Inside the Beltway: The post-attack discussion

NEWS AND OPINION:

Watershed moments bring on clarity of thought: A sampling of Republican reactions in the aftermath of the attack on the U.S. Embassy in Libya:

“Now more than ever, America must show resolve and leadership both in our words and in our actions. Absent American leadership, the world will only become a far more dangerous place. At a time of great turmoil, we must reinforce our commitment to lead out front, not from behind.” (Rep. Tom Price of Georgia, House Republican Policy Committee chairman).

“Bloodthirsty mobs in the streets of Cairo and Libya are further proof that the ’Arab Spring’ is in fact an Arab winter. The Muslim Brotherhood is on the ascendency everywhere in the region and Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are clueless.” (Gary Bauer, former presidential hopeful and chairman of the Campaign for Working Families.)

“It was disheartening to hear the administration condemn Americans engaging in free speech that hurt the feelings of Muslims while real atrocities have been repeatedly committed by Islamic radicals against women, Christians, and Jews in the Middle East. These attacks raise serious questions about whether we were properly prepared and about the effectiveness of our policies and foreign aid in these nations.” (Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina.)

“I am outraged by this horrific, savage attack on our diplomats in Benghazi. It is important that swift justice be dealt to those who perpetrated these attacks.” (Rep. Peter T. King of New York, chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security.)

“If left unchecked, violent attacks like these against our embassies and diplomats will lead Libya and Egypt down a dark path and rob them of their hopes of a more prosperous and democratic future.” (Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida).

“These attacks will not deter America from continuing to promote peace, democracy, individual and religious freedom, and an unwavering respect for human life throughout the region and the world.” (Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia.)

BECK, PART 2

Glenn Beck stunned a lot of industry folks by announcing Wednesday that TheBlaze TV, his year-old, ambitious online broadcasting empire, had joined the Dish satellite network, possibly increasing Mr. Beck’s audience from 300,000 loyal subscribers to 14 million satellite viewers. “We have the best staff, the best talent, world-class facilities and great distribution partners lined up, and we’ve done it all while ensuring that we answer to no one except our own audience,” says CEO Christopher Balfe.

But let us must remember that the inimitable Mr. Beck is a man with a penchant for monumental events that unapologetically celebrate patriotism and American values — such as his “Restoring Honor” rally at the Lincoln Memorial two years ago, which earned such nicknames as “Beckapalooza” and “Beckstock” from a fascinated but mostly critical press. But wait. Mr. Beck has a little something planned for Saturday, this geared toward economical issues, and the persistent call of the tea party.

After the big TheBlaze TV reveal, he’ll make his “first major appearance,” sources say, at a “Call to Action” rally in Cincinnati organized by FreedomWorks, the fiscally conservative, limited government-style grass-roots organization chaired by Dick Armey. A similar event staged in Dallas recently drew 16,000.

“We will reveal our plan to maximize the scale and impact of individual tea party activists nationwide,” says FreedomWorks President Matt Kibbe, who adds that Mr. Beck will be joined by, among others, Rep. David Schweikert, Arizona Republican, the Rev. C.L. Bryant, and conservative broadcasters Deneen Borelli and Dana Loesch.

THE REAL YOUTH VOTE

Interesting to note that Newt Gingrich and U.S. Senate hopeful Ted Cruz were among the luminaries to sit down and be interviewed by the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps during the Republican National Convention. Yes, 10-year-old journalists have their say these days, and they now are sent to major political events, microphones in hand and computers at the ready. Scholastic News, incidentally, is the very same cheerful publication that has been in classrooms for the past 92 years. And it is, in fact, looking for new reporters: “Kids who are interested in the news and love to write” are invited to apply for the 2013 Scholastic News Kids Press Corps through Oct. 12 (scholastic.com/kidspress).

As it has done in every presidential election since 1940, Scholastic News also seeks the real youth vote. Kids can cast their vote through Oct. 10 for President Obama, Mitt Romney or the proverbial “other” candidate at scholastic.com/vote, or use paper ballots in the current back-to-school issue. The final tally, organizers say, has mirrored the outcome of the general election in all but two elections.

OF VALUE

It promises to be a bastion of Republican lawmakers and conservative cachet. That would be the Values Voter Summit that begins Friday in the nation’s capital before an audience of some 2,000 grass-roots activists who treasure traditional values of freedom, faith and family. Among the speakers at the two-day event: Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky; Reps. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, Michele Bachmann of Minnesota and Jim Jordan of Ohio; Govs. Jan Brewer of Arizona and Bob McDonnell of Virginia; Rick Santorum; and Oliver North.

Among the sponsors: American Values, the Heritage Foundation, Liberty University and the Family Research Council. For more information and a preliminary schedule, go to valuesvotersummit.org.

POLL DU JOUR

• 55 percent of Americans said in 2011 that the Republican and Democratic parties do such a “poor job” that a third major party is needed.

• 46 percent of American say that now.

• 36 percent of Republicans, 40 percent of Democrats and 58 percent of independents agree.

• 38 percent of Americans overall said in 2011 the Republican and Democratic parties do an “adequate job” representing the American people.

• 45 percent say that now.

• 1 percent of Americans support Libertarian Party presidential candidate Gary Johnson.

• 1 percent support Green Party candidate Jill Stein and 1 percent support Constitution Party candidate Virgil Goode.

Source: A Gallup poll of 1,017 U.S. adults conducted Sept. 6 to 9.

• Resolute comments, press releases to jharper@washingtontimes.com.