Responding to a direct challenge by Fox News' Sean Hannity to document "one example where I -- where I said something that was so false," the Center for American Progress detailed 15 Hannity falsehoods. That evidence, dubbed The Document Sean Hannity Doesn't Want You to Read, was presented to Hannity recently by New York Observer reporter Joe Hagan. Hannity tried to explain to Hagan why his 9/18/03 statement –
"I never questioned anyone's patriotism" – was true despite five separate instances, documented by American Progress, where Hannity questioned the patriotism of his guests and others on his show. Specifically,
Hannity tried to justify asking his guest Stanley Cohen on 4/30/03, "Is it that you hate this president or that you hate America?"THE ELOQUENCE OF SEAN HANNITY: "Stanley Cohen, who is the Hamas attorney," said Mr. Hannity. "Do you know who he is? He's the political wing of Hamas, a terrorist organization. 'Is it that you hate the President or that you hate America?' That's a question. That's not saying 'You're un-American,' which is how I would interpret saying 'You're un-American.'" Mr. Hannity sipped his Coke. "It depends on how you say 'questioning one's patriotism,'" he said. "When you ask me if I'm doing that, I'm saying 'You're un-American' …. If I'm asking an inquisitive question, versus saying 'You're un-American'—I'm not saying you're un-American, I'm not questioning your patriotism. I don't know if any of these are legitimate quotes anyway. But I stand by that statement."
E-MAIL SEAN HANNITY: And tell him to admit he was wrong and to stop questioning people's patriotism. He can be reached at
[email protected].
***This is the e-mail I sent (In the subject line, I put "Letter from a fan"):
As a huge fan of fair and balanced news, where the "journalist" simply reports and lets the viewer decide, why in the world would you question anyone's patriotism? Who are you to ask that question?