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Glenn Beck

Dems Trying to Send Anti-War Message?; Mayor Discusses School Assault

Aired August 08, 2006 - 19:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

ANNOUNCER: Tonight`s episode of GLENN BECK is brought to you by Pundit-Off. This political season, protect your family from annoying political gas-bags with Pundit-Off, from the makers of the three in one, flea, tick and Dick Morris collar.
GLENN BECK, HOST: All right. I have to be just straight up with you right at the top: I hate politics. I -- no, I go beyond that; I hate politicians as well.

In fact, we finally had the mayor of Colorado Springs coming up in just a second on that Kalie MacArthur story. Let`s find out if he`s a politician, a typical politician or can actually speak from the heart on real things.

That`s what I hate most about politics. There are huge issues facing our country right now. I mean, I know it makes me sound like a nut job, but I really believe we`re in the early stages of World War II.

Then we have British Petroleum shutting down a major oil line because of sheer stupidity. If there`s another hurricane, we could be facing five bucks a gallon for gas. We`re being invaded by immigrants who are seemingly crossing the southern border at will. Fidel Castro`s sick or, as they say, not so much.

Venezuela, they hate us. They also might be buying all sorts of fun stuff from Iran. Plus, don`t forget our federal deficit spiraling out of control. It`s enough to make blood shoot out of your eyes.

So which one of these massive problems is Congress tackling first? Yes. Yes. You guessed it. Gay marriage and flag burning. That`s why I hate politics and politicians.

It seems like we are headed now for yet another awesome election cycle. I can`t get enough of them, really. I mean, you remember the election cycle. That`s where the things that you really care about are never really discussed by any of the candidates, and when they are they just -- it`s a bunch of bull crap, you know, where nobody comes up with any real solutions, but a bunch of bumper sticker sound bites. It`s great.

Oh, oh, and then we get to see who hates George W. Bush the most. That`s great, and that`s what`s going on in Connecticut right now.

Today Senator Joe Lieberman is facing off against the anti-war candidate, Ned Lamont, in that state`s Democratic primary and while Lieberman`s closed the gap somewhat, things still don`t look real good for him. Why? Because agents in his own party have been attacking him for supporting the war in Iraq.

Look, I`ve got a message for the Democratic Party, and I mean this sincerely. I am not trying to bust your chops here, man. I am trying to be constructive. When are you going to learn that the voters this country like big ideas and solutions? We don`t vote against something. We vote for something. Give me something to vote for, not against.

This country is facing so many challenges we actually want somebody who stands up for something other than, you know, hey I like to make "George Bush, I hate him" signs.

I live in Connecticut. I`m a conservative, but I`m not a zombie, man. I voted for Joe Lieberman. And you what? I`ll vote for him again when he runs as an independent and wins.

Democrats, you know, I know you`re trying to send a message, but the only message you`re sending is that your party has been hijacked by the radical left, by the Michael Moores and the Cindy Sheehans of the world. When Michael Moore sat next to Jimmy Carter at the Democratic convention, it blew my mind. I mean, the Democrats really thought they were co-opting the anti-war left, but the real story is the anti-war left was using the Democratic Party. Who do you think`s really in control right now?

This election cycle -- oh, I don`t know if I can take it. It is going to be so ugly, because everybody is pissed off at politicians. I mean, Democrats aren`t voting for Democrats. Republicans aren`t voting for Republicans because they`re all suffering from the same disease, not talking about the things that are really going on that people like you and me actually care about.

So tonight, here`s what I know. Because `06 is going to be a "send a message" election, the Democrats are sending a very dangerous one. Their anti-war plank may pay off this fall in the short term, but they are going seal their fate in `08. They`re never going to be able to win the presidency, because the country will not trust them on security.

I also know that I will -- I don`t think I`ll ever find a candidate they agree with 100 percent, but Joe Lieberman is a decent, honorable man. He`s the kind of guy who will say the same thing behind closed doors that he`ll say to your face. I don`t care if he`s got an "R" or a "D" after his name. I`m looking for a person with real values, and Joe Lieberman is that guy.

Here`s what I don`t know. Honestly, I didn`t realize how awful our education system really is, I mean, there are way more dummies in this country than I could have possibly ever imagined. With so many serious issues facing our country right now how can you get so many people to fall for all of this election-year crap?

I also don`t know if I will ever really get my innocence back, you know, and trust politicians and the system again. I really -- I hate them. I do. They`re not about us. They`re not about the issues we care about. I think that they`re machines. No, I do. They`re machines. They only care about money, power and bull crap.

And I really don`t know how these so-called experts in the Democratic Party actually think that this anti-war strategy is a winning hand long- term.

Jeanne Cummings, she is a political correspondent from the "Wall Street Journal".

Jeanne, what is happening in Connecticut today?

JEANNE CUMMINGS, CORRESPONDENT, "WALL STREET JOURNAL": Well, you are seeing the start of the anti-incumbent message. There`s no question about that. The mood has been picked up in polls, and now we`re seeing it play out in Connecticut.

And it does seem to cut hardest against people, candidates and incumbents, who are close to Bush and who are pro-war, particularly those who`ve got Democratic or independent voters that they need to win.

Someone who`s in a very red, Republican district or state, they won`t be harmed or threatened by this trend as much as those who are in swing states or, in the case of Lieberman, in a blue state.

BECK: But when you`re throwing somebody like Lieberman under the bus, I mean this isn`t just some politician. This guy is a senior statesman. He is -- I mean, he is -- he`s one of the good guys in Congress that actually is a decent human being, that doesn`t ratchet up the rhetoric, does what he believes. I mean, how do you throw this guy under the bus?

CUMMINGS: Well, I think that -- you`re conservative and you`re happy with him, but the truth is most of the Democrats in Connecticut aren`t conservatives.

BECK: No, wait a minute. Hang on just a second. He has served that state for 18 years.

CUMMINGS: He has. And there is...

BECK: This guy -- this guy...

CUMMINGS: He has, but there have been chips along the way. He was the most outspoken Democratic critic of Clinton in `98.

BECK: Right.

CUMMINGS: He has spoken out against affirmative action. He has spoken for public school vouchers. He went on two runs in 2000 and 2004 to win national office, separating himself for long periods away from the local Democrats and the local support base he needs.

BECK: Yes. So you tell me...

CUMMINGS: All of these eroded his support.

BECK: Right.

CUMMINGS: And then when he came out and said in December that Democrats shouldn`t criticize the war, lest they risk undermining the White House`s power, many Democrats who opposed war felt he was talking to them and that was...

BECK: So who is in control? Because he`s basically, in many ways, saying the exactly the same thing on the war, at least, as Hillary Clinton. Who is in control of the Democratic Party right now, the Michael Moores of the world or the mainstream Democrats who have, you know, common sense?

CUMMINGS: Well, I suppose it`s -- it`s somewhere in between, but I do think you raise a good point, and it is worth noting that Hillary Clinton does not have a Democratic primary opponent. And yet she has not backed one inch away from her vote for the invasion.

And if you take -- there`s another analysis that this is all about throwing out all moderates. Well, then Nelson doesn`t have any opposition either.

So it`s not either of those trends. It might be a mix of both.

BECK: Really?

CUMMINGS: Lieberman -- where Lieberman made a mistake was when he did not listen to his voters.

BECK: Right.

CUMMINGS: And he just continued to support the president.

BECK: Real quick, because I`ve only got about 10 seconds. Is it going to be worse in `08? I mean, are we -- who`s left to hate? When you can`t hate George W. Bush, is it the conservatives` turn now just to ratchet up the hate on Hillary Clinton? When are we going to actually see a sane moment in politics?

CUMMINGS: I`m not going to go there.

BECK: That`s what I thought. That`s what I feared. Thank you so much. You`re a smart woman.

Listen, speaking of women, another woman. Cynthia McKinney, smart? Not so much. She`s the congresswoman. You remember her. She`s the one that was accused of congressional -- or accused the congressional security of racism.

Anyway, she`s down 13 points in the polls. What a surprise. If she loses, you`ve got to ask yourself what kind of legacy is she really going to leave us with?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNOUNCER: Now from J-Tel Records, it`s Cynthia`s McKinney`s greatest hit: 20 hits all certified gold. You`ll get "The Race Card."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sorry.

CYNTHIA MCKINNEY (D), GEORGIA: That`s just the typical kind of treatment that I received.

ANNOUNCER: "The Accidental Open Mic".

MCKINNEY: Oh, crap. Now you know what? They lied to Coz, and Coz is a fool.

ANNOUNCER: "The Debate of 2006".

And, of course, her No. 1 greatest hit, on the Capitol police.

Back now before Cynthia McKinney quickly fades into obscurity.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECK: I want to update you on a story that we`ve been following for a few weeks. It is the story of Kalie MacArthur.

She is a mentally handicapped woman with an I.Q. of 50. That means she`s got the mental capacity of a 4-year-old. She was sexually assaulted in her high school by her peer counselor, a kid that the school decided to put in charge of Kalie. She -- the kid -- the boy, who had been suspended 20 times, had a grade point average of 0.0.

Kalie was attacked in a stairwell at school, and this dirt bag received a two-week jail sentence before he was released.

The story is absolutely incredible. Kalie now needs constant care. She`s displaying aggressive tendencies toward men. She cries frequently. All this is new behavior, all as a result of this obscene betrayal.

What did the school district have to say about the attack? I quote, "It was pleasurable," end quote. Last week I asked the people of Colorado Springs, actually it was two weeks ago before I went on vacation. I said, please, you`ve got to take action. We are getting stonewalled from everyone.

I asked would you please reach out to the mayor of Colorado Springs, Lionel Rivera. He`s a man who seeks to represent Colorado Springs in Washington, the 5th Congressional District, a man who seeks to make a difference in his own community, a man who finally joins us today.

Mayor, welcome to the program.

LIONEL RIVERA, MAYOR, COLORADO SPRINGS: Thank you, Glenn. I`m glad I could be here.

BECK: Well, it`s been a difficult thing to track you down, sir. How`s your campaign going?

RIVERA: Well, I think it`s going fine. The election`s today, and I`ll find out how thing goes some time after 9 p.m. Mountain Time.

BECK: I will tell you, sir, that I -- I have done my research on you, and you strike me as a man that I would like. You strike me as a man that I would vote for.

However, the behavior that I have seen from just about anyone with any kind of power at all in your community is staggering when we are talking about a handicapped girl who was sexually assaulted in the school; and no action is being taken on this, or at least no verifiable action. We reach out to you and we`re stonewalled by your office.

What, sir, are you prepared to do?

RIVERA: Well, Mr. Beck, you know, I`d really like to set the record straight. What happened is a travesty and, you know, me and everyone else in the community wish it never would have happened.

But the facts are that the -- the perpetuator (sic) of this crime was given a sentence, a Class 4 felony. He did get 14 days in the juvenile facility, and I think that`s appalling. I think it should have been a lot more than that, but the sentence was agreed to by the parents.

BECK: OK. I appreciate -- I appreciate this, sir. I don`t want to - - I don`t want to cut you off, but I don`t want to waste time talking about the sentence, because that`s a whole different story.

I`m asking you, who is willing to take a stand for the weakest among us in communities? It doesn`t -- I can`t find anybody in your community that will take a stand for handicapped people.

RIVERA: Well, you know, that`s not true, Glenn. This community is very supportive of handicapped people, and I led an effort last year to get more money and more resources for developmentally disability kids. And we as a result got a million dollars more for our local community.

And what happened in the school district is terrible. And I think I talked to the president and vice president of the school board. I`ve encouraged them to try to come to some kind of a settlement agreement with Kalie`s parents.

And I hope they`ll do that, but I think that the sentence that was meted out, unfortunately, was given by a judge, a reduced sentence. The prosecuting attorney asked for 60 days. The maximum the kid could have gotten under the play agreement was two years.

BECK: You belong in -- you belong in Washington, because you certainly don`t understand what this whole story is about, and you give me the doubletalk. And you`re once again back to the sentence. Sir, this has nothing to do with the sentence.

Let me drive this home for you. If I`m a constituent in your town, you`re the mayor, and I`ve got a handicapped child, which I do. And I happen to have my kid going back into school, and they have a peer assistance program. District 20 has said that they are going revamp their peer assistance program.

They`re going to change their policies. However, they will not release any of those revised policies. Attorneys have asked for it. Could we see what you`ve done? How have you changed this? Assure me that my handicapped child is safe in the school.

And then when I would reach out to you or I would reach out to anybody else I get the answer like you just gave me. How am I supposed to feel certified...

RIVERA: Mr. Beck, they in fact have changed their policy. It was published in the paper.

BECK: Really?

RIVERA: The counselors have to -- the counselors now have to go through a background check to make sure there aren`t disciplinary problems. There has to be adult supervision, and they have to get letters of recommendation. So the policy has been changed. And unfortunately, it wasn`t in place before.

BECK: There are attorneys that would disagree with you on that, sir. I`ll take you on your word. Are you outraged by a school district that says, as their defense, that the experience of sexual molestation in a stairwell of a girl that has an I.Q. that puts her at a 4-year-old was pleasurable?

RIVERA: Well, I think that`s an outrageous statement, and unfortunately, it was made by, I guess, an expert. Frankly, the school should work with the parents to get this resolved. It does no one any good to drag this out in the court.

BECK: Right. And again, not talking about a court. Here`s what I`m looking for, sir. I want to know, and I haven`t met one yet, and honestly -- maybe everybody else in the audience is hearing it from you. I`m not hearing it from you. I`m hearing rhetoric from you. I`m hearing, "Well, I`m outraged."

I don`t feel like this is anything that anyone that I have -- that we`ve talked to or tried to talk to actually feels like I do.

Sir, look at my hand. Look at me shaking? You know what that`s from? That`s not from talking to you. That is because I feel this to the core of my being. We, as a society, must protect the weakest among us.

Who, in your town, sir, will take a stand when you are going Washington and you are in charge of your district. Are you willing to take a stand and lead a charge and say this kind of stuff must stop? This is an outrage, and use your power and your bully pulpit?

RIVERA: Mr. Beck, it is an outrage, and I don`t run the district, but I will do everything I can to encourage that district to make sure that they work things out with the parents.

BECK: Mayor, thank you very much. Appreciate it. Best of luck on your campaign.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECK: Hello, my name is Glenn Beck. I`m an alcoholic, also the third most listened to radio host in America, nationally heard over, I don`t know, 200 and some stations. We also just added Los Angeles, 830 AM KLAA as one of our affiliates.

Across the street on KFI in Los Angeles, a good friend of mine, Bill Handel, attorney, radio host, general nuisance, quite honestly.

BILL HANDEL, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Yes.

BECK: Bill, I -- you know, I want to talk to you about a couple of things that`s happening in L.A. The airports. I mean, I swear to you it`s like "Die Hard 2". I expect -- it`s "The Rock" with Nic Cage out there with the flares.

HANDEL: Breaks down every week.

BECK: I want to talk to you first about the mayor of L.A. What the heck is going on with him? Marching with Jews, marching with Muslims? Pick a side.

HANDEL: You don`t understand -- let`s just put it in perspective. Mayor Villaraigosa is a Latino activist who has been elected mayor. He`s been running for governor and president, probably simultaneously. So with -- that sort of underlined the story.

Three weeks ago the war between Lebanon and Israel breaks out. L.A., is, well, how do I put it this way, full of show business Jews. Is that fair to say?

OK. A lot of Jewish people who are in show business. So a rally breaks out, "Yay, Israel." The mayor comes out and says, "Yes, Israel! We love Israel. We want to back up Israel." And, of course, a lot of money there and a lot of campaign contributions.

So no harm, no foul, until the Muslim community of Los Angeles now starts pounding on him and says, "What are you doing? You`ve got to be fair. Hey, what do we look like? Chopped liver?" Or I don`t know how you say it in Arabic, but that`s what they said.

BECK: Right.

HANDEL: And he goes, "You`re right! You are absolutely right. We have to be fair to the Muslims, and so now I want to be fair. So we have to tell Israel they have to stop bombing. And we want both sides to look at each other. And we want them to love each other. And my wife`s going wear a burka, and I`m coming to work on a camel tomorrow. It will be great."

BECK: This is not helpful.

HANDEL: He`s a whore. He is a whore. It`s that simple!

BECK: This is not -- I mean, this is -- O`Reilly wouldn`t do this segment. And that`s probably the wife beating the crap out of us.

But listen, Bill, here`s the thing. Do you hate politicians as much as I do because of this very thing?

HANDEL: Yes.

BECK: They never -- say what you mean and mean what you say.

HANDEL: Right.

BECK: I mean, you`re either -- you can have sympathy for the people in Lebanon. You can have sympathy for the people, you know, in Israel, but you`ve -- you`ve got to pick a side, man. Which one is the aggressor? Which one`s not?

HANDEL: Right. You know what? And there are -- I can think of two politicians that I know who are the most honest guys in the world. John McCain, who we both interviewed. He`s, you know -- he`s literally the most honest no B.S. guy I`ve ever met.

BECK: Yes, but he is wrong so many times.

HANDEL: He says what he thinks.

BECK: He says what he means.

HANDEL: And Tom McClintock here, who absolutely -- he ran for governor and got killed, of course, who will absolutely will tell you exactly where he stands. Other than that they`re all whores across...

BECK: Can you win like that? Can you win like that?

HANDEL: No, no. You can`t. Unfortunately it`s our fault because we elect these clowns, Glenn.

BECK: All right, Bill. We`ve run out of the time. The airport about the airport. It`s a nightmare what`s happening in Los Angeles. We`ll talk about it next time. Thanks so much, Bill.

HANDEL: Take care. Bye.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECK: All right, welcome back to the program. This is the spot every day that we get to chat about how the media just doesn`t get it.

Lead story in almost every newspaper today is about how B.P. has begun to shut down Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, the oil fields up there, after finding corrosion in several pipes. The field produces about 400,000 barrels of oil a day, which is -- get this -- 8 percent of all U.S. production. B.P. says they may have to keep parts of the oil field shut down for weeks, if not months, and they really do apologize, America, for the impact that this will have.

Hey, B.P., I mean, really, seriously, no, don`t sweat it. Overlooking 16 miles of rusted pipeline, eh, that could happen to any of us. Right now, right on cue, some Democrats are calling for an investigation, and some hearings, and subpoenas, and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. You know what Washington? Shut up! Shut up and fix the damn problem!

This isn`t about corroded pipes. It`s not about higher gas prices, which are going to make blood spurt out of my eyes. It`s not about meaningless hearings. It`s about, how do we get ourselves out of this energy mess once and for all?

Think about it. If a few miles of rusty pipes happen, we lose 8 percent of our oil production? Imagine what happens if a major hurricane hits us or a major earthquake. Imagine what happens if a terrorist strikes. Wait, I`ve got another story that you haven`t even heard about on terrorism that will blow your mind.

This system is far more fragile than anybody wants to admit, and it`s far too important to ignore any longer. Stop with the hearings, Washington.

Last month, a contract was signed to build two brand-new coal oil plants. They will produce over 150,000 barrels a day from existing coal reserves. That`s just two plants. Only one little problem: They`re both being built in China.

This technology is here; it`s ready for us to take. All we have to do is take it. The solutions are available us to right now, but if we don`t start to take this seriously, our problems are going to be so much bigger than a few rusty pipes.

Now, big news today from the Middle East is the dramatic toll on the fighting that it`s having on Lebanon. To me, the big story here is one at least that`s not really being covered is the revelations that Hussein Ali Suleiman had. He was one of the Hezbollah fighters who helped kidnap the Israeli soldier.

The event that sparked all of the latest hostilities, he was involved in. Suleiman was recently captured by the Israeli forces and interrogated. Yesterday, a video was released of the interrogation. In it, Suleiman says that he was driven from Beirut to -- drum roll, please -- Damascus, Syria, in 2003 to begin his training.

From Damascus -- catch this one -- he boarded a special "no-passport- necessary" flight -- when did we start making those -- directly to -- you guessed it again -- Iran, where he then participated in military maneuvers along with 40 or 50 other Hezbollah militia.

I`ve been saying this all along: Iran is the root of the problem in the Middle East. It`s the root of all evil. And there can never be any true, lasting peace until Iran is dealt with. If you`re one of those people who`ve been waiting for, "I want to see the proof that they support Hezbollah in more than just spirit," well, here it is on a silver platter. Now, what are you going to do about it?

Now, if the front page today was filled with news about, you know, B.P. oilfields shutting down, gas prices, the latest rocket tally in the Middle East, there should be a story, really on page one, that isn`t there.

July 29th -- listen to this -- 17 Egyptian students, all between 18 and 22 years old, arrived at JFK Airport in New York City. They have valid visas. They`re headed to Montana State University to study English as part of a one-month exchange program.

Nine days later, only six of the original 17 have made it to Bozeman. The other 11? Nobody seems to know what happened to them. Gee, where did I put those Egyptians?

Last night, the FBI released a "be on the lookout" alert for these Egyptians. We called the FBI. I`d like to look for them. I`d like to share with you, you know, here is what they look like. If you see them, help them out or whatever. They`re not going release any pictures. That`s great.

By the way, their student visas have been revoked. Oh, and check your calendar: Yesterday, exactly five weeks until the five-year anniversary of September 11th.

P.J. Crowley served as a special assistant for the national security affairs in the Clinton administration, now a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress -- P.J.?

P.J. CROWLEY, CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS: Hello, Glenn.

BECK: You`re one of the guys that are like, "Don`t worry about the missing Egyptians," aren`t you?

CROWLEY: Well, Glenn, look, it is odd. It is a source of concern. At this point, I think just like most of us in America, you`ve got to have a presumption of innocence here.

BECK: Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait! I`m not saying that we hunt them down because they`re terrorists; I`m saying, shouldn`t we put their pictures up and say, "Hey, these guys are missing"? You know, I heard somebody say today -- well, let me ask you this. Do you think this system`s working, this new system where we find people? Is it working?

CROWLEY: Well, so far it`s working a lot better than it did five years ago when some of the perpetrators of 9/11 were here on student visas and no one was looking for them. There were no alerts sounded.

BECK: Right.

CROWLEY: I mean, so far, yes.

BECK: Wait, wait. Isn`t that kind of like your "check engine" light going off? You`re calling up -- you know, gee, I`m in like -- my frickin` "check engine" light keeps going on, and they`re like, "Well, the system`s working." No, the system working would be my engine would run.

CROWLEY: Hang on, Glenn. First of all, you know, these people were screened before being given visas. Secondly, the Montana State University did the right thing by alerting authorities when they didn`t show up. You know, the FBI, DHS have now issued an alert saying, "Hey, we want to talk to these people."

I`m sure they`re talking to the students that arrived. I`m sure they`re talking to family members back in Egypt. You know, this could develop into something more, but I think we need more facts before we jump to conclusions.

BECK: OK, I mean, when do we start getting worried? I mean, I want you to know, I`m not freaking out about these guys. I`d like to know where they are. I`m not freaking out. I think we should post the pictures and let people, you know, help. I mean, maybe they`re in danger. I don`t know. Maybe they`re just enjoying the high life in New York City. Who knows?

But I`m not saying that they`re terrorists. I`m saying that we should all look for them because isn`t this kind of what we did -- I think it was August -- oh, it was August 2001 where we`re like, "Relax. I know we caught that guy in Minnesota. Relax."

CROWLEY: Hang on a second. August 2001, we knew that there were two terrorists in the country that were potentially part of this plot. We were looking for them, couldn`t find them.

BECK: Right.

CROWLEY: You know, so...

BECK: Maybe we should employ the American people. Here`s another idea...

CROWLEY: Well...

BECK: If this doesn`t -- if this is the system working, what -- I mean, what`s left? Do we just shoot people with chips when they come in? Do we put ankle bracelets around them? How do you stop bad guys -- and I`m not saying these guys are bad. I`m just saying. I`m just saying.

CROWLEY: I mean, if these guys are not bad, then there`s no reason for us to plaster their pictures all over America.

BECK: No, that`s not true. Their visas have already been revoked. They`re here now illegally.

CROWLEY: Right, well, so are 700,000 people that come across our borders every year and we`re not...

(CROSSTALK)

BECK: P.J., you and I could spend some time on that. I`d like to get them out, as well.

CROWLEY: Look, I think we have to focus on what happened after 9/11 and the fact that we threw an awful lot of people in jail for no reason at all just because they were Arab-Americans or just because they looked like they were dangerous. I think we`ve got to calm down and take this step by step.

BECK: Excuse me, hold on. Wait, wait, wait, wait. When did we put - - when did we put people in jail, P.J., for being Arab-American, for only being Arab-American?

CROWLEY: There were a lot of people rounded up after 2001 that were never charged with anything.

BECK: For only being Arab-American, that was it? "You`re an Arab- American. Get in jail." That`s what happened?

CROWLEY: I think we have to be guided by facts here. We have to be calm. This is a source of concern. It could develop into something larger, but right now these are just seven students who are missing.

BECK: Unbelievable.

CROWLEY: I think you`ve got...

(CROSSTALK)

BECK: P.J., you and I are saying exactly the same thing. I`m not saying we should hunt them down; I`m saying the public is our best source for helping. There`s a million eyes out there, more than a million eyes. We can all help to look for people who may be in trouble and who may wish us harm. P.J., thanks as always.

It`s like we haven`t learned a darn thing. Let`s go to Erica. Hi, Erica.

ERICA HILL, CNN HEADLINE NEWS ANCHOR: Hi, Glenn.

BECK: How are you?

HILL: I`m all right. How are you?

BECK: I`m pretty good. I`m pretty good.

HILL: Well, glad to hear it.

BECK: Yes, good.

HILL: You look very nice in blue.

BECK: Are you -- this is an uncomfortable work environment.

HILL: I`m paying you a nice compliment. That`s all it is.

BECK: That`s not what I heard. That`s not what America heard, but let`s just do the news. Please, try to be professional.

HILL: All right. Well, in that case, in the news today, Glenn, nine suspected illegal immigrants from Mexico died in a car chase near Yuma, Arizona. Get this: The SUV they were in was actually carrying more than 20 people when the driver tried to get past border agents yesterday. A dozen other people in the vehicle were injured in the accident, terrible accident.

BECK: I`ve got to tell you, this is the most tragic story on all fronts. This immigration thing, everybody is losing here. We`re losing our security. We have people coming across, dying to come across the border, for what, crappy jobs and crappy living conditions? This has got to be solved for everybody on every side.

By the way, last weekend, I read a new book that is out. It`s fiction. It`s written by Ted Bell. It`s called "Spy." Next week, we`re going to talk a little bit about it. It talks about immigration and how it`s tied into terrorism. I mean, it`s like a Tom Clancy kind of thing.

HILL: I love Tom Clancy.

BECK: It`s fascinating and frightening. We`ll talk about that next week. All right.

HILL: I look forward to that. Next up this story, which is just an unbelievable story out of Utah. Twin sisters Kendra and Maliyah Herrin spending their first hours physically apart tonight. Doctors in Utah spent 26 hours in surgery to separate the girls, conjoined twins. They were born joined at the torso. They shared a kidney and two legs. So now they each have one leg, Glenn. Kendra kept the kidney. Maliyah is going to be on dialysis until she`s able to receive a kidney from her mom.

BECK: I have to tell you, I have a brother and two sisters I wouldn`t share ice cream with them, let alone a kidney.

HILL: Glad we`re not related.

BECK: Yes, you get near my -- you can have my kidney. Ice cream? No. Erica, thanks a lot.

HILL: See you later.

BECK: Bye.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BECK: It`s pure torture going grocery shopping with your wife. All this great food dangled right there in front of your face. I can hear Mr. E.L. Fudge calling out my name. "Glenn, Glenn?" "Is that that Fudge Elf again?" "I am so tasty, thick layer of yummy fudge, two delicious cookies. Sure, it looks like you`re biting the head off a cute little midget that lives in a tree, but it`s OK. I don`t feel pain. Buy me, Glenn. Buy me."

Nobody in America wants to go grocery shopping. It`s tedious. "You don`t need that. Look how many transfatty acids are in that." Transfatty acids? That`s a selling point!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BECK: It`s true. Listen, I enjoy reading a summer novel just as much as the next guy, and this summer, in a dusty little New York bookstore, I was lucky enough to discover a little book. I don`t know if you`ve heard of it. It`s called "The Da Vinci Code." Too bad this book never really caught on, because it deals with some intriguing possibilities like, what happens if Jesus had children?

Well, thankfully, you can stop wondering, because Kathleen McGowan, she`s the author of a new novel called "The Expected One" that says, not only that Jesus definitely had children, but she is a direct descendant of Jesus. We`re bringing water into the studio tomorrow; she`s going walk across it. Don`t miss this tomorrow.

Today, you know, I want to focus on a group that`s actually not insane. They`re doing good for children`s hospitals all around the country. Through corporate sponsors and special events, the Children`s Miracle Network has raised more than $2.5 billion for hospitalized children.

Jennifer Berry is a spokesperson for the network. She also happens to be this year`s Miss America. You tell me why we had her on the show.

Hi, how are you?

JENNIFER BERRY, MISS AMERICA 2006: I`m good, Glenn. How are you?

BECK: Very good. Now, you don`t wear the crown, you just carry it around?

BERRY: You know, I wear it sometimes, but I like to share the crown.

BECK: Do you?

BERRY: I get to wear it every day...

(CROSSTALK)

BECK: Who do you share the crown -- you just walk into places and say, "I`d like to share the crown with you"?

BERRY: Well, you know, I was thinking, especially for you, I just thought it might accent the tie...

(CROSSTALK)

BECK: No, it`s beautiful. It really is.

BERRY: Thank you.

BECK: So is that like a really old one?

BERRY: You want to know a funny story? I wore my real crown out. It`s in the crown hospital. I broke it.

BECK: Seriously, that`s not the real crown?

BERRY: Yes, this is not the one I was crowned with, actually, because mine`s being repaired, but...

BECK: We don`t even have the -- we have the fake crown?

BERRY: This is not fake. This is real.

BECK: Sure.

BERRY: It is in my possession.

(CROSSTALK)

BECK: Made of heavy metal plastic. I can see it right here. No, seriously, it`s beautiful.

All right, so tell me, the Children`s Miracle Network. You`re the spokesperson for it. You travel like 20,000 miles a month across the country. Tell me about that.

BERRY: Yes, I`m actually an ambassador for the Children`s Miracle Network, and Miss America has been an ambassador for them since 1989. And what that means is, while I am traveling, of course, I have a lot of duties as Miss America, but when I do have the availability, I stop into children`s hospitals, make visits, and also work for the sponsors of Children`s Miracle Network, as well.

BECK: So let me ask you this, and completely off -- I mean, sick kids and everything, that`s cool. But I want to ask you a question. I want to ask you -- no, we had Marie Osmond on. I`m a big supporter. My daughter was born in a children`s hospital, needed special attention, and it`s the best thing ever.

With that said, now, let`s get down to the real business. What the heck is it like to be Miss America? No, let me ask you this.

BERRY: OK.

BECK: What guy would ever approach Miss America and be like, "Hey, you, me and a frosty, Friday night"? I mean, who would...

BERRY: You would be surprised.

BECK: Really?

BERRY: Yes. I`m not kidding.

BECK: What kind of guy -- really?

BERRY: Weird people.

BECK: No!

BERRY: I mean, you know, just random people that you never expect...

BECK: Sure.

BERRY: ... that walk up. And the most interesting part is I`m often most recognized in the airports. And I`m like a baseball cap, jeans kind of girl.

BECK: Really?

BERRY: I`m usually really dressed down, and people will recognize me like getting on a plane and stop and ask autographs.

BECK: It`s so weird, because I am -- we have so much in common, because I am most recognized in airports, too, but that`s because CNN Headline News, they force people to watch it.

BERRY: Yes, you`re kind of big there.

BECK: Oh, I know. They force people to watch it. I walk into an airport and people are like, "You, I want you dead. I`ve had to watch you for the last three hours." I apologize.

BERRY: You`re a big airport star.

BECK: If you`re watching us at the airport, I apologize. I do. Miss Universe, this is a question I`ve wanted to know. Don`t you think, like, the Miss Alpha Centauri is pissed off that Miss Universe always is from Earth?

BERRY: You know, I was thinking the same thing.

BECK: Were you?

BERRY: I`m not kidding. When the Miss Universe pageant came on, my brother-in-law and my sister and I discussed why, why is she always from Earth? Why isn`t it Mars, Pluto, plenty other options?

BECK: Yes, I mean, it`s Miss Universe. You know there`s somebody up there with a ray gun that is going to come down and vaporize everybody involved with the Miss Universe pageant.

BERRY: Yes, it`s very true.

BECK: Toughest question you`ve ever been asked?

BERRY: Very interesting question. It was at the Miss America pageant. I was in a big debate with the panel of judges. It`s a 12-minute interview that we go through which usually is not televised at all, and nobody really sees that. But one of the most important parts of the job as Miss America is as a spokesperson.

We were in a big political debate, firing squad was going, and one of the female judges just kind of butted in and said, "Do you think you`re pretty?" With that tone.

BECK: What did you answer?

BERRY: Totally threw me off, and I said, "You know, I don`t ever really think of myself that way," because I was such a big dork in middle school and high school. Like, I mean, I was 5`8" since like sixth grade. I know. I`m going to bring pictures.

BECK: I`m such a dork. Nobody loves me.

BERRY: I had frizzy hair. I hadn`t discovered the flat iron yet.

BECK: Right, OK, all right. What a pleasure to have you, and best of luck in the Children`s Miracle Network. Best of luck to them, as well.

BERRY: Thank you. And the most important thing we want to remind everybody is Thursday, this Thursday, August 10th, is Miracle Treat Day.

BECK: OK.

BERRY: At participating Dairy Queens across the nation, if you go in and you buy a Blizzard, 100 percent of the proceeds -- Blizzard ice creams -- 100 percent of the proceeds go to Children`s Miracle Network hospitals in that area.

BECK: Honey, I am just telling you right now at home, we have to do it for the kids. I`m just saying, ice cream for the kids.

BERRY: And they need like five that day.

BECK: Yes, five or six or more. Thank you very much.

BERRY: Thank you, Glenn.

BECK: You bet. Bye-bye.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECK: All right, let`s get right to the hate mail. Greg from Winnipeg writes, "Having just seen Beck for the first time, I must say he`s the most irresponsible, obnoxious, misinformed and dangerous pseudo- journalist I could possibly imagine. That CNN broadcasts this cruel tripe is indeed the sign of an Apocalypse."

Greg, let me tell you something: How dare you launch such a horrific and hurtful attack. I mean, it gets me right here. It is an insult to all journalists to call me anything with the word "journalist" in it, around it, anywhere near it. I mean, you owe actual journalists and pseudo- journalists a sincere apology, and I mean that.

A guy who, you know, calls himself Dr. J writes in, "You have the brain of a Billy goat and the voice of a crow, although the crow is brighter than you. I have a PhD in ancient history" -- well, whoop dee doo, Jack -- "and I am quite familiar with the history of the Middle East. Their is a big world out there, and one day the day will come when another super power will snatch that ugly Old Glory from you and raise their own."

Wow, that is officially our first "I can`t wait for America to die" e- mail of the week. For those of you who had Tuesday in the pool, congratulations. So let me do the math here. The guy who`s pining for the downfall of America doesn`t agree with me. Who would have thought that?

And finally, from Tampa, Robert writes, "Glenn, when you lived here in Tampa, things were relatively normal. Now people are throwing chairs at people on TV. Move back before people start pulling out switchblades."

This is a crazy story. Here`s what he`s talking about, an amazing clip from a public access show. Put this up, can we? The guy who walks off now was called fat by the guy sitting there on the left sitting down, and then here comes the chair. Oh, whoa! Can we see that in slow motion? Look at this. Boom!

I mean, now the guy who gets plunked, he owns a bunch of strip clubs in Tampa, so actually I was kind of surprised that the chair didn`t stick to him. But maybe it`s just -- look, I`m not a physicist. I don`t have a PhD in that kind of stuff. I`m just a thinker.

We`ll see you tomorrow on the radio program. You don`t want to miss a stinking second. Oh, and don`t miss tomorrow. Tomorrow night, we have the lady who says that she`s a direct descendant of Jesus. Yes. We`ll see you here tomorrow night. See you later, you sick freak.

END