I can’t emphasize this enough. Two million people watch this show every day. And that doesn’t include his radio audience.
Not like facts and reality matter, but…
Jefferson was a deist and didn’t believe in the Old Testament, so there’s no reason to believe that he wanted Moses on any official seals. Nor did he believe in the divinity of Jesus or any of the miracles. The line printed along the ceiling frieze of the Jefferson Memorial is actually a snarky remark by Jefferson to Benjamin Rush directed at Christians who opposed his anti-religious views. In fact, the letter to Benjamin Rush also made the case for a separation of church and state. Here’s the line Glenn Beck (and other wingnuts) are referencing:
I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.
But here’s the whole paragraph:
The returning good sense of our country threatens abortion to their hopes, and they [the preachers] believe that any portion of power confided to me [such as being elected President], will be exerted in opposition to their schemes. And they believe rightly: for I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man. But this is all they have to fear from me: and enough too in their opinion.
“The returning good sense” had to do with Jefferson’s election and the exit of John Adams, and the squelching of any hope for the establishment of a Christian nation — “their schemes.” The “altar of God” phrase is probably sarcastic and ironical, and Jefferson is clearly suggesting that he will stop any effort to impose a national religion.
Sorry, wingnuts.
By the way, the Jefferson Memorial was completed in 1940 — 114 years after the death of Jefferson. The Washington Monument was completed in 1884 — nearly a century after the revolution and decades after the last of the founding fathers died. So whatever slogan is printed on the outside of the obelisk has nothing to do with the wishes of the founders, nor did they embed these principles “everywhere.” Because they were dead.
Glenn Beck is a crackpot, but I’m also struck by how much he seems like a televangelist in this clip. As crazy as televangelists are, they know how to coerce and manipulate weak minded people who are convinced to ignore facts or reality in lieu of fantasy and lies.
