A short time ago, I went against my doctor’s orders and tuned in to Sean Hannity’s radio show while in the car.
Not thirty seconds into my drive, a grandmother called in and expressed her concern over the New Black Panthers, which she no doubt heard about because Fox “News” has created and shamelessly promoted a phony controversy around the group, and she informed the nation that her grandchildren were very “pale faced.”
“Should I be worried?” she asked Mr. Hannity.
To which a normal, patriotic American with a relatively large national audience might respond with something like this:
Ma’am, you have nothing to worry about. I bet there aren’t a hundred authentic supporters of the New Black Panthers in the whole country, and I’m sure the FBI has its eye on every one of them. This is America, ma’am. Black folks don’t want to harm your grandchildren any more than you want to harm their grandchildren. Like white people, black people want good jobs, nice homes, nice cars, good friends, and the freedom to pursue all those things. So, don’t you worry about King Samir Shabazz or any other hatemonger.
But no, no, no. Hannity, a hatemonger himself, responded to this woman’s inquiry with an attack on the Obama Justice Department.
Shameful stuff, but it is Hannity’s modus operandi: use smear and fear all the way to the bank.
And because I am so pissed off about what I just heard, and because I am so pissed off about the way the right wing has been race-baiting lately, likely stirring up more unhinged hatred of Barack Obama, and because our side has refused to fight back with fury, from now on—until Hannity repents of his sins—I will use Hannity’s own tactics of smear and fear and refer to him as a filthy racist pig.
There, I said it. Sean Hannity is a filthy racist pig.
Doctor, I feel better now.
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The Erstwhile Conservative: A Blog of Repentance 
juan don
/ July 13, 2010Duane,
During one of our conversations sometime ago you succinctly described Hannity: Bottom feeder.
And that’s exactly what he is.
juan
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Duane Graham
/ July 13, 2010Juan,
Yes, I did say that. And I have since apologized to catfish everywhere.
Duane
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Jim Hight
/ July 14, 2010And to think that Hannity refers to himself as a Christian. Obviously, he has not read the New Testament.
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Bryan
/ January 5, 2011First and foremost, I am well aware that because I am white, what I am about to say will be discredited because of my skin color, which makes you racist. So for a moment, disregard my skin tone and really try to understand what I’m about to tell you.
You and I would both define the KKK as a hate group, yet the NBPP that you mention you seem to hold in high regard. The New Black Panther Party. Black Panther Party. They advocate for the advancement of black people, just as the KKK advocates for the advancement of white people. To say that the NBPP is not a hate group not only makes you racist, but highly nieve. Personally, I feel that the KKK and the NBBP or ANY party that advocates for the advancement of their perspective race as opposed to the advancement of the AMERICAN PEOPLE should be banished from the country as it only breeds hate. When was the last time you ever seen a group that was created for the advancement of their own race that was somehow not attributed to violence or racism? In this year 2011, everyone in the US should have equal rights, and we do to some extent. Ignore your own skin tone and mine, and investigate thoroughly on your NBBP.
Secondly, how dare you judge Hannity. Mentioning the repenting of his sins must mean you are religious. Judgement is a power reserved for God, not a lowly human. The very sin you are apparently accusing Hannity of (hate), you are now exhibiting yourself. Do not take this as Hannity’s defense, but I find it difficult to read the trash you are talking when you are coming off as a typical hipocrite.
Thirdly, to display 3 KKK members and claiming that Sean Hannity is in one of those gowns is not only distasteful, but dishonorable. You yourself are accountable for your own actions, and as angry at Hannity as you might be, you are not excused from ethics.
-B
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Duane Graham
/ January 6, 2011Bryan,
I wouldn’t discredit what you say just because you are white. In fact, it’s hard to tell the color of people’s skin on this side of the computer.
However, I must clear up a few things you accused me of.
First, I’m glad you define the KKK as a hate group. But you err in saying that I “seem” to hold the New Black Panther Party in “high regard.” And you err in saying that I don’t think the NBPP is a hate group. I don’t know where you might have got such an idea, since in the piece I refer to King Samir Shabazz as a “hatemonger.” In any case, the NBPP, to the extent it reflects Mr. Shabazz’s opinions (that’s all I know about it) is a group of haters. And since there are maybe four or five members in the whole world, I have no intention of “investigating” the group, thoroughly or otherwise.
As for your larger point about banishing groups that advocate for “the advancement of their perspective [sic] race,” I think I need to point out to you that this is America, notwithstanding the fact that Antonin Scalia sits on the Supreme Court. I don’t know exactly how you would go about banishing such groups without also trashing the Constitution. In any case, just because a group (the NAACP, for instance) argues for specific betterment of their group, doesn’t make it anti- or un-American. And such groups do not necessarily breed hate. It’s possible and totally American for folks to get together and argue for an “advancement” of their own interests without hating on others. Christians do it all the time.
Now, to the good part. How do I judge Sean Hannity? It’s easy. I listen to what he says and draw certain conclusions. In the case above, he was exploiting the fear of one of his gullible listeners. And he does it all the time. And he does it in exchange for cash. If you don’t find that reprehensible and worthy of condemnation, then I don’t understand where you are coming from. And it’s not necessarily “hate” for which I judge him, it’s exploitation. By the way, since I don’t share your religious convictions, I find it hard to understand how I can be a hypocrite by not living up to them.
And do you really think I expect people to believe that Sean Hannity is under one of those gowns? Huh? Did you think he was? Maybe that says more about you or Sean Hannity than it does me. It’s satire, Bryan. And Sean Hannity is fair game because he has made himself a public figure who comments on politics.
Finally, I do appreciate that you took the time to express your opinion on this piece. You seem like a good guy. And I hope you can appreciate that the point of this blog is partly repentance for past conservative sins and partly to offer criticism of contemporary conservative thoughts and deeds.
Duane
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