There's an old saying: "Lay down with dogs. Get up with fleas."
That's pretty much the way I feel about Glenn Beck as a spokesman for Israel and the Jews. If we go to bed with him, we'll wake up with fleas.
I don't really care if he talks the talk and walks the walk. Our best friend for life? I don't give a
flying Ferguson and I'll tell you why: Public perception of Glenn Beck is that he is a nut case.
No matter how sterling his words and deeds as they relate to Israel and the Jews, by pledging our troth to him, Israel and the Jews can only tarnish their image. And if you take the time to research the guy, you will find that his words and deeds are NOT sterling. Not in the least.
Take a look for instance at the following clip in which he repeats the old canard that the Jews killed Jesus (even though we all know it was the Romans). Pay close attention to the hatred in his face at 6:45.
Then there are the racial slurs for which Beck is well known. Wish I had a clip of him insulting Asians on the radio. Luckily, a clip does exist of Beck telling really fat people they should just die.
Or how about his lack of sympathy for survivors of 911? Did you think they were sacrosanct? Beyond censure? Not to Beck.
Not that it matters. Because public perception of Glenn Beck is that he is a certified nut job. That's my perception of him as well. As I watch and listen to him my "nut-job antennae" begin to go, "Bleep, bleep, bleep," as they pick up signals of at least mild lunacy. That's aside from the actual content of what he says: a gut-level reading.
But again, it doesn't matter what I think or what you think. It only matters that to the public, Beck is a nut job. You've all heard of guilt by association? It works with other social ills and traits. If you associate with Farakhan or say, "They don't make 'em like Father Coughlin anymore," that's going to brand you with a certain label because these are people who stand for certain (repugnant) ideas. That would apply in equal parts to (ahem) people who have a history of long association with Reverend Wright.
Not long ago, I was assigned an article on the topic of metamathematics, which is the application of mathematical theories to non-mathematical problems: If Glenn Beck is offensive and strange, and Glenn Beck likes the Jews and Israel, ergo, the Jews and Israel are offensive and strange. Simple as that.
If Glenn Beck really cared about the Jews and Israel, he'd stop aligning himself with them, because all he can do is harm their cause. Which proves his motives are less than pure, IMHO. Can you spell "Rapture?"
I think the Jews and Israel DO need a spokesperson. But that person must be squeaky clean. Beyond reproach. No skeletons in the closet. Israel's spokesperson has to be respected by Democrats and Republicans alike and Europe has to like him/her, too. And oh, yeah: it can't be someone Jewish.
I can't think of anyone who fits the bill. For awhile I thought that maybe Ileana Ros-Lehtinen might be that knight in shining armor. But no. She's got Jewish roots. She is supportive of Scientology. *sigh*
The upshot is that maybe the Jews are just going to have to rely on themselves for now. As Hillel the Elder said, "Im ein ani li, mi li?" (If I am not for myself, who will be for me?) If every Jew will consider that he is an ambassador for his people, that would be an excellent start. Of course, part of that ambassadorship involves being worthy to inherit the land on a daily basis.
