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Hannity retreats to retreads: "The death panels are back"

October 30, 2009 9:35 pm ET

From the October 30 edition of Fox News' Hannity:

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Previously:

Fox News personalities advance Palin's "death panel" claim

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    • Author by Civic Racecar (October 30, 2009 10:34 pm ET)
      7  
      This would be funny if I hadn't just listened to Ingraham talking about things coming back even after they are killed. Did FNC not get the memo that the "death panels" claim is a bunch of garbage? The government isn't going to decide who dies. Their claims have been disproved time and time again, but for some reason, Hannity still feels the need to commit intellectual dishonest.
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      • Author by mescal (October 31, 2009 1:53 am ET)
        8  
        This has been Insanity's modus operandi for years now. He takes a lying, smearing, reich wing talking point and hammers it home night after night after night. Eventually it gets thoroughly debunked, and he then temporarily retires it from his nightly repertoire of false propaganda. As soon as an election nears, he gleefully resurrects the lie and pounds it anew.

        Insanity knows that Faux News audience isn't all that bright and/or well informed, and probably aren't aware that his talking point has already been exposed as false. They'll just remember the earlier Pavlovian conditioning that he's subjected them to, and quickly become freshly riled over this 'outrage'. They'll immediately begin spreading this contagion of bullsh!t to their friends, families, and co-workers. Democrats, meanwhile, are be forced to waste their time stamping out these reignited embers, rather than advancing their own arguments.

        It's a crude technique, but it's still an effective one.
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        • Author by DellDolly (October 31, 2009 2:48 am ET)
          8  
          Yeah, early on, I had a bright but ideologically far right person tell me that he was sure that death panels existed. I think I finally convinced him with multiple pieces of evidence, including two emails with links and everything, that there are no death panels.

          He never thanked me for providing the info though. It hurts them to let go of their preconceived notions.

          And that reluctance to admit that you were misled, that you misunderstood something, that you had to have something explained to you, is something that FoxNews, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, et al, use to their advantage. They know that these same people don't want to have to change their minds, since that seems painful and frightening to them, so that's why they are such loyal FoxNews watchers. On another thread tonight, one poster brought up FoxNews having by far the highest ratings of any cable news network, and this is one of the reasons why - they like, they love, they crave the echo chamber!

          And I often make the point here that having to debunk nonsense hurts our nation, because we don't get to debate the real issues. So, thanks for your last point - I wholeheartedly agree.
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          • Author by alienofwar (October 31, 2009 12:44 pm ET)
            6  
            I was a loyal right-wing listener for a year and a half, but that was because our local media in Montana was limited and I could only get Conservative talk radio. Only when I moved to another state was I finally exposed to alternative talk radio. Soon afterward I discovered Media Matters, Think Progress and other publications such as David Brock's book 'Republican Noise Machine' and 'Crime Against Nature' by Robert Kennedy Jr. and these it just completely woke me out of my spell.

            Now it's impossible for me to go back to who I was before because I am fully conscience of their agenda. I still listen to right-wing radio, especially Sean Hannity and all it makes me do is laugh and shake my head because I'm aware of all their talking points and what the motives behind them are.

            I argue with Fox viewers all the time and I watch how they repeat the talking points of the day and I think to myself how dangerous this is, because if fascism wanted to rear it's ugly head over this country, there is an easily manipulated and susceptible population of people who would be willing to follow.
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            • Author by aBeck in 10-O-C (November 01, 2009 12:25 am ET)
              2  
              Alienofwar.
              I am stunned and heartened. I can't tell you how important it is to read your story. I have had no optimism that people can escape from the right-wing echo chamber.
              I don't mean to presume your political philosophy, only to note that whatever it is, now it comes from an open mind.
              You have my humble thanks and my respect.
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          • Author by aBeck in 10-O-C (November 01, 2009 12:46 am ET)
            1  
            ...people don't want to have to change their minds, since that seems painful and frightening to them,...
            ...one of the reasons why - they like, they love, they crave the echo chamber!


            This speaks volumes. The same psychological component that figures in all matters of faith in an ideology or institution.
            I am recalling that social caveat we've all heard since youth.
            "Never discuss religion or politics in polite company”
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    • Author by Sharpe (October 30, 2009 10:35 pm ET)
      4  
      Government run health insurance is the part that "matters." That is about the only thing hannity is correct on. The only thing that MUST stay in the legislation. Is he still using the words death panels? You cant come up with something a little less tiresome sean?
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    • Author by drempala (October 30, 2009 10:42 pm ET)
      3  
      The bill probably would have been easier to manage if they'd written more words on the pages and used a smaller font.
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      • Author by Onyxcat (October 30, 2009 10:56 pm ET)
           
        have to agree with you there. Its so full of legal terminology its hard for the adverage person to read and understand. Most of the stuff is to proof it against attacks by the lawyers on the insurance companies' payroll.
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    • Author by Onyxcat (October 30, 2009 10:54 pm ET)
         
      No matter how many times Fox News said it, the bill does not promote abortions. Also, there is nothing in the bill that promotes 'death panels'. It rediculous. All Fox news is doing is promoting fear.
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    • Author by IRONY 101 (October 30, 2009 10:56 pm ET)
      3  
      I'll bet Jesus is really proud of you, Sean. Are your sons old enough to know what a lying whore their father is?
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    • Author by jbraskin4786 (October 30, 2009 11:13 pm ET)
      6  
      Is this fact or opinion, Sean?
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    • Author by aBeck in 10-O-C (October 31, 2009 12:13 am ET)
      5  
      Thanks Sean, for the civics lesson.
      As a conscientious citizen, I need not waste my time reading legislation that affects this nation. All I need is to read those five pages of Hannity talking points you just held up. Great!!!! I was planning on spending my weekend reading the house bill, but you just saved me the trouble.

      Sean, is their any chance that I can get you to do my taxes for me next year? How about my Christmas shopping, buddy? Oh yeah, amigo.....could you help me with a leg up in finding a job so I can pay for it? Every minute you save me is another minute I can spare for watching Fox Noise.
      Thanks, pal.
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    • Author by usp (October 31, 2009 12:55 am ET)
      4  
      he spent time studying this? instead of eating at a posh restaurant? i bet.
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    • Author by antihannity2009 (October 31, 2009 1:00 am ET)
      8  
      I've been wondering something. Sean has said for weeks that 72 hours is not enough time to read the bill and understand what it does. But somehow he has "read" and "understood" it in just 24 hours! How is this possible? He cant' understand the kid's menu at a restaurant!
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    • Author by Easy to refute wingnuts (October 31, 2009 4:22 pm ET)
      2  
      Hannity retreats to retreads: "The death panels are back"
      How can something that never existed be "back"?
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