GLENN BECK, THE BOYCOTT OF SPONSORS!

Surprisingly, the outburst is coming somewhat late, almost three weeks after the unprovoked and irresponsible charge by Glen Beck that President Barack Obama is a racist? According to Glen Beck, "Obama is a racist with a deep-seated hatred for white people."

And who has earned the 'special credibility' to level such an unfathomable allegation but the notorious redneck white racist pig, whose vituperation are so asinine that were he a person of color, Fox Television would have since pulled him off the air! But no, he has the right skin tone and fits the template and so can run his mouth however he deems fit, afterall Fox is owned by Rupert Murdock? Fox Television host, Glen Beck, is not good for public television because he preaches hate and division. But does he really look like a pig, literally speaking? Yes and only if you are well acquainted with the character 'Snowball of the Animal Farm' world!

This writer is not a liberal nor a conservative; but a middle of the road rational partisan, registered democrat but supportive of gun ownership rights etc! I also enjoy listening to Rush Limbaugh but for the over the top entertainment value only, as controversy is a factor of fame, but I do not take Rush literally or as a gospel. However people like Glen Beck, Shaun Hannity and Bill O'Reilly deliberately say stuff which any rational dispassionate listener will understand is meant to stir unnecessary controversy just to keep them relatively relevant and in the news? They are not deep but shallow and they have no humour to keep non fans listening? Any person who had spent some time listening to Rush Limbaugh, unlike these three others, knows that irrespective of how vitriolic his show may sound to an untrained ear, with half his brain tied to his back, Rush means no real harm? Rush Limbaugh, it is who once joked about his mother not being able to afford both her medicines alongside her groceries? But be that as it may, back to the man who could use some tan, Glen beck!

With a total of 33 Fox advertisers, including Wal-Mart Stores Inc., GEICCO, CVS Caremark, Clorox and Sprint, now abandoning ship of the Beck's show, Icheoku wonders how much longer it will take, before Fox shows Glen Beck the door or at least make him to tender an unreserved public apology to the President for maligning his name. It will be recalled that it was the same Fox Group that its 'Daily News' once published a cartoon depicting a black gorilla shot by two police officers, screaming, lets see who will now authorise the next stimulus package and Fox is owned by an Australian. They stonewalled for a long time trying to wriggle out of responsibility for the tasteless cartoon, but were forced and later apologised for the allusion to President Barack Obama. Icheoku remembers vividly too that the former Australian prime minister Howard was among the first person of note to publicly dismiss the then Senator Barack Obama's presidential quest as that boy's? We are therefore asking, is there something in the DNA of Australians which make them averse or not react favorably to people of color or should we call in the Aboriginals as witnesses?

Icheoku appreciates the current effort of ColorofChange.org in the campaign to get advertisers to think through the damage the Glen Becks of this world are doing to them, painting them as sponsors and supporters of race-baiting in America? This is especially so when one considers that their products know no boundaries as every race consumes them, which should make these companies neutral and not touch the likes of Glen Beck with a ten-foot pole? We hope that the remaining advertisers have been encouraged by these proactive companies who have so far dropped Beck; and that they now have a clear choice either to see reason or have their products tainted eliciting a boycott. It is a potent weapon which have been deployed severally and successfully in the past to achieve a desired result; of a particular note was during apartheid South Africa when a concerted boycott brought down the repressive regime!

Just like Clorox Co., maker of Clorox brand of bleach and household cleaners said and Icheoku reiterates, none of these sponsors should "want to be associated with inflammatory speech used by either liberal or conservative talk show hosts." We add that what Glen Beck said is incendiary! Towing the steps of UPS Stores, it might be a good idea also for companies doing business with Fox to entirely stop buying ads on Fox News Network, at least to force them to "keep it real honest" as they promise and claim!

Icheoku agrees that Glen Beck is too toxic to be promoting any product and barring an immediate and unreserved apology we shall soon urge and campaign for our visitors to join the boycott of products, whose sponsors bankroll such toxicity! It is a new day in America and the country can use some unification speeches and not a derisive and divisive one such as Glen Beck uttered. Like one commentator observed and Icheoku agrees, "We support vigorous debate, especially around policy issues that affect millions of Americans, but we expect it to be informed, inclusive and respectful." Lastly we advise Glen Beck and his cohort-rednecks to accept the fact that a person of color is presently in "their" White-House and they should learn to live with it, period! All the childish tantrums being thrown around and in whatever guise or subterfuge not withstanding, we understand their undercurrent as a reaction to what November 4, 2008 brought into being. Icheoku says, enough of Glen Beck's unfounded outbursts; he should apologise or be boycotted!