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Glenn Beck
Sex and Politics
Aired May 03, 2007 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
GLENN BECK, ANCHOR: Tonight, sex and politics, the great American tradition.
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JEANE PALFREY: I operated a sexual albeit legal business.
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BECK: As new names emerge in the D.C. Madam Sex scandal, what this means to both the left and the right. And what happens when one man is stupid, no, correction, brave enough to expose the other side of global warming? Heated reactions from both sides to the global warming special we had last night.
And a tale of survival.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everybody has to learn from their mistakes.
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BECK: I`ll talk to a man who somehow managed to survive nearly 50 years in Hollywood. Living legend, Robert Duvall. All this and more tonight.
Well, after last night`s global warming special, we thought we`d change gears a bit and talk about sex. Dirty, sleazy, Washington, D.C., politician sex. When you add the politicians in it, doesn`t it make your skin crawl? ABC`s "20/20" is going to air a special television event tomorrow night in which seven names on the infamous "D.C. Madam`s" list is going to be revealed. Will those names be revealed during the whole show or in the final six minutes of the show? Yeah, final six minutes of the show which by the way I believe is about twice as long as any of the politician`s alleged encounters with the hookers probably lasted. But here`s the point tonight, sex and stupidity. Those two things, they`re clearly bipartisan, and here`s how I got there.
I don`t want to throw anybody under the bus just because their name happens to be on a phone log. However, unless you accidentally called the escort service and then quickly realized, wait a minute, I`m sorry, I was calling the escargot service and your name appears multiple times, then you`re probably a dirt bag. I`m not buying the whole I just -- what, I just wanted her to escort me to the cotillion. The only place these women are escorting you is a water bed with linens that should be examined with a black light. But there is a silver ling to all of this. This country, which desperately needs an issue to unite on, may finally have it. Dirt bag political sex. This is not purely a Republican or Democratic problem. Both parties have trouble keeping their pants on. Isn`t Washington great? Our founding fathers would be so proud. The other thing we can unite on, political hypocrisy.
Do you remember Dick Morris, yeah, he was the guy that all the conservatives hated in the `90s. He was the quintessential example of hypocrisy. When he was a Democrat he used to discuss policy with the president on the phone while he was playing naked twister in bed with a hooker and the president on a speaker phone. Every Republican, including me, thought, gee, this guy is an evil scumbag. Now he`s switched parties, but reportedly not habits, although he`s denied being a client. His name has been brought up in connection with this scandal. What a shocker there. The question is Republicans, remember you used to think he was evil when he was doing that when he was not throwing Hillary Clinton under the bus? How about now when he`s on your team? I highly doubt that every name in her black book is from only one party, so we should be very careful that we`re going to be consistent here. This is not a political issue. This is a stupidity and scumbag issue.
ABC, ABC meanwhile, between a rock and a hard place. They have these names of these people who may not just have been playing cards with these fine young ladies, yet they can`t release the names on national television because how can they possibly know for sure they`re not put on this list for political reasons? Now I would, believe it or not, say the same thing if Harry Reid`s or Nancy Pelosi`s name were on the list, which they might be, we don`t know. But you can`t just release a name and say, oh look, they were having sex with a naked prostitute, because we don`t know for sure. Can you do that? Although I will tell you if it`s the word of a politician against the word of a hooker, I think I`m going to go with the hooker every time.
So here`s what I know tonight. I know that I`ve come under fire recently for making historical comparisons to things, but I`ve got to tell you, this whole thing reminds me of the, are you or have you ever been a communist list that we used to make up. Until things are proven, and boy do I feel sorry for anybody who has to collect DNA in this test, in this case, ew. We shouldn`t be naming names, at least for our own entertainment. Now what I don`t know. Who is on the list? I mean, I do have to admit I`m just like you. I am a little more than curious, but the "20/20" special. Is it a bombshell or just a 2007 version of Al Capone`s vault? David Oblon he joins me now. He is a criminal defense attorney. David, can you just release the names on national television and just say, well, it was on the list?
DAVID OBLON, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Yeah and in fact tomorrow there is going to be a disclosure of many of these names. It can be done. The question is should it be done? That`s something certainly very different.
BECK: I mean I really don`t know what this has to do with news, at least at this point. It is really -- it seems to be just for entertainment, because what am I going to do with the information other than holy cow, he`s on the list, you know what I mean? Can`t you -- we don`t know for sure what that even means. We haven`t heard from the other person -- you know, the other person. I mean once we verify that you`re a scumbag, go ahead, pay the penalty, but can`t you sue? If my name was on the list, which I hope it`s not, if my name was on the list, couldn`t I sue if I -- I never called them? I never met with escorts or whatever. Couldn`t I sue them for destroying my career, because that`s what would happen to me?
OBLON: Yeah, well of course, you should try. The problem is that you probably won`t win. What you do -- you would sue under a tort of public disclosure of private facts, and that`s the publication of non-newsworthy private information about someone that would be offensive to the reasonable person.
BECK: But it would be, because I`m a public figure, it would be newsworthy information, so that`s where they are going to get off, so to speak?
OBLON: No, I mean the rules are in fact different for Glenn Beck than it is for David Oblon because you are a public figure and I`m not.
BECK: Right.
OBLON: But no, the defense for that tort will be that it is newsworthy.
BECK: Right.
OBLON: I mean here we are on CNN talking about this story. We`ve already had one public official resign over it.
BECK: Right.
OBLON: So this is --
BECK: But if you`re not guilty, and honestly I don`t even know how your name gets on this list if you`re not guilty. I really don`t believe the whole, what, they`re just escorts, they`re very classy escorts, it`s not a hooker thing. I don`t buy into that, but then again, look at the kids at Duke. Their life was destroyed by accusations that weren`t true, and they -- they don`t have any real recourse either, do they?
OBLON: Yeah, where do you go to get your reputation back? You know you really don`t. I mean the Duke lacrosse boys, they had the advantage of having a very public exoneration and so that is certainly very good, and so some people might want to file a lawsuit on the hopes that they will be able to win so that they will be able to point at least to a court judgment saying, yeah, I was in the wrong to begin with, because there`s another tort called false light. Which means that if someone is falsely outed and on this list, if they did not do anything with the escort service, and Palfrey made up the name out of thin air, well then in that case they do have a tort because that`s false information that`s put out there.
BECK: Oh, well then that`s all I`m worried about, is just somebody`s name - I mean look, if you`re -- if you`re making phone calls to the escort service, you`ve got a lot of explaining to do. I mean, I can`t imagine what you`re calling them for. I thought it was the time lady. I`m just calling her for that. David, thanks a lot.
OBLON: You bet.
BECK: Joining me now, somebody who has firsthand knowledge of the, I don`t want to say ins and outs -- she`s -- she`s a madam. She`s the author of the "Secrets of a Hollywood Super Madam," Jody Gibson. Jody, boy, you know this job gives me the opportunity to talk to a wide variety of people. Fantasy massage, how stupid do these people think we`re --
JODY "BABYDOL" GIBSON, FORMER MADAM: Legal.
BECK: Legal? Come on, how stupid do I have to be to believe in fantasy massage? First of all, what is it?
GIBSON: Well, let`s define what`s legal. You can actually take a girl out to dinner, pay her for her time, as long as you`re not having sexual activity with her. That`s legal. You can have a dungeon where girls are performing S&M routines on men naked as long as there is no sexual activity. That is legal. You can have a phone sex chat line discussing the nastiest, dirtiest kind of sexual agenda, legal. That`s what`s legal. However, I haven`t seen evidence yet that concludes sexual activity. What I want to know is this. I`ve seen phone records and alleged lists. Where are the payout logs? There has to be payout logs that will demonstrate and support that Deborah Palfrey knew and negotiated each and every sexual deal that came in.
BECK: Jody, are you trying to convince me that there are legitimate escort services, that there`s some guy in a hotel, like, you know, I`m here in New York for the weekend and I would like to go to a movie. I would just like a pal?
GIBSON: No, I`m trying to tell you that I don`t see enough evidence to support that Deborah Palfrey acted as a madam and negotiated these deals herself which is what they are alleging. First of all, one of the things that I have noticed is that no madam in her right mind will ever let a group of girls work her phones because whoever works the phones walks off with the business and apparently she had a group of operators or girls working her phones, so that means right there, that she, Deborah Palfrey, was not negotiating each and every sexual job that came through her office.
BECK: Ok.
GIBSON: Now, the fact that she had the girls sign contracts prohibiting sexual activity, again, removes the possibility or cannot prove the possibility for sure that she had criminal intent. That is what I`m saying.
BECK: Right, ok, all right. Just real quick because I`ve only got 10 seconds.
GIBSON: Ok.
BECK: I mean how stupid do you have to be to think that you`re going to be a public figure and this ain`t coming out?
GIBSON: You know, that will always remain the greatest question.
BECK: Yeah.
GIBSON: I mean you know in my book I have two very high-profile people, one of whom used credit cards.
BECK: Unbelievable.
GIBSON: So, again, at the end of the day.
BECK: Ok, Jody, thanks a lot.
Coming up, PBS is under fire again for their decision to pull a documentary on Islamic extremism. This time the heat is coming from Congress. We`ll have all the latest details, and, you know, don`t you just hate it when your private jet is just too small. Why Hillary Clinton is crying fowl over the size of her plane. That`s tonight`s real story. Plus, the Academy Award winner Robert Duvall stops by to discuss his new movie. Stick around.
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BECK: You know, I think it`s pretty clear to the average American that evil conservative corporations control most of the media so thank goodness for PBS. They`re an oasis of objective balanced programming where diverse points of view can flourish. Right? Before you re-up your membership to score a set of Nova coffee mugs, which I can`t get enough of, consider this. After commissioning a documentary called "Islam Versus Islamists, Voices from the Muslim Center", they shelved the film at PBS saying, not really ready to air, it`s a mess. The documentary tells the story of moderate Muslims who are struggling to have their sensible voices heard over the extremists within their religion. I know firsthand how overwhelming the forces are that rise up against you when you try to provide a forum for moderate Muslim voices. Now me, I would love to see the stories featured in this documentary, but PBS denied my simple request because I`m one of the little people. However, they couldn`t say no to Congress. Congress demanded a screening. Remember the "p" in PBS stands for public. They grab all the tax dollars they can so fortunately some members of Congress did take the opportunity to watch this documentary and question the motivations of these PBS executives, who I believe seem to have censorship over their responsibility to the American public. You know, the ones who paid for the $675,000 film to be made in the first place that you`re never going to see. Congressman Trent Franks, he`s a Republican from Arizona. Congressman, have you seen the film and does it deserve to be aired?
REP. TRENT FRANKS, (R) ARIZONA: Yes, on both fronts, Glenn, and I appreciate you giving us a chance to talk about it.
BECK: Sure. Tell me what you have done as a congressman. I mean you really -- you guys are the ones with the purse strings. What did you tell PBS?
FRANKS: Well, Glenn, we`re writing PBS a letter. We`ve also made public statements to the effect that since the moderate Muslim voice is so important to defeating this ideology that threatens the human family, in fact, it`s one of only two strategies we have. We have to defeat them on the battlefield and in the marketplace of ideals. And PBS I believe owed the nation the chance to hear the moderate Muslim voices who decry terrorism and Jihadism and they didn`t give them that chance and that`s a terrible thing.
BECK: So congressman, why, they said to us at first, that oh, it was a mess, and it`s not finished yet. They came up with like 600 different reasons. When they got in front of you, they started changing their tune a little bit. Why are they not allowing this to be seen? It`s important. It`s good for Islam to see the moderate voices of Muslims coming out and being heard.
FRANKS: It`s critical to keep our children from facing nuclear jihad some day for things like this to be heard.
BECK: So why are they not showing it?
FRANKS: I think that ultimately this is the ugliest kind of political correctness gone amuck, and there`s, unfortunately, there`s a pretty insidious reason behind it in my opinion, Glenn. I think that when this film was turned over, after it was finished to the WETA people in D.C.
BECK: Washington, yeah.
FRANKS: The series of executive producers there became new people and, unfortunately, some of those people have relatives that have sympathies to known Islamists ideologues and this is a pretty frightening thing to me.
BECK: Did you look into the allegations? The director of this PBS documentary told me that he was told by people at WETA, do you not look into the political motivations to the people, the journalists that you have working for you? Don`t you realize that some of them are conservative and shouldn`t have been hired in the first place? Did you look into that allegation?
FRANKS: Well, you know obviously there`s always a battle over philosophical leanings and persuasions, but the bottom line here is that Americans need to understand that this is an ideology in jihadist terrorism that is dangerous beyond words and we need the moderate Muslim voices to be heard here if this is to be diminished in Islam itself. Because if it germinates into Islam. If this same ideology grows in Islam like Nazism grew into the German people`s minds, this could be a concern that would threaten our children behind words.
BECK: Hang on just a second though. You just said that there`s always a philosophical difference. I work in a newsroom, I`m not a journalist, but I see it. And I know what goes on. There`s a difference between a difference of opinion and then someone saying do not hire a conservative, someone with a conservative point of view. There`s a great deal of difference there. That`s called blacklisting. Doesn`t that concern you?
FRANKS: Well, it concerns me greatly. You know, over 80 percent of the TV and print journalists in this country are of liberal persuasion. The people of this country need to understand that, so that they can properly put into context the news that they hear every day because I believe the future of the United States and our children depend upon us understanding that.
BECK: You know I think PBS is great for what it does for kids` programming, and I think it has a lot of great programming on it. But I have to tell you, why are we paying for it? There`s enough channels out there now. It`s not 1975 anymore.
FRANKS: Well Glenn, I completely agree with you. I have to say to you in all fairness, I`ve been against federal funding of things like PBS for a long time because I think it`s not the federal government`s job to pick winners and losers. They should compete in the marketplace of ideals, just like CNN does, just like any other group does.
BECK: Yeah.
FRANKS: Because in that way there`s kind of an intrinsic credibility that goes with that, and also an intrinsic accountability that goes with it.
BECK: Ok congressman, thank you very much, we`re out of time.
FRANKS: Thank you for what you do, Glenn.
BECK: You bet, thank you. I want to talk to you a little bit more about crazy programming decisions. I want you to watch this, this is an example of what`s running on Al Manar TV in Lebanon, it is another installment in our midst by the media series, it shows just what kind of message is being seen and heard across the Middle East every day. Now, even without narration this message of hateful and just, I mean just raging hate, comes through loud and clear. Watch.
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BECK: Knowing really what Democratic Congress is doing right now, isn`t sending a message at all. Coming up, more political controversy, this time it`s over travel issues, so troublesome especially when your private jet isn`t quite up to snuff. Hillary Clinton reportedly caused a stir on the tarmac, that`s in tonight`s "real story". Plus, Academy Award winner and legendary actor Robert Duvall joins me to discuss his new role in a new movie "Lucky You" and reactions to last night`s "Exposed" special.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GIBSON: Well, after last week`s two-hour "American Idol" snoozer, I mean, telethon or, any way I was riveted by it. Last night`s "Idol" proved a lot more interesting because two "Idol" hopefuls got kicked off instead of just one. So now how much would you pay? Here to tell us about the latest eliminations is the host of "Idol" chat on the "TV Guide Channel" former "Idol" finalist Kim Caldwell. Hi Kim.
KIM CALDWELL: Double the pleasure for you, right Glenn?
BECK: Yes. You have a different hairstyle, you`re like Sanjaya of chicks.
CALDWELL: My hair is always an issue. Everybody is always talking about my hair.
BECK: Because you`re always changing your hair. Do you wear extensions?
CALDWELL: I know, because I get bored.
BECK: Is it extensions, do you use extensions?
CALDWELL: Oh no, look, that is not extensions.
BECK: That`s real?
CALDWELL: Yeah, but sometimes I do use extensions.
BECK: Because these are all extensions, you can tell by the really icky scary patches.
CALDWELL: I thought that it was just a rug.
BECK: Doesn`t come naturally. No, anyway, so Kim, let`s talk a little bit about last night.
CALDWELL: Yes.
BECK: First of all, Jon bon Jovi was on and I can`t wait to vote for him for governor of New Jersey.
CALDWELL: I love Jon bon Jovi.
BECK: Me, too.
CALDWELL: And am very bitter and jealous that I didn`t get to work with him when I was on "American Idol."
BECK: Me, too. I feel the same way.
CALDWELL: I just think that it`s so cool that they had mentors and stuff.
BECK: And who was kicked off, wasn`t it your lover boy?
CALDWELL: Yes, my lover boy Chris Richardson. I really hope that he doesn`t go back and start working at Hooters because I think that he will have a very successful career if he wants.
BECK: Can I tell you something, can I, may I?
CALDWELL: Yes, you always can, always.
BECK: May I. Working at Hooters for a man, what a hell life that is.
CALDWELL: I know.
BECK: Especially when you have to wear the little short shorts. Do they have to wear the little short shorts, or is that just for the women?
CALDWELL: I think that`s just for the women, but you know what, I`ll find out. I know that Justin Guarini from my show is going to interview him and so I`ll find out.
BECK: You ask him, and then get back to me next week.
CALDWELL: I will, for sure.
BECK: Sanjaya`s mom was actually in some controversy, and I really didn`t pay attention to it, because I had breakfast, so I didn`t really -- I lost it. They put food in front of me and I`m like, oh, yeah, I`m not paying attention to that anymore. What was the thing with Sanjaya`s mom?
CALDWELL: I don`t know exactly, you know.
BECK: Did you have breakfast, too?
CALDWELL: I`m an "Idol" expert, I`m not an "Idol" mom expert.
BECK: Right.
CALDWELL: But supposedly she got busted back in the day for having some really big plants in her backyard.
BECK: Pot plants, really.
CALDWELL: Pot plants, yes.
BECK: I hear that`s illegal nowadays in some states.
CALDWELL: Yeah, maybe it was in Amsterdam, you never know.
BECK: You never know.
CALDWELL: She probably wouldn`t have gotten arrested there though for it.
BECK: Who do you think is going to win? You know I`ve only seen like two episodes and there was a mom I think she was from New Jersey, she was a great gospel singer. She was a rather large woman. Is she still on?
CALDWELL: Lakisha Jones, and actually she`s dropped a few pounds, she`s looking quite sexy these days.
BECK: Really, she is fantastic.
CALDWELL: She did absolutely amazing this week, and the last couple of weeks she wasn`t really as on her game as she was in the beginning, so she`s definitely stepped it up. And then Jordin this week actually didn`t do as well as she normally does, so it`s definitely a tossup, and Phil Stacy went home but Melinda`s always at the top of her game, Blake has definitely been a front-runner, he did the beat boxing and Lakisha nailed it.
BECK: I love that beat boxing thing. I`m going to do that in "the real story" in a second.
CALDWELL: I think that it`s really up for anybody.
BECK: Yeah, I`m going to do the beat boxing, I`ll do that next.
CALDWELL: I can`t do it.
BECK: This is a stupid show. Kim, thanks a lot. Coming up next, Hillary Clinton throws a temper tantrum over the size of her private jet. I`ll explain in tonight`s "real story", that`s next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BECK: Welcome to "The Real Story."
A week ago today, the Democratic candidates for president got together in South Carolina for the first debate of the primary season, but, you know, what happened on stage really was -- the real story is how at least one of these candidates got to the stage.
Hillary Clinton, the champion of the little people, had quite a travel nightmare last week, according to the "New York Post." It all started the day after the debate. Hillary had to fly to San Diego, and apparently some staffer had the nerve to charter a GulfStream II for the trip. Now, anybody who is anybody knows a G-II is like a 1972 Pinto with wings. I mean, it`s garbage.
Most people would be embarrassed, you know, getting out of the limo, walking up the red carpet, while a G-II is sitting there, and only one private flight attendant waits to cater your every whim and need. It`s craziness.
Anyway, Hillary did what any self-respecting person, especially somebody who loves the little people that much, would do. She sent the G- II back, empty, and got a much classier GulfStream III. Still not a V, but -- she flew that down from Westchester to pick her up.
Now, that`s the kind of decisionmaking that I believe we`re looking for in our leaders, but let me back up, because I don`t want you to get the wrong impression. On Thursday, the day of the debate, Hillary did actually slum it and take the $4,600-an-hour, plus fuel, G-II from Washington to the debate and then back. But then, since she obviously didn`t want to be seen with it, she had to fly empty back down to South Carolina to wait for her.
The next day, on Friday, she flew a Hawker 800, big jet, but, honestly, only c-list celebrities would take that. She had that back to South Carolina where she transferred back to the G-II for a flight to Columbia. Then she decided she didn`t like the configuration of that one, so she switched to the G-III and flew that to San Diego, then to San Jose, Reno, Van Nuys, and then back home to her house in Westchester, New York.
Now, total cost for just one cross-country round trip flight on a plane like that is at least $150,000. So you do the math on all those empty jets flying back and forth. I mean, I think that`s the most interesting part, when she allegedly flew an empty G-II back to South Carolina.
Quite honestly, it means to me that this story is either completely wrong and is basically a hit piece by the "New York Post" or Hillary Clinton has become so warped by unbelievable wealth that she can no longer relate to money anymore.
Next, a couple of days ago, a woman called into my radio program, she was all fired up about a bill that I honestly had never even heard of before, and I want you to listen to this phone call.
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CALLER: Glenn, I just wanted to bring to your attention -- I`m not sure if you`ve heard about this particular bill, but it`s a new hate crime speech bill and would, in essence, be able to legislate what can be said from a pulpit. And if a pastor or a rabbi or anyone said something that offended a protected class, that person could be brought up on charges.
BECK: OK, I`ll look it up and, more importantly, I`ll see if it has any support going through. This is what they did in Canada.
CALLER: It does. It`s been fast-tracked, and it`s supposed to be voted on this Thursday, covered up behind the National Day of Prayer, so people won`t really be paying much attention to what Congress is doing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECK: Well, Kim was right about a couple of things. There is a bill. It`s number 1592. The House did vote on it today, and it did pass, with most Republicans voting against it, but that`s where we start to part ways on what this bill means.
Here`s a summary for, you know, anybody who don`t TiVo C-SPAN. Mute your TV. I don`t want to ruin the ending for you. Federal hate crimes currently only apply to people based on race, religion, color or national origin. This bill would expand that protected class to include physical attacks based on gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability.
Opponents of the bill, who Kim has clearly been listening to, says, you know, this is a slippery slope. That`s the argument, to say that it paves the way it arrest people for speaking out against homosexuality. Some people even say that it will allow for people to be arrested for thought crimes.
Meanwhile, supporters say it has nothing to do with speech or thoughts. This is about assault. The real story tonight? Both of these arguments are smoke screens to divert you from what I believe is the real issue, which is that every American, every human should be part of a protected group. Every crime is a hate crime.
If you assault somebody because they`re a homosexual or black, then you`re just an idiot, and you should go to prison. But your sentence should be exactly the same if that person were straight or white, because you`re still an idiot.
The two-tiered legal system creates double standards, and it implies that crimes against some people aren`t as heinous as crimes against others. It just doesn`t make sense in my commonsense sort of world. The only people who should have extra protection are the defenseless amongst us, the children, the elderly, the mentally handicapped. But honestly, even when I go down that road with that argument in my own head, I don`t know how much of that is just my passion and compassion and how much of that argument is actually right. When it comes to the rest of us, all men, all women are created equal.
Reverend Lou Sheldon, he is the chairman of the Traditional Values Coalition. He`s a guy who opposes the bill. Congressman Mark Kirk, he`s a Republican from Illinois. He`s one of the bill`s co-sponsors.
Let me start with you, Reverend. It is clearly about violent acts and not speech. Why do you say it`s not?
REV. LOU SHELDON, TRADITIONAL VALUES COALITION: Well, when you look at the findings in the bill that always in the first part of the section of the bill, they say that hordes of homosexuals are leaving one state, going to another, because they can`t get jobs, because they can`t get goods and services. And it also says, in the next breath, that hordes of people are chasing after the homosexuals to harm them.
There`s no local police report of that or sheriffs` reports of that throughout America, or even the state police report of that, so this is a bold-faced lie. I agree with you very much, Glenn, that a crime is crime.
BECK: Congressman, how do you respond to that?
REP. MARK KIRK (R), ILLINOIS: Well, I think we should support local law enforcement. When we`ve seen some rather infamous national group-on- group crimes, quickly that can tear apart a community and overwhelm a local suburban police department. That`s why I supported legislation backed by the National Sheriffs Association that says that, in these infamous crimes, if the state requests, the federal government can step in to make sure that a small crime doesn`t turn into a huge national riot.
BECK: OK. Reverend...
SHELDON: See, the answer to that is very simple. This bill goes in to the `64 Civil Rights Act and adds two new categories, that is the category of sexual orientation and the category of gender identity.
KIRK: Also disability.
SHELDON: When you go to the diagnostic and statistical manual of the American Psychological Association and you see the 30 listed almost perversions kinds of things about having what is sexually arousing rousing you, like you`re talking about a man who dresses as a woman, talking about the man who is a she-male and takes the hormones to create breasts, and no hair on his chest, and -- or the man who exposes himself.
BECK: Reverend, Reverend, Reverend, hang on.
SHELDON: Do you understand the point?
BECK: No, I don`t think I really do, because my point...
SHELDON: The point is this, Glenn. The point is simply this, that, when you include that kind of behavior as special protection, which the `64 Civil Rights has rightly done for race, and creed, and ethnicity, and the others, it`s needed for those things, but not for behavior-based sexual orientation.
BECK: Congressman, do you want to respond to that?
KIRK: Americans now see across places like the Middle East sectarian violence that tears their whole country apart. And we think that the American people should be protected against that.
Our country stands for freedom and democracy, but also tolerance. And if the federal government can offer assistance to a local police department to make sure that a crime is rapidly followed up and that criminals are put in jail and that a national television spectacle doesn`t lead to riots in other places, then the American people are better protected.
BECK: I mean, I`ve got to tell you, I don`t agree with either of you guys.
(CROSSTALK)
BECK: Reverend, Reverend, Reverend, hang on. Isn`t the problem here that we`re trying to make different crimes mean different things? Look, I don`t care if you`re taking hormones to grow breasts or you have breasts naturally. I mean, I got big breasts, and I ain`t taking hormones, man. You beat me up because of my views, you beat me up because I`m taking hormones, you beat me up for whatever reason, you just want to beat somebody up today, you should get the same penalty, no matter what your intent was or your reason. Reason doesn`t make any difference to me. How is that not common sense?
SHELDON: Well, then you agree with me. Then you agree. That`s what I`m saying. You should not put these in special categories of special protected rights. And, furthermore, the lady was right on the phone when you had that call, that this will put a chilling effect. It lays the fundamental legal groundwork for there to be investigations, prosecution, and then persecution of those people that say in sermons or written out or radio or television about what the Bible says and what their religion believes concerning homosexuality.
BECK: Congressman, does it lay the groundwork?
KIRK: No. Any first-year law student would tell you that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land and the First Amendment gives the American people an unqualified right to free speech. What this bill simply does is it says that the state can request local backup from federal law enforcement if a crime is threatening to go out of control.
(CROSSTALK)
SHELDON: Until we use the White House, those 10 people in Philadelphia were arrested for a hate crime because they had a bullhorn that read the Bible about the book of Romans.
BECK: These two could go all night. We`ll be back in a minute.
(CROSSTALK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BECK: Well, for some reason, I`m not quite sure, not a lot of Oscar- winners come on this program. I believe Anna Paquin and Cuba Gooding, Jr., did, but I think that`s because they thought this was "LARRY KING LIVE." But that`s a different story.
We do have an Oscar-winner with us now. He`s one of the greatest actors alive, from "The Godfather," to "Tender Mercies," "Days of Thunder," Robert Duvall has done it all. And here is a clip from his new movie called, "Lucky You."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT DUVALL, ACTOR: Pick it up.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I could have played it safe. That`s not who I am.
DUVALL: You`ve got it backyards, kid. You play cards the way you should lead your life, and you should lead your life the way you play cards. Maybe everybody has a blind spot. Maybe everybody has to learn from their mistakes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECK: Thrilled, stunned, kind of puzzled that you`re here. Welcome, Robert Duvall.
DUVALL: Good to be here. Thank you, sir.
BECK: How are you? Let`s start with the movie. Tell me about the new movie. It`s a father-son movie kind of?
DUVALL: It`s a father-son movie set against, you know, poker and gambling. And there`s a romantic relationship, but it`s a father-son movie, and it was nice working with Curtis Hanson, and Eric Bana, and Drew Barrymore. It`s a good job.
BECK: And you are a poker player.
DUVALL: Yes, ex-champion who`s like, you know, at the end of the trail, so to speak, but not really.
BECK: You know, I was drawn to a book -- I don`t know if you`ve read it -- called "The Road." It just won the Pulitzer. Did you read it?
DUVALL: I read the other one in book form that`s not coming out in a movie. I wanted to be kind of involved, but somebody else got it and directed it.
BECK: I read part of this movie, and it was one of the nicest father- son things I`ve ever read.
(CROSSTALK)
DUVALL: He`s one of our great writers...
(CROSSTALK)
BECK: Incredible, but I could only read half of it because it was such a horrifying circumstance.
DUVALL: Right, the end of the world, two people left.
BECK: Oh, yes. And, you know, I love my son so much I`ll have to, you know, use the last bullet.
DUVALL: I met him one time. He was at a friend`s house. They were playing croquet.
BECK: Really? I can`t imagine him...
DUVALL: This middle-class guy playing croquet writes these violent things, interesting.
BECK: So what is the father-son -- I mean, is this a feel-good father-son thing in the end?
DUVALL: It`s an estrangement kind of thing. And he`s a great poker player, and I`m a retiring poker player. And we compete against each other, as we do in many aspects of our life, but there`s definitely an alienation process.
BECK: Do you watch yourself in movies?
DUVALL: I usually see it once. There are a few movies I haven`t seen. I usually see it once.
BECK: Can you go -- I mean, jeez, man, you were in "The Godfather," for the love of Pete.
DUVALL: Yes.
BECK: Can you even go out anymore? Can you even go to a movie theater?
DUVALL: Yes, I can. Listen, it`s always enough to be flattering, but not so much to be a nuisance. You get recognized in airports.
BECK: Yes.
DUVALL: Guys like Tom Cruise, they can`t go out, but mine it`s just enough. It`s always been just enough.
BECK: Really?
DUVALL: Yes, just enough that it`s not like an onslaught, yes.
BECK: You`ve been in Hollywood since, what, 1962? Your first movie was...
DUVALL: Yes, my first film was `65. I was...
BECK: "To Kill a Mockingbird."
DUVALL: "To Kill a Mockingbird."
BECK: Secret of lasting that long in Hollywood?
DUVALL: I don`t know. Marry a younger woman. Hang out with younger people. My current wife, my father-in-law from Argentina said, "I don`t know whether to call you father or son," he said.
BECK: And the secret for lasting this long in Hollywood and not going insane is living in another state?
DUVALL: Well, it helps. I mean, I like Los Angeles. I do, and I like going there periodically. I have a little office there. But I just think, you know, just without getting jaded or tired, I still like to do it. I`m still looking for something new.
BECK: You live in Virginia, don`t you?
DUVALL: Yes, we live in Virginia.
BECK: What are you going to do? You have this film. What else are you working on?
DUVALL: We`re going to the Cannes festival, a film by James Grant (ph).
(CROSSTALK)
DUVALL: Yes, we`ve been accepted in the competition. Everybody kind of becomes equal there, like, and it`s called...
BECK: Like any good communist country.
DUVALL: Pardon?
BECK: Like any good communist country, you all become equal.
DUVALL: I guess it`s -- I don`t know what it is. They have their contradictions. I hear the right-wing over there is now siding with the terrorists.
BECK: Really?
DUVALL: I hear it`s politically incorrect to be and institutionalized to be anti-Semitic. They claim no, but the 300,000 Jewish people just left France to come live in Miami.
BECK: It`s absolutely incredible what`s happening there.
DUVALL: So, I mean, you know, it`s like, I don`t know. They have good food. You need a big bar of soap when you go over there, you know?
BECK: Robert Duvall, when a pleasure.
DUVALL: Good to see you, sir.
BECK: Thank you very much.
All right. "Lucky You" opens Friday, May 4th.
Now, we want to turn to our continuing series, "CNN Heroes." This is where we shine the spotlight on some remarkable people with equally remarkable stories. Former homeless drug addict James Burgett, he has transformed his life. Now he`s helping other people do the same. But what`s really important here is the unique that he`s doing it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is take two.
JAMES BURGETT, "DEFENDING THE PLANET": The corporate motto is obsolescence is a lack of imagination. If we don`t reuse our waste now, it`s all that future generations will have.
My name is James Burgett. I`ve been collecting electronic waste and giving away computers for the last 13 years. I hire people that are outside of the normal employment stream. I teach them how to build the computers.
I`ve been pretty much on my own since the age of 14. I slept on people`s floors. I slept in various places. I started pulling computers out of dumpsters, refurbishing them, and trying to sell them. The objective was to fund my drug habit. Any time I made any money, I immediately stuck it up my nose or in my arm. I quit doing drugs because I found giving away computers give me a self-image that made it so I didn`t need to do so.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He`s very adamant to give it away for free. This is one of the things that he wants to do and he can and he will do.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You`re not going to ruin it. This is your computer. If you ruin it, we`ll give you another one.
BURGETT: We hire convicts. We hire people with psychiatric histories. We hire people with drug histories. All you really need to do is give them something that they can say, "Hey, I`m not a parasite today. These are the best feelings we`ve had since we did drugs."
Just checking in, Aaron. You got anything I need to know?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s all gravy.
BURGETT: It`s all gravy. OK.
We take things that are considered broken and we then repurpose, refurbish. This applies to me. This applies to my staff. This applies to every computer we give away. Every single thing you see here, somebody somewhere decided it no longer had value, and they were wrong.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BECK: Lots of e-mail coming in on our global warming special from last night. Darlene writes in, "What a show on Wednesday evening. `The Climate of Fear` was so good, we watched it twice and taped it. The Beck show is the best on television."
You know, actually, as much as I`d like to agree, it`s not the best season, but "24" is still much, much better.
Gretchen writes in, "I`m a conservative person that considers herself an informed, independent voter. I can no longer watch GLENN BECK after seeing the other side of global warming. This is blatant propaganda, misinformation. As a conservative, I also believe in conserving God`s creation. Shows like these are morally wrong."
Wow. Showing the other side of a debate is morally wrong. I have to check with God on that one. Let me boil it down this way for you, Gretchen. You supposedly watched the show, and you were able to decide for yourself. I think that`s the way America works. Having more information to make a decision isn`t immoral, unless it`s the 12th century.
David writes in, "Beck is a hatemongering idiot. He must be retarded."
David, good point. Thanks for watching the special with such an open mind and bringing so many valid and specific criticisms to the table.
Debby writes in, "Bravo. Loved the global warming special. Who knew the voice of reason would come from a man a tad bit off his nut?"
OK, now I`m developing a complex. I mean, even the fact that the compliments are now starting to insult me, I mean, I -- stop it.
Jay in Columbus writes, "I`m still blown away that CNN has decided to fund your fearmongering and strategic gasbagging. Which division of ill- intention propagandist is truly behind your quest to plant the ideas in the heads of Americans of subprime intelligence? Anyway, have a nice day, but it would be nice, if you get a chance, to go ahead and die in a fire."
And do you believe that that was one of the main points that I was trying to make last night, that the debate is becoming hysterical? By the way, you can get details on my tour stop in Columbus on June 8th at glennbeck.com. And if the theater burns down while I`m there, make sure the police know to call Jay in Columbus.
Erin writes, "I`m a junior in high school. My grandma loves to worry so much, she started to believe in global warming, simply because it was something else to be apprehensive about. However, she`s now worried about the crooked politicians and the scientists who spin the scientific fact."
Well, you know what? I`m glad to help shift the worry in America, I guess, at least for grandmas. You can e-mail me at GlennBeck@CNN.com. And we`ll see you back here tomorrow with a political roundtable. Until then, from New York, good night.
END