Follow LA Observed on Twitter here
In Mark's post this morning, the New York Times story suggested Glenn Beck's exit from the daily lineup on the Fox News Channel was mutual. Later in the day, David Folkenflik's piece for All Things Considered on NPR thing put a different sparkle on the story.
At long last, we have an answer to the enduring question: Is it possible for someone to be too incendiary, even for the Fox News Channel?And the answer is yes....
Beck's weekday arrival at Fox News in January 2009 — his show debuted the day before President Obama's inauguration — took Fox on a roller-coaster ride. He embarked on a run that incorporated conspiracy theories, wild-eyed accusations and predictions of doom.
Over the past year, however, his ratings were declining and protests led to the withdrawal of hundreds of advertisers.
[skip]
Bill O'Reilly can be belligerent, even slashing; Sean Hannity a bruising and unwavering conservative. There was nothing on Fox to rival Beck. He targeted Democrats, liberal interest groups and the media — often with an apocalyptic tint.
Beck's made-up line that President Obama has "a deep-seated hatred for white people" cost Fox a lot of advertisers.