Park Service Approves Glenn Beck's DC Rally

Thousands attend his rally in Washington

(NEWSER) - Some highlights from the Glenn Beck rally, as rounded up by the Times , Post , Politico , and AP :

• Beck: "For too long, this country has wandered in darkness. ... We have had moments of brilliance and moments of darkness. But this country has spent far too long worried about scars and thinking about the scars and concentrating on the scars. Today, we are going to concentrate on the good things in America, the things that we have accomplished—and the things that we can do tomorrow."
• Beck again: “America today begins to turn back to God.”

...despite foundation's 501(c)3 status

(NEWSER) - Glenn Beck has insisted that his much-hyped Aug. 17 rally on the national mall will not be political. "This is not a tea party," he said on his radio show in May. "This is not a political event." That's because he's holding the event with the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit forbidden by law from engaging in politics. But the event looks awfully political, Politico observes. Sarah Palin is a featured speaker, and multiple tea party groups are helping to organize. More»

Mostly because he says so

(NEWSER) - It's the dawn of Glenn Beck's much-debated Restoring Honor rally on the anniversary of MLK's Dream, and Washington Post scribe Dana Milbank—the author of a forthcoming Beck biography—takes a somewhat incredulous look at the white guy with the borderline racist track record and his bid to co-opt the civil rights movement. Beck, he writes, "apparently has determined that the best defense is to be patently offensive." More»

So far, only Joe Lieberman, Herman Cain interested

(NEWSER) - Glenn Beck can't seem to get much traction on his upcoming political rally in Israel. So far, not a single leading GOP presidential candidate has expressed interest in attending the pro-Israel demonstration organized by the ousted Fox mega-mouth. As of now only former Democratic vice presidential contender Joseph Lieberman and long-shot Republican candidate Herman Cain plan to participate, reports the Washington Post . Mitt Romney, Newt Gringrich, Michele Bachmann and Mike Huckabee don't plan to attend, even though an Israeli news publication has announced they'll be there. More»

Announces 'Restoring Courage' plans on radio show

(NEWSER) - Glenn Beck went to Washington last summer to restore honor; now, he’s planning to bring courage back to Jerusalem. Beck made his promised “big announcement” today on his radio show: Sometime in August, Beck will head to the city for another rally. “I invite you to join me in Israel this summer to stand together and show the world what living a life of faith and honor really means. I invite you to join me in my quest to restore courage,” he said. More»