Last week, Glenn Beck attacked Rep. Paul Ryan by calling him a “progressive.” This was bait. And, Paul Ryan eagerly snatched it…

On his radio show this morning, Glenn Beck boasted that Ryan’s office immediately reached out to him claiming ‘no no no, we’re with you!” Upon hearing this, I contacted Rep. Ryan’s press secretary, who said that Beck’s characterization was not an accurate representation of what they said.  But, Paul Ryan certainly went on to demonstrate otherwise.

On Glenn Beck’s show, Rep. Ryan excoriated progressivism as a “cancer,” much like Beck has irresponsibly done in the past:

We don’t have to suffer these indignities, especially when they come from a member of Congress. And, it’s certainly irresponsible for a member of Congress to validate Glenn Beck’s reckless extremism, dangerous incitement of violence and destructive political witch hunts.

We’ve got to start restoring responsibility to our public discourse.  It’s one thing for Glenn Beck to say such irresponsible things – and he’s paying the price through lost advertisers.  It’s another for an elected official to validate Mr. Beck’s vitriol.