Over his vacation, Glenn spent a lot of time keeping in touch with his audience over Facebook. In fact, he's even started to respond to a few of the commenters who reach out with questions, comments, or just a kind word. Unfortunately, Facebook is still the internet, which means there are going to be trolls trying to cause problems and stir up trouble. How did Glenn handle the hate when one person called his fans "idiots"?
Thomas Colwell wrote: "Do you idiots see what kind of lifestyle you are paying for Glenn to have? He preys on your fears and profits greatly from it."
Here's how Glenn responded:
Thomas, I respect your right to disagree. We all are very aware that I make money. My audience doesn't have a problem with meritocracy. Not everyone agrees with what I believe. I wouldn't expect them to. However, I expect my audience to do their own home work. Never take my word for anything. Check it out yourself. Listen to all sides and don't listen to those who shout you down. When ever someone says don't listen, read or explore any line of thought, they believe you to be an idiot.You believe my audience is full of idiots. I do not.
I do not believe you are an idiot, nor the audience (whatever is left of it) at MSNBC. We just disagree. What we need to do is see where what we believe intersects and build from there.
Believe it or not Thomas, there are things we agree on. I would bet you didn't want a blank military check for George Bush. Neither did I. You didn't want him to just move alone without congress. Neither did I. You want these wars to end. So do I. You don't want people scooped up and held without a trial, so do I.
Why don't we start there. We don't have to agree on much more. Let's just be consistent.
I thought it was wrong when Bush was in office, and I said so openly and often. I called for Bush's impeachment, I will again if god forbid Jeb Bush or Romney get into office and abused the power and went it alone. I also think it is wrong now. Do you? Or is it okay for one man to hold all that power IF YOU AGREE WITH HIM?
Why make it about how much I make? I do not hide it, but you don't seem to care that I have also directly created over 300 jobs and God only knows how many indirect jobs we have "saved or created". You don't know or seem to care that I give my employees the best healthcare available and that I not only hire those that think differently, I encourage it. I have liberals, atheists, Jews, Christians, black, Hispanic and most of my leadership team is made up of women and they make the same as the men.
It doesn't sound like I am as much of a monster as those who are vying for power would like you to believe. You are smart enough. Do your own homework. Don't only ask the Dodge dealer about the Ford. If you want the truth, go ahead, ask the dodge dealer, but ask the Ford dealer as well.
I wish you my best for a blessed year and one that encourages you and all you know to explore, learn and think out of the box.
In the meantime, enjoy the caliphate that was crazy and stupid for me even to suggest three years ago. It is called ISIS. And it is only just beginning. Do you own homework on the next puzzle piece that I will be exploring next week: RUSSIA. Don't tell me it is stupid. I challenge you to watch all three episodes and then when you really understand what I am trying to warn about, then tell me where you believe I have it wrong. But let's try it without hatred and name calling.
Because, who knows, maybe you will be right and I will learn more from you than you will learn from me.
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