Tipsters inside Fox News tell us Glenn Beck’s vacation this week from his Fox News show was not planned. We hear Beck was told to take this week off to let some of the heat surrounding him die down. That heat began July 28 on “Fox & Friends” when Beck said he thought Pres. Obama has “a deep-seated hatred for white people,” adding, “This guy is, I believe, a racist.”

ALSO:

Sources close to Beck have contacted TVNewser denying that this was a forced vacation. Beck’s personal publicist Matthew Hiltzik forwarded us an email dated July 14th sent by Christopher Balfe, President & COO of Mercury Radio Arts and General Manager of Beck’s radio show, addressed to Mercury Radio employees reading: “Glenn will be off of radio & TV the week of August 17th, returning to air August 24th.”

Wow.

So, hats off to Colorofchange.org for this.  I mean, it’s not REALLY damaging, but the guy just had to use a full week of vacation pay that he could have used for touring his “Glenn Beck Comedy Tour”, which I crap you not, actually exists.

Hell, even Letterman didn’t go running screaming into the arms of a “Forcedcation” when he was under duress.  Did Beck pack a sundress?  Did he bring his Johnson and Johnson “No Tears” shampoo?

Look – this is a good chance for Beck to breathe, and regroup.  I mean, between getting nailed for his hypocrisy on health care, and the blow back for his racially and intellectually charged rants on Obama, maybe it rattled the pea up in that head of his and he can look at his actions, see they have consequences and dial it down a little bit.

Perhaps an apology, like Letterman did.  That would be nice.  And human.  I doubt it’ll happen, but then again, I never thought he’d be forced off the air, even for a nano-second, so who knows?