Pressed by Juan Williams, Hannity again declined to express regret for hosting Andy Martin
SUMMARY: After being pressed by Fox News contributor Juan Williams about "having an anti-Semite on his show," Fox News' Sean Hannity again declined to express regret for hosting Andy Martin on Hannity's America. Martin has, among other things, referred to a judge as a "crooked, slimy Jew," and Fox News' senior vice president reportedly expressed regret over Martin's appearance, calling it "a mistake."
On the October 30 edition of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes, Fox News political contributor and NPR news analyst Juan Williams said to co-host Sean Hannity: "You and I are broadcasters. People will say to me, 'Hey, what's your pal, Sean, doing having an anti-Semite on his show?' " As Media Matters for America noted, Hannity interviewed Andy Martin for a segment on the October 5 edition of Fox News' Hannity's America. Martin has, among other things, referred to a judge as a "crooked, slimy Jew." As Media Matters noted, even though Fox News Senior Vice President Bill Shine reportedly expressed regret over Martin's appearance, calling it "a mistake," Hannity has still not done so on either of his Fox News shows -- Hannity's America or Hannity & Colmes. On October 30, rather than address Martin's appearance on his program, Hannity responded to Williams' remark by stating: "You mean [the Rev.] Jeremiah Wright? We've had Jeremiah Wright on my show. You mean Jeremiah Wright?"
When confronted by Robert Gibbs, an adviser to Sen. Barack Obama's campaign, on the October 7 edition of Hannity & Colmes, Hannity defended Martin's October 5 appearance on Hannity's America, even though he acknowledged to Gibbs that Martin's comments about Jews are "despicable." On October 10, the Anti-Defamation League wrote a letter to Hannity stating:
We were astonished to see that during the October 5, 2008 edition of Hannity's America, you interviewed Anthony Martin, a man with an extensive track record of making anti-Semitic and anti-Israel remarks.
A person who espouses such odious views ought not to be given the opportunity to enhance his credentials or his standing by appearing on Hannity's America.
As Media Matters documented, in the United States v. Anthony Martin-Trigona (1985), the United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit also wrote that Martin had previously made "viciously anti-Semitic assertions." For example, in a February 10, 2006, article, the Chicago Tribune quoted Martin as saying in a 1983 personal bankruptcy proceeding, "I am able to understand how the Holocaust took place, and with every passing day feel less and less sorry that it did, when Jew survivors are operating as a wolf pack to steal my property."
Additionally, in a 2007 document Martin submitted in a lawsuit he filed against Media Matters for America, Martin claimed that "African-American judges ... circle the wagons and try to protect Barry [Obama]." He also said that the actions of an African-American judge who presided over the case "show that African-Americans are willing to corrupt and abuse their-public offices to defend their own sleazy candidate for office." As Media Matters also documented, in a March 28, 2007, column for NewsMax.com titled "Free Obama's White Grandmother," Martin wrote that Obama, whom he called "one of the most racist politicians in America today," has "locked the grandmother who actually raised him away in a closet," adding: "[T]he 'segregation' of Madelyn Dunham, Obama's white grandmother, and only real grandmother, has to be one of the cruelest and most mendacious political kidnappings this nation has ever seen." Martin wrote that Dunham "is the 'Prisoner of Obama,' and of Obama's racist myth that he is 'Black' and not 'Black and White.' "
Williams' October 30 comments to Hannity were noted by the blog News Hounds in an October 31 post.
From the October 30 edition of Fox News' Hannity & Colmes:
HANNITY: Here's my case, Juan, and this is what I really believe. Is America about to elect a man who's been dishonest to them about his radical associates, a man who's a socialist, a man who has shown terrible judgment by not distancing himself from long-term associations, a guy who has terrible judgment and will wave the white flag of surrender?
WILLIAMS: Now, look, Sean --
HANNITY: That's what I think America is on the verge of doing.
WILLIAMS: Sean -- Sean, this is -- this is so --
HANNITY: So, what?
WILLIAMS: I just get -- I get so angry at some of this stuff. I mean, it's by association.
HANNITY: What? Angry about what?
WILLIAMS: I mean, look, Khalidi -- look. He -- the guy is a professor. He's a Palestinian. Are you surprised that he is very --
HANNITY: Ayers is a professor --
WILLIAMS: -- sensitive to the cause?
HANNITY: -- who dedicates a book -- wait a minute.
WILLIAMS: Hang on a second. Let's talk about Khalidi. Are you surprised that this guy, Khalidi, is sensitive to the cause of the Palestinian people? And Barack Obama was there. He didn't praise his positions.
HANNITY: He called it a cata- -- wait a minute. He called it a --
WILLIAMS: He said --
HANNITY: -- catastrophe, the state of Israel, when it became a state.
WILLIAMS: He called the relationship, the dynamic --
WILLIAMS: -- the one that has led --
HANNITY: Wrong.
WILLIAMS: -- to all the war and tensions between Palestinians and Israelis --
HANNITY: Wait a minute.
WILLIAMS: -- and he said it opened his eyes.
HANNITY: Would you sit on a board --
WILLIAMS: That's what he said.
HANNITY: -- with the guy that blew up the Pentagon, the Capitol, and dedicated a book --
WILLIAMS: OK, we're shifting again.
HANNITY: -- to the murderer of Robert F. Kennedy?
WILLIAMS: Sean, look --
HANNITY: Would you?
WILLIAMS: Hey, Sean, look, I've got to tell you something. I defend you, Sean, all the time.
HANNITY: I didn't blow up the Capitol, Juan.
WILLIAMS: People say to me," Oh, Sean Hannity, anti-Semite."
HANNITY: I didn't blow up U. -- I didn't blow up U.S. --
WILLIAMS: No, but Sean --
HANNITY: -- New York City Police headquarters, Juan.
WILLIAMS: -- look. You and I are broadcasters. People will say to me, "Hey, what's your pal, Sean, doing having an anti-Semite on his show?" I say, "Look, Sean might not have known, like" --
HANNITY: You mean Jeremiah Wright?
WILLIAMS: -- "all the history of that guy."
HANNITY: We've had Jeremiah Wright on my show.
WILLIAMS: No. Look --
HANNITY: You mean Jeremiah Wright?
WILLIAMS: Jeremiah Wright --
HANNITY: You mean --
WILLIAMS: Look, let me tell you something.
HANNITY: [inaudible] Who?
WILLIAMS: Jeremiah Wright and his racist rhetoric, that's something Barack Obama shouldn't have done, and it was bad judgment. But when it comes to Ayers, when it comes to Khalidi --
HANNITY: I never sat at dinner with any of these guys.
FORMER REP. JOHN KASICH (R-OH): But, but, but --
HANNITY: I never was friends with these guys.
WILLIAMS: No, but then so --
HANNITY: I never associated with them, and he never condemned them.
WILLIAMS: -- look at the association between Khalidi and John McCain. Do you say, "Oh, my God. Why is John McCain" --
HANNITY: He was praising a guy that spoke out against the creation of Israel, for crying out loud.
WILLIAMS: And why would John McCain lead a group that gives funding to Khalidi's group?
HANNITY: Well, you know what? He wasn't friends with the guy that blew up the Capitol, is not sorry about it and is unrepentant about it about these days.
WILLIAMS: Oh, you keep changing the conversation.
Of course he won't express regret for hosting someone who was glad the holocost happend - he was useful to Sean at the moment.
I wouldn't care if Hannity were a liberal. How can ANYONE conduct a political show that sounds like 2 A.M. at a sports bar?
"No, I--"
"Listen. I'm Trying--"
"You're Changing the Subj--"
"I never said--"
"Sean, I'm youur frien--"
"Wrong. wrong. wrong!"
"Hey, what about--"
Sean Hannity should do his show from a glass both that has the microphone off when other people are talking.
What about Sean Hannity's relationship with Hal Turner? In which Hal said he does know Sean and they both share some of the same views. Which I think is a bit scary...
The bottomline is this . . . Hannity is tool. We all know that. But Jaun Williams is a disgrace and an embarassment. He defends both O'Reilly and Hannity at every turn and is supposed to be the "liberal" counterpoint to the conservatives that make Fox relevant. He's a friggin' disgrace. I hope they're paying him well for his role as a apologist.
Exactly! Whenever O'Reilly and Hannity get in trouble for saying something racist, they bring out Juan Williams to defend them to no end, as if having a token black man defending your racist speech gives such speech credence. He ias an embarassment and disgrace, so is that other token "liberal" Mara Liasson.
Does Obama regret having Billy Ayers host him at the Ayers home? Does he regret going to the Million Man March which was convened by Louis "Anti-Semite" Farrakan? Does Obama regret saying "white folks greed leave a world in need?"
Do you regret that not one of those smears has been able to stick? Will you keep trying the same old same old? Will you ever acknowledge an error, hubris, or bogus wedge issue from you ideological masters?
The answer is no to each of your questions. You should read a book on grammar. If you put an "r" at the end of the word "you" it becomes possessive.
A ttooll wannerbee. Why arn't you're out pollinating for the leaser of too weavils?
On another leavil (sorry couldn't hep me'sef), Your happy that the slime ain't stickin, your gonna turn over a new political ideological leaf (lef, if you prefer). but you retain ultimate alliegnce to the same sources of slime that you have, here to for.
Interesting, not to say fascinating, but the word that comes up as the omega, is "fail."
I didn't hear you. Can you repeat that?
Not important what I think if Obama has regrets to your, notice the R, baseless accusations. The important thing is whether you are going to vote for him. If not, why moan like a typical Hannitized loser. Doesn't make any sense this moaning. I hear the new theme song for the Cons is "CRY ME RIVER".
My question to you...Do you regret that John "Songbird" McCain broke his pledge and collaberated with the enemy while a prisoner of war. How can you vote for a man that gave information to the enemy which may have caused harm/death to his fellow Americans? I answered your question..now it is your turn?
None of what I said is baseless. Obama himself has admitted to each. The world wide web is full of wonderful information. Go look for some.
Who said I was voting for McLiberal. I'm a Libertarian.
Corrected that on another post
"Its second down and tentacle. Do I throw "Da Bomb", or fricasse?"
Rarely, if ever, will any host admit that it was a mistake to have some particular guest on their show. Hosts and guests rely heavily on talking points to get them through the show and limit the amount of time for any dissenting opinion - it's just the nature of this "business". Sometimes I think that if Hannity ever got off his talking points and actually had to think his head would explode, but that's just my opinion.
With that being said, if Hannity wants to have the Grand Whatever of the KKK on his show, let him. All he wants is attention and increased ratings (just like every other radio and TV show). I will listen to his radio show just to tell my son where the logical flaws in his arguments are; I will then turn to Randi Rhoades radio broadcast and do the same thing. Both sides of the aisle have some compelling arguments; it's just rare these days to hear intelligent discussions between them. Whether we like it or not, confrontation sells.
First, it's Randi Rhodes. Second, she is on the far left of talk-show hosts. She was on Air America, but had a falling out, and is now being syndicated by Nova M Radio (the same company that syndicates Mike Malloy).
Hannity can have any guest that he wants. That does not mean that I will be watching (or listening) to his show any time soon. And if he expects to be given a pass by those of us on the left, then he should be called out on it, especially if he hosts soomeone like ANdy Martin, then claims that its the left who are being the bigots.
www.therandirhodesshow.com/
Hi and thanks for the reply. Randi Rhoades (sp?) is a syndicated liberal talk-show host (probably one of the more successful ones). She used to be with Air America but is now with Nova M (?) radio. Locally she is on a station in Chapel Hill, NC, but unless I am within thirty miles I can't get her. She is very articulate but just as partisan as Sean Hannity. She supported Obama even during the primaries. I listen to her when I can to get a liberal viewpoint that I cannot get on any other talk radio station locally. Another would be Ed Schultz and he usually airs the same time as Rush Limbaugh. I am not sure which network he is with currently.
Thanks for the reply! I understand that opposing views on Hannity, Rush, et al, are pretty rare. As I said before this is a business and talk show hosts are not on the air as a public service. No matter whose show it is, I generally view them as no more than entertainment between commercial breaks. They all have their own agenda and unique audiences and that's just fine. No one has a right to put an opposing view on any program; if the host doesn't want any real discussion on the issues I think most of us are smart enough to know why. Just as with this forum, I see it as a priviledge and not a right to post views here and have an honest discussion. Should the moderator think I have violated the terms of agreement then they are within their legal rights to ban me. We all have the right to speak but we do not have the right to be heard. Thank you again for the reply!
Thom Hartmann also has people on who completely disagree with him. I heard a repeat of one of his programs this morning where he gace David Horowitz plenty of rope, and sure enough, Horowitz hung himself with his own stupidity. Then Hartmann read the relevant parts of the Constitution to him, which Horowitz got completely wrong, of course, and Horowitz started calling Hartmann a Stalinist, of all things. Hartmann just laughed and tried to get Horowitz to stay on one topic, but all the wingies know is to change the subject when they are losing, just as Hannity tried to do with Williams.
Thanks for reminding me about Thom Hartmann - is he still on in the mornings?
Yup 9-12 via Air America.
www.therandirhodesshow.com
Gosh, Sean Hannity is a real piece of work. He's so rude to his guests, apart from anything else.
The creation of the state of Israel WAS a catastrophe for Palestinians.. what other word could you possibly use? As soon as the British Mandate ended, Palestinians were thrown into the exact same place that the Jewish people had been - without a homeland. And the Jewish people immediately took more land than was legally entitled to them by the UN, while Jordan stole parts of the West Bank and Egypt moved into Sinai. Of course it was a catastrophe when Israel was created. But thats not the same thing as being anti-semetic.
I hope this keeps coming up until Sean Hannity crawls back under the rock he crawled out from under. Maybe thinking people should refuse to buy anything advertised on his TV or radio show and write letters to the sponsers telling them why...the only problem is you would have to watch or listen to him to figure out who's paying for the ads.
I can't stand Hannity and those other phonies that hide behind bullying and lies on Fox, the guy is so dishonest and loud and annoying it is unreal. who in the world can stand to watch that crap?
Just wait until Hannity's gay lover drops the "Gay Bomb" on Hannity! Hannity won't have anyone to blame but his self, when C. C. or Cecil outs him!