Over the past few years, there’s been much talk about some talk about a kind of “Republican Civil War” between the old dog GOP establishment and the newly energized Tea Party. This past weekend though, Glenn Beck did something impressive when he managed to piss them both off during an appearance on Fox Business Network. He annoyed the establishment by saying they were filled with progressives and that the only difference between Newt Gingrich and Barack Obama was that he was white and he annoyed the Tea Party by asking them if that was why they liked him. And if that weren’t enough to get Republicans angry at him, today Beck said that, were Gingrich to get the nomination, he’d consider voting for a Ron Paul third party run, something many assume would give the election to Obama.

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Although he took pains to clarify that he doesn’t think the Tea Party is racist (he just wanted them to think about their choice), Beck has certainly chosen to turn directly into the skid when it comes to being the Right’s villain today. During his GBTV show this evening, he wondered aloud how much of his audience he was “hacking off.” Whatever the case, he shrugged and responded that he “calls them like [he] sees them.” And, while the establishment he has promised to hit back against may not have enjoyed his show dealing with the history of progressives in the Republican party, it was the Ron Paul comment, made on his radio show that could prove to be the most controversial.

The comment was made during a testy conversation with a caller who began the conversation saying to Beck “I love you and merry Christmas but you’re really ticking me off today.” The caller then tried to summarize Beck’s position, accusing the host of only thinking Michele Bachmann was a viable candidate. Beck instantly disagreed and clearly took umbrage at having his words misinterpreted.

“Not true. Not true. Excuse me. To be able to have a conversation with somebody, you have to be able to understand their side. When you can get my side right, then we can have a conversation. Your impression is wrong and I’m sorry if I’ve done anything to lead that. I’ve said on the air that, for me if I had to vote, it would be a tough choice between Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum. However, I just said last week, gun to my head, I’ll vote for Mitt Romney. If it’s Newt Gingrich and a third party and it’s Ron Paul – and I don’t agree with his Middle East policy at all – I might consider a third party. So there’s where I stand.”

Already, some in conservative media are furious at the comment. But, as Beck made clear in his show, he doesn’t care what those on the networks or with their websites (possibly referring to this) have to say. Again, he calls them like he sees them.

For a guy with a fledgling network still in its infancy, you have to admit that’s a brave stance to take. Either that or a crazy one. But, if there’s anything the years have taught us, Glenn Beck has always rested somewhere between courageous and bat sh*t insane.

Listen to the clip from GBTV below:

(h/t The Right Scoop)

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