Self-described “moderate, conservative, and libertarian” pundit Tomi Lahren’s career may have taken a wrong turn recently, but she’s not about to go quietly. The Daily Caller now reports that she’s suing her former employers, Glenn Beck and his Blaze media network, for wrongful termination.
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As you’ve probably already heard, Lahren caused an uproar on her own side following an appearance on the far-left talk show “The View,” during which she not only confirmed that she supported legal abortion, but insulted her own fan base by claiming it would make her a “hypocrite” to advocate limited government yet support government banning abortion (never mind that protecting preborn babies from violence is no different than protecting born Americans from violence — government’s most basic duty under our Constitution).
The lawsuit claims Beck “embarked on a public smear campaign attacking [Lahren] and chastising her political views and opinions in a clear attempt to embarrass, humiliate, and undermine Plaintiff’s reach to her audience on social media and elsewhere.” It also maintains the Blaze already knew she was pro-abortion and “never took any issue with it.”
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Whether Lahren has a valid wrongful termination case will depend on the particulars of her contract, which will surely be hashed out in the weeks to come, but one reason to be skeptical is publicly known: the Daily Caller previously heard that there was tension between her and the Blaze for unspecified, unrelated reasons even before her “View” appearance, and that her odds of staying with the company “were pretty near zero” before the abortion comments stuck the final nail in her coffin — which raises the possibility that, just maybe, Lahren gave “The View” the scoop of her abortion thoughts in advance for the express purpose of setting up a new explanation for leaving that would play well with potential future employers.
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As for the smear allegations, here’s what Beck tweeted about Lahren:
Rule another label out. I am NOT a "constitutional". I believe in LIFE, liberty and property. Just an old fashioned "constitutionalist."
— Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) March 17, 2017
Peter Heck gives me no quarter and he shouldn't. This is how conservatives should behave. Bold & honest questions. https://t.co/W3E9JnFtnN
— Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) March 20, 2017
He also elaborated:
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“If you’re pro-choice, you can have a job at TheBlaze,” Beck said on his radio show. “I don’t hire people who are sycophants or have my opinion.” He cited as an example former Real News host Amy Holmes, an openly pro-choice employee of TheBlaze.
He expressed disbelief at Lahren’s abortion change-of-heart, quoting her “baby killers” clip from December, in addition to a video—written by Beck sidekick Stu Burguiere—that she participated in with fellow Blaze employees mocking pro-choice activism. “This seems to be a relatively recent change,” Beck said.
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He ever-so-subtly dissed Lahren, too, by championing his belief that “intellectual rigor” must be applied in all arguments—even ones with which he disagrees. “I want people to make a real argument, so we can learn from each other and we can grow.”
Beck then spent five minutes arguing with Lahren’s “hypocrite” claim, before delivering this peculiar line: “It takes intellectual honesty and a willingness to actually think these things through, and to do more than just read Twitter and Facebook to get your news and opinions.”
This is pretty harsh stuff, but it all seems to be legitimate analysis and interpretation of her public remarks, not specific falsehoods that would constitute “smearing.”
However the dust settles here when all is said and done, it’s going to be fascinating to watch.
