Glenn Beck on Classical Liberalism

From his April 29th radio, discussing "Spineless Specter"...

Everybody is caught in the trap of right, left, conservative, liberal and Democrat/Republican. Forget about that and I'll tell you why we have to forget about it.

...

I contend most Americans are classic liberals. How many in this audience even know what a classic liberal is? In this audience we probably have the highest percentage. Any of talk radio have the highest percentage would know what a classic liberal is. The reason why most people don't know what a classic liberal is, is because of the progressive movement. It was distorted. The progressives distorted liberalism. Classic liberal basically is a libertarian. It is somebody who believes in personal responsibility. It is somebody who believes in the natural rights of man. It is somebody who believes in the self as the first cause or not first cause but the determining factor. It believes in small government. But the progressives latched onto that, and it was distorted. And when they did that and I don't know when they did it and I don't know who did it and I don't know how it came to be, but I will find the answer on that. I believe it was by design and here's why I believe it was by design. Because once you destroy the argument or destroy the place at the table of the classic liberal, of the libertarian, then you're only having a discussion between the same thing, just different paint color. [emphasis mine]

Is being a classical liberal closer to being a classic (as definitions tend to shift) 'libertarian' or to a modern 'conservative'? Is Glenn Beck correct in asserting that there's not a dime's worth of difference between the parties today? Can there be a distinctive line drawn between a Meghan McCain sort of 'Progressive Republican' and non-progressive Democrats ?

Discuss, if you like. (crossed from PW's Pub, where there are Classically-trained Liberals.)

---