Glenn passionately explained the importance of keeping your word and the value of your name over every other fleeting interest that may cross your path now and again. Glenn said he’s been to the lowest of lows and knows what it’s like to have lost everything - he’s not willing to go there again no matter what the financial cost. Are you willing to do the same?
The conversation started after looking at the actions of several progressive members of the GOP, including Grover Norquist and Karl Rove. Glenn criticized them specifically for their willingness to sacrifice conservative principles in order to achieve their immediate interests.
"This is what Karl Rove and Grover Norquist and everything else are doing. 'We have to win. We have to win. We have to win. Yeah, I know those are our principles, but we have to win.' You're going to lose both of them," Glenn said.
"Money doesn't talk. Money screams. Principles don't mean anything to anybody. They do to me. And if we all stand alone, then so be it. We all stand alone. If we lose this voice, then we lose this voice," Glenn said.
You know, I wrote an email on another topic this morning. On something that people have been saying, 'yeah, well, we can't do. We can't do. We can't do. Because, Glenn, the company could lose $54 million.' I wrote this morning, and I quote, 'my name and my good word is worth more than 54 fricking million dollars. I don't care.' When I was down on the ground as an alcoholic, I prayed, Lord, just give me my name back. That's all I want is my credibility. Please, nobody believes me because I've lied to everybody. All I want is my name back," Glenn said.
"He allowed me a second chance to get my name back. I am not going to violate that. Because I know what it means when you have nothing and no one believes you. I can live with being broke. I can live with not having money. I can live under a bridge and be fine as long as I have my integrity. I will not lose my integrity."
"Now, how many people feel that way?"
"Very few."
"Why?"
"Because very few have lost everything including their name. When you have zero and no one will cross the street to help you because you've been a dirtbag, that's when you change. That's when you know what truly is important to you. I know that. So if I lose this game pointing out what my principles are and trying to warn people, that's okay."
Glenn recounted a conversation he had off air earlier in the week about first and second principles (or principles and interests). C.S. Lewis wrote, "You can’t get second things by putting them first; you can get second things only by putting first things first." There are the "first things" you do which are for the greater good, and then there are the secondary things like money, survival, and shelter. Lewis said you can't skip the first things in order to get to the second things.
"America has to wake up. You either stand for something or you don't. The reason why we're losing everything all around the world is because the world knows we don't stand for anything," Glenn said.
"The reason why people are going over to join ISIS is because they do stand for something. It's crazy. It's deadly, but they stand for something. Jesus and Hitler had one thing and only one thing in common. They could both look a man in the eye and say, I can feed you. Jesus meant, I could feed you spiritually. I will change you fundamentally. You will be happy. You will be fulfilled. Eternally, I can feed you."
"Hitler focused on second principles. I will give you literal food. I just got to get rid of these people. So they violated their first principles of, we're all in this together. I don't kill other people so I can have their shoes so I can have their house, so I can eat. I don't kill other people to do that. To hell with that. I'm going with him because I need food."
"And what happened? Jesus won. There are 2 billion people who are Christians. And a handful of Nazis."