The Context
Glenn attended several Utah rallies for Ted Cruz this weekend. In Provo, he welcomed 12-year-old Dale on stage – unbeknownst to even his family. Dale shared how he had decided to fast the past three Tuesdays for the election outcome.
Matt Drudge picked out one phrase for a headline over the weekend, mocking religious expression: Beck: This is the Priesthood Rising
“I said, 'I say this to evangelicals, the body of Christ needs to stand up and stand for principles.' In our faith, we call this the priesthood; it's the men who have the priesthood blessing. And I said, 'The priesthood needs to rise,'" Glenn said on Monday on The Glenn Beck Program.
“This is the moment that Matt Drudge was mocking.”
Glenn Beck with Dale at mark 21:12
The Spirit of the Rally
Taking things out of context is nothing new in politics and the media. Frequently, it is a biased media that cherry picks certain phrases to prove a point or advance an agenda – and is most often seen on the left. This election, Matt Drudge has expanded from supporting Donald Trump to a full on assault on religion, openly mocking and ridiculing people of faith.
Does this sound like a story worthy of mocking? Especially to evangelicals and a nation that widely identifies as Christian?
“Dale has been fasting without anybody knowing it every Tuesday for the last three weeks for the right outcome in this election. This is the priesthood rising. Prepare for a time of miracles. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is real, and he is fierce. And these are his rights. Prepare for a time of miracles, and get out Tuesday and be a part of it. There's no one on the sidelines,” Glenn said.
This probably would have been quite mild in an election during the first 200-plus years of our nation. Apparently, it’s quite provocative to Matt Drudge in 2016.
Righteous Indignation
It’s one thing to stump for a candidate, and it’s another thing to promote propaganda on behalf of that candidate. But it’s a whole new ballgame when you mock people of faith because they support someone else — and Glenn was having none of it.
“Now, can I ask you a question? In what time period, in what America, in what decent society, does a man call a 12-year-old boy up and have him stand there sincerely and weeping because of the spiritual moment that it was --- this kid's life --- I talked to Dale afterwards. Dale is going to grow up --- you watch Dale. His life is already on a course, and he'll be a mover and shaker. He'll be a force to be reckoned with,” Glenn said.
Common Sense Bottom Line
The headline and linked article on The Drudge Report were taken out of context to mock and denigrate. Glenn was speaking to a predominantly Mormon crowd in a way that would resonate with them. Yes, he said "this is the priesthood rising" about young Dale. He also told the people of Utah that they "have a responsibility to the Constitution — not to Ted Cruz, not to Donald Trump," but the Constitution and its principles. But Drudge made it out to be another version of 'Ted Cruz Anointed by God to be President' – but that’s not the meaning Glenn had in mind.
"Are we really a nation that makes fun of a boy like that? With all the crap that is going on, we mock --- Matt Drudge mocks --- a boy like that? We are a nation that has lost its way," Glenn said. "I stand with Dale. My hope comes from people and kids like that. Because in the end, they'll be the ones that save us."
Listen to this segment beginning at mark 1:45:12 from The Glenn Beck Program:
Featured Image: Screenshot from rally in Provo, Utah
