Glenn Beck's gold-gate problem

Yet another controversy appears to be brewing around Fox News host Glenn Beck. Some are accusing him of a blatant conflict of interest concerning his frequent on-air promotion of an investment sold by one of his main advertisers: Gold.

For some time Beck critics have cried foul over his relationship with Goldline International, a precious metals vendor that features the TV and radio host's endorsement prominently on their website. Critics charge that Beck is guilty of misleading his audience by often advising them to purchase gold in advance of the potential collapse of the value of the dollar on the world currency market, without disclosing that he is in fact a "paid spokesman" for Goldline. Beck's on-air promotion of gold, which includes advising viewers to construct "fruit cellars" and to rely on a "three G system" of "God, Gold, and Guns" in the event of America's collapse, dates back to his time as a host for CNN Headline News.

Glenn Beck also regularly talks up gold on his nationally syndicated radio show, where he often endorses Goldline during live commercial segments. Additionally, Beck has had the company's CEO on as a guest. Advertisements for Goldline are also featured prominently on Beck's own website, where he recently promoted gold in an audio clip warning of an apocalyptic future:

When the system eventually collapses, and the government comes with guns and confiscates, you know, everything in your home and all your possessions, and then you fight off the raving mad cannibalistic crowds that Ted Turner talked about, don't come crying to me. I told you: get gold.

Back in October, the liberal media company Air America made this video mocking the conflict of interest:

Beck's promotion of gold presents a potential problem for Fox News, which strictly prohibits on-air personalities from making paid product endorsements. When contacted by Daily Finance for a comment on the matter, Fox News senior vice-president for development Joel Cheatwood said the network "makes an exception for its commentators who are also radio hosts," adding that they knew upfront that hiring Beck came with the understanding that he was also a radio host and that they "had to be accepting of certain elements of that." Nevertheless, a Fox spokeswoman said that the company is addressing the matter with Beck's agent, George Hiltzik.

However, Beck, who responded to the conflict of interest allegations on his show last Thursday by saying "So I shouldn't make money?", isn't devoid of defenders on the matter. Business Insider called the controversy "nonsense," adding "there's nothing wrong with a commentator advising viewers, listeners, or readers to take positions that he is taking himself. In fact, you might wonder about the motivations of someone giving financial advice he wouldn't take himself."

In Beck's defense, some have also noted that the price of gold has spiked since he started at Fox News. Nevertheless, you can probably bet that any and all future Jon Stewart impressions of Beck will include numerous references to the virtues of gold.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_ts1022

He has the weirdest show I have seen in a long time.

The fair and balanced news network!

LMAO

Yeah many of the conservatives talk show hosts have radio adds pushing gold. I made a killing off one of them from 2002. But right now you have to think that there will be a decline soon it has gone up so damn much in the last decade. But precious metals are a very safe investment, you could lose money but they are never worthless like stocks can be. But there is quite a contradiction there i think. But you have to admit precious metals are where you want to be in a colapse!

I don't think it's all that big a deal

I remember Howdy Doody pushing Ovaltine

Howard Stern pushing Snapple

so Beck is pushing gold


but I DO think its too late to cash in on the gold rush

the stuff is up to like $1100 a oz?

crap

cocaine is cheaper

Yeah i kinda agree with you. The problem is when a conservative is speaking politics gold is just a known shelter. So if he didnt mention it in his commentary it would be fine but the fact he does makes it a bit contraversial. I say "a bit" because Gold is a standard investment and fairly safe unless your getting near retirement. So i personally don't buy crap because someone told me too and most conservatives are pretty frugal but they have a point. Quite weak if thats all they got on Beck though! I like him he is cool, a bit unhinged and a little paranoid. But beck will say things others are too afraid to say! He just tends to bark up a lot of trees, sometimes he is spot on and sometimes i think a little exagerated! His tree of associations on Obama is remarkable and very well done!

Cocaine's cheaper because the market's flooded with it.

Beck is assumed guilty of chump change compared to what' goes on in DC.

This topic is a lame attempt. BORING!!

GLen Beck is part of the Talk Radio Network which has all their shows push Gold. It's one reason i can't listen to Hannity anymore, he's such a fraud. Every segment he plugs something after a nonsense rant...and that's excluding his on air commercial bits.

well nothing wrong with that! we do live in a capitolistit society you know. Putting in their commentary is something different entirely. Sean Hannity, never cared for his reporting, he is too muach of a hack. limbaugh, savage, levin, o'reily, napalitano, beck now those guys are good! My favorite though is Savage and limbaugh, Although Savage has some dirt on him. LEVIN IS GREAT TOO!

Bang!
Yes!

And added to his rhetoric is the political fear-mongering most associated with the Republican Party.

Here is an example,

When the system eventually collapses, and the government comes with guns and confiscates, you know, everything in your home and all your possessions, and then you fight off the raving mad cannibalistic crowds that Ted Turner talked about, don't come crying to me. I told you: get gold.


You can't excuse that away!

They still got some folks baffled.

Lesson for today;

Republicans/Democrats = Same/Same

Baby Bush/Hussein = Same/Same

The only politician I see worth his weight in "Gold", even though he's classed Repub., is Ron Paul.

The "blanced" reporting of the network does not mean that each person on that network is in the center of every issue - they mearly attempt to provide air time to both sides... *sigh*...

If it were only 1 of 5 shows I'd agree.
2 of 5, I might believe coincidence, but when it's 4 or 5 of 5, I'd say its a pattern and an intentional effort to mislead the viewing public.
Way beyond accidental or coincidental!

I'd have to say, the networks who didn't give equal time to the last presidential candidates were the ones who were biased and leaning. Who were they selling?? How much did they make selling Hussein??

I agree - but the OP: was about Glenn Beck, if you expect him to be balanced -- you expect too much. We all know who he is and what he stands for...

If you go to a pizza shop - and ask the pizza guy "what's good for lunch" he's not gonna try to sell you tofu!

$.02

well it's quite simple really it's sarcasm! But, yes I know his sarcasm is lost on you. Jeez is that really a critique or are you that biased in thought?

http://www.newshounds.us/


There is always something not right on the faux news station.

It takes an open mind to recognize propaganda when one sees it.
It takes comprehension to recognize the motivation behind the propaganda, when and where it's shown.

Anyone who can not see the propaganda as such has a lack of comprehension.
Anyone who runs around refusing to recognize the truth of what they see is guilty of having a closed mind, and showing a tendency to premeditation.

Might I recommend some comprehension classes,
or would you like to explain to everyone your purpose to being an accessory to the spread of the propaganda.

I'm not trying to be insulting, as it appears in your posts, your intentions are.
I'm just trying to help you overcome what I see as a pattern of clear deficiencies in your reasoning.

It's gone from blasting Beck to pretending MSNBC, CNN and all the other Liberal MSM is unbiased and wouldn't make some illegal or unethical bucks.

How much did they make pimpin' Hussein?

Who cares?

if you don't like the station change the channel

If you don't like the show change the channel.

MOST people on here if they had a radio/tv show and knew they could get away with it would do the same thing. Get off your high horses change the channel and enjoy the freedom to do so...

better yet...get you but off the couch, turn off the tv, and take your kids on hike that way they don't get obese like 75% of america's young