after the release of Bruce Springsteen's hit song, "Born in The USA," conservative talk show host/performance artist Glenn Beck finally got around to listening to the lyrics.

Beck was shocked, shocked to discover that for all these years he'd been rocking out to a song about a bitter down-and-out Vietnam vet who has been kicked to the curb by the aforementioned USA.

Is Beck aware that conservative demigod Ronald Reagan used "Born in the USA" as a theme song for his reelection campaign? The cognitive dissonance is going to smart. Beck loves Reagan. "Because of Ronald Reagan, my grandfather, my father, I have hope for America," Beck told an audience at the conservative CPAC conference earlier this year.

Yesiree, The Gipper loved The Boss. Reagan thought Springsteen was a shining example of hope. According to Roadside America:

On the afternoon on September 19, 1984, President Ronald Reagan spoke before an enthusiastic crowd in downtown Hammonton, New Jersey. The speech was mostly political boilerplate, but it did contain one memorable passage. "America's future," Reagan said, "rests in the message of hope in songs of a man so many young Americans admire, New Jersey's Bruce Springsteen."

People even vaguely familiar with the songs of Bruce Springsteen know that they rarely contain messages of hope for America's future. But Reagan was oblivious.

Beck correctly senses that Springsteen didn't reciprocate Reagan's admiration. The campaign didn't get Springsteen's permission to use "Born in the USA" as a theme song. When the artist found out, he put a stop to it.

-snip
http://bigthink.com/ideas/19039

found via Krugman who posted:

March 12, 2010, 2:21 PM
Beck in the U.S.A.

Too funny — Glenn Beck finally listened to Bruce Springsteen’s lyrics and discovered that they’re anti-American — I mean, talking about a Vietnam vet who can’t find work is obviously unpatriotic, because, uh, anyone who really wants to work can find a job.

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/12/beck-in-the-u-s-a/

[RandomThoughts]

1. First he is against immigrants.

Now he is against being born in the USA. That guy is seriously confused.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Then why did Bruce Springsteen threaten legal action to stop George H.W. Bush from

using "Born In The U.S.A." for his presidential campaign? Bush is not known for wit and irony.

[Mike 03]

3. Exactly the point I was going to make. Thank you.

This was Bush Sr.'s Theme Song.

[mod mom]

6. until the boss said "no go".

[47of74]

4. What the hell is the matter with him?

[AllentownJake]

5. He's a fucking national fascist crazy person nt.

[eilen]

7. He will say anything to get people to talk about him.

Beck is the ultimate Troll.

[Swamp Rat]

8. The bell tolls for Glenn Beck.

I hope hires body guards because some nut is bound to fuck him up one day.

[ngant17]

9. yeah, right, and Glen Beck is the embodiment of everything American

It's unfortunate that AM talk radio is largely synonymous with rightwing blabber in most cities (Seattle is probably one exception, I used to hear Jimi Hendrix on AM radio when I lived in Tacoma many years ago). I would think that New Jersey stations will play Springsteen on the AM dial, though.

Couldn't care less what this goofy moran says. "Born in the USA" is one of the great classic American rock songs, one of Rolling Stone's 100 greatest songs of all time, not surprising as it is ever so popular since its debut in 1984.
BTW the movie "Born on the 4th of July" is also great classic movie on Vietnam war genre. I'm sure Beck will denounce this one as propaganda, too.

Let's face it, Beck is never going to stop acting stupid, he has been a paid shill of corporate sponsorship. He is being paid to act stupid, so that behavior will continue. But take away his microphone and he will still be a typical close-minded conservative, believing in the things he wants to hear and filtering out the other information as irrevelant. Not enough working neurons in the brain to process all those other signals, I'm afraid.

Beck is becoming more desperate and irrational each week. His corporate sponsorship is dwindleing. He really dresses up funny and he looks like a wussy, albeit one with a big mouth. I'm sure he couldn't have had the mental and physical endurance to make it out of army basic training or boot camp.

[Berry Cool]

10. Reagan DID NOT USE "Born in the USA." Springsteen would never have let him.

It's a common belief that he did, though, and it really needs to be exploded at every opportunity, because he didn't.

In one of his '84 campaign stops, Reagan made reference to young people listening to the "message of hope" in Springsteen's music, attempting to capitalize on the popularity of the album. But the speechwriter obviously hasn't been listening to what was really in there. And Reagan never actually used the music during his campaign. If he had, Springsteen would have brought it to a crashing halt.

Unfortunately, what with this being the Internets, you can find about a billion examples online of people CLAIMING he used the music, because so many people believe he did...but you'll notice they never cite a source to back it up. There's a good reason for that: they can't.

[Nailzberg]

11. First off, you're a little late to the party on this one, Glenn.

Second off, the song speaks against neglecting our vets returning home from war; what could be more American than supporting our vets?

[awoke_in_2003]

14. "what could be more American than supporting our vets?"

Ask that to fuckheads like McCain who consistently vote against budget increases for the VA.

[Nailzberg]

20. Hear, hear.

Even worse than the chickenhawks in my eye, are these pro-war politicians who actually did serve, yet still vote to screw their fellow vets coming home.

[Orsino]

12. Beck now denounces performances that tell us that our government is doing us wrong.

When is he quitting his show?

[KamaAina]

13. St. Raygun, upon hearing the song: "Bruce Springsteen has his finger on the pulse of America."

Apparently the Great Prevaricator never listened to the words, either. Quelle surprise.

I propose we make "Born In The U.S.A." our National Anthem. We'll actually know what it means, and the teabaggers will mindlessly chant "Born In The U.S.A.! Born In The U.S.A."! It's a win-win! Plus, it doesn't have that pesky high C... :-)

[classysassy]

15. Pardon me Mr Beck

but you are a lying shill for the worst of the worst,your hands are dripping blood,I hope the blood money you get from your owners buy you nothing but grief,you are a sad excuse for a human being.You sir and your ilk will get this country into another global war,but next time your money want shield you from justice.

[troubledamerican]

16. If this song was sung by Toby Keith against Obama, Glenn Beck would call it Most Patriotic Ever

[MrScorpio]

17. Glenn Beck Is An Idiot

I haven't posted that statement in a while

[Raine]

18. Gee and it only took him 26 to see it's not really rah rah

about a perfect America. I guess pointing out that America should do better by it's veterans is anti-American according to Beck.

[baldguy]

19. For Glenn Beckk, being an American is anti-American.

[Immir]

21. He finally listened to it huh?

I have a live Springsteen CD I bought in France called "Misunderstood" (possible bootleg). In the intro to "Born in the USA" Bruce says that the song is often "misinterpreted" and it "gets into your skin after a while". He then goes on to say "...but I'm sure if there was any misunderstanding, is was only misunderstood by Republicans, and I'm sure there aren't any Republicans in this crowd"