Hannity still playing “dumb” about Nugent's use of the “B” word on his show

Discussing Perez Hilton's remarks about Carrie Prejean, Sean Hannity stated, “I would think that you wouldn't want somebody that calls a woman -- any woman -- a dumb 'b' ever on your show.” However, Hannity previously aired footage of Ted Nugent calling Hillary Clinton a “worthless bitch,” then referred to Nugent as a “friend and frequent guest on the program.”

On the May 12 edition of his Fox News show, discussing his earlier interview with Miss California Carrie Prejean, Sean Hannity said: "[Blogger Perez Hilton] called her 'a dumb 'B.' I mean, how dare -- and not only that, he said he would've violently ripped off the crown off her head. I love Donald [Trump]; he's a friend of mine. I'm not sure why he said he would want [Hilton] back, or allow him back." Hannity added: “I would think that you wouldn't want somebody that calls a woman -- any woman -- a dumb 'b' ever on your show.” However, on August 24, 2007, Hannity aired concert footage of rock musician and right-wing activist Ted Nugent referring to then-Sen. Hillary Clinton as a “worthless bitch” and calling then-Sen. Barack Obama a “piece of shit.” 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.”

Nugent subsequently appeared on the October 13, 2008, edition of Hannity & Colmes to promote his book Ted, White and Blue: The Nugent Manifesto.

On the April 21 edition of his show, Hannity asked Prejean: “What did you think when [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.” During the January 12 edition of his program, Hannity also 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 May 12 edition of Fox News' Hannity:

HANNITY: Yeah. And you answered nicely and you answered delicately.

PREJEAN: I did.

HANNITY: You said I know there are people that disagree, so then the question is why did this become such a big deal?

PREJEAN: Well, it was Perez Hilton's hidden agenda that he had.

HANNITY: What do you think that is?

PREJEAN: Well, he's a gay activist, and he's very famous for, you know, insulting, particularly women. He doesn't insult men very often, and this would not be happening right now had he just, you know, gone on his way and said, I don't believe in what she said, but that's her opinion.

But he decided to make that video, not even an hour after the pageant had ended, and that's when the firestorm had begun.

HANNITY: You know, I kind of knew this because I know Donald Trump and he really went to bat for you today --

PREJEAN: He did.

HANNITY: -- and he pointed out you had taken a lot of abuse. Why don't you bring people into exactly -- for example, Perez Hilton, actually used the word -- called you a dumb B-word. Said if you had won the crown, he was going to rip it off your head.

I mean, tell me about some of the other abuse that you experienced.

[...]

KELLY KILLOREN BENSIMON (author and model): One of the biggest points of this whole topic is that Perez Hilton really sensationalized that moment.

HANNITY: He called her “a dumb 'B.' ”

BENSIMON: Right.

HANNITY: I mean, how dare -- and not only that, said he would've violently ripped off the crown off her head. I love Donald; he's a friend of mine. I'm not sure why he said he would want him back, or allow him back, 'cause I would think that you wouldn't somebody that calls a woman -- any woman -- a dumb “B” ever on your show.

BENSIMON: Well, he generated a lot of press.

HANNITY: Good point.