Glenn Beck wants GOP to fess up like Tiger Woods

Days after barking to protest Obama's stimulus, Glenn Beck drew howling cheers as the keynote speaker at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington on Saturday.

"Beck says it's still morning in America: a head-pounding, hangover morning," the Associated Press reports. "The conservative commentator drew cheers from conservative activists Saturday night in a speech that implored Republicans to renounce profligate ways in Washington, let big banks fail and honor true conservative principles."

The AP article adds, "The TV and radio host said the GOP should confess its adherence to big government in the way golfer Tiger Woods admitted a problem with women - and show the same remorse."

Huffington Post's Sam Stein adds,

"In a winding speech that touched as much on his personal turmoil as his policies and politics, Beck had the packed auditorium at CPAC captivated from the start. Using hand gestures, multiple impersonations and his infamous chalkboard, he took the usual swipes at Democrats. "Progressivism," he declared, "is eating the Constitution." Moreover, it "was designed to eat the Constitution."

"Dick Cheney a couple days ago... says it is going to be a good year for conservative ideas," Beck told the crowd, Stein notes, as he was seen "wiping the sweat from his brow."

Beck added, "It is going to be a very good year. But it is not enough just to not suck as much as the other side."

The Fox host, who is often derided as a clown by critics, embraced the analogy.

"We need a big tent," Beck told the crowd. "Can we get a bigger tent? How can we get a big tent? What is this the circus? America is not a clown show. America is not a circus. America is an idea. America is an idea that sets people free."

The following videos of Beck at CPAC were posted by Mediaite: