Allen West to Glenn Beck: Obama’s speech was ‘weak and whiny’

September 07, 2012

Writer

What did Allen West think of President Obama's speech last night at the DNC? Let's just say he was less than impressed! Watch the interview in the clip above from radio!

Transcript of interview is below:

GLENN: We're actually having this ‑‑ Allen, are you there?
WEST: I'm here.
GLENN: Okay.
PAT: There he is.
GLENN: You're not going to kill me for saying that, are you?
WEST: No. I'm such a peaceful person.
GLENN: I know you are.
WEST: You know really I'm a passivist.
GLENN: No, I know.
WEST: And I'm running for the Nobel Peace Prize.
STU: (Laughing.)
GLENN: I know you are.
WEST: What I should potentially do, for what I could potentially do.
GLENN: You are such a wallflower lately. I don't really know if you've said what you really mean.
WEST: I think that's why the liberals don't like me.
GLENN: What did you think of the speech last night? What did you think of the whole mess?
WEST: Well, I have to tell you that I think it was a very weak and whiney attempt for, you know, President Obama to get another four years when everything about him from the economic security, energy security, and national security aspect, his policies have been a failure. When you think about what he said early on, that if he could not turn this economy around in four years, then he's a one‑term proposition, the fact that he gave us an almost trillion dollar‑plus stimulus and said that it will keep our unemployment, you know, below 8% and promise right now that it will be about 5.6%, it's just more falsifications and more deceit and just trying to get us to continue to trust him when I don't think he has any type of ability whatsoever. We elected a community organizer and this is what we get.
GLENN: You know, I was struck last night that he used the word "divine providence." He talked about ‑‑
WEST: Oh, he was quoting Thomas Jefferson left and right.
GLENN: Oh, my gosh. He actually, for the first time in his presidency, I think he actually got it right when he said all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator.
WEST: Yeah, but, you know, Glenn, come on. This is the day after the little fiasco on the delegate floor when we found out that they had taken out, you know, reference to God in their platform and also recognizing Jerusalem is the rightful capital of the modern day state of Israel and, of course, we all saw what happened when they tried to have the floor delegate debate based upon the amendment by Governor Ted Strickland. So for him to all of a sudden, you know, find the godly heritage of our constitutional republic was ‑‑ I think it was more of a show than anything else.
GLENN: Let me ‑‑ let me play just a clip of Cardinal Dolan from last night. I mean, I think this guy has, has a made right out of steel. Listen to this prayer.
CARDINAL DOLAN: Grant us the courage to defend it, life without which no other rights are secure. We ask your benediction on those waiting to be born that they may be welcomed and protected.
GLENN: I mean, you've got NARAL on the docket to speak and then he gets up and he says this.
WEST: Well, yeah. And I'm sure Sandra Fluke was not very happy with that, either: But you have to understand that one of the reasons why you just have to love Cardinal Dolan is that he stands by his principles and hopefully we can get more people in the Catholic church to, see that, you know, this was really not about contraception. This was about an intrusive nature of government going against the free exercise of religion thereof and having a government that would then be able to redefine or define what a religious organization or institution is.
GLENN: You know, people will ‑‑ people like Barack Obama and they haven't married in to Mitt Romney because, "You know, I don't really know what he's going to do or I don't really know if I trust him." Can you, can you put this in context of what this election is really all about?
WEST: Well, I think this election is about style versus substance. I think that this election is about a cult of personality versus someone that has a proven character and proven leadership. When I was at the RNC, I found it just incredible that people were asking me, you know, how do we know who Mitt Romney is and how does Mitt Romney, you know, tell us who he is. Well, four years ago he's the same guy that was running for president. He's been the governor of a state. He recovered our Salt Lake City Olympics which was, you know, right after 9/11, and he's been very successful in the private sector, in the business field. But yet you think about in 2008, we were pretty much forced to accept and vote for someone that we couldn't even say his middle name. And so now we're starting to discover, you know, who really you Barack Hussein Obama is and we're starting to see now his record and his policies which I think reflect the inner sanctum of the man, and these things that he believes in is inconsistent with the, you know, constitutional conservative values of this great republic. And I can say he can continue to channel, you know, Reagan or Lincoln or Thomas Jefferson or whoever, but he's just regurgitating quotes. I don't think that that's something he is truly inculcated.
And you brought it up earlier when I was listening to the show is that, you know, your formative years in life is from 0 to 10 years of age and, you know, what really is the background. I think it's a different type of background that, you know, opposed to someone like myself that was going to Atlanta Braves baseball game to look at a Joe Torre, Hank Aaron, and Rico Carty and, you know, I was there when the Atlanta Hawks first started their basketball team. So, you know, Fourth of July, having a father who served in World War II, a brother in Vietnam, it's about your experiences. And I think that's what we're starting to see, someone that really does not understand the American experience, but he can give a great speech.
GLENN: There's a story that's breaking this morning. The White House is circulating a draft of a new executive order on cyber security. This is what was kicked out by the Republicans before.
WEST: Yeah.
GLENN: It looks like he's just going to start regulating the Internet.
WEST: Yeah.
GLENN: Through executive order.
WEST: And this is what I'm talking about. When you understand what our Founding Fathers created in our government, they created a system of checks and balances and separation of power and what you're starting to see is a president that if he cannot get what he wants through the legislative process, he just does it by executive order Fiat. I mean, we are really not being governed. We're being ruled by edict. And it's interesting that this is being floated, like many other things, you know, kind of happen when we're not in session. We get back in session next Monday, but we had a very good cyber security bill that had bipartisan support. Mike Rogers from Michigan is sharp on this stuff, but it's voluntary, and we cannot start to have a government which is going to start dictating what has to happen in the Internet. And I think I just forgot the legislation that was killed that was trying to come out of the Senate that had to deal with regulating the Internet and, of course, Google and other people started to shut themselves down because of it. We can't go that path.
GLENN: The gas prices are $2 more than they were under George W. Bush.
WEST: Yeah. Remember how they were screaming? It was like $1.84 I think when the president was inaugurated and people were screaming about George W. Bush. And you're right. This is the all‑time high at this time of the year, around Labor Day, $3.79 to $3.83 depending on where you are for the average price of gasoline. And to hear the president last night talk about all the great things he's going to do for coal, well, I can tell you we have a coal generation plant here in Indiantown in Martin County and they are scared like you know what because they see what's happened in Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, which is their supplier. I think you've seen about a 40 to a 44% decrease in the coal industry in some of these areas up there. Ohio is also included in that. And that's all EPA regulation. And that's going to affect the middle class as far as electricity prices.
And, you know, the president last night, you keep hearing liberals talk about the middle class and all this, but think about the commodity prices in the grocery store, think about the gasoline prices, think about the fact that in these three and a half years you've seen a 2.6 to 4% decrease in the median family income which is for the middle class, 38,000 to about 110,000. But even worse, in the black community it's 11%, Glenn. So these are the truths, these are the facts that have to get out there which the president's not going to talk about. Definitely he's not going to talk about $16 trillion debt which hit at the start of this convention.
GLENN: Allen, thank you very much. Thanks for speaking the truth and we'll talk again.
WEST: Take care, Glenn.
GLENN: You bet. Bye‑bye. Allen West.

'Rage against the dying of the light': Charlie Kirk lived that mandate

PHILL MAGAKOE / Contributor | Getty Images

Kirk’s tragic death challenges us to rise above fear and anger, to rebuild bridges where others build walls, and to fight for the America he believed in.

I’ve only felt this weight once before. It was 2001, just as my radio show was about to begin. The World Trade Center fell, and I was called to speak immediately. I spent the day and night by my bedside, praying for words that could meet the moment.

Yesterday, I found myself in the same position. September 11, 2025. The assassination of Charlie Kirk. A friend. A warrior for truth.

Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins.

Moments like this make words feel inadequate. Yet sometimes, words from another time speak directly to our own. In 1947, Dylan Thomas, watching his father slip toward death, penned lines that now resonate far beyond his own grief:

Do not go gentle into that good night. / Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Thomas was pleading for his father to resist the impending darkness of death. But those words have become a mandate for all of us: Do not surrender. Do not bow to shadows. Even when the battle feels unwinnable.

Charlie Kirk lived that mandate. He knew the cost of speaking unpopular truths. He knew the fury of those who sought to silence him. And yet he pressed on. In his life, he embodied a defiance rooted not in anger, but in principle.

Picking up his torch

Washington, Jefferson, Adams — our history was started by men who raged against an empire, knowing the gallows might await. Lincoln raged against slavery. Martin Luther King Jr. raged against segregation. Every generation faces a call to resist surrender.

It is our turn. Charlie’s violent death feels like a knockout punch. Yet if his life meant anything, it means this: Silence in the face of darkness is not an option.

He did not go gently. He spoke. He challenged. He stood. And now, the mantle falls to us. To me. To you. To every American.

We cannot drift into the shadows. We cannot sit quietly while freedom fades. This is our moment to rage — not with hatred, not with vengeance, but with courage. Rage against lies, against apathy, against the despair that tells us to do nothing. Because there is always something you can do.

Even small acts — defiance, faith, kindness — are light in the darkness. Reaching out to those who mourn. Speaking truth in a world drowning in deceit. These are the flames that hold back the night. Charlie carried that torch. He laid it down yesterday. It is ours to pick up.

The light may dim, but it always does before dawn. Commit today: I will not sleep as freedom fades. I will not retreat as darkness encroaches. I will not be silent as evil forces claim dominion. I have no king but Christ. And I know whom I serve, as did Charlie.

Two turning points, decades apart

On Wednesday, the world changed again. Two tragedies, separated by decades, bound by the same question: Who are we? Is this worth saving? What kind of people will we choose to be?

Imagine a world where more of us choose to be peacemakers. Not passive, not silent, but builders of bridges where others erect walls. Respect and listening transform even the bitterest of foes. Charlie Kirk embodied this principle.

He did not strike the weak; he challenged the powerful. He reached across divides of politics, culture, and faith. He changed hearts. He sparked healing. And healing is what our nation needs.

At the center of all this is one truth: Every person is a child of God, deserving of dignity. Change will not happen in Washington or on social media. It begins at home, where loneliness and isolation threaten our souls. Family is the antidote. Imperfect, yes — but still the strongest source of stability and meaning.

Mark Wilson / Staff | Getty Images

Forgiveness, fidelity, faithfulness, and honor are not dusty words. They are the foundation of civilization. Strong families produce strong citizens. And today, Charlie’s family mourns. They must become our family too. We must stand as guardians of his legacy, shining examples of the courage he lived by.

A time for courage

I knew Charlie. I know how he would want us to respond: Multiply his courage. Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins. Out of darkness, great and glorious things will sprout — but we must be worthy of them.

Charlie Kirk lived defiantly. He stood in truth. He changed the world. And now, his torch is in our hands. Rage, not in violence, but in unwavering pursuit of truth and goodness. Rage against the dying of the light.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

Glenn Beck resurrects the 9-12 Project to support Charlie Kirk's family

Glenn Beck is once again calling on his loyal listeners and viewers to come together and channel the same unity and purpose that defined the historic 9-12 Project. That movement, born in the wake of national challenges, brought millions together to revive core values of faith, hope, and charity.

Glenn created the original 9-12 Project in early 2009 to bring Americans back to where they were in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. In those moments, we weren't Democrats and Republicans, conservative or liberal, Red States or Blue States, we were united as one, as America. The original 9-12 Project aimed to root America back in the founding principles of this country that united us during those darkest of days.

This new initiative draws directly from that legacy, focusing on supporting the family of Charlie Kirk in these dark days following his tragic murder.

The revival of the 9-12 Project aims to secure the long-term well-being of Charlie Kirk's wife and children. All donations will go straight to meeting their immediate and future needs. If the family deems the funds surplus to their requirements, Charlie's wife has the option to redirect them toward the vital work of Turning Point USA.

This campaign is more than just financial support—it's a profound gesture of appreciation for Kirk's tireless dedication to the cause of liberty. It embodies the unbreakable bond of our community, proving that when we stand united, we can make a real difference.
Glenn Beck invites you to join this effort. Show your solidarity by donating today and honoring Charlie Kirk and his family in this meaningful way.

You can learn more about the 9-12 Project and donate HERE

The critical difference: Rights from the Creator, not the state

Bloomberg / Contributor | Getty Images

When politicians claim that rights flow from the state, they pave the way for tyranny.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) recently delivered a lecture that should alarm every American. During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, he argued that believing rights come from a Creator rather than government is the same belief held by Iran’s theocratic regime.

Kaine claimed that the principles underpinning Iran’s dictatorship — the same regime that persecutes Sunnis, Jews, Christians, and other minorities — are also the principles enshrined in our Declaration of Independence.

In America, rights belong to the individual. In Iran, rights serve the state.

That claim exposes either a profound misunderstanding or a reckless indifference to America’s founding. Rights do not come from government. They never did. They come from the Creator, as the Declaration of Independence proclaims without qualification. Jefferson didn’t hedge. Rights are unalienable — built into every human being.

This foundation stands worlds apart from Iran. Its leaders invoke God but grant rights only through clerical interpretation. Freedom of speech, property, religion, and even life itself depend on obedience to the ruling clerics. Step outside their dictates, and those so-called rights vanish.

This is not a trivial difference. It is the essence of liberty versus tyranny. In America, rights belong to the individual. The government’s role is to secure them, not define them. In Iran, rights serve the state. They empower rulers, not the people.

From Muhammad to Marx

The same confusion applies to Marxist regimes. The Soviet Union’s constitutions promised citizens rights — work, health care, education, freedom of speech — but always with fine print. If you spoke out against the party, those rights evaporated. If you practiced religion openly, you were charged with treason. Property and voting were allowed as long as they were filtered and controlled by the state — and could be revoked at any moment. Rights were conditional, granted through obedience.

Kaine seems to be advocating a similar approach — whether consciously or not. By claiming that natural rights are somehow comparable to sharia law, he ignores the critical distinction between inherent rights and conditional privileges. He dismisses the very principle that made America a beacon of freedom.

Jefferson and the founders understood this clearly. “We are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights,” they wrote. No government, no cleric, no king can revoke them. They exist by virtue of humanity itself. The government exists to protect them, not ration them.

This is not a theological quibble. It is the entire basis of our government. Confuse the source of rights, and tyranny hides behind piety or ideology. The people are disempowered. Clerics, bureaucrats, or politicians become arbiters of what rights citizens may enjoy.

John Greim / Contributor | Getty Images

Gifts from God, not the state

Kaine’s statement reflects either a profound ignorance of this principle or an ideological bias that favors state power over individual liberty. Either way, Americans must recognize the danger. Understanding the origin of rights is not academic — it is the difference between freedom and submission, between the American experiment and theocratic or totalitarian rule.

Rights are not gifts from the state. They are gifts from God, secured by reason, protected by law, and defended by the people. Every American must understand this. Because when rights come from government instead of the Creator, freedom disappears.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

POLL: Is America’s next generation trading freedom for equity?

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A recent poll conducted by Justin Haskins, a long-time friend of the show, has uncovered alarming trends among young Americans aged 18-39, revealing a generation grappling with deep frustrations over economic hardships, housing affordability, and a perceived rigged system that favors the wealthy, corporations, and older generations. While nearly half of these likely voters approve of President Trump, seeing him as an anti-establishment figure, over 70% support nationalizing major industries, such as healthcare, energy, and big tech, to promote "equity." Shockingly, 53% want a democratic socialist to win the 2028 presidential election, including a third of Trump voters and conservatives in this age group. Many cite skyrocketing housing costs, unfair taxation on the middle class, and a sense of being "stuck" or in crisis as driving forces, with 62% believing the economy is tilted against them and 55% backing laws to confiscate "excess wealth" like second homes or luxury items to help first-time buyers.

This blend of Trump support and socialist leanings suggests a volatile mix: admiration for disruptors who challenge the status quo, coupled with a desire for radical redistribution to address personal struggles. Yet, it raises profound questions about the roots of this discontent—Is it a failure of education on history's lessons about socialism's failures? Media indoctrination? Or genuine systemic barriers? And what does it portend for the nation’s trajectory—greater division, a shift toward authoritarian policies, or an opportunity for renewal through timeless values like hard work and individual responsibility?

Glenn wants to know what YOU think: Where do Gen Z's socialist sympathies come from? What does it mean for the future of America? Make your voice heard in the poll below:

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism comes from perceived economic frustrations like unaffordable housing and a rigged system favoring the wealthy and corporations?

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism, including many Trump supporters, is due to a lack of education about the historical failures of socialist systems?

Do you think that these poll results indicate a growing generational divide that could lead to more political instability and authoritarian tendencies in America's future?

Do you think that this poll implies that America's long-term stability relies on older generations teaching Gen Z and younger to prioritize self-reliance, free-market ideals, and personal accountability?

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