Beck to Stalin in five degrees

Glenn Beck's unique cocktail of smear-by-association and red-baiting has become infamous over the past year and a half. So it may come as somewhat of a surprise that Beck himself can be tied to Joseph Stalin himself:

  • On his Fox News program, Beck has repeatedly hosted and cited the work of Phil Kerpen of the right-wing organization Americans for Prosperity.
  • From 2005 to 2008, Americans for Prosperity received $5.1 million from foundations controlled by David and Charles Koch.
  • David and Charles Koch run Koch Industries.
  • According to its own website, the firm's corporate predecessor -- founded by David and Charles' father, Frederick Koch -- built catalytic cracking units for the Soviet Union from 1929-1932.
  • During that period, Stalin led the Soviet Union.

So there you have it. The foundation of the Koch brothers' wealth comes from building oil refineries for the Soviets during the First Five Year Plan, a few years before Stalin killed millions of people during the Great Terror. The Kochs have since used some of that money to fund the organization that employs a regular Beck guest.

Is Beck unaware of his guest's communist ties? Or could he be part of the conspiracy?

I want to be wrong. But look at the connections!