Hannity echoed GOP claim that Kerry is "out of the mainstream"; facts show otherwise

On the July 26 edition of his nationally syndicated radio show, which was broadcast live from the Democratic National Convention, ABC radio host Sean Hannity repeated a popular Republican talking point verbatim when he accused Senator John Kerry (D-MA) of being "out of the mainstream." A look at recent national polling data, however, shows that Kerry's positions are in step with the beliefs of the American public.

From the July 26 broadcast of The Sean Hannity Show:

HANNITY: That's why we call it the Reinvention Convention, 'cause they want to convince you that he is something that he is not. The problem with John Kerry is John Kerry is out of the mainstream.

Comparing Kerry's stance on issues with recent national polling data clearly debunks Hannity's statement. Here are some examples:

• Kerry opposed a proposed federal constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage and would allow the issue to be decided at the state level. As Media Matters for America has previously noted, a majority of Americans would also prefer the issue to be decided at the state level rather than through a constitutional amendment. A recent ABC News/Washington Post survey found that 58 percent of Americans believe that "each state should make its own laws on gay marriage," while only 38 percent favor amending the Constitution.

• Kerry voted to restrict late-term abortions "where there was a clear exception for [the] life or health of women." According to a recent ABC News/Washington Post poll, a majority of Americans (54 percent) agree that abortion should be legal in all or most cases.

• Kerry wants to provide health coverage to 95 percent of Americans. According to an ABC News/Washington Post poll, this position is supported by the 79 percent of Americans who would rather raise taxes to provide coverage for all Americans than keep taxes down and prevent some Americans from receiving coverage.

• Kerry was endorsed by the Sierra Club because of his commitment to protecting the environment. Fifty-five percent of Americans think the federal government is not doing enough to protect the environment, according to a recent Gallup poll.

• Kerry supports closing the gun show loophole and extending the assault weapons ban; according to a recent CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll, 60 percent of Americans think the government should do more about restricting the kinds of guns people can buy.