From First Read:

On The Glen[sic] Becks And Howard Beales: The White House doesn’t want to give Glen[sic] Beck a bigger platform or extra oxygen — especially regarding his remark yesterday that the president has “a deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture” — so they won’t comment, even off record. Beck, after all, is a radio DJ who somehow ended up getting a national platform to give his opinion on politics. What’s most amazing about this episode is that what Beck said isn’t a fireable or even a SUSPENDABLE offense by his bosses. There was a time when outrageous rants like this would actually cost the ranters their jobs. But not anymore; if anything, it’s now encouraged. And all of this could turn ACTUAL journalists into the next Howard Beales. It’s getting nuts that the folks who are creating the perception of an ideological/polarized media world are people who have never really spent their lives being journalists. Whether it’s former political consultants-turned-TV execs or former radio DJs, or former California socialites, the folks helping to accelerate the public’s perception of the media off a cliff made their livings trying to do other things. Of course, Beck’s crazy language could have one unintended consequence: It could cost him bookings with any Republicans who want to be popular outside Beck’s hard-core bizarro-land viewers.

I haven’t seen the clip in question, and if it was sincere rather than tongue-in-cheek, like so much of Glenn’s stuff is, then I think Glenn should probably retract or clarify.

But, I’m a little hard pressed to take such finger-wagging from the network that brought us “Alan Keyes is Making Sense” and “Savage Nation” and touts a non-Republican rightwing statist like Pat Buchanan as the voice of mainstream conservatism too seriously. Moreover, that doesn’t even take into account all of the nonsense that pours out of MSNBC as news — not commentary — on an hourly basis, nor the fact that its headliners include such impartial journalists as Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow. Glenn’s show (which I frequently, and happilly, appear on) is very clearly an opinion show and Glenn routinely notes that he is not a reporter, a news anchor or even an expert. MSNBC, meanwhile, consistently takes great pains to blur such distinctions in its programming, putting its spinners and editorialists up as journalists and asking its journalists to be pundits.

Such policies are, no doubt, a sign of the times. But MSNBC should look inward before getting its panties in a twist about Glenn Beck.

Update: Here’s the video of the comments:

Okay, so now I’ve watched it. I agree with a lot of it. But I don’t think the words “a deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture” were all that well chosen (which is clear since he later contradicts himself by “I’m not saying he doesn’t like white people”), but on reflection — and viewing — I don’t think he has to retract anything. If he believes it, he’s free to say it. Some clarification would be good though.