Sean Hannity

Sean Hannity is the co-host of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes and the host of The Sean Hannity Show, syndicated by ABC Radio Networks. Hannity's radio show, airing on more than 400 stations, has a weekly audience of approximately 13 million listeners, second only to Rush Limbaugh.

Hannity is a reliable outlet for conservative talking points, regularly repeating them to his audiences both on cable and on the radio. He narrated the Republican Party's welcome video for its 2004 national convention in New York City. While Hannity & Colmes is ostensibly a give-and-take debate program, with co-host Alan Colmes serving as progressive balance, it is Hannity who dominates the program's themes and lines of questioning.

Misinformation

Hannity repeated lie that Sudan offered bin Laden to Clinton. [6/21/04]

Hannity on health risk of mercury to pregnant women and children: "This is silly." [8/3/04]

Hannity overstated public support for President Bush's proposal to partially privatize Social Security. [3/14/05]

Hannity falsely claimed that "Al Gore brought Willie Horton to the American people." [11/9/04]

Hannity falsely claimed New Jersey school banned "Silent Night." [12/13/04]

Hannity falsely claimed that "malpractice insurance alone for doctors," as a result of "trial lawyers' suits, has driven up the cost of healthcare astronomically." [7/21/04]

Hannity blamed "anti-war left" for protest at soldier's funeral actually organized by anti-gay church. [8/30/05]

Hannity falsely claimed Reagan tax cuts "doubled revenues ... from $500 billion to over $1 trillion." [9/15/05]

Echoing conservative talking points

Hannity echoed GOP talking points; denied he has "any party talking points." [7/7/04]

Hannity echoed GOP claim that Kerry is "out of the mainstream." [7/26/04]

Hannity echoed three Republican talking points distorting Sen. John Kerry's (D-MA) record on the war on terrorism. [8/17/04]

Distorted attacks on Democrats

Hannity repeated distortions of Kerry record even after conceding similar attacks on McCain were "not fair." [5/12/04]

Hannity: "Al Gore has lost his mind." [6/4/04]

Hannity suggested that the Democratic National Committee (DNC) may have been behind the Abu Ghraib prison abuse photos. [9/10/04]

Hannity falsely claimed that "there is an absence of evidence" that Kerry "was in combat in Vietnam." [2/11/05]