Beck retorts to 'scary' criticism: 'We haven't even gotten to the scary language yet'

Fox News pundit Glenn Beck does not like being called "scary."

Responding to criticism by a former Fox News pundit, Beck sneered during his Monday radio broadcast that "we haven't even gotten to the scary language yet" and jeered that his most recent critic "shouldn't let the door hit [her] on the ass."

His comments came as a reaction to Jane Hall, an American University professor and former Fox News pundit. She told a CNN panel on Sunday that her decision to quick Fox News was due to the shrinking level of debate on the channel, and opinion-maker Glenn Beck, whose language has become "scary" and, in her opinion, should be called out.

"Well, don't let the door hit you on the ass when you leave," Beck said. "I'm gonna miss you, whatever your name is. My language is scary. Since when did language become scary? Boy, I put a lot of that language in books. Maybe we should gather all those books together and burn them as well, because there is language in there. I wouldn't want to scare anyone."

He went on to suggest that the "founding fathers" also used "scary" language, then suggested that Hall read about them.

Hall, who teaches reporting and media studies in Washington, D.C., is a Pulitzer prize finalist and winner of a Los Angeles Times editor's award, according to her profile on American University's Web site.

"We haven't even gotten to scary language yet," Beck said. "But remember, it's me. I'm the dangerous one. You're the dangerous one. For speaking the truth, pointing out facts and asking simple questions, that has to be called out."

Beck has been criticized for a number of stunts on his Fox News show, including joking about poisoning Speaker of the House Pelosi and calling President Barack Obama a racist, among other shocking segments.

Basing its outrage on selected segments from Beck's show, a recent media campaign orchestrated by activist group Color of Change was successful in shaking loose more than 20 of Beck's advertisers. James Rucker, the group's executive director, told media that "Beck’s rhetoric is dangerous to the fabric of our democracy, and we are heartened that so many big companies feel the same way."

Among the advertisers to drop Beck were Radio Shack, Geico, Walmart and many others.

A Fox News spokesperson reportedly told Mediaite on Monday that Hall's contract was not renewed, although no other details were immediately available.

This audio was clipped by watchdog group Media Matters, published to the Internet on Oct. 26, 2009.

A prior version of this story said that Hall teaches out of New York. She formerly taught in New York, but now works in Washington, D.C.