Hannity cuts fair & balanced; claims obama ‘harbors deep resentment' of america

If you're watching the footage from the Obama trip to Europe, you'll find it hard to believe that the President's measured penchant for truth-telling could ever be interpreted as disloyalty and America-hating from beyond "the water's edge."

That would probably mean you don't know the good works of Fox News' choir-lad Sean Hannity (KVI m-f, 12-3p).

If you weren't watching, President Obama told a Strasbourg town hall meeting Friday, that our tendency to dismiss Europe, and Europe’s tendency to blame America had to end. “On both sides of the Atlantic, these attitudes have become all too common. They are not wise. They do not represent the truth,” Obama said.

Later, Fox News’s Sean Hannity simply edited out Obama’s criticism of Europe’s anti-Americanism, and pretended to pop his buttons because "like the Dixie Chicks," Obama would “blame America first.”

 HANNITY: You know, I’m going to — I resent this. When you consider…all we have done just in the last century alone to save Europe from themselves. I resent this. I think it’s outrageous, the media’s ignored it. But don’t you think this is like the Dixie Chicks? […]

But didn’t we see all of this in the campaign? As I was bringing up — didn’t Reverend Wright give us a little insight into his thought process? Didn’t, you know, Michelle Obama [say] America is a downright mean country? … But I’m thinkin', didn’t we get some insight? When you sit on a board and give speeches with Bill Ayers, didn’t this — Do you think he harbors deep resentment that he just hides? Because I believe he does.

Even Billo Reilly included the admonshment to Europeans in his  scabrous reporting. But Air America's Lionel spelled it out in the HuffPo concisely in a piece about Glennn Beck, the right-wing media and its dangerous, dubious mix of show biz, and political messaging:

Look, it's about who can scream the loudest, who can make a YouTube moment, who can get Robert Gibbs to mention them from a White House press conference, who can get mentioned period. Oh, and don't worry if you're right or wrong. Just get mentioned and have a meltdown.

Republicans are reaping a whirlwind. Citizens, although consuming the trash-talk at higher-than usual level of such as Beck, Limbaugh, and Hannity, have drawn their conclusions from what they see and hear of and from their new president and his first lady -- not from these fatuous talking heads with their self-serving agenda.

Comments

[sparky for the Birthday Boy Michael]

These guys are getting more and more ridiculous in an effort to make a dent, to have some persuasive power of old. One of these days, one or more of them will go a step too far and then maybe more of their audience will realize that they have been ingesting BS all along.

[drool]

With Beck's recent episodes of crying it seems to be a contest as to who can be the most over the top.

[Highlander]

And I suppose Hannity thinks that Bush did great things for America's image abroad?

[willamette]

You're asking if Hannity thinks?

[sparky for the Birthday Boy Michael]

Even Paul Crouch gave up on TBN with the fake crying...Glenn Boy probably thinks he invented it.

[Mark C.]

I have lost all respect for the conservative pundits. I thought Rush and Sean and others served a valuable balance to regular media back in the day. Now they are just pathetic no for no's sake demogogues.

[mrogi]

FOX cable news pays Sean Hannity $50 million per year to defecate on President Obama at every opportunity. So far, Hannity is doing a magnificent job.

[joanie]

And the point, Mrogi, of defecating on the President is...?

Their goal is purely and simply to stir up as much hate as possible. It is all emotion. Nothing intellectual or sensible. Why do they want to stir up hate? I wish I knew unless it is their way of keeping that paycheck big and Rupert in the money. I've read that Murdoch gets a little embarrassed about it. But he's all business and could care less about ethics, honesty or America.

Just a fact.

The only hope I have is that these guys on Fox do not have a very big audience when you consider how big the viewing audience for all of TV is. Five million people is not a big number.

But, they sure can can make a big noise. Obama seems somewhat indifferent to it. That may be the audacity for which he's famous. Bender asked Lehrer today his opinion of Obama. Lehrer responded that he knew when he hosted the first debate between Obama and McCain that Obama had the right stuff. There was a presence and an ownership of the stage that made the deal for Lehrer. He knew at the moment that Obama could handle the Presidency. it was an interesting comment.

Finally, regarding crying on cue: I thought Boehner was the first.

[Highlander]

As we have seen countless times before, the Hannity's and Limbaugh's of the right-wing world can't provide real issues, so they resort to making this stuff up. And if it instills hate, fear, or any number of other negative emotions from the voters against the dems and Obama, their work is done. Look at this guy in Pittsburgh: his concern that Obama wanted to confiscate everyone's guns is ridiculous, but it's a lie that had to start somewhere. Neo-cons like Hannity are just as guilty for sitting back and doing nothing when those rumors start as the actual person who said it first.

[nevets]

"Why do they want to stir up hate?"

Does anyone think Joanie ever thought to ask that question about Randi and Malloy. Or for that matter, any lib radio host she ever listened to when the subject was about President Bush or the Iraq War.

[Puget Sound]

""Why do they want to stir up hate?"

Does anyone think Joanie ever thought to ask that question about Randi and Malloy. Or for that matter, any lib radio host she ever listened to when the subject was about President Bush or the Iraq War.

Posted by: nevets | April 06, 2009 at 02:59 AM"

The answer to that is: No. Hence, her well earned moniker of 'ph(J)oanie.'

Ph(J)oanie ranted on about W, Haliburton, Florida, the talking point issued by Randi and in knee jerk fashion (the emphasis on 'jerk') ol' ph(J)oanie brayed on.

To quote the Rev Jerimiah Wright, 'the chickens....coming home..........to rooooost!'

Lots of us disagreed with W on many things. but I never hated him. I have some disagreements with Obama but I don't hate him.

It does amaze the readers of this blog the lack of introspection on the part of some. Of course, with her famed 'skimming' technique of reading ph(J)oanie will have completely missed the point.

[mrogi]

Commercial talk radio and TV are entertainment media first and foremost. Hannity and Limbaugh generate combined ad revenues of over a billion dollars per year. The American public is not interested in boring, tedious, arcane, convoluted, professorial, NPR type lectures and discussions of political topics. The public wants to enjoy bombastic verbal pro wrestling style histrionics obout political topics. Sean & Rush do it better than anybody in the business. That is why they are filthy rich. They give the people what they want.

[Puget Sound]

Here is another example of ph(J)oanie-ness:

Lots of people are upset that former VP dick cheney has criticized the Obama Administration.
I fully agree.
A former Pres or VP should not be engaged in such public discourse. Yet many of these same people had no issue with VP Gore and his constant crying about the 'stolen election' and his attacks on Bush during a time of war.

here is an example:

Gore ginning up the crowds

But of course, having employed that 'skimming' technique ph(J)oanie will have again missed the point and wonder why oh why the other side can't play nice and are so 'hateful.' Then she'll get angry and start spewing again without a clue. It's why she and the rest of the Randi-crowd are such easy pigeons for getting ginned up by Randi. Being played with absolutely no clue as to what is going on.

The definition of stupidity is to repeat the same mistake over and over expecting a different result. You'd think someone in their 60's would have figured that out.

A nice article on this over at newsbusters.org

I'll pause as the usual suspects will now pile on to attack the source of the site rather than address the main point. It's a lot easier and requires absolutely no introspection. So go ahead. I guess by my own definition of stupidity I am proving myself to be stupid. See, that's introspection.

[mrogi]

Randi Rhodes disciples are an extremely loyal bunch. Randi has demonstrated her utter disdain and contempt for her rabid fans. She refuses to communicate with her loyalists in any way, shape or form after disappearing from the airwaves. Randi fans have begged and pleaded with her to send an email or at least post a blog message. Randi continues to defecate on all of them by her silence. Like all cultist kooks the Randi fanatics remain faithful to their queen.

[joanie]

That is why they are filthy rich. They give the people what they want.

isn't that what I said? They keep fat paychecks coming in and their five million listeners stay stupid and emotional.

Like all cultist kooks the Randi fanatics remain faithful to their queen.

Umm, a bit of projection here...? She's gone, mrogi. Get over her.

And the point, Mrogi, of defecating on the President is...?

Now answer the question.

BTW, you like that word "defecate" don't you? Now how old was I when I left potty words behind?

Well, at least you're more interesting than the parroter of a thousand words. When does anybody find the time to read his tomes?

[Coiler]

I too have noticed the Rush disciples use of potty words, anal, defecate...

[KVIFan]

Coiler you always seem to be a wee bit late to the party. [smile]

[mrogi]

Penn & Teller summed it up best: All partisan political talk is BULLSHIT.

[Coiler]

You posted after me, KVI...

[KVIFan]

'Tis true, but I'm not part of the "party" or it's doctrine.

[mrogi]

Hannity and Limbaugh embody the inexorable Law of Talk Radio. 20% of radio talk show hosts enjoy 80% of the wealth and success. Many are called but few are chosen. Damn few.

[Highlander]

Joanie-
It's not really about hate, not at the onset. It's more about fear. Hannity, Limbaugh, and others are good at only one thing, and that's spreading fear. When they run out of facts, which is always pretty early in the argument, they have no other recourse than to use lies and rumors. And for a lot of folks, fear quickly transforms into hate. As the ultra-right tried to tell us during the previous administration, citizens need to be afraid of everything and everyone at all times (while simultaneously assuring us that the Bush league was keeping us safe). Clearly his devotees still believe there's a future in mass fear. If that were true, November would have handed us a much different outcome than we have.

[nevets]

"I too have noticed the Rush disciples use of potty words, anal, defecate..."

From someone whose screenanme,Coiler. Go figure.

[Stewie]

Yes, fear, hate, and the spreading of lies is quite a calling indeed. You must be so proud...

[Mack]

...maybe it's a GOP thing, always ready to apply a bodily function to things like screen names. Keep up the good work- we appreciate it. The GOP is showing itself to be such a class act, the dems might just continue to lock in majorities for quite a while.

[Highlander]

and joanie-
one of the things the Bush Admin was really worried about was the negative opinion of the war, especially when he knew that eventually, the truth would come out that he lied to get us into that war in the first place. In order to keep citizens preoccupied with other things (like learning to distrust Muslims), he banned the media from Dover AFB when our fallen soldiers returned in flag-draped caskets. Obama has changed all that; today was the first day since 2002 that the media has been let back in to Dover. Obama knows the importance of seeing the true human cost of war. Of course, Bush knew the risks to soldiers as well. It's why his family had an "exit strategy" for him in Vietnam.

[Coiler]

nevets, don't you have some carts to push around?

[Stewie]

Hey, that's seriously insulting to shopping cart wranglers, who are the unsung heroes of retail parking lot traffic safety. How dare you lower them to nevets level, which is subterranean on his few good days

[KVIFan]

All of a sudden "Stewie" (nice alias) who at least under that monikor hasn't been around much seems to have the goods on the progressive "regulars". [a bit of an inherent admission of being a troll] Isn't that special.

[Drew]

It's important that we not confuse those who are paid to gather the carts, (the wranglers) and those who will throw a fit if they don't get to ride in them (nevets)...

[KVIFan]

And also from the one's who apparently live in them.

[Drew]

Why, are you currently living in one? You must know by now that we liberals don't look down on the homeless and hungry nearly as much as the cons do.

[Coiler]

monikor(it's actually moniker)

KVIFan,how long have you've been here?

[Highlander]

kvifan-
if you were really homeless, maybe it wouldn't be so funny. Not too many sitcoms about the wretchedly poor these days, are there?

[Mack]

Apparently KVIfan wishes there were.

[rozskat]

If Hannity is a true genuine American as many of his robots glorify him to be, then we must be living in a different America. Oh wait; we are living in a different America. The one I know of is reality while his, more so of his robots, is delusional. Hannity represents the Ugly American of the conventional “my country right or wrong attitude.” Sean is a true spokesperson of American cultural chauvinism that conveniently ignore values and contents of other cultures, customs, beliefs, and attitudes. Because it is not American or in private hands, it will not work while masking and denying the many flaws in the American system they so dearly defend. In Sean’s simulated world, God is an American and Jesus is a white man. In as far as intellectual contents in right wing pop culture media, I have not heard more silence of brainpower since Limbaugh, O’Reilly and Hannity got together to exchange military service stories.

[KVIFan]

Yes Drew I (unfortunately) am. So, can I come to your house for a meal and a shower. Please leave your physical address.

[Drew]

KVIfan- Of course you can. It will surely be a bit of a culture shock for you, since the kids are doing some homework (one is reading something from Scott Ritter, another has a report due on the outing of a CIA covert agent (Remember when Hannity actually thought that was funny? Yea, we didn't think it was funny either) and we're all waiting patiently for Countdown to come on. Dinner will be grilled lemon herb chicken with organic vegetables. Showers here are normally limited to 5 minutes, but I'll disable the timer for you- Hey, if I listened to KVI all day, I'd need a scalding hot 30 minute shower to get that sticky Hannity coating off too.

[sparky]

KVIfan if you paid attention, you would have seen my post about how I know both Stewie and Highlander, and I invited them to come post here. We needed some new blood. And over a plate of fish and chips, I gave them the rundown on some of the regulars here. The rest they have figured out themselves because you guys have been quite true to form.

Speaking of KVI, I listened to Laura Ingraham on the way home tonight and I have to say, she outsnots and outshrieks Randi with one hand behind her back. Why don't you guys complain about her?

[KVIFan]

OMG! Sparky is out recruiting altar egos...how funny. True to form, from what I've seen.

[Highlander]

Sparky!
I think Laura Ingraham gets to play by a different set of rules. It's why Ann Coulter and Michael Weiner are so popular with them. Just a different set of rules for their own, that's all.
Oh, and thanks for the fish 'n' chips- just like the ones I get back home!

[KVIFan]

"All of a sudden "Stewie" (nice alias) who at least under that monikor hasn't been around much seems to have the goods on the progressive "regulars". [a bit of an inherent admission of being a troll] Isn't that special.

Posted by: KVIFan | April 06, 2009 at 12:25 PM"

Interesting that sparky had to focus on and reply to this post by way of "explanation". Hmmmm, anyone getting a clue.

[Highlander]

KVIfan-
is paranoia a part of the GOP genetic code with you people? I thought Sparky was just trying to be up front, but apparently that couldn't be enough for you. Actually, Sparky had been asking if I want to contribute for the last year or so, and I thought, "Why not?" Sorry that you felt I had to pass one of your "security checks" first (are you gonna have one of Billo's goons drop by my place now?)

[sparky]

Why, how Duh-ffmanesque of you, complete with paranoid rambling about who is who, rather than addressing any real issues..Duh-f was the only one worried about that kind of thing, as well as tossing the troll word around.

Hang around guys, and you will learn all about spilled milk by a half black former soldier who moved here from Canada and had a garage band. And Puts will be here soon to back him up...just as I explained.

[chucks]

Sparky
You didn't tell 'em about my boyish crush on you. Please say you didn't.
But you are right about the need for new blood. Even if they are lost to the dark side, they add a lot. I am staying pretty much in shut up mode for now. Obama is scaring the heck out of me, but will stand back for now and see what happens.

[KVIFan]

Oh that's funny, now I'M someone else. And this is the story of sparky and her quest to be heard.

[Highlander]

So KVIfan is both paranoid, AND schizophrenic?

[KVIFan]

And clairvoyant! Hahahaha. Gets to ya, doesn't it.

[Highlander]

Aha...then you'd be able to guess what this liberal household is watching on the tube right now, hehehehe

[nevets]

"I have not heard more silence of brainpower since Limbaugh, O’Reilly and Hannity got together to exchange military service stories."

Welcome back Roz. I heard President Obama was in that get together too. How conviently you forget to mention that.

And how is Guam. Did the ship leave you there for some fun in the sun or do you have business there.