Glenn Beck Radio: Conservative Talk Show Host Leaves Republican Party
Conservative talk show host Glenn Beck is no longer a member of the Republican Party, he said on his radio show Wednesday, Mediaite reported.
"I've made my decision -- I'm out," the 51-year-old commentator announced "I'm out of the Republican Party. I am not a Republican; I will not give a dime to the Republican Party. I'm out."
The former Fox News pundit supported Republicans during the last election cycle, Yahoo News noted, but has become disillusioned with the party's establishment over what he views as its failure to stand up to the Obama administration. Beck has been particularly critical of President Barack Obama's health care and immigration reform initiatives.
"All this stuff that they said -- and they ran and they said they were doing all of these great things, and they were going to stand against Obamacare and illegal immigration -- they set us up," Beck fumed, according to the Hill "They set us up. Enough is enough! They're torpedoing the Constitution, and they're doing it knowingly."
Beck wields a significant influence among conservatives and libertarians, Politico said. After leaving Fox News, the media entrepreneur in 2011 launched his own news site, TheBlaze, which includes television, radio and digital platforms.
Two years ago, Beck had already celebrated the "death of the establishment Republican Party" on his BlazeTV show, Mediaite recalled. Despite the dark metaphor, the host had still voiced some optimism about the GOP at the time.
Beck had said that he was glad that the establishment wing was "dead" because its members "are refusing to confront the cancer within the party: progressive-lite Republicans who care about winning really more than anything else. They cave to political correctness rather than sticking to principles."
Now, Beck has apparently given up on his attempt to change the GOP from within, Yahoo News noted.
"Four years ago, I was with them," he said. "Four years ago, I said, 'Work from the inside, let's change it, let's get new guys in there.'"
The host seemed especially upset with perceived attacks Republican leaders have leveled against Sens. Mike Lee and Ted Cruz, two Tea Party favorites.
"They are torpedoing them, knowingly," he claimed. "And these guys are standing for the Constitution," Beck claimed.
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