Thursday, June 02, 2005

The problem I have with Sean Hannity

First of all, let me state that I like Sean Hannity and I like his radio program. I have a great deal of respect for him and I believe he is sincere in his beliefs, which is a breath of fresh air in today's media. I watched a video taken of him between on-air segments when he was in Florida covering the Terri Shaivo story. He proved to me then that he cares. But, having said that, I cannot let his comment concerning the impoverished in our country on yesterday's program go by without objection. What he said was this: "You don't want poverty? Get a job." I take exception to this comment. There are a great many people in this country, hard working people, that have jobs with incomes that are still below the national poverty level. Take anyone other than store management and higher that works at Walmart for example. There are many occupations around that don't pay enough money to live on. This is one of the problems that the liberal democrats say they want to solve, although they don't seem to have a workable solution in mind. All poor people in this country are not welfare whores and brats. When will conservatives address the problem of the WORKING POOR? Also, I noticed that occasionally, Mr. Hannity will cut off a caller when they start to complain about flaws in the conservative republican ideals. Recently, a caller started to complain that her family didn't get the compensation they were promised and/or entitled to when her son was killed in Iraq and he cut her short and then went on a diatribe about what his audience was doing to raise money for the children of sevicemen killed in the service of their country. I wanted to hear the rest of what she was saying but he didn't allow her to continue. One thing I did hear, that he didn't seem to, was that her son died without children, so her family would apparently not be eligible for help from his organization. While I wholeheartedly support his unselfish efforts to provide for the children of the servicemen, I think he should acknowledge the flaws in the system as well. Now, that would be fair and balanced to me. Don't get your hopes up, liberals, I am still 85% conservative.

3 comments:

Erudite Redneck said...

You have nailed my own dislike for Hannity. I think he's an arrogant jerk. Abd, here I'm about to lose the "you're Ok for a Democrat" remarks you've sent my way, but the following sounds to me like the actual motto of the Republican Party: "You don't want poverty? Get a job." Cold-hearted conservatism is one of ther biggest reasons I still stand, so alone, in the right wing of the Democrat tent. :-)

Mark said...

No way, ER, I have the utmost respect for a man who can present opposing opinions without resorting to personal attacks...,. I do wish you'd teach your contemporaries in the Democrat party how to do that. Hell, that might even be enough to make me rethink my party loyalties.

Pecheur said...

I'll comment here also since you created the thread.

I love Hannity. He's my favorite talk show host. And I missed his show when he made those comments.

But I believe there are some who are simply looking for govt hand outs. That is not to say that there are not those truly impoverished, for there are. It is the ones in true need that we are trying to help. But I wonder what had the particular person done to get a job? If nothing, then why? I would have liked to have seen more dialogue from Hannity to the caller, as you mentioned. If he had just kept his cool and given some more time to the caller he may would have justified his statement or been more sympathetic. I am worried that Hannity is cutting some people off more and more lately when he thinks they are being "stupid". Let them talk, then defend the position with civility.