There May Be A Reason That Only 14 Members Of Congress Have Signed Beck's Pledge So FarJanuary 12, 2011 9:36 pm ET by Adam Shah
For an answer, Beck might want to look in the mirror. Beck has a long history of violent rhetoric with which people may not want to associate, and the pledge he issued contains a very thinly-veiled attack on President Obama and progressives.
But Beck may have only himself to blame for the low number of people who have signed the pledge so far. For one thing, Beck politicized the pledge by including a line that is an obvious attack on his political opponents.
But also, Beck himself has a long history of violent and inflammatory rhetoric and people from either side of the aisle may not want to associate themselves with such a person at a time like this.
For instance:
•Beck has fantasized about killing Michael Moore.
•Beck has fantasized about poisoning Nancy Pelosi.
•Beck has portrayed Obama and other Democrats as vampires and suggested "driving a stake through the heart of the bloodsuckers."
•Asserting that politicians are addicted to spending, Beck stated: "When do we ever run those who are bankrupting our country and literally stealing our children's future out of town? Grab a torch."
•Beck has said that "to the day I die, I am going to be a progressive hunter."
•During his May 15 commencement speech at Liberty University, Beck told graduates that they "have a responsibility" to speak out, or "blood ... will be on our hands." His advice for graduates (as well as his daughter) included "shoot to kill."
http://mediamatters.org/blog/201101120047