Hannity on passport security breach: "Seems to me Barack Obama is looking for anything to distract from the story of Jeremiah Wright"
Discussing the State Department's admission that Sen. Barack Obama's passport records had been repeatedly accessed without authorization by three contract workers, Sean Hannity said, "Seems to me Barack Obama is looking for anything to distract from the story of Jeremiah Wright."
On the March 20 edition of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes, discussing the State Department's admission that Sen. Barack Obama's passport records had been repeatedly accessed without authorization by three contract workers, two of whom have since been fired and the third disciplined, host Sean Hannity said to Fox News contributor and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA), "Seems to me Barack Obama is looking for anything to distract from the story of Jeremiah Wright [Obama's recently retired pastor]." Gingrich responded: "Well, no. No, my first thoughts are to be totally with Senator Obama on this. I think your records are confidential," adding, "The government has an absolute obligation to keep them. I suspect these people have broken a law. I don't think it's enough just to fire them. And frankly, if the first breakthrough was back in January, how can they say that the security system worked?" Hannity responded: "The only thing I might disagree a little bit on -- because immediately they make it into a political statement by blaming the administration." Gingrich replied: "Well, look, of course, but that's -- the Obama people can do what they want to."
From the March 20 edition of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes:
HANNITY: But we start tonight with former speaker of the House, Fox News contributor, author of The New York Times best-seller, again, Real Change -- Newt Gingrich is back with us. Mr. Speaker, welcome aboard.
GINGRICH: Good to be with you.
HANNITY: All right, just one point on this breaking news tonight. There's a couple things that we do know that Bill Gertz has put into the Washington Times, and one is that Secretary of State Condi Rice is saying that the security measures that are used to monitor the records of high-profile Americans worked properly in detecting the breaches and that these were contract employees. Seems to me Barack Obama is looking for anything to distract from the story of Jeremiah Wright. Your initial thoughts?
GINGRICH: Well, no. No, my first thoughts are to be totally with Senator Obama on this. I think your records are confidential.
HANNITY: Oh, I agree with that.
GINGRICH: The government has an absolute obligation to keep them. I suspect these people have broken a law. I don't think it's enough just to fire them. And frankly, if the first breakthrough was back in January, how can they say that the security system worked? Why didn't they -- go ahead.
HANNITY: The only thing I might disagree a little bit on -- because immediately they make it into a political statement by blaming the administration.
GINGRICH: Well, look, of course, but that's -- the Obama people can do what they want to. As an American citizen, I expect my government to protect the secrecy of documents that I give them. And I believe that they have -- that this is probably a very severe penalty. It's not enough just to fire these people. I think that the Justice Department should look into this, not because it's about Senator Obama, but because we have to sustain a very high standard of protecting the right to privacy of Americans.
HANNITY: Yeah. There you and I agree. And I think everybody's privacy has to be protected, and we've had a number of breaches over the years. So we're in full and complete agreement about that.
Contrary to media hype, Sarah Palin is very unpopular
Why is Rupert Murdoch so clueless about Fox News?
Media Matters: Dobbs, dropped
It's interesting. Last night Olbermann spent almost his whole hour indignantly reporting the Obama breach.
But tonight-- after word has come out that Hillary and McCain have suffered the same-- how much time did he allot them?
Not as much....
It is true that this is being used as a distraction by Obama supporters, like Olbermann and others.
If anybody in this world knows about the power of using sensational stories to distract the American People, it'd be the hacks at Fox News Channel, that's for sure...
Hey, do we still have U.S. Troops in Iraq?
Even Newty seems level-headed next to Hannity, and the newtster is crapping himself 24/7 about Rev. Wright.
Hilarious bit this morning on Laura Ingraham I heard on the way to work. She was talking to her guest, Byron York I believe, about the Obama passport issue, they were chuckling away, already having decided, along with much of the media, that it was some harmless fun, nothing to see here. One suggested that the only one talking about it would be Olbermann, then Ingraham, still forcing out the phony dismissive laughter remarked that this shouldn't be treated as if G. Gordon Liddy was executing another break-in.
The word "irony" is tossed around pretty fast & loose these days, but in this very current climate of guilt-by-association that Obama is having to work against, this was amazing.Ingraham was diminishing Government employees illegally spying on a presidential candidate by putting it into a relative perspective against the serious crimes committed by a regular guest at the "news" channel on which she is a regular contributor and fill-in host.
Irony monitors: does this qualify?
I think Hell is finally freezing over, because even some of Fox News' own are now beginning to think that the Obama bashing is getting out of hand:
Fox’s Chris Wallace Takes Fox And Friends ‘To Task’ For ‘Two Hours Of Obama Bashing’
Kilmeade storms off Fox and Friends set over co-hosts’ Obama-bashing.
There is a petition that you can sign to try and get the other networks to quit spreading the Fox Virus http://foxattacks.com
Sorry if this has already posted, I haven't been here in a few days. If you go to this site, there is a video by Glenn Greenwald showing the pervasive attacks on Obama and then subsequent attacks on other networks.
Thanks JJ.
They have my signature now.
As an Obama supporter I'm going to have to give Hannity a pass on this topic, since obviously Obama would really like to talk about anything other than his closest personal advisor and spiritual leader Wright.
But here is what Obama should do. First, do not fall for the whiney "victim" role that MMFA loves.
Obama - you need to show right not that you are a differenct kind of politician. Release your income tax returns, your medical records, and your state department records. Prove you have absolutely nothing to hide.
That is the only winning strategy.
I think you're confusing Obama with Hillary and McCain. Obama released his tax returns. Hillary and McCain haven't. McCain is the one withholding medical records.
For an Obama supporter, you sure don't know very much about your candidate.
I've only ever heard that Obama released his 2006 returns, nothing before, and nothing current. Not much was going on for him in 2006 except his Senate income and books, so pretty safe.
People are not giving even the slightest fraction of an inch that for the first time in history a former president's spouse is running for office and their tax returns, and financial dealings are so unique that the media and the general public really can't wrap their heads around the reality of the story they tell.
Just the frenzy over Hillary's calendar schedule has been enlightening. The first thing they went looking for was Hillary's whereabouts when Monica was in the Oval Office. The only intent in that could possibly be to reopen the wounds of the country during that time. I firmly believe the Clinton's reluctance to release all the information they are being asked for is because of the undeniable probability the media will plaster fresh accusations about them and derail completely her efforts to get through this primary election season with the focus staying on the issues.
As an McCain supporter I'd like to give Mr. StraightTalk some advice.
Here is what Obama should do.
First, do not fall for the whiney "straight talk" role that the Mainstream Media loves. McCain - you need to show right not that you are not a differenct kind of politician. Pander to the Religious Right, the Agents of Intolerance. Show that you're a Certified, Class A Warmonger. Brag some more about how you're going to Bomb Bomb Iran, and you're going to enjoy it. Talk some more about your Hundred Years War on Iraq. Promise "No New Taxes," and back off on the promises. Flip, then Flop. Then Flip-flop again, like a catfish on the dock.
Finally, make statements during a "fact-finding" trip that show your complete disconnect from reality. Prove you know absolutely nothing about the Middle East. That is the only winning strategy.
And yet, Hannity believes that Obama is turning it into politics? as a distraction from Wright?
Yah, okay!
Hey-Zeus Christo, gimme a F'n break
Gingrich was the voice of reason
The flying monkeys must not be far away, repent brothers and sisters, the end is near, get your duct tape and hide your weed
THANK YOU !!
Now why isn't this hurled back at Hannity when he goes on his self-righteous rants about Baracks associates. Hannity absolutely refused on television to denounce the man and said "that's my friend". Hannity wants to blame Barack for someone else's illegal activity. I would love to hear what these conservative pundits say now that its being reported there may have been a breach in all three candidates history.
I'm with you August Heat - I blasted the Hannity-Nugent friendship in numerous posts and yet it seems to get little attention.
Just to refresh some memories again, here's a link to the MMFA story... Hannity refused to disavow Ted Nugent's slurs against Obama and Clinton
Thanks for the link.
Teflon Sean said that Nugent is a friend, would not renounce him, that he is a rock star, and if do not like the music do not go to the concert. Oh MY! what fkng HYPOCRACY!
Seems like he developed a case of the dreaded Republican memory disease called "magnesia"
I would add that if this rabid race-mongering works, ie enough of the electorate truly believes the candidate from the largest political party is going to start a black centric administration with the ultimate goal the oppression of whites, then the facists have won, we will have to sink into autocratic facism, and then wait for the masses to revolt once again. I would submit that all nations eventually collapse, and then new nations rise up and the cycle starts over.
Is that what Hannity said or is it what Condi said? When I heard it on the video, it sounded like Hannity was quoting her.
Either way, what's the diff?
Anyhow, what a pair congenital liars, Hannity and Newt. They have no respect for the right to privacy. They support warrantless wiretaps, both of them. They are supporters of the Patriot Act.
Hell, Hannity is on record, archived right here at MMFA, lying about FISA laws and how they permit terrorists to do their work. Freakin' no account liar, Hannity. Go piss up a rope.
These two cowards can save their mock concern, I ain't buyin'.
INSANNITY: "Secretary of State Condi Rice is saying that the security measures that are used to monitor the records of high-profile Americans worked properly in detecting the breaches and that these were contract employees."
Working "properly" means it takes 3 months?
UPDATE ON THE REV./ WRIGHT STORY:
(NOTE - I'm posting this on multiple MMFA threads because the facts behind the story need to geet out there. Until this gets picked up by the MSM, we all need to be aware of the facts in this story - facts that people like Sean Hannity ignore when they keep pursuing this "story". - Wzwriter)
A story was posted earlier today on CNN's web page that blows this whole Rev. Wright story out of the water. It seems that when you listen to his complete sermon about 9/11, the passages that people like Limbaugh, Beck, Hannity, and Levin are concemning Rev. Wright for were actually a QUOTATION he was referencing. As the story states, "He was actually quoting Edward Peck, former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq and deputy director of President Reagan’s terrorism task force, who was speaking on FOX News."
Rev. Wright quotes a Reagan Administration official who was speaking on Fox News, and the righties condemn him for it...
The full story is on Anderson Cooper's blog - here's the link for those of you who want to learn more:
http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/21/the-full-story-behind-rev-jeremiah-wrights-911-sermon/#comment-78545
You're welcome.
I took the liberty of posting this same message to several different MMFA threads concerning the Jeremiah Wright story. My intent was not to spam the boards, but rather to convey what appears to be some vital information that is being overlooked and/or ignored by the media.
I think we should all post that link to Anderson Cooper's blog everywhere we can, until the MSM does its job and properly covers this story.
wz,
Thanks for the link.
I see that Edward Peck has been a long time critic of the Iraqi war. I'm not sure what it is that knowing Rev. Wright "borrowed" part of Peck's speech is supposed to prove with regards to Rev. Wright?
Well, AA, I don't remember anyone at Fox News goving Peck any grief for saying those words originally ON THE AIR right after the 9/11 attacks, where millions of people could have heard them. Why are they criticizing a minister for QUOTING those words from the pulpit of a church where the listeners number in the hundreds?
Yet another example of the corporate-controlled media's double standard.
It's not about what it proves with regard to Rev. Wright.
Every Republican presidential nominee boasted over and over again during the debates that they all go to the bathroom the same way that Reagan does. Hannity and other righty talkingheads also hold Reagan in similar regard.
And as WZ just told you, "Rev. Wright quotes a Reagan Administration official who was speaking on Fox News, and the righties condemn him for it..."
The words of a former Reagan administration official only become "hate speech" when it's quoted by the pastor of a Democratic nominee.
Where is Reagan's guilt by association?
Pete,
I think the "chickens coming home to roost" has it's roots in Malcom X's critique of the Viet Nam War. (Correct me if I am wrong.) Yes, Peck used it in his speech too.
However Peck's quote was, (I do believe,) at least 16 years after serving as Deputy Director of the White House Task Force on Terrorism in Reagan's Administration. You can try to link him to Reagan, but seeing how he was a career diplomat I doubt seriously that it will stick.
I think one can draw a distinction between one who gives their opinion on TV and a Preacher who lifts those words to use in a sermon in front of a religious congregation. But you be the judge.
I don't recall anyone saying that Wright did not have the right to say any of the things he did. The critique by many is that this quote by Rev. Wright, along with the others, comes across as America-hating and racist. The point many feel is that Obama's refusal to disown Rev. Wright, says something about about Obama's judgement and his campaign slogans to be a uniter.
Peck made the remarks nearly 3 years before Reagan's death, giving Reagan plenty of time to "disown" Peck.
Reagan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 1994.
I don't think your attempt at equivalence between Wright-Obama and Peck-Reagan works to begin with, but knowing Reagan's condition makes the comparison invalid.
'...comes across as America-hating and racist"
You mean like not Politically Correct? The very sneer conservatives use against liberals all the time. Suddenly they're concerned about someone not being PC?
PS: AA, I'm not directing this comment at you, I'm not sure what you're feelings are on this "issue." I just find it ironic that conservatives are perfectly fine with their own version of Political Correctness, but woe to the liberal who may object to some of the things conservatives say.
"Correct me if I'm wrong." - AA
You're wrong.
Malcolm X's remark was in reference to the Kennedy assasination.
Rev. Wright quotes a Reagan Administration official who was speaking on Fox News, and the righties condemn him for it...
Just trying to help with the confusion.
Thank you, WZ.
Oh man, Obama's supporters are incredible. Wright may have ORIGINALLY QUOTED Peck in the beginning of the sermon, but he OBVIOUSLY agreed with him on that point, went on to spout hateful vitriol about all the "CRIMES" America had committed (and I'll agree that some of them were heinous things our nation has done), and then FINISHED HIS SERMON by repeating the statement that Americas "Chickens were coming home to roost." His final words weren't a QUOTE OF PECK. They were HIS WORDS. They were his FINAL AFFIRMATION that he AGREED with this sentiment.
You fu*king Obama supporters make me sick with your disingenuousness. You're as vile and filthy and pathetic as ANY Neo-Fascist Right-Wing Repuglikkkunt.
You fu*king Obama supporters make me sick with your disingenuousness. You're as vile and filthy and pathetic as ANY Neo-Fascist Right-Wing Repuglikkkunt
Awhhh you mad becuase Hillary's losing?
In this edition of Newtie and the Blowfish, even Newtie wasn't biting.
Keep puffin' Sean.
Weasels aside, I have to say one thing about your screen name: as much as I admire Pink Floyd for their musicianship, their artistry, their creativity, their fidelity, and their intensity, I will always fault them for using their legal muscle to force a small time band to change its name from Pink Floyd The Barber.
Other than that one unfortunate incident, you've got me on board.
Good post.
Gingrich responded: "Well, no. No, my first thoughts are to be totally with Senator Obama on this. I think your records are confidential," adding, "The government has an absolute obligation to keep them. I suspect these people have broken a law. I don't think it's enough just to fire them. And frankly, if the first breakthrough was back in January, how can they say that the security system worked?"
Hannity responded: "The only thing I might disagree a little bit on -- because immediately they make it into a political statement by blaming the administration."
Regardless, someone needs to find out WHY these files were breached, if any of the OTHER presidential candidates (Romney, Thompson, Giuliani, etc) also had their files breached, and (most importantly) if someone in teh Bush Misadministration ORDERED these files to be breached.
The Bush Misadministration is the most secretive once since Nixon. And this whole episode smells like a Nixon-style "dirty trick" to me.....
Isn't it interesting that the Executive Branch is involved in all of these scandals?
This smells like Karl Rove.
This smells like Karl Rove.
It certainly does. The wheels were probably set into motion before he quit his White House position and slithered back under his rock.
If it turns out that ALL the candidates (including those who have dropped out) had their files breached, then someone was doing some data mining - perhaps to find "dirt" that could be used against "enemies" of the Bush Misadministration.
I suspect that this story will be going a lot deeper.....
... but, unfortunately, it will happen sometime AFTER the election.
(sniff sniff)
Hmmm... something smells a bit like WATERGATE here.
Dirty how? Please explain. If Siegelman was 'dirty', then so are a majority of our elected officials.
Rove is dirty, makes no qualms about it, and shows no remorse. That's the type of person I would be afraid of, especially if they try to hurt our country.
"Not finding it, they sacrificed the "breachers"."
Maybe...or, since they were contractors to begin with, maybe they did the job they were hired for and were "let go"...but it was recorded as a "firing" to make it look like the process "works"
Seems to me that the FOX toadies are looking for anything to distract from the disaster that is the Bush Administration.
FOX is playing the Wright nonstory to the hilt. They even took Greta Van Susteren off her Missing-White-Girl beat to cover it. Last night, guess who she had on to represent the Obama side? Al Sharpton, of course. Is there a black man with any less credibility with FOX viewers? FOX is obscene.
Is there a black man with any less credibility with FOX viewers?
O. J. Simpson??
Hand Job says Obama is trying to distract from his racial ties, but his whole campaign has been distracted. Let's not forget, according to some in the media he's Muslim and just found Christianity to run for president. He went to a madrassa, he's not black enough - what's that - my fault he got endorsed by Farrakhan so he's too black, he doesn't wear a flag pin, he doesn't say the pledge, he doesn't use Tide with Bleach, he doesn't watch Nascar - Give me a break!!
What America needs is Tiger Woods. A nice safe negro who doesn't remind them of the past many so desperately want to forget and act like never took place.
I can see you are not interested in a serious discussion.
Your comments regarding Obama's 'honest' speech, Americans, and using the word 'safe Negro' to describe African Americans is just more condescension from a radical leftist point of view.
After all, Obama will still probably be the Democratic nominee. He still stands a very good chance of being elected President.
It seems to me your comments project more about how you view African Americans than the reality.
ps. I think Woods will go down in sports history as the greatest golfer to date. I gave up the game a long time ago and rarely watch it on TV. I think both MJ and Woods would take offense to your characterization.
Whether I am a fan of Woods or not, has nothing to do with the subject at hand.
Your post proves that you're a bigot, Juliajayne.Thanks for proving my point. I can see that you're not interested in a serious discussion.Everybody knows that what I'm saying is true. It's obvious that you refuse to admit this.gotta run.Thanks for the laugh! ;-)
(did I get all of the Greatest Hits in there?)
You're still postin so I guess you ain't lying.
GINGRICH: Well, no. No, my first thoughts are to be totally with Senator Obama on this. I think your records are confidential.
HANNITY: Oh, I agree with that.
Sooo, what are you saying then Hannity?
"Sooo, what are you saying then, Hannity?"
Like he knows.
August, I completely get your point, and was just playing off of it.This Rev. Wright thing is so shamelessly aimed at the White Americans who have been able to keep their racism "undercover". They seem just fine , as long as the Black people they see in the public eye are pleasant and respectful, and never, never, ever, mention race or any problems connected to or resulting from our history of racial problems.
I only mentioned the Gary Coleman and, (I guess he wasn't really named Webster) Emanuel Lewis(?), because I remember at the time (whatever time period that was)thinking how strange it was that two of the most "popular" black people, among whites, were noticably undersized. Even smaller than Sammy Davis Jr. It seemed to be OK if they were giant, like Shaq, too. Maybe I read too much into it, it just always seemed starnge to me.As if to be accepted by the general public,black guys had to be at least minimally freakish.
MSNBC breaking that all leading candidate's passport files were compromised.
Damn straight, JJ. Hours and hours of them, with BilldO's ponderous melon in front of the video, looking disgusted as he digs into the warped psychology of anybody who would be interested in this filth.
I can't wait!
Wonder what he could be doing with them?
Knitting socks for our boys in mulfiti?
Operating a game controller?
The righthand is holding the Scotch. The left keeping the Whiskey safe from gravity.
Holding onto his good luck ham.
Engaging in nonconsentual sex.
Using sign language to communicate with his alien controllers.
We may never know the truth but we can put a few dents in it.
Hannity and Hillary
Hannity's probably the biggest idiot on FOX - and that's quite an accomplishment.
But I must say that on this item, he is not saying anything worse than Hillary has been saying. Here is a direct quote from the memo she sent to reporters just yesterday:
http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2008/03/21/clinton_campaign/index.html
It's sad to see Hillary stoop to tactics that only the worst of the far-right crazies would attempt to use. As wrong as it is for Hannity to say this tripe, it is far worse for Hillary to say anything she thinks will hurt Obama, even if it means keeping company with the most rabid Republican hacks on FIXED News.
damn, foxnews is obsessed with Obama! particularly hannity, o'reilly, and the fox and friends crew. even chris "obama clock" wallace had to check the morning lightweights on that. they still often complain, though, that obama isn't treated harshly enough, and the liberal media is openly rooting for him (which is actually true with regards to msnbc). anybody but me find it ironic how most of this obama bashing followed rush limbaugh's plea for conservatives to vote for hillary?