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Hannity: Obama "never got asked tough questions about his radical friends and associates, except by me and others"

July 07, 2009 11:01 pm ET

From the July 7 edition of Fox News' Hannity:

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Previously:

Ignoring their own reporting, NY Times and AP uncritically report Palin's "palling around with terrorists" claim

Right-wing radio hosts suggested "damn good" Ayers question to Stephanopoulos day before Dem debate

From the April 16, 2008, Democratic presidential debate:

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS (co-moderator): I want to give Senator [Hillary] Clinton a chance to respond, but first a follow-up on this issue, the general theme of patriotism in your relationships. A gentleman named William Ayers -- he was part of the Weather Underground in the 1970s. They bombed the Pentagon, the Capitol, and other buildings. He's never apologized for that, and, in fact, on 9-11, he was quoted in The New York Times saying, "I don't regret setting bombs. I feel we didn't do enough."

An early organizing meeting for your state Senate campaign was held at his house, and your campaign has said you are friendly. Can you explain that relationship for the voters, and explain to Democrats why it won't be a problem? 

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    • Author by DAWUSS (July 07, 2009 11:06 pm ET)
      7 1
      "and others" is a big field
      Report Abuse
    • Author by marco21 (July 07, 2009 11:13 pm ET)
      5  
      That's just hilarious - "except by me and others"

      If Hannity's America were a real country, would there be running water or electricity in that brain trust?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by reanna-mator (July 07, 2009 11:14 pm ET)
      7 1
      Again, the wingnuts are relying on the desperate hope that our memory is actually that bad that we don't remember events from less than a year ago.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by TheDayV (July 08, 2009 11:35 am ET)
        3  
        Like Palin's connection with an Alaskan secessionist or a witch hunter.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by harley (July 07, 2009 11:22 pm ET)
      9  
      "except by me and others"

      "Others" defined by all three major networks and all three cable networks.

      Report Abuse
    • Author by dave_82 (July 07, 2009 11:38 pm ET)
      7  
      "never got asked tough questions about his radical friends and associates, except by me and others"

      Oxford Should ad this to the revised English dictionary

      Hannity: - Sore loser.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by budrykzp9226 (July 07, 2009 11:59 pm ET)
      13 2
      Actually, you smirking leprechaun, he was asked about Ayers at the final presidential debate, and the American people accepted his response enough to elect him president. But that'll never be enough for you, because he's still a Democrat and, more importantly, a black man with more power than you.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by Victor Colorado (July 08, 2009 12:08 am ET)
        11  
        And that is what makes Hal Turner's former friend so mad. It makes Sean Hannity so mad that he has to lie to people on the TV.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by hurricaneyankee52983 (July 08, 2009 12:46 am ET)
        3  
        budrykzp,AMEN to that.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by snoopy (July 08, 2009 12:05 am ET)
      2  
      Patting yourself on the back again, Mr. Shamwow?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by TheThief672 (July 08, 2009 12:12 am ET)
      6 1
      NewsHounds.us did a great piece about Hannity's "extremist" friends. I wish I remembered the article better but you can look it up. He has had quite a few wackos as guest who he describes as friends. Friends that if Obama had the same he would be yelling to his teabaggers to start a lynch mob. I believe the etymology of the word Hypocrite stems from the word Hannity.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by robyn20094113 (July 08, 2009 5:58 am ET)
        5  
        Hannity and Palin are cut from the same cloth.

        I too recommend that NewsHounds.us piece.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (July 08, 2009 11:34 am ET)
          3  
          Hannity and Palin are cut from the same cloth.
          Yes, but neither of their patterns were ever stitched too tightly.

          (And I think the cloth is burlap, although they prefer to call it "sackcloth.")
          Report Abuse
          • Author by robyn20094113 (July 09, 2009 4:18 am ET)
               
            Cheese cloth it's wimpier, burlap is too high grade.
            Report Abuse
    • Author by Romario (July 08, 2009 12:13 am ET)
      10  
      I don't recall Hannity ever interviewing then-candidate Obama. WTF is Hannity talking about?
      Report Abuse
      • Author by hurricaneyankee52983 (July 08, 2009 12:44 am ET)
        8 1
        HANNITY has always had trouble dealing with reality. He probably believes he interviwed OBAMA and gave him a tough time making him a hero to all the wingnuts.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by blk-in-alabam (July 08, 2009 5:54 am ET)
        5  
        Hannity is the leader of the conservative underground.He went underground through the sewers of New York and crawled out of a toilet in the New York Times Building.He then went on to interview President Obama posing as a New York Times reporter.Don't you remember when he asked the President if he was a socialist.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (July 08, 2009 11:37 am ET)
        2  
        I don't recall Hannity ever interviewing then-candidate Obama. WTF is Hannity talking about?
        Hannity just asked the questions on his program. The fact that Obama never gave him the time of day to even attempt an answer to Hannity (although he answered the question whenever it was asked to him directly by someone who was in the same conversation with him and not talking to empty air as Hannity was) is one of the things that has Sean so angry.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by kfraz43 (July 08, 2009 12:43 am ET)
      9  
      This is what happens when every day ends in a blackout, with Roger Ailes hovering over you with a syringe in his hand...
      Report Abuse
      • Author by snoopy (July 08, 2009 1:00 am ET)
        7  
        Nah, that's not what's going on at all. Hannity had his likeness digitized and then Ailes killed off Hannity to save money. All you're seeing now is a Max Headroom recreation of him.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by kfraz43 (July 08, 2009 1:02 am ET)
          7  
          I noticed a slight flicker, and I just thought it was a glitch in the Matrix...
          Report Abuse
          • Author by neon desert (July 08, 2009 1:35 am ET)
            11  
            I expect one of these evenings, during his show, we'll be treated to him telling how, in Hanniturds America, nothing can "go wrong ...go wrong ...go wrong..."
            [http://www.shockya.com/news/wp-content/uploads/westworld_remake_still.jpg]
            Report Abuse
    • Author by SteveRiverson162410 (July 08, 2009 2:55 am ET)
        6
      I don't think Hannity literally meant 'never'. I think he was complaining that rarely anyone brought it up or asked him.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by nerzog (July 08, 2009 9:13 am ET)
        5 1
        Probably because "real Americans" considered it a non issue.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by neon desert (July 08, 2009 9:24 am ET)
        8 1
        You're probably right. There's no reason to expect a guy who makes several million dollars a year in the communications industry to actually be able to always accurately convey a thought or idea.

        I'm no professional like Mr. Hannitard, but I think I can impliment the demonstrated concept fairly well for an amateur. So feel free to substitute "occasionally" for "always" when it's in my favor to do so.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by Brabantio (July 08, 2009 9:46 am ET)
          4  
          Right, and Hannity's history precludes much benefit of the doubt that he made some innocent slip-up here. He clearly has a very strong inclination to spin things to his political advantage (to put it more kindly than he deserves, really), so he may have understood the concept of "rarely" in his own mind, but it seems very likely that he would express that idea as "never" for his own purposes. So he may have thought "rarely", but I think he meant to say "never".
          Report Abuse
    • Author by pam95650 (July 08, 2009 3:11 am ET)
      6 1
      Sean:
      No one cares about the "radical associations" but you. Give it up will you!
      p
      Report Abuse
    • Author by teabaggers ♥ NUTS (July 08, 2009 4:12 am ET)
      8 1
      hannity continues to dig his own grave (with these ridiculous obama cheapshots), and one day he will lay in it.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by jlmincey (July 08, 2009 4:19 am ET)
      6  
      Ya no one ever threw him hardballs...except for all of those people that did, but we just won't count them.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by knowlies (July 08, 2009 5:09 am ET)
      7  
      And Palin never got asked tough questions about her radical friends and associates by... anyone. Ever.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by budrykzp9226 (July 08, 2009 6:53 am ET)
        6  
        No, her definition of a tough question involves what magazines she reads. If she was asked about associating with a bunch of rednecks who wanted to restart the Civil War someone would have had to die, you betcha.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (July 08, 2009 11:41 am ET)
          3  
          She was asked another tough question. After Palin made a speech complaining about activist Supreme Court justices, she was asked what SC decision other than Roe v. Wade she disagreed with. She hemmed and hawed for about 30 seconds, then said some mindless blather about how there must be one, and then changed the subject.

          How dare anyone ask her for an example of something she mentioned in her stump speeches!
          Report Abuse
    • Author by johnrod10 (July 08, 2009 5:41 am ET)
      1 10
      Are we all OK with Ayers?
      Report Abuse
      • Author by harley (July 08, 2009 8:04 am ET)
        6 1
        Who?
        Report Abuse
      • Author by nerzog (July 08, 2009 9:14 am ET)
        9 1
        I don't give a rat's ass about Ayers. Has he been hanging out at the White House or something?
        Report Abuse
      • Author by Brabantio (July 08, 2009 9:32 am ET)
        7 1
        I really just don't see what "tough questions" there could be there.

        Q:Do you approve of Ayers' activities in the '60s?
        A:No, of course not.
        Q:But you don't have any problem with him as a professor and community advocate?
        A:Why would I?

        I don't know where you go from there. The Republicans who associated with him didn't abandon ship because of irrelevant past events, so why should Obama have?
        Report Abuse
      • Author by shaggles (July 08, 2009 11:36 am ET)
        3  
        Yep.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (July 08, 2009 11:42 am ET)
        2  
        You betcha.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by mikehuck1976 (July 08, 2009 1:22 pm ET)
        2  
        Nathaniel Ayers - the musician?

        Randy Ayers - the coach?

        If you mean Bill Ayers I do not know him personally. So, I do not know that I am OK with him. Also, I do not know if he is OK with me.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by IRONY 101 (July 08, 2009 7:35 am ET)
      10 1
      Actually, Sean, Barack Obama was asked these questions. You are just upset that there was no evidence to disprove what Obama said was the extent of his relationship with Bill Ayers. And in the meantime, despite the lack of any evidence, you continued to push the notion that Barack Obama and Bill Ayers were engaged in an unholy alliance designed to bring down the United States. You have no credibility, Sean, excpet perhaps in your own mind and in the minds of your equally twisted and devoted fans. Fortunately, real Americans have rejected your ideas.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by manofmystique (July 08, 2009 8:32 am ET)
        4  
        great points!!!
        Report Abuse
      • Author by Cheney2012 (July 08, 2009 8:37 am ET)
        1 15
        We're seeing the evidence of Obama's radical associations right now with the radical agenda he is pursuing.

        Many of the lemmings who voted for him did not vote for these policies. They will express their regret at the ballot box the next chance they get.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by harley (July 08, 2009 8:50 am ET)
          7 1
          We're seeing the evidence of Obama's radical associations right now with the radical agenda he is pursuing.
          Where, what, and how? Please provide your thesis, evidence, and facts. We'll wait...


          Many of the lemmings who voted for him did not vote for these policies. They will express their regret at the ballot box the next chance they get.
          Shocking, a reich-winger terrorist who "thinks" they speak for the masses. You lost, you are a permanent minority. Live with it.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (July 08, 2009 11:44 am ET)
            5  
            Where, what, and how? Please provide your thesis, evidence, and facts. We'll wait...
            (crickets)
            Report Abuse
        • Author by PurpleState (July 08, 2009 9:01 am ET)
          6 1
          To paraphrase the wordsmith Jon Stewart, I think you're confusing "radical agenda" with losing.
          Report Abuse
        • Author by blueline99 (July 08, 2009 10:44 am ET)
          10 1
          You make a sound point....

          The radical associations that the right was/is trying to associate with President Obama, like say Bill Ayres who wanted to blow up government buildings, is exactly the agenda that President Obama is rolling out right now...

          Wait... no, it's the Right Wing extremist who are calling for over throwing the government, secession, and waiting for Osama Bin Laden to wreak havoc in the US in order to rally a grass roots effort to protect this country.

          The policies that President Obama is pushing through right now are the exact policies he campaigned on! Mainly health care and Guantanamo closure, Iraq pull out and Afghanistan focus.

          The only new things he's dealing with are the acts that President Bush dropped on his door step before leaving... Financial bailout, Automotive bailout...

          The republicans have already conceded 2012 to the Democrats... in fact Rush has accused Obama of secretly planning a way to hold on to the presidency past 2016... The GOP is irrelevant.
          Report Abuse
        • Author by RABBITLUVR (July 08, 2009 11:20 am ET)
          2  
          You again?

          Report Abuse
        • Author by shaggles (July 08, 2009 11:37 am ET)
          2  
          What radical agenda?
          Report Abuse
        • Author by manofmystique (July 08, 2009 12:52 pm ET)
          2  
          The people who voted for Obama are fully aware of the conservative media all out efforts to discredit him. Let me explains what this means. It means, no matter what Obama does they will criticize him. Their reason for doing so, is what Rush Limbaugh said "they want Obama to fail".
          Those who put their stupidity and hate on display, only confirm what common sense tells us. They want more of the same candidates and policies already failed America. Thats just plain stupid, like brining up Bill Ayer to make a point.
          Report Abuse
        • Author by seroquel (July 08, 2009 2:03 pm ET)
             
          Oh yeah? Cheney2012, I also ask the questions:
          WHAT EVIDENCE?
          Report Abuse
      • Author by hurricaneyankee52983 (July 08, 2009 12:21 pm ET)
           
        iorny, i'll second that.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by manofmystique (July 08, 2009 8:47 am ET)
      5 1
      [K]lannity's has the same problem many white people have: he is offended that Obama, a black man, is in the Oval office in the first place.
      This is the reason for his obssession over Obama. The same is true of Sean's old hate pal Hal Turner and new hate buddy Rush Limbaugh. They can't accept the leadership of this black man.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by NdlovukaziThor (July 08, 2009 9:00 am ET)
        5  
        "Help! Help! I'm being repressed! Come and see the violence inherent in the system!"
        Report Abuse
        • Author by neon desert (July 08, 2009 10:06 am ET)
          3  
          Bloody peasant.
          Report Abuse
          • Author by NdlovukaziThor (July 08, 2009 10:14 am ET)
            2  
            Oh, there you go, bringing class into it again!
            Report Abuse
            • Author by neon desert (July 08, 2009 11:12 am ET)
              2  
              ♪♫ It's a busy life in Camelot...
              (solo) When you're a lying Hann - i - bot ♫♪
              Report Abuse
              • Author by neon desert (July 08, 2009 11:19 am ET)
                2  
                Ish.

                The ascii music notes showed up okay on the preview...
                Report Abuse
                • Author by NdlovukaziThor (July 08, 2009 11:26 am ET)
                  3  
                  It was still a lovely rendition!

                  On second thought, let's not go to Camelot. It is a silly place.
                  Report Abuse
                  • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (July 08, 2009 11:46 am ET)
                    1  
                    Where else would one go if they wanted to buy a camel?
                    Report Abuse
                    • Author by NdlovukaziThor (July 08, 2009 12:05 pm ET)
                      1  
                      Probably the same place one would go to get bubonic plague.
                      Report Abuse
                • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (July 08, 2009 11:46 am ET)
                     
                  They show up fine on my screen, neon.
                  Report Abuse
        • Author by worrierking (July 08, 2009 3:21 pm ET)
          1  
          "Dennis, there's some lovely filth down here."
          Report Abuse
          • Author by NdlovukaziThor (July 08, 2009 5:40 pm ET)
               
            I thought we were an autonomous collective? Well, I didn't vote for you...
            Report Abuse
    • Author by NdlovukaziThor (July 08, 2009 8:58 am ET)
      2  
      Ugh, "radical". I think we need to start using its synonyms. You know, like "tubular", "awesome", "totally gnarly", "far out". Dude.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by nerzog (July 08, 2009 9:17 am ET)
        2  
        "Gnarly" was always my favorite. In my younger days, I had fantasies of living the surfer dude life... but I never learned how to surf.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by robyn20094113 (July 09, 2009 4:30 am ET)
             
          but I never learned how to surf
          It's never too late to learn Dude. Gnarly hell I've seen dogs surf, far out. Totally awesome, gnarly like a I might learn to surf myself you know. Later Dude.
          Report Abuse
    • Author by captfoster2 (July 08, 2009 9:22 am ET)
      6 1
      What ever happened to the days when we needed to respect the president during the time while our country was fighting a war for our very survival as a country?

      Guess that only happens when its a Republican or right-wing lackeys are in the White House?

      Report Abuse
      • Author by nerzog (July 08, 2009 9:43 am ET)
        4 1
        You nailed it. That whiney talking point no longer serves their propaganda purpose, so they've tossed it like a greasy napkin.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by newzhound (July 08, 2009 10:12 am ET)
      7 1
      Let's make a list of all the tough questions Sheer "Hot Air" inSannity asked George Bush, Dick Cheney, and Sarah Palin:

      What's your favorite color?
      What cookies do you like to eat?
      How does it feel to be...?

      Remember Ross Perot's "giant sucking sound South of the Border?" That's not jobs going to Mexico. That's a Sheer inSannity interview of a fellow conservative.

      Remember - inSannity campaigned for Bush and Cheney.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by harley (July 08, 2009 1:57 pm ET)
        2  

        What makes you so perfect?
        Why do you think the Democrat [sic] Party hates America?
        May I touch your hair?
        Report Abuse
    • Author by craig98607271 (July 08, 2009 10:32 am ET)
      2  
      have you ever noticed hannity has never called him bill ayers, its "billayres the unrepentant terrorist who bombed the pentagon and wished he could have done more". he says it over and over and uggggg.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by budrykzp9226 (July 08, 2009 10:54 am ET)
        5  
        If he was going to be honest, it would be "Bill Ayers the guy who hasn't been dangerous since I was in grammar school, whose existence I didn't know or care about until it gave me an opportunity to try my 'McCarthy-with-better-hair' act on the duly elected President." But then, if he was going to be honest, he wouldn't be Sean Hannity.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by blueline99 (July 08, 2009 10:35 am ET)
      8  
      There's no double standard Hannity...

      There is no requisite standard qualification to enter national politics... actors, sports stars, comedians, political pundits, religious leaders, professional wrestlers, have all stepped into the spot light. Some have run towards the bright lights, others are thrust into it.

      What matters is how these leaders act once they are there. President Obama may not have had the experience that you look for, but he ran a national campaign, managed the media, was able to get his message out in a clear and concise manner, was appealing, and looked like a leader.

      It's called running a national Presidential campaign... it's not an easy thing to do, but something we expect our leaders to be able to manage.

      Sarah Palin was miserable at it. She doesn't know how to prepare for the media. She can only speak to talking points with no real grasp of what she is saying.

      Stop calling it a double standard. President Obama took everything the media threw at him and he handled it. Ayres, ACORN, Birth Certificate, Chicago Politics, et al.

      Palin couldn't handle a Katie Couric interview and then they hid her from the media.

      Double standard??? Yeah, one met the standard, in he cleared the bar with plenty to spare and the other couldn't even make it pass the qualifying rounds.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by scubcap647 (July 08, 2009 11:00 am ET)
      3  
      "And others"? It amazes me how someone can lie and tell the truth at the same time. He doesn't even realize how ignorant that sounds. Only I brought you the story...along with a large group of other people who were charged with doing the same tasks. Hannity must think his viewers are stupid. Everyone mentioned all of the president's associations. Only Hannity felt the need to mention it everyday for the last year. That part he can claim all for himself.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by seroquel (July 08, 2009 2:10 pm ET)
      2  
      Self Segregating.
      Pompous.
      Moron.
      Self Pitying.
      Hack.
      Reich Wing.
      In the Tank.
      And that's me being nice, Sean Hannity.
      Get a new subject.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by mjh (July 09, 2009 1:16 am ET)
        1  
        Ode to Sean Hannity
        by John Cleese

        Aping urbanity
        Oozing with vanity
        Plump as a manatee
        Faking humanity
        Journalistic calamity
        Intellectual inanity
        Fox Noise insanity
        You’re a profanity
        Hannity
        Report Abuse
    • Author by tman418 (July 08, 2009 4:43 pm ET)
      2  
      I hate commenting on these things late.

      Sean Hannity is actually telling the truth, if you consider "and others" to be, well, every other person in the media.

      You know, NO ONE questioned McCain about his connections (and campaign contributions) from convicted felon G. Gordon Liddy except a freaking comedian (Letterman) for crying out loud.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by temphandle pappas35document (July 09, 2009 2:55 pm ET)
         
      His associations were never questioned... except when they were?
      Report Abuse