Mayor of Mount Vernon to give Glenn Beck Key to the City

Good thing we're in Bellingham. Any place that isn't big enough to be a real city in Washington, including Spokane, is a redneck Utopia.

Hold your tongue boy! I'm proud to be a country boy (your so called "redneck"), and I find your post offensive. At least we tend to have more common sense than all the transients, burned out hippies, and the younger generation of wannabe hippies that infest this city.

I happen to be a proud, transient, burned out, wannabe hippie from the skagit valley... and I find this entire thread offensive. Especially the part about Glen Beck getting any recognition (that guy is a burned out wannabe redneck hippie)...

Heyyyy take it easy fellas. "Rednecks" aren't necesarily bad people, and "transient hippies" aren't necesarily bad people.

Glenn Beck is a hypocrit and a hate-mongerer.  Screw that guy, he deserves nothing.

Bush didn't really hate black people, but Kanye still said he did.

Don't generalize my generalizations.

 Glenn Beck Rock!!! :)

 Glenn Beck Rock!!! :)

Disgusting.

Glenn Beck raped and murdered a 12-year old girl in 1990.

Here's the evidence: He has never denied these allegations! I'm not saying that he did commit this crime, I'm just afraid that he might have.

Why is this man not in jail?

Beck is a whiney little Elmer Fudd lookin' nutcase.  The whole crying episodes he did on camera because he feared for the future of America and that it "might already be too late"--LOL!  Fodder for "The Soup" (great show btw).

I had the misfortune of grabbing a cup of coffee at a nameless diner near the Mt. Vernon bus depot whilst waiting for the 80X back into town a few months back and had the opportunity (for lack of a better word) of picking the "brains" of several local regulars also seated at the counter.  Their big fear is the way Mt. Vernon is turning into "another Seattle".  They made sure to tell me that the so-called homeless population was ruining business in the downtown sector and that they (the homeless) were probably from the Midwest and East Coast and should be "run outta town".  On the bright side, my bill for unlimited refills of coffee amounted to a whopping $1.50 with tip.  At least Mt. Vernon has something going for it.

 This is highly offensive to elmer fudd look-a-likes, and nutcases.

but put them all together, and awe man... bummer.

just curious, what is your basis for calling him a racist?

YOU ROCK BECK.  CONGRADS TO YOU.

If this story is true at all it probably isn't.

Why wasn't your boy Ted Kennedy ever tried for killing a girl when drunk driving or all the other women he battered in a drunken rage.

"your boy"?  Heh, yeah right.  I've never claimed any of the Kennedys.

He was never tried for the same reason Cheney and the other criminals will never be tried, son--some people in this country are above the law.

Try pulling your head out before making wannabe Fox News comments on the forum.

And as far as your G. Orwell quote, why aren't you over in Iraq/Afghanistan then, you big chicken?

Look, at best Glen Beck is just a sensationalist, yellow journalist, talking about things where he has no right to speak and denegrading those purely for ratings. He's no ultra-patriot, no hero, no savior of the common folk. He's a rich city boy playing people into thinking he's something he isn't.

I disagree with the blatantly ignorant "lawl beck is for rednecks" type crap, but really... the only people who would rush to his defense are those who've bought into the bullshit and truly believe he's something that he isn't.

haha, if you think he was a rich city boy you are confused...

Really? He has no right to speak? I'm sorry, I forgot the 1st Amendment doesn't apply to conservatives. 

Glenn Beck is probably the most famous person from Mount Vernon; what else does that city have? Regardless of whether you approve of everything he's ever said (and I certainly don't), he is notable enough that a Key to the City is appropriate. 

I wonder if you would this upset if someone like Keith Olbermann was getting the award. He's every bit as insulting, inflammatory and controversial, but since his views are likely similar to yours I'm guessing it would be fine.

He was getting paid several million dollars a year by FOX and recently received a $3M book deal from Simon and Schuster. That he's pretending to identify with Americans in the middle and lower class is ridiculous.

I don't have a right to speak on what it's like to be an Asian woman in Calcutta... because I'd be lying if I talked about that. I never said all conservatives should be censored and all liberals should have anything they want... if Michael Moore started talking like he was just an average Joe American I'd say the exact same thing. Then again I'm sure the strawman arguments work pretty easy for you, as it's incredibly easy for you to project what you think I'd say based on your stereotype of me rather than actually argue against what I said.

Oh and being notable doesn't automatically mean you should be honored.

First, Beck has only been rich for the past few years. For the vast majority of his life he was middle class, so I don't think it's disingenous for him to identify with the average American. Just because someone is no longer a member of a particular group doesn't mean they have completely lost their credibility; in 10 years it would still be fair for us to say that we understand the concerns of college students.

I suppose I did use a straw man argument. Rather than presume, let me just ask how you would react if someone similar to Glenn Beck, but on the other end of the political spectrum, was receiving this award. For example, Al Sharpton freqently calls others racists, and many of his opponents consider him to be racist himself. Keith Olbermann is a popular but controversial pundit, much like Beck. What if Sharpton or Olbermann were receiving an award? Would you object? How would you respond if someone else did? Partisanship and alleged racism were the original grounds for objecting to the award, but these are subjective qualities that are easily found in an opponent and often overlooked in an ally.

I'm not a fan of Glenn Beck either, but if the mayor wants to give him an award that's his prerogative. Being notable doesn't automatically qualify someone for an award, but being controversial doesn't automatically disqualify someone either. Plenty of controversial, and some would argue undeserving, people have won the Nobel Prize or the Presidential Medal of Freedom--and unlike a key to Mount Vernon, these awards actually matter.

What doe's Ted Kennedy have to do with any of this? That was a misfortune accident which yes he should have gotten in trouble for but he's no worse then some of the sleezy Republicans. 

Name two good things Glen Beck has the for the American people then name two good things Ted Kennedy has done. I but Ted wins! 

Glen Beck is unAmerican and should be tried with Tyranny! All of those FOX newscasters should! 

Plus Glen Beck is just plain stupid! His comment about President Obama being a Racist is wrong... minorities can't racist they can only be prejudice! Has he ever heard of the hegemonic lader!? duh. 

Yeah but Keith cares about people. Glenn cares about what... God? Money? Not being taxed? 

Plus Keith has wonderful hair. 

I am offended at your offensive remarks that generated the original offenses at the origin of this article.

Now go watch some Colbert and Laugh off all this political jibber jabber.

God Damn. How unfortunate.

The difference between Keith Olbermann and Glenn Beck, apart from their political point of views, is that Olbermann did not make a joke about poisoning Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Olbermann yes can seem insulting, but he has never made light the threat of death to anyone in the line for the presidency. He has never used scare tactics and promoted the belief President Obama will turn this country into a Socialist or Communist nation. 

I am sorry, I realize I have my beliefs and opinions differ from some on this post. I do not wish to force my beliefs and opinions on others. Though two things that should be forced onto everyone, RESPECT the Popular and Electoral elected President Obama, don't treat death threats as a light comedy skit, and stop spreading lies about any and everything involved with this freely elected administration based on talk show hosts trying to get higher ratings and shock value and Facebook/ Twitter posts.

Thank you.