Lies, Lies, Fox News, and Glenn Beck

Sometimes there are moments in TV that will go down in history as a landmark. The one in the link here is beyond belief. I will openly declare my doubt regarding the accuracy relating to what I consider to be an open act of sedition against the American Government by Glenn Beck. Maybe I am wrong, I am not a lawyer but the dictionaries say otherwise.

First with a strong 'caveat emptor', this is "Faux News" erm I mean "Fox News" reporting the 'facts' of the CARS system here...

Incidentally this is classified as a 'news' channel which is clearly why you have a faux Kelly Bundy (naturally wearing a cross between here boobs), an expert (with a clear failure to understand computer technology - particularly Skype), and of course Glenn Beck. The Faux News audience is so often subjected to different modes of 'entertainment' that it is often difficult to determine what is fact, advertainment, and what is fiction. Here, however, there is a clear link to a Federally approved program, CARS, that he, Glenn Beck, directly encourages/incites people to avoid visiting. For this I will simply ask you to hear his statements in relation to the web site.

Sadly, he gets it soooooooooooo wrong it is beyond embarrassing and becomes a clear act of falsehood and sedition.

Yes, sedition is a strong word. In this case, by his own statements, he is encouraging citizens of the USA to rebel against the government on what is a Federally approved program. The distortions that are presented make the phone tapping of Americans
NSA program under Bush seem benign in comparison (and continued under Obama it is important to note). The misrepresentation of this as a consumer agreement is completely egregious. The statement relates to the submission of a transaction between a dealer and the Federal government only.

Even the EFF state:

"Clicking "continue" on a poorly worded Terms of Service on a government site will not give the government the ability to "tap into your system ... any time they want." The seizure of the personal and private information stored on your computer through a one-sided click-through terms of service is not "conscionable" as lawyers say, and would not be enforceable even if the cars.gov website was capable of doing it, which we seriously doubt. Moreover, the law has long forbidden the government from requiring you to give up unrelated constitutional rights as a condition of receiving discretionary government benefits like participation in the Cars for Clunkers program. "

The site "www.cars.gov" is a Federally approved 'cash for clunkers' trade-in program to get old cars off the streets in order to comply with the Federally approved EPA emission goals. Sadly, the presentation by Beck is flawed and the falsehoods are so poorly presented, his support staff need to be reprimanded for their inability to get some basic stuff 'right'.

Surfing the web to find the direct quotes provided, not one hit returns anything from CARS.GOV in relation to the text 'quoted'... OOPS! Tell a lie. There are lots of sites quoting what Beck says is fact and a few enhancing this with the NHTSA stating that "dealers surrender all privacy on their private computer networks". Similarly, I have been unable to find any mention of this anywhere on the web except for an excellent summary at Snopes. com which aims to clarify the false, implied threat to the consumer.

The jingoistic, xenophobic, and totally unnecessary commentary linking the Federal Government with Germany. What is the point and what is the intent of this statement? Clarification required. Also, he deserves an Oscar for his failed attempt to access the "$19 million web site" and his preemptive "it probably won't come up" allowing a smooth transition to the prepared extract from what had formerly been presented on the site with a FN graphic of the former DEALER text. What twaddle!

Which computer EXACTLY did Glenn Beck use? This is important as there would be a clear record of actions taken when using that computer. Similarly, there will be an IP access record of the 'attempt' to visit the site rather than the convenient and misquoted extract from a former DEALER requirement to enter an ESC (Enterprise Service Center) site. It is a business transaction between a government supplier and the Federal Government, NOT between the CARS program and the consumer.

This has to be one of the most misleading and deceptive pieces of broadcasting I have seen in a long time. Shame on you Glenn for promulgating such misleading and false information.