Hannity decries use of “the 'B' word,” unless Ted Nugent is using it about Clinton

Sean Hannity decried Perez Hilton's use of “the 'B' word” in reference to Carrie Prejean, saying, “I can't think of anything more vicious, more mean, more insulting, more degrading.” But Hannity did not object when Ted Nugent referred to Hillary Clinton as a “worthless bitch.”

On the April 21 edition of his Fox News show, Sean Hannity asked Miss USA runner-up Carrie Prejean: “What did you think when [blogger Perez Hilton] went on this rant and actually used the ”B" word? I mean, I can't think of anything more vicious, more mean, more insulting, more degrading, just because you have a different opinion." However, as Media Matters for America has noted, on August 24, 2007, Hannity aired concert footage of rock musician and right-wing activist Ted Nugent calling then-Sen. Barack Obama a “piece of shit” and referring to then-Sen. Hillary Clinton as a “worthless bitch.” After airing the clip, Hannity referred to Nugent as a “friend and frequent guest on the program.”

In the video clip, Nugent holds up what appear to be two assault rifles, and says, “Obama, he's a piece of shit, and I told him to suck on my machine gun.” He also says, “Hey, Hillary, you might want to ride one of these into the sunset, you worthless bitch.” After airing the clip, Hannity stated: “That was friend and frequent guest on the program Ted Nugent expressing his feelings towards Democratic presidential contenders Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton.” Moments later, Hannity compared Nugent's comments to a statement by Obama, which Hannity distorted by claiming Obama “accus[ed] our troops of killing civilians.” Hannity then asked Democratic strategist Bob Beckel: “What's more offensive to you? Is it Barack Obama's statement about our troops or Ted Nugent?” In response, Beckel asked Hannity if he was “prepared to disavow this lowlife,” Hannity replied: “No, I like Ted Nugent. He's a friend of mine.” When Beckel later said that Nugent “ought to never come on your show again, and if you have him on, you ought to be ashamed of yourself,” Hannity responded: “Not at all. We have you on.”

As Media Matters also noted, on the January 12 edition of Fox News' Hannity, during a discussion with Meat Loaf and Rev. Al Sharpton, who had led one of several demonstrations around the country against degrading lyrics in the music industry, Hannity said, “I don't like the lyrics that refer to women as 'B's' and 'ho's,' and we've had many discussions about this.”

From the April 21 edition of Fox News' Hannity:

HANNITY: All right, there's the bathing suit part; there is the evening gown part -- but it's also -- isn't there beauty inside?

I mean, when 30 million-plus people watched this woman with this incredible voice on Britain's Got Talent -- I'm sure you saw the video of Susan Boyle -- there there's inward beauty. There's outward beauty. Isn't the contest -- isn't it supposed to be about both?

PREJEAN: It is. And it's about a young woman -- you're supposed to feel empowered. You're supposed to feel like you have a voice. You're supposed to feel like you're able to be you and to let your personality show, and to not be afraid of that.

And you know, Perez wanted me to be politically correct, and I'm sorry that I wasn't politically correct. I wanted to be biblically correct and state what I feel and what's true to my heart and what's true to my faith. And it is what it is.

HANNITY: What did you think when he went on this rant and actually used the “B” word? I mean, I can't think of anything more vicious, more mean, more insulting, more degrading, just because you have a different opinion, which, by the way, happens to be the majority opinion of people in the country --

PREJEAN: Yeah.

HANNITY: -- including mine. What did you think of that and how do you respond directly to him?

PREJEAN: You know, I forgive him. I know that he's angry for whatever reason. I know there must be a bigger issue going on in his life.