Branding Czar Jonathan Salem Baskin Calls Republicans Out
Well Republicans that like Glenn Beck anyway. In a recent branding blog article Jonathan says people that watch Glenn Beck are “a small group of right-wing loons, evangelicals, and would-be terrorists“.
I happen to like Glenn Beck and I don’t seem to fit into the loon, evangelicals or terrorists categories?
So I wrote a response:
Let’s see in one week Beck got Van Jones to quit (fired) and the Census Bureau to sever ties with Acorn.
Add to that that he has the 2nd highest rated cable tv talk show. His show is so wildly popular with “terrorists” (like myself) that all the other shows on MSNBC and CNN and the like combined don’t add up to his numbers. The last time I checked ratings sort of matter.
But what you a SERIOUSLY MISSING is his awesome brand building. He doesn’t want you, he wants you to write these great articles though. Do you feel that hook in your mouth? That’s Beck reeling you in.
I sit in awe at his positioning which is clearly different than anyone out there. People (liberals) like you are never going to like him. The more you hate him the more his “right-wing loons” will dig in and defend him. So as far as branding goes he clearly eliminates liberals and makes his audience ferociously supportive. Sounds like a good plan to me.
I think you totally have this wrong. He’s not the Dems best friend. He’s their worst nightmare. He’s going to keep reeling in liberals like you who will do his bidding. Feel like a sucker?
I’m a huge fan of Glenn Beck and I certainly don’t always agree with his views. Sometimes he’s just to out there but other times I get a neck injury from shaking my head in agreement. He will play a pivotal role in unseating Obama.
I’m disappointed at the name calling and stereotyping in this article. It’s not your best moment and I’ve been a fan for a while. I think it’s also a good idea to go back to what you do best, it’s just to easy to hit the “UNSUBSCRIBE” from my Google Reader…
His response… I encourage you to unsubscribe 
Years of me following and supporting his blog. Writing articles on my blog pointing to his blog. Talking on the phone and in one swift moment it all ended. He lost a fellow branding guy, friend and most of all my respect. It’s not cool to ever call Americans terrorists no matter what your political beliefs. Just throwing the word “terrorist” around so haphazedely is scary. He should apologize to a lot of hard working regular people for his statement. But that’s just my opinion.
I deceided to send him a personal email and clarify the issue and this was his response:
Sorry, Scott. I wrote about Beck’s ability to advocate extreme positions that take his followers out of the realm of real debate, and into the category of ideology and sometimes outright fantasy. Your response to me only proved my case. There’s no way to debate with people who can’t debate, but who’d rather make nutjob accusations.
What it comes down to is is strong belief in his own thinking basically means he can’t communicate with people on the other side. Love or hate Glenn Beck, the fact that he can’t rationalize why people do like him is again…scary.
This is not a you like Glenn Beck debate.
What say you kahunas? Cool, uncool?
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September 14th, 2009 at 10:30 am
Sorry to hear that you and J S-B have fallen out. I think you make a good point about the focused brand building talent of Glenn Beck. He’s not out to charm everyone, that’s for sure.
Would you say that Keith Olbermann is similarly talented from a branding perspective?
September 14th, 2009 at 10:53 am
I would say that Olbermann has his audience but does not have the unique positioning as Beck. The reason being is Beck is more of an overall “anti gov’t” brand identity. He’ll tear Republicans down as well. And of course he has no where near the numbers of Beck
The tough part in this exchange was the shocking stance he took. It’s like drawing a line in the sand and saying hey, I”m catholic – you’re Jewish, go screw. I must say I was really saddened by his actions and the name calling. He outright called me dumb and I think we all know that I’m not
September 14th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Scott, you left out much of our prior conversation, and purposefully misread my essay to make a point far beyond anything I even considered in writing the post. However, here are a few links for you to consider:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UASS1qFAIQ8&feature=player_embedded
http://www.examiner.com/x-3629-Philadelphia-Progressive-Examiner~y2009m9d11-Glenn-Beck-Paling-around-with-terrorists-on-912
http://rawstory.com/08/news/2009/08/22/gop-rep-right-wing-terrorist/
September 14th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
I’m not sure what Beck, O’Reilly or Olbermann even do anymore. They are all whack jobs.
Encouraging anyone to unsubscribe is a pansy more. Similar to blocking someone on Twitter because they disagree, it shows they lack the intelligence or courage to back up their point.
We SHOULD be arguing. We SHOULD be debating. The less open our lines of communication are, the more likely we are to assume things. The more we assume, the more negative we’ll get. Then we’ll end up hating each other. Then we’ll go to war.
Don’t believe me?
September 14th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
I’m not even sure how to purposely misread something. At this point I’m dumbfounded.
September 14th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
From facebook:
Robin West
I think that he chose the name Dimbulb speaks volumes. I won’t get down in the pig slop of name calling as Baskin does in his article. And to state that Beck has hatched an insidious plan to find a connection that involves a loose affiliation of liberal loons, atheists, and former terrorists reflects how misinformed he is. These Czars (called … Read Moreso by this administration) have a direct whisper in the ear of our President and ties with him throughout his career that go way back…loose affiliation, I think not. Speaks volumes that he has more than doubled the number of czars and has circumvented them being vetted thru Congress. And then as their backgrounds/beliefs are coming to light act as if they are at a far arms distance. Please I know who my friends are, where they come from and what they believe in and you’re telling me the President doesn’t but brings these people with him anyone. One word PoppyCock!
Lisa Wiggins
I have to say that I agree with Baskin. You are over-reacting to his statement about terrorists. First, to be clear, he said “would-be-terrorists.” Second, Americans are not immune to home-grown terrorists, even if they don’t practice Islam (as the stereotypical “terrorist” practices). They are the bozos who kill abortion doctors and bomb clinics, … Read Moreetc. He may have lumped you in the right-wing loon group, though. If you are offensed about being in that group, you are probably more on target than whining about being called a “would-be-terrorist.” Third, Beck is a psycho “birther”… that got him in a heap of trouble with branding companies, and rightfully so. (Where was Beck’s “unbiased” policial critique during the Bush administration? Yeah, non-existant!) Fourth, your comment about Obermann is telling! Go ahead and de-friend me – I won’t cry or whine! I think conservative Beck followers like you are a rarity in St. Thomas, fo sho! I won’t be sending business your way! The GOP would do well to remember the warning of Maine Republican Margaret Chase Smith, who worried in 1950 that her party was trying to achieve victory on “the Four Horsemen of Calumny — Fear, Ignorance, Bigotry, and Smear.”
Robin West
There is no bipartisanship on the Healthcare Reform bill…any move to attach a check/balance component introduced by the Republicans are being shot down. Pelosi said it is going to go thru regardless…doesn’t sound like much compromise there. The Presidents approval rating has signficantly dropped even amongst his own party. The veil is being … Read Morelifted so it is not surprising to see an attempt to dismiss and deflect the truth. 2010 will be telling when the cards begin to change…we’ll see how small this small group of right-wing loons, evangelicals, and would-be terrorists are then.
September 16th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Everybody’s entitled to their opinion, but wow, kindergarten is down the hall, Mr. Baskin.
People also need to remember this old axiom, “Hey, I know it’s true. I saw it on TV.” And how silly anyone sounds when they say it with a straight face.
These news talk shows on Fox and MSNBC (can’t stomach CNN and their wizbang fun with computers moments), need to fill time after they give the facts. They do it by expressing and providing platforms for other people to express their opinions and demonstrate their knowledge. I would side more with Olberman than Beck on most things, but I like the watchdog mentality of Beck. That’s important. You could get a little carried away with it, but there needs to be an element of our society looking for powerful and rich people behaving in ways that are detrimental to our society. And let’s face it, a lot of those people tend to run in DC and other government circles. There are benevolent people in positions of power, but there certainly are selfish people, too. You’ll find both in both parties. You’ll also find people both voting their conscience and their offshore bank accounts in both parties.
Make no mistake. Power corrupts. And votes give politicians and parties power. And the more you approach absolute power, the better chance you have of succumbing to the lure of generational wealth coming into your hands. Perpetual security for your family and their families…for many otherwise good and moral people, I feel like the prospects of that make the sins of selling out worth their price in gold.
I don’t believe Mr. Obama is a man that can be corrupted by money. I voted for him with that belief, and I think beyond any of his other politics that you may or may not agree with him on, that perhaps you might see my point there. I mean, he’s threatening to vanquish the for-profit healthcare system we have in this country; I’m sure he’s had very attractive offers to change his mind on that.
But anyway…for the record, universal healthcare good. Let it compete like the post office does with FedEx and UPS.
Scott, maybe that leads to branded health management plans instead of “health insurance.” Hmm…
September 17th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Wow, since Glenn Beck has exposed Acorn here’s what’s happened: Census Bureau severes ties, Senate votes to cut funding, 20 states launch investigations. The fall out of this will be MASSIVE. And remember who was a lawyer for Acorn and promotes Acorn…President Obama. Just stating the facts, don’t shoot the messenger
September 24th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
As a fellow brand fanatic, your fight with Scott feels weird. Are you actually comfortable having an entertainer-Beck or any branded entertainer..Limbaugh…Stern.. actually create governmental policy? democracy is dependent on the people and their representatives…not democracy or government brought to you by just well-financed brands. What’s next President Beck or Senator Limbaugh or Congressmen Stern brought to you by Ajax., Fox TV and YoPlait? Brands are created to sell a commidity, please remember this.