Are conservatives turning on Glenn Beck?

In the current issue of The Weekly Standard, conservative columnist and editor William Kristol scolds Glenn Beck for being skeptical of the Egyptian uprising. Kristol, a Fox political contributor himself, says the Fox News host's "rants about the caliphate taking over the Middle East" are reminiscent of the John Birch Society, and that he's "marginalizing" himself through his "hysteria." Beck, in turn, lashed out at Kristol and "entrenched" Republicans clinging to power. Many are taking the two men's war of words as a sign that conservatives are turning against Beck and that his days at Fox News may be numbered. Are they? (Watch an MSNBC report about the debate)

Yes, a revolt is imminent: "Conservative annoyance with Glenn Beck's messianism has been growing" just as his ratings have been dropping, says Anthea Butler at Religion Dispatches. Kristol's criticism is just the latest evidence that the sharks are circling Beck, and that an "apocalyptic end" is coming soon for his media career. His "doomsday televangelist prophet routine jeopardizes not only his show on Fox, but any chance that he can be considered to be any sort of a king- or queen-maker in the 2012 elections."

"The sharks circling Glenn Beck"

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Fox is over Beck: Kristol's criticism is "not unimportant," says Joe Klein in Time. The noted neocon is "very close to the throbbing heart of the Fox News sensibility," and "I've heard, from more than a couple of conservative sources, that prominent Republicans have approached Rupert Murdoch and [Fox's] Roger Ailes about the potential embarrassment that the paranoid-messianic rodeo clown may bring upon their brand." Beck's days at Fox may well be numbered, and "I wouldn't be surprised if we saw a mirror-Olbermann situation soon."

"How long, Glenn Beck, how long?"

Even the conservative elite is chiming in: "Kristol's words drew an approving nod from the National Review's Rich Lowry," says Ben Smith at Politico. The "conservative elite" typically keeps its aversion to Beck to itself, so a "public repudiation" is "rare" and notable.

"Beck blasts Kristol: 'Do anything to keep their little fiefdom together'"

And yet, Egypt is dividing many conservatives: It's worth noting that "Beck and Kristol aren't the only conservatives feuding" over Egypt, says Matt Lewis at Politics Daily. It's a divisive issue — just last week a conservative blog accused the American Conservative Union of being involved with the Muslim Brotherhood. Both Beck and Kristol are "advocating reasonable positions" — Kristol supports those in the streets, while Beck fears Islam will gain power — but they have gotten very "emotional" in expressing their opinions. While it's probably "frowned upon" by Fox News to have two of their employees publicly feuding, this isn't all that unusual given the situation.

"Glenn Beck hits back at Bill Kristol over Egypt"