Update: Glenn Beck Gets Religion, Wrong

Update: With more history on the mis-quote.

Right up front, for the Beck Heads who have already dismissed the importance of this before even reading it, you're wrong, too. Beck claims George Washington as a passion of his. He has a multi-person research staff and makes millions doing this shtick. Yet, he ignorantly puts words in Washington's mouth, words that Washington never spoke, or wrote?

BECK for March 5, 2010 GLENN BECK, HOST: Welcome to THE GLENN BECK PROGRAM. (...)

But let me give you the words of George Washington, "It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible." You know what? There was one thing the kids in this video had right. Our educational system is failing them.

And if you as a parent do not fill that void, fill that void with knowledge and information - nature abhors a vacuum. Barack Obama - his progressive propaganda fringe - they will fill it. They will fill it.

And now Beck's conducting an American Revival tour with at least some religious overtones? What a convenient mis-quote, far from his first. Glenn Beck is doing precisely what he rightly accuses the Leftists of doing, filling heads with mush when it suits his purposes. Only he's doing it from the other side of the political spectrum. And that's wrong, as well as potentially disastrous for the Right.

We need to reject demagogy in all its forms. And if Beck can't clean up his act given all his resources, then we have to reject him. No agenda will prevail to good effect with an ignorant buffoon leading the effort.

Comments

[FeFe]

Van Jones approves this message. "I pledge allegiance to plant Earth..."

[Sherri]

You very obviously have a vendetta against Beck. He misquoted Washington with one of the MOST oft misquoted lines (by your source) and you label him as an "ignorant buffoon." You, Dan, need to get yourself straight. Why do you persist in this misguided effort to tear down both Beck and Palin? The two people who have done the most to wake people up in this country? You, Dan, are a sad sad little man.

[Huey]

So.

Is he an "ignorant buffon," or is it a "convenient mis-quote?"

Really, make up your mind here. Either he made a mistake or he is purposefully mis-quoting for his own (in your view) self-serving purposes.

[therightscoop]

From WallBuilders.com
http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=126

2. It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible. -- George Washington (unconfirmed)

Although the modern secularists avoid his numerous religious maxims, Washington's views on religion are easily documented. He often spoke on religious themes, to include the ruler of nations, the light of Revelation, and the symbiotic relationship between the Church and the state. There is overwhelming evidence to support this thought as belonging to Washington. However, since the quote has not been documented to date, it appears unlikely to be found. Too much research has been done on the life of Washington to see the prospect of a new quotation.

There is a very real possibility that the quotation has its origin in an 1835 biography by James K. Paulding. In a description of Washington's character, with supporting quotations, Paulding declares Washington to have said:

"It is impossible to account for the creation of the universe without the agency of a Supreme Being. It is impossible to govern the universe without the aid of a Supreme Being."

The similarities are obvious; a paraphrase of these quotes could have easily generated the words in question. However, we have not been able to trace Paulding's cite to a more scholarly reference. He offers no footnotes. For an extensive selection of Washington's religious sayings, see the Maxims of Washington: Political, Social, Moral, and Religious, John F. Schroeder, ed. (Mount Vernon, Virginia: The Mount Vernon Ladies Association, © 1942). (The book has also been reprinted, albeit in a slightly different format. We recommend the older versions.)

---------------------
This shows that it isn't as far fetched as Riehl seems to think it is. I don't think you can call it demagogy though. Perhaps he misquoted Washington, but that probably came from him on the fly and not his research team. He's read alot of books and my guess is that he's read it along the way. Even a simple search of the web shows that many people believe that he said it. A misquote doesn't represent demagogy.

[Dan Riehl]

A quote is a quote, RS. Sorry - but it fully fits the definition of demagogy imo. A serious man does not put words into the mouths of the Founders. Why so many seem content to except Beck insulting them that way is beyond my ability to comprehend. Anyone who genuinely admires them should want their words and opinions treated with reverance, not the clumsy mistreatment of a showman, or circus clown.

[Kentucky Colonel]

Talking about scraping the bottom of the barrel- A post trying to create a controversy where none exists. Riehl, this is the kind of crap post I'd expect from the PuffHo, MM, or the douchebag Alan Colmes.

[david r]

Beck is a hate monger. If his views were suddenly the norm, we would be little different than the intolerant society in power these last 30 years in Iran. I have no use for him, Olbermann, Maddow, et al, and there are days when Sean Hannity makes the list. This demonization of the other side is what has paralyzed Congress. I think it all started with the Robert Bork hearings. Read the comments on Huffpo. It's giddy fun to hate the other side. No need to be informed, or think critically. All you need is be politically correct.

[therightscoop]

Perhaps I am biased a bit in this, but I don't think his intent is to "insult" the founders as you put it. A mistake is a mistake, but why does that make it demagogy? You imply with your claim of demagogy that he either doesn't care that he was wrong or did it on purpose. I think neither are the case here and I think he would readily correct it if someone brought it to his attention.

[Sissy Willis]

Ignorance rules!

[Xiaoding]

Would any of the posters here, attribute a quote to George Washington, in a speech, that they had not confirmed in advance? Especially, given the vast history of mis-quotes and false quotes in American history?

I think not. Yet some fall over themselves backwards making excuses for an idiot, covering themselves in moronicity.

it was announced, just yesterday, that lefty blogs are declining in popularity. And why is this so? Because of a lack of CREDIBILITY.

When you lose credibility, you are doomed.

Mr. Beck needs to apologize immediately, or serious, honest people will no longer listen to him.

[therightscoop]

Xiaoding

Beck reads all the time. He's read a ton on George Washington and perhaps he was quoting what he read in a book that got it wrong. Why are you so quick to insult him over what seems to be an oversight on his part?

[Inge]

I totally agree with you, Dan.

[newrouter]

mountain meet mole hill

[DJ]

I think people like Dan Riehl who attend Ron Paul & John Birch conferences shouldn't really be questioning beliefs of others.

Dan Riehl needs to disavow the 9/11 truthers that he attended a conference with before he condemns anybody else.

[Huey]

So. Just to make sure we're all on the same page here.

This is a "false quote" because we have no proof Washington said it?

Or, is it a "true quote" because we have no proof that Washington didn't say it?

Let's see. Is it in keeping with what Washington MIGHT have said? Well, if the internet quote police are correct, then it may have come from a description of Washington's character (supported by quotes) his biographer (some 175 years ago) in which the biographer claims that Washington made the following statement:

"It is impossible to account for the creation of the universe without the agency of a Supreme Being. It is impossible to govern the universe without the aid of a Supreme Being."

Hm...even in the debunking article cited above (again here for convenience: http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=126 (one of the few sites which classifies the offending statement as UNCONFIRMED rather than the impossible to support classification of FALSE) the SIMILARITY between the UNCONFIRMED statement and the one ATTRIBUTED to Washington by his biographer cannot be denied.

So, is it more likely that someone who made one statement which is quite similar to another actually MADE the similar statement or that he did not? How many times do we say essentially the same thing over the years to different people but in different formulations?

In other words, how difficult is it to believe that someone who lived close in time to Washington (and was a close friend of Madison), who could (and did) speak to those who knew Washington personally and intimately, who could read the papers and letters of those who knew and corresponded with Washington -- got it right?

Sigh. So fast to denounce on such slight evidence.

[Dave in Alaska]

Brainy Quotes, George Washington:

It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.
George Washington

Oh crap, now BrainyQuote needs to fix their mistake too.

It appears Washington's understanding of God's providence in the leading of our nation, was clear in his mind.

No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand, which conducts the Affairs of men more than the People of the United States. Every step, by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation, seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency.
George Washington, First Inaugural Address, April 30, 1789

Glen Beck may have misquoted from an information source however, he relayed George Washington's intent.

[Warren Bonesteel]

Glenn Beck has a better clue than most MSM pundits, but he does have a few pieces of the puzzle in the wrong places.

[Kentucky Colonel]

Riehl, this post of yours defines demagogy more than Beck's crime of possibly getting a quote wrong. Have you jumped all the people who have mis-quoted Franklin when he talked about giving up liberty and freedom for safety?

Demagogy? You betcha, but you're the guilty one.

[Dan Riehl]

Look, asshats, what I'm seeing is a lot of ignorance from Beck defenders. Suddenly a quote need not be a quote, the words of the Founders are free for anyone to make up when it pleases them. Frankly, you people repulse me for your lack of standards and integrity all because you are transfixed with some matinee idol with a bad haircut.

YOu should be ashamed of yourselves and would be, were you not so quick to embrace ignorance because you get a tingle up your legs. Yopu're no better than Chris Matthews in that regard. My only regret is that you align yourselves with the Right, as I do.

[harkin]

Why the hate and name-calling instead of benignly stating that Beck repeated an oft-used misquote? 'Putting words into the mouths of our founders' implies intentional misrepresentation without any proof. This is much more befitting Kos or LGF than this site.

There's something deeper going on here.

Love reading Riehl but the "buffoon" and "circus clown" blasts are beneath him.

Look at Beck's recent answer to Van Jones' "I love you" statement and you'll realize Beck wishes to communicate instead of smear or censor. Great job, Beck!

[Bee]

Dan,
You need to email this site and tell them to correct this right away!!!
George Washington, "It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible." You know what? There was one thing the kids in this video had right. Our
http://thinkexist.com/quotes/like/it-is-impossible-to-rightly-govern-a-nation/347682/

[Dave in Alaska]

Posted by: Dan Riehl

Look, asshats, what I'm seeing is a lot of ignorance from Beck defenders. Suddenly a quote need not be a quote, the words of the Founders are free for anyone to make up when it pleases them. Frankly, you people repulse me for your lack of standards and integrity all because you are transfixed with some matinee idol with a bad haircut.

YOu should be ashamed of yourselves and would be, were you not so quick to embrace ignorance because you get a tingle up your legs. Yopu're no better than Chris Matthews in that regard. My only regret is that you align yourselves with the Right, as I do.

It appears you like to use Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals Dan, instead of honest debate. Why the hate?

5. "Ridicule is man's most potent weapon. It is almost impossible to counteract ridicule. Also it infuriates the opposition, which then reacts to your advantage."

[Bee]

http://www.quotesdaddy.com/quote/535858/george-washington/it-is-impossible-to-rightly-govern-a-nation-without

And this one too~~

[Bee]

And this one!!!
http://www.artsinheaven.com/items/sweetheart-gift-ideas/boc03-george-washington-gilbert-stuart-detail.htm

[Kentucky Colonel]

Riehl, why is it that anytime someone disagrees with you, you resort to name-calling? As far as I can tell, it hasn't been determined whether Beck got the quote right or wrong. It looks like he either got it right, or he may have been guilty of quoting from a book that paraphrased what Washington actually said.

How is it that you seem to be able to read Beck's mind to determine his intent? Why don't you share with us as to where you got your amazing mind-reading abilities?

I think this post is just another example of you going off the rails and then being too pig-headed to back off. For some reason, you seem to do this every so often.

If there ever was an example of the term, "when you point a finger, there are three more pointing back at you", this is it. Give it up. You're looking pretty silly.

[wtfci]

therightscoop: Glenn Beck regularly trumpets the "The 5000 Year Leap". On his FNS show when he stacks his books to start urging viewers what to read Skousen's book is typically lifted.

The book itself is nearly a wholesale fantasy. The number of fictions in the book is huge.

I would like to think that Beck has been informed about the fiction in Skousen's work, but I seriously doubt it.

Frankly, I don't mind Beck when he's just asking questions and interviewing guests. But when he starts to go out on his own he's skiing down the truth slalom hitting hitting every other flag.

[Warren Bonesteel]

If it is not recorded in Washington's own words, in his speeches, letters and writings, attributing any such quote to him is dishonest, at best. Any defense in using a false quote and attributing it to anyone is an outright lie.

If an earlier author makes such an attribution, his sources must be referenced or his own credibility comes into question.

Dan is quite correct on this one. ...although his response to reader's ignorance is a over the top, his frustration is understandable.

In spite of their own protestations,in spite of evidence to the contrary, in spite of the Founder's own words to the contrary, many conservatives want/need/desire the Founders of this nation to be pro-theocracy.

refer:
Logical Fallacies, cognitive biases, rational ignorance, category mistake, et al. see also: sacred cow.

refer also:
Online Library of Liberty
Liberty Library of Constitutional Classics

[therightscoop]

Warren - Who wnats the founders to be pro-theocracy? Most of them believed in God and it carried into their political and personal lives. And the ones who didn't believe in God at least had respect for it.

But that's a far cry from a theocracy.

[therightscoop]

wtfci,

I've heard him push the 5000 year leap, but know nothing about the book otherwise. I've not read any books he has pushed but I do watch his show regularly. I really don't find him to be dishonest, so when I read Riehl's over the top analysis of a potential misquote, I tend to think he is quite unfair in his analysis of Beck's intent.

I think it's great to point out mistakes, but the man hasn't even been on the air since he quoted Washington to even answer his critics. Maybe he'll address it. I emailed it to him myself earlier so we'll see.

[Huey]

Dan. You do understand the difference between an "unconfirmed quotation" and a "false quotation," I hope?

You do realize that it is not Beck who "put words" into Washington's mouth, I hope? Rather, at some point, someone else either correctly or incorrectly attributed these words to Washington?

Just because a statement isn't contemporaneously recorded for posterity doesn't mean it wasn't said - unless you're of the opinion that every word Washington said uttered was recorded so that later "quotations" are capable of verification.

I can certainly make a stronger argument that this statement is one which Washington MIGHT have made than anyone can that it is one which is INCONSISTENT with Washington's beliefs -- unless you're going to argue that those statements which we know he made are not accurate.

I agree that Beck shouldn't have used this quotation. Those "resources" you mention (likely, actual people who provided to him the quote without adequate research) should have discovered that the quotation was UNCONFIRMED.

Unlike you, however, I don't ascribe to Beck any base motivation for use of the quote, rather, I assume it to be an ERROR -- and likely not even HIS error -- but one of his minion's.

He SHOULD correct this error now that it has likely been brought to his attention, stating that the subject "quotation" is one which is not capable of confirmation and SUBSTITUTE one which has the same essential meaning which is a confirmed quotation.

But, that's ALL that is required to make this right.

To anyone who is rational and reasonable on the subject of Beck, anyway.

[Huey]

Warren: To claim that someone who is possibly in error to be "dishonest" is to ascribe to that person a motivation which is unknown. When one knows that Beck's motivation is unknown, yet ascribes that motivation to him anyway, THAT is "dishonest."

[Dan]

Don't vevr, ever use wikipedia as an authoratative source for anything. It is only a good jumping off point. Wikipedia is notorious for ... doing what you are accusing Beck of doing, changing history to fit the last editors purpose.

[Handsome Smitty]

Well, if Wikipedia says so....

Seriously, mistake on your part because Washington included the WORLD and didn't point at just America - if any of this is accurate.

[Xiaoding]

therightscoop:
"Beck reads all the time. He's read a ton on George Washington and perhaps he was quoting what he read in a book that got it wrong. Why are you so quick to insult him over what seems to be an oversight on his part?"

Because he's a major figure, who has read a ton on George Washington. That's why. Is he serious, or not? Serious people, in the public eye, do not misquote the father of our country.

[Randall Hoven]

It's not like Beck made up this quote. It's in various sources of quotes on the internet, such as

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/g/george_washington_2.html

http://thinkexist.com/quotes/george_washington/

http://www.quotesby.net/George-Washington

I've used the quote myself: http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2010/02/graph_of_the_day_for_february_15.html

So accuse us of sloppy sourcing of quotes. So much for BrainyQuote.

Can Your Highness recommend a reliable source of quotations that is online?

[Dave in Alaska]

http://www.marksquotes.com/Founding-Fathers/

I like this one.

[CK MacLeod]

If Beck doesn't check himself, he's going to wreck himself, and take some people with him, if it's not already too late. I don't always agree with Dan Riehl (don't even always agree with myself), but he's got this one right - and this mistake is typical of Beck's approach, not an isolated incident by any means.

[Mondo]

"Why so many seem content to except[sic] Beck insulting them that way is beyond my ability to comprehend. Anyone who genuinely admires them should want their words and opinions treated with reverance, not the clumsy mistreatment of a showman, or circus clown."

The Left is not the part of the blogosphere that knows that attacking Beck--or Palin--over any little misstep is good for business.

[Rocks]

Wow, this is some thin gruel here. Are you going to go after Cary Grant impressionists who say "Judy, Judy, Judy" next? It certainly sounds like something Washington said. It's a pretty big reach to automatically suggest malicious intent on Beck's part.

[ROCnPhilly]

Wow! Wikipedia as one source and an atheist site dedicated to debunking quotes mentioning Christianity as the other! So it must be true? Are you serious?

[Rocks]

Because he's a major figure, who has read a ton on George Washington. That's why. Is he serious, or not? Serious people, in the public eye, do not misquote the father of our country.

Posted by: Xiaoding | Sunday, March 07, 2010 at 07:26 PM

Really? That's it? That's the beef? He's a radio and TV personality. He's not a Professor or Historian.

[Dave in Alaska]

CK MacLeod....

Who is he going to take with him and where will they be going? Can you say in all honesty, that had you heard the quote, or "misquote" spoken or written by anyone other than Glenn, that you would have claimed that person's demise?

It isn't as if Glenn made up the quote. You do understand that don't you?

[Kentucky Colonel]

CK MacLeod, did you not see that a number of sources attribute that quote to Washington? When you're writing, how many sources do you use to affirm that something like this is correct?

[shawk]

You're right. The quote is wrong.

It's actually a paraphrase of John Adams.

What's your point? That God is bad or unneeded?

[Rocks]

The point is they don't like Glenn Beck and will grasp at any straw discredit him apparently. One, you are giving Beck for too much credit and two this has a very Derangement Syndrome feel to it. Let's hope Beck doesn't get Babe Ruth's 1929 batting average wrong next time or the entire sports world will have conniptions.

[Danielle]

Dan Reihl is in the last throes of a LGF style meltdown.

[CK MacLeod]

Kentucky Colonel and Dave in Alaska, if you've read much of the prose of the period and were passingly familiar with Washington's life and writings, you'd know to be suspicious of the quote. If you look at the verified and authentic statements others have supplied above in which Washington wrote of divine providence or divine agencies, or for that matter of scripture, you'd know that the quote looks fishy - the whole thing, including the split infinitive and the raw reference to the Bible, reads as modern.

And I submit that it's not too far from what Beck does when he starts going through the weirdo-Commie = Van Jones = Stalin = Hillary = McCain = Obama trip, or some of Beck's other favorite ploys - "fake but accurate" in the service of emotionalism.

[A.C. McCloud]

The opponents are over there on the left trying to take over health care, tax the air, and grant citizenship to illegal aliens largely using subterfuge. Beck is trying to stop them. And they are trying to stop Beck. This is tiny in comparison.

[newrouter]

"Commie = Van Jones = Stalin = Hillary = McCain = Obama"

nice collection of statists you got there

[datechguy]

I think a better quote to use would have been John Adams:

We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a religious and moral people. It is wholly inadequate for the government of any other.

You know Dan I don't think we were properly introduced at CPAC, my Bad indeed.