Hannity Makes Sure Guests Stay On Message

[Brooklyn Michael]

This from the print version of today's NY Daily News...Haven't found it online anywhere, but it's a good 'un, if COMPLETELY unsurprising.

NY Daily News
April 15, 2005

FOX News Host: Repeat After Me

If the conservative guests on FOX News's "Hannity and Colmes" sound especially on-message, that's because they're being coached by the best: Sean Hannity himself.

On the March 31 installment of the shouting-head show, the guests included two of the late Terri Schiavo's nurses, Trudy Capone and Carla Sauer Iyer, arguing that their patient wasn't brain-dead.

Between commercials, according to an off-air audio tape obtained by investigative comedian Harry Shearer for last Sunday's episode of his weekly radio program, "Le Show," Hannity coached the women on exactly how to respond when liberal co-host Alan Colmes cross-examined them.

"Just say 'I'm here to tell what I saw,'" Hannity can be heard instructing his guests. "No matter what the question, 'I'm here to tell you what I saw. I'm here to tell you what I saw.'"

Hannity adds helpfully: "Say 'I'm not going to be distracted by silliness.' How's that? Does that help you? Look into that camera. Look at me when I'm talking.

On the air, Iyer performs beautifully. "I don't have any opinions or judgments. I was there," she declares.

After the segment ends, Hannity gushes off the air to the nurses: "We got points out. It's hard, this isn't easy. But you did great, both of you. Thank you, guys. Those nurses are powerful, aren't they?"

On his radio show, Shearer injected, "Yeah, especially when they do what you tell 'em to do. Very powerful when they follw instructions from the host!"

A FOX News flack didn't respond to Lowdonwn's detailed message yesterday.

:puke:

[David__77]

1. The shame is that Colmes is inept by comparison.

So what about Hannity? He should do that, as a good propagandist--one committed to furthering a political line--should do. Colmes, however, ever the good, meek "liberal," fancies himself on a "higher plane," of abstract discourse in which all opinion should "be respected." Some here think that Colmes is especially inept for a liberal. I disagree. But he does encapsulate the ideological passivity of liberals. That's why, although I'm a leftist and a progressive, I'm no liberal. There's no room for ceding ground to the enemy. Sorry for my little rant...

[Demit]

2. How odd. All you're doing is defining liberal your own way

Liberals are passive. Therefore you're no liberal.

I just find that really odd.

[David__77]

4. It's just been a perception, but I'm a little bitter right now.

I'm just tired of hearing liberal speakers prevaricate and waffle where rightists will go to any length to maintain a consistent, digestible message. I feel like no one's willing to put aside their differences for the sake of a common, disciplined message. Doubtless, liberals have made great contributions. I'm just bitter, I guess.

[silvermachine]

5. Um, in case you didn't know...

...the show is a setup from the get go. Where in the HELL did they dig Colmes up from anyhow??? Do you really think that Fox would allow a real liberal to debate their boy???

[Tempest]

3. Need a link.

Please provide a link per LBN rules.

[wildmanj]

6. hannity

who in their right mind would be dumb enough to watch that asshole :bounce:

[tanyev]

7. Stay on target.... STAY ON TARGET!

[iconoclastNYC]

8. Link

Found it b/c i'm posting it on my blog

http://www.nydailynews.com/04-15-2005/news/story/300120p-256912c.html

[Moderator]

9. locking as per DU rules

Do not copy-and-paste entire articles onto this discussion forum. When referencing copyrighted work, post a short excerpt (not exceeding 4 paragraphs) with a link back to the original.

Thanks in advance.