Does Glenn Beck really believe in global warming?

"Is this satire? I really want to know!"

That's just one of many questions bloggers and Glenn Beck fans are asking about a Feb. 21 interview story in a leading national Sunday-newspaper magazine that claims the newest superstar among conservatives "believes in global warming."

USA Weekend interviewed Glenn Beck for its article "Don't judge Beck by his cover,"

"You'd be an idiot not to notice the temperature change," Beck said, according to USA Weekend.

Writer Dennis McCafferty reported Beck also thinks global warming could be caused partly by man's activity. At home, he's going green by using energy-saving products, according to the report.

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On his top-rated nationally syndicated morning radio show and Fox News Channel television program Beck has been a frequent critic of scientists and advocates such as Al Gore who contend man is causing catastrophic changes in the Earth's climate. Many Beck supporters say his record of opposition to global warming alarmism should speak for itself.

In response to some suggestions that a layer of pollution be released into the atmosphere to cool the earth and counteract global warming, Beck said in a 2007 segment on his show, "Welcome to Crazy Town, USA."

"I believe something is happening. I'm not sticking my head in the sand here. Global warming probably is having ... global climate change is real. It probably is natural," Beck said. He railed against Al Gore's proposed solutions to offset the purported effects global warming.

"A lot of people say the planet is doomed, and global warming is here to stay," Beck said. "I don't know. There's bound to be a solution to this. I think we just need to start looking outside the box."

In yet another 2007 segment, Beck gave a preview of his book, "An Inconvenient Book." He specifically referenced Chapter 1, titled, "Global Warming: Storming and Conforming."

"I wrote this chapter basically as kryptonite for you to use against your Gore-worshipping psycho friends," he said.

Just two days after the USA Weekend story ran, Beck equated proponents of global warming with conspiracy theorists who intentionally deceive Americans.

"We know they're capable of continuing the charade on global warming even though the consensus is currently imploding, there is no consensus," he said. The scientists themselves are saying that. The science is bogus. It is falling apart. … We're still having our politicians tell us, 'We're not going to be able to leave a planet for our kids if we don't act now on cap and trade."

He continued, "They're willing to bankrupt the entire world for a lie."

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The following is a video of the segment (global-warming comments at 3:30 mark):

The blogosphere is on fire with reaction to McCafferty's USA Weekend piece.

"When I hear Glenn himself say it, I'll believe it," one person wrote in one of several forums on the subject posted at Free Republic that drew hundreds of responses. "Otherwise, this is c--p."

"He must be making money," another person writes. "Global warming is a rich man's game."

In a section subtitled, "He's ticked off at Republicans," McCafferty writes, "He's even willing to take a shot at the GOP's patron saint of modern presidents, Ronald Reagan, who was no slouch in driving up a deficit."

"Republicans sold the American people out," Beck reportedly says. "I've always said I was a Reagan-style conservative. But I don't think Reagan was a real Republican. He just maintained some shared values."

In his only reaction to the USA Weekend story to date, Beck fired back on his Feb. 19 morning radio show, discussing the piece with regular on-air figures Pat Gray and Executive Producer Stu Burguiere.

Referring to the story's listing of "10 things you never thought you'd hear from Glenn Beck," Beck said, "In fact, I read it, and there are like four things in there I never thought I'd hear from Glenn Beck, because I don't think I said them."

In the transcript of the conversation posted on his website, he doesn't mention global warming, addressing only McCafferty's "totally bizarre" handling of his comments on Reagan and his detestation of fluorescent bulbs.

Beck has not responded to WND's multiple requests for clarification on quotes attributed to him in the piece.

However, McCafferty stood by the USA Weekend article.

"The story was accurate and all quotes were published within the appropriate context," he told WND. "The story was also thoroughly vetted through Fox News."

Meanwhile, reaction to the piece has been abundant and mixed.

Prison Planet called the remarks "a shocking stab in the back of conservatives who consider Beck to be their anointed leader."

Other blogosphere comments include the following:

• Seems like the rose-colored glasses are beginning to fall off those who used to view Mr. Beck with good approval?

• Don't believe the spin. It's a hit piece.

• OK, final straw for Beck with me.

• I am wary of Glenn Beck. I think he's a good guy on most things. But I think he's most interested in Glenn Beck.

• I'm not saying Beck doesn't have blemishes. He could very well turn coat on us at some point. It's just not in evidence right now.

• In all seriousness, I think Glenn is suffering from a form of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder caused by his long battle of fighting off the liberals. His brain chemistry has gone way out of whack.

• There are those who seem intent on picking Beck apart, and even lies
  and obvious distortions are OK so long as it meets the need to tear him
  down.

• Beck is clearly not "his own man," but until this foolish crack in his shell, it hasn't been completely obvious who he belonged to. No questions now!

• I cannot believe people would buy the c--p from the mainstream media.

• Glenn Beck has been contaminated by Bill O'Reilly, sucking up to him, hanging out with him, going on tour with him. What you see with Glenn Beck is what Bill O'Reilly has been doing for years, and it gets him high ratings. Glenn Beck is going for the ratings, too, thus all his lurches to the left – to broaden his appeal.

• It's absolutely untrue that Beck believes in global warming/man-made climate change. He has said it constantly on his radio show and his TV show ... He always posts the latest information on the Climategate scandal. Where on earth did the interviewer take this "fact" about Beck from? I wonder if it was an honest mistake or an outright lie.

• When an unflattering quote comes out about someone, anyone, they all say, "I was misquoted." Everyone does it. The people who were actually misquoted take legal action if a retraction/correction isn't printed. In fact, that's why newspapers print retractions/corrections. If Beck doesn't sue USA Weekend, then it tells me his protestations ring hollow.