Hannity again crops Obama's comments abroad in order to smear him
SUMMARY: Sean Hannity deceptively cropped President Obama's answer to a question about the Cold War to suggest that Obama did not acknowledge the actions of past U.S. presidents in freeing Eastern Europe.
On the July 7 edition of his Fox News show, Sean Hannity deceptively cropped President Obama's answer to a question from Fox News senior White House correspondent Major Garrett about the Cold War to suggest that Obama did not acknowledge the actions of past U.S. presidents in freeing Eastern Europe. In fact, as part of his answer, Obama stated, "I'm very proud of the traditions of Democratic and Republican presidents to lift the Iron Curtain," a comment Hannity edited out of the clip he aired of Obama's response.
Hannity aired the following clip:
GARRETT: In your speech this morning, you said the Cold War reached its conclusion because of the actions of many nations over many years.
Mr. President, are the Russian sensitivities so fragile that you can't say the Cold War was won, the West won it, and it was led by a combination of Democratic and Republican American presidents?
OBAMA: There were a whole bunch of people throughout Eastern Europe who showed enormous courage, and I think that it is very important in this part of the world to acknowledge the degree to which people struggled for their own freedom.
We don't have to diminish other people in order to recognize our role in that history.
From Fox News' transcript of Obama's July 7 interview with Garrett, with the portions of Obama's answer Hannity omitted in bold:
GARRETT: In your speech this morning, you said the Cold War reached its conclusion because of the actions of many nations over many years. Mr. President, are the Russian sensitivities so fragile that you can't say the Cold War was won? The West won it? And it was led by a combination of Democratic and Republican American presidents?
OBAMA: Well, listen, the -- I think that you just cut out Lech Walesa and the Poles. You just cut out Havel and the Czechs. There were a whole bunch of people throughout Eastern Europe who showed enormous courage.
And I think that it is very important in this part of the world to acknowledge the degree to which people struggled for their own freedom. I'm very proud of the traditions of Democratic and Republican presidents to lift the Iron Curtain.
But, you know, we don't have to diminish other people in order to recognize our role in that history.
After airing the cropped clip, Hannity said:
HANNITY: Unbelievable. Now, that's interesting, because Lech Walesa, the leader of the Polish Solidarity Movement, said this about the end of the Cold War; he said, quote: "We in Poland took him, Ronald Reagan, so personally. Why? Because we owe him our liberty. Now this can't be said often enough by people who lived under oppression for half a century."
Mr. President, if I were you, you may want to consider hitting the history books maybe before your next foreign trip.
Media Matters for America has documented a pattern by Hannity and other Fox News personalities of cropping Obama's comments abroad to misrepresent their meaning.
From the July 7 edition of Fox News' Hannity:
HANNITY: And tonight in "Hannity's America": The president is in Russia, and, this morning, he sat down for an interview with our own Major Garrett. Now you won't believe his answer to Major's very first question.
[begin video clip]
GARRETT: In your speech this morning, you said the Cold War reached its conclusion because of the actions of many nations over many years.
Mr. President, are the Russian sensitivities so fragile that you can't say the Cold War was won, the West won it, and it was led by a combination of Democratic and Republican American presidents?
OBAMA: There were a whole bunch of people throughout Eastern Europe who showed enormous courage, and I think that it is very important in this part of the world to acknowledge the degree to which people struggled for their own freedom.
We don't have to diminish other people in order to recognize our role in that history.
[end video clip]
HANNITY: Unbelievable. Now, that's interesting, because Lech Walesa, the leader of the Polish Solidarity Movement, said this about the end of the Cold War; he said, quote: "We in Poland took him, Ronald Reagan, so personally. Why? Because we owe him our liberty. Now this can't be said often enough by people who lived under oppression for half a century."
Mr. President, if I were you, you may want to consider hitting the history books maybe before your next foreign trip.
I hate to say it, but the man is pure filth. Pure hate. He's a great danger to democracy.
Black American Presidents.
Charlie Wison's war was a good movie sir, but really, do you believe everything you see in the movies? don't fool yourslef into thinking that Congressman Charlie Wilson and a CIA bureau chief secretly sent arms and trained guerilla's without knowledge of the Executive branch.
Heck, by the end of his term he didn't even know what he had for breakfast.
Reagan's military build-up is often seen as one of the major reasons for the breakup and I believe it was a catalyst. Other factors include the credit crunch in the third world that shutoff Soviet exports and the collapse of the world commodities market that in the end actually bankrupted the Soviet system.
Giving all of the credit to Reagan is an overstatement, but I agree that his military buildup was a major factor.
Following the USSR’s previous large military buildup, President Reagan ordered an enormous peacetime defense buildup of the United States Military; the Soviets did not respond to this by building up their military because the military expenses, in combination with collectivized agriculture in the nation, and inefficient planned manufacturing, proved a heavy burden for the Soviet economy. It was already stagnant and in a poor state prior to the tenure of Mikhail Gorbachev who, despite significant attempts at reform, was unable to revitalise the economy.
Gaidar, Yegor (2007-10-17) (in Russian). Collapse of an Empire: Lessons for Modern Russia. Brookings Institution Press. pp. 190–210. ISBN 5824307598.
The covert war that the US supported certainly was part of fall of the Soviets, but the majority of the credit goes to Gorbachev... he's the one who enacted change within the country that ultimately led to the fall of the Communist Party.
Horror of horrors! It can't be!! A wild-eyed liberal helped out too? With his own money? Nooooooooooo!
I bought a new T.V. for my bedroom right after 9/11 and since I had that T.V. this country has not been attacked. My T.V. is keeping us safe. You're all welcome.
No, history does not clearly show that. Try again.
How Reagan won the Cold War. - By Fred Kaplan - Slate Magazine
http://www.slate.com/id/2102081/
Big deal....another opinion piece. *Yawn*
I raise you two:
http://marc.perkel.com/2004/06/11/reagan-did-not-win-the-cold-war/
http://www.dkosopedia.com/wiki/Reagan_won_the_cold_war
Using this line of reich-wing "logic", herr dubyah caused 9/11 because he was the sitting president.
Did Reagan tell the Soviet Union to invade Afghanistan?
How exactly will history clearly show that Reagan won the cold war...
It's like giving the kicker credit for winning a game by kicking the extra point, instead of the offense for scoring the touchdown.
Reagan deserves some credit, history will show that he encouraged Saudi Arabia to increase oil production to lower the price of oil to 1/3 of its cost which lowered Soviet export revenue.
History shows that Glastnost brought some democracy to the Soviets and Perestroika brought economic reforms... these were the two major catalyst of the end of the Cold War. Reagan had nothing to do with that.
Is it possible that Sean doesn't know that these pieces are missing?
If not, at what point does it become slanderous? The bar is pretty high for slander with a public figure but, it shouldn't be difficult to prove 'malice' given Hannity's pattern of manipulating quotes and then attacking the President based on the altered quotes.
Really? Why stop at that? Why not live sex shows and executions? Where does this "right to spew filth on tv" begin and end?
And in case you hadn't noticed, there already are restrictions on what can be said/shown on television and radio.
I see how the Right has taken advantage of the law. But as a practical matter I can't imagine how to restrict political speech for the present without setting up a much worse problem down the line when the GOP regains power. Maybe it can be done. I'd like to hear how.
They need to be stopped before their fascist vision for America becomes our reality too. And for all you dipstick con mf-ers who want to try to tell us that we are trying to silence those with whom we disagree: you can kiss off. Inciters of domestic terrorism like Hannity do not deserve the media platform he was awarded by Fox.
Remember dissent is patriotic!
As for MSNBC, they can kiss off too.
Hannity IS dissent to MSNBC and the other networks.
If you want to call lies dissent then I submit that you are another fascist propagandist in the mold of your sniveling tea bag terrorist, Sean Hannity. MSNBC is just another wing of the corporate conservative attack media machine.
So, you're comparing a liberal blog to a Cable "News" Station? Really? Wow.
So, you're admitting that Faux is not "fair and balanced" Thanks.
Plus, he is either REALLY dumb (because he gets stuff wrong ALL THE TIME) or he is completely dishonest (because he gets stuff wrong ALL THE TIME)- either way, the *man* is a tool and disseminating lies and propaganda.
Here is a link to my search:
http://www.dailykos.com/search?offset=0&old_count=30&string=trig+palin&type=story&sortby=time&search=Search&count=30&wayback=1051200&wayfront=0
Here is a quote from the first Dailykos article ever to mention Trig Palin:
"I don't think the evidence is there to claim Trig is Bristol's son..."
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/1/13540/20367
Really? Please -- cite when Kos or MSNBC aired cropped quotes of President Bush . . . include date, time, and subject.
I'll wait.
"Remember dissent is patriotic!" - netsez
Funny -- that's not what you wingnuts were claiming just a short time ago; it was not unpatriotic, it was a symptom of some new mental disorder {"Bush Derangement Syndrome"} . . .
I know for awhile here somebody was posting the link to a court's decision on Fox News and telling the truth (or not). I guess this is more of the same.
Obama Can't Even Acknowledge US Won Cold War
By Bob Ellis on July 8th, 2009
http://www.dakotavoice.com/2009/07/obama-cant-even-acknowledge-us-won-cold-war/
Total freakin' dirtbags.
For the benefit of Fox viewers: "pernicious" means "destructive".
from:
to:
And he responds by suggesting you did not even read his piece? WOW! Um, Ellis, he caught your horrific misquote, I think it's safe to say he read your piece.
Bob Ellis crops President Obama's words to fit under his false headline and he's not man enough to admit it. Dirtbag.
I loved his "Obama grudgingly acknowledged [the US] in the briefest and most shallow of terms when led to it by Garret [sic]" reply to you.
Obama said "I'm very proud of the traditions of Democratic and Republican presidents to lift the Iron Curtain" in response to Garrett's VERY FIRST QUESTION of the interview.
I'm so sick of the lying haters.
He thinks Obama grudgingly said "I'm very proud of the traditions of Democratic and Republican presidents to lift the Iron Curtain."
He thinks Obama said this so grudgingly that Ellis decided to omit Obama's words entirely from his "Obama Can't Even Acknowledge US Won Cold War" piece.
Ellis is a dirtbag.
They are the change they have been dreading
I told Bob Ellis to "quit whining and crying about your life, suck it up, get some Prozac, and get a real job, loser."
By the way, I refused to vote for Obama. I voted Socialist Workers' Party, which was strongly against the Bailout for the ultra-rich Banksters, AIG Insurance, and Hedge Fund operators. Goldman-Sachs did not need a stimulus to create more jobs for Yacht makers and the French Riviera or wherever they go on vacation.
Obama taking all the Red Ink from mortgage ponzi schemes and putting it on taxpayers is no more socialist than when Poppy Bush took over all the Savings and Loan Thrifts, wiped out all their bad debts, and auctioned them off back to the same criminals, such as Neil.
That's how capitalism really works - constant bailouts from workers in the bottom 90%.
Isn't Bob Ellis the name of George W. Bush's cousin at Fox News, the guy who "corrected" ABC and NBC on Gore's victory in Florida, when the numbers suddenly flipped and Bush was suddenly on top?
Because "Jeb" is John Ellis Bush, I'm pretty sure "Ellis" is one of their "extended bloodlines". It would be more honest if that Dakota site had the disclaimer, "I'm GWB's cousin".
I think we can say that Bob Ron Burgundy'd that article.
...Or did Hannity Veronica Corningstone Bob?
You know, one doesn't have to say "we won" to imply that we won. In fact, I would hate to be a sore winner about wars.
I dare Hannity to go to Europe and state that the U.S. won the Cold War. I'd dare Michael Savage the same thing, but he can't go to England, so I doubt he'd be very welcome in Europe either.
There were many bedtime for bonzo jokes in the 80s. They were disrespectful. But not outrageous.
what is a little ridiculous is that people on the right absolutely _screamed_ that it was totally inappropriate, and that if you leave an acting career and go on to do good things, you shouldn't be tarred by funny/awkward moments from your acting career for the rest of your life.
....and then "Senator Stuart Smalley". yeah, we're going to hear a lot of that. But AF has proved himself quite a thinker and policy wonk, has proved himself a reasonable choice as senator to millions of people in MN. And, I think, he'll prove himself an able - if very left wing, which means he won't get as many pieces of legislation named after him and won't get as many of his original pieces of legislation through the senate - Senator. Someday, we may listen to the right choke on "President Stuart Smalley."
But I doubt it. He's just not authoritarian enough to want the job. And he wouldn't want to compromise the amount he would need to in order to win the moderates.
So, criticize faux if you want to, but on this point I think they are disrespectful, condescending, smug, etc... but still within the bounds of common nose-tweaking-of-the-powerful.
At least they didn't create a false quote or picture to make him look extreme or infantile. I know no one would do that!
Ya don't talk smack about Reagan or Palin.
And you better say that Reagan won the Cold War.
Look out, here comes the faux outrage!!
If you're going to suggest that Hannitard pick up a book, you might as well remind him to grab the crayons while he's at it, or it's doubtful he'll bother to crack it open.
Then I reconsidered, and thought "what if he picks up the wrong book? Do I really want him desecrating Pride and Prejudice, or or Tom Sawyer, or The Bobbsey Twins by exposing them to the scrutiny borne by his intellect?
No, I think it's a bad idea all around.
I think my head just exploded!
In other words, stop the BS, or you're cut off.
I'm surprised that Fox let that last line of President Obama's slip into the context of their message, because it shows how graceful, respectful, and intelligent our President truly is.
We don't have to diminish other people in order to recognize our role in that history.
Does Hannity and his gang of fools understand what that last line means? How taking the high road gives us credibility with other nations. We don't have to be the dumb jock, trash talking, nation that apparently the right wing wants us to be. President Obama is Barry Sanders to the Republican Dennis Rodman.
President Obama has Class and I for one am relieved, thankful, and proud not having to be embarrassed and apologetic whenever our President travels to other nations.
http://sayanythingblog.com/entry/barack_obama_forgets_where_he_met_michelle/
Remember when people laughed at Bush for these kinds of things?
Ah, good times...
Who is making this claim?
Link here
http://freedomswings.wordpress.com/2008/11/11/obama-is-our-smartest-president/
Apparently you have zero grasp of facts and reality because you keep citing opinions as fact.
Try again.
Where is the consensus and proven facts that Obama is the most brilliant President ever? We'll wait...
Then, why did you say this "The most brilliant President ever cannot....."?
You're not very good at this. How typical of a teabagging terrorist.
Try again....
Two clear signs of a true wingnut Fox Comedy Channel devotee:
1) They confuse opinion with fact
2) They confuse ratings with content
Yes, and those who laughed at herr dubyah were called "Anti-American" and "terrorists" and were told they were "hurting the troops".
"Ah, good times... "
And in reply, we were asked, "Why do you hate America?"
Yes, the Democratic Party that elected a black president is "racist". Brilliant "logic", you inbred hick.
=========
"So might Obama fib about this? Because he really met Michelle at a law firm job he got through William Ayers and his wife Bernadette Dohrn."
I mean, hell -- on the scale of critical things in the universe, I'd rank Obama forgetting where he first met his wife somewhat below Bush forgetting the fact that he said about bin Laden, "I'm not that concerned about him."
I'm in the corner with a few who have said they stand by this guy's right to free speech, but as someone else asked, when does it end? How far are these guys willing to take it, so it suits their agenda and fits in with their ideaology?
One of Hannity's favorite line's is: "2009 is the year journalism died" Well Sean, you're right out in front leading the pack.
I won't paint a broad stroke over every Fox viewer because that's not fair, but it is certainly scary that there are a lot of people out there (in my own family too) who take what they hear on this cable channel as gospel; very scary indeed.
Keep up the fight MM, we need you!
What's more - it was "won" via DIPLOMACY. Something completely lost on these neocon clowns. And who was the true benificiary of this victory? It seems to me that we (the U.S.) haven't gained any capitalism or freedom since then. (Arguably we've lost a bit of both!) If Capitalism, and Democracy are the true prizes, then the only beneficiary of America's Cold War "victory" was RUSSIA!
(These people really can't wrap their tiny brains around complex issues, can thay?!)
Well, it looks like poor Seannie Poo's just gonna have to remain unhappy -- 'cause it seems China, Russia, NK, Cuba, and Vietnam didn't get the memo . . .
http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110005204
"The 1980s were a curious time--a time of realization that a new age was upon us. Communism was coming to an end. It had used up its means and possibilities. The ground was set for change. But this change needed the cooperation, or unspoken understanding, of different political players. Now, from the perspective of our time, it is obvious that like the pieces of a global chain of events, Ronald Reagan, John Paul II, Margaret Thatcher and even Mikhail Gorbachev helped bring about this new age in Europe. We at Solidarity like to claim more than a little credit, too, for bringing about the end of the Cold War." - Lech Walesa
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
Sean Hannity
This is outrageous he can get away with this?
Hello abuse of freedom of speech.
Will it ever stop? What's the line Fox has to cross before being taken off the air?
Randy
Hannity: Pure propagandistic drivel as always.
They have a ready-made audience that thrives on hate and fear.
What a POS.
He needs to be outed.
Someone needs to produce a two hour long saga about Hannity, Limbaugh, Beck, et al. Show these people at work; show how they mislead, lie and contort facts for nothing but their own avarice.
These "commentators", more like "story tellers", hold up the banner of patriotism and constantly misuse the good name of our country.
These people are true traitors.
Fair to the right wing and trying to tip the balance in its favour.
Sean, is a waste of perfectly good air time. Imagine the un-American up roar if anyone did the is a Neo-Con like him.
Obama made is look as if America couldn't do it without eastern Europe's support. The reality is that Eastern Europe couldn't do it without US backing, which Hannity made it clear with the polish quote.
We don't have to diminish other people in order to recognize our role in that history.
Notice he DID aknowlege our contribution.
As a buddy of mine once said, "if you're comfortable with the size of your package, you don't have to run around telling people how big your package is". This bravado is the right wing projecting their insecurity, and it would be damn entertaining if it weren't so damn scary.
"Reality" according to WHO? Didja ever think that, according to the Eastern Europeans, WE couldn't have done it without THEIR backing??
i dont get it is hannity a reporter or the leader of the opposition he has absolutely forgotten the basics of journalism the elections are over done with obama is the president as far as i know obama said it well there is only one president at a time live with it
The right wingers led by Hannity complete chopped off the other hand and used the first part for their nefarious Anti-Obama propaganda. They question the President's patriotism and thump their chest like a Gorilla to show their Patriotism. They believe this kind of blatant self-aggrandizement will make the world to cow-tow to the mighty USA. These ignoramuses do not realize that their approach will only bolster hatred and disdain for our country. Certainly damages our aganda of being a leader of the new world.
Apparantely... Let's see how many thumbs down I'll get, from people who are on this site to do nothing other than "thumb down" and not read the articles!
That don't need to read anything. They don't need to think. All they need is to listen to thier supreme leaders, Rush, SeannieTheSissyBoy or just Fox News. Tehn and only then do they appear, puke up what they just heard and go away. "No Knowledge Necessary". is a sign posted above the doors of the news rooms at Fox. Before anyone enters, the reach up and touch it. It gives them a good feeling.
For example, yesterday afternoon, Wednesday, the Pirates played a day game and there was NO Rush or Hannity. My Connies, not commies, couldn't discuss anything. Thier thought process is nil without the daily verbal injection of ninconpoop information.
Hannity had 2 one hour Fox News specials right before the election, which were nothing short of despicable in his smears, lies and outright hatred towards the Obamas.
If you have never done so, visit his website forum "Washington Politics" sometime, for a REAL eye opener into who this man really is! For a very long time, one of Hannity's forum MODERATORS had as his Username Avatar, a short video clip of a white male cocking a huge pistol and shooting it into the air. A cartoon figure of a black man then fell head first to the gtound in front of the shooter! Based on his own standards of "guilt by association", Hannity is responsible and apparently condones all the hate-filled, bigoted, seditious, and outright racist posts there!
Weak.