Utahns cheer, jeer Hannity

The Deseret News ^ | 6/19/2003 | Leigh Dethman

[Utah Girl]

This whole brouhaha has us rolling our eyes here. About 25 people are upset with Hannity as a choice, we've had Larry King for FIVE years at this event. One letter to the editor suggested Walter Cronkite and/or Peter Jennings because they're so non-partisan. My mom heard Hannity's show today, apparently the publisher of the Daily Herald and the Salt Tribune apologized to Hannity about the letters that were published, Hannity's comments were taken out of context and misquoted. I think he will be a great emcee (even though I do not plan on attending the Stadium O'Fire.)

[nutmeg]

FoxFan ping!

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent FoxFan list.

[Utah Girl]

Here's the letter signed by the 24 people.

Who needs Hannity?

The appearance of Sean Hannity at the Freedom Festival will be an embarrassment to our city and state. How does his radical, hate-filled diatribe fit with the image of a Christian community? Certainly his type of "communication" does not mirror the thoughts of President Gordon B. Hinckley. In a recent speech, President Hinckley said, "We must look deeper for good and still our voices of insult and sarcasm." Sean Hannity has created a career with his voice of insult and sarcasm.

Hannity is fond of calling himself a "patriot" and, in so doing, uses one of the most obvious of propaganda techniques: labeling. Anyone who disagrees with him is, by extension, not a patriot. The truth is, most Americans love their country.

We do not believe that Sean Hannity truly represents the values of Utah County. Many of us are appalled by his mean-spiritedness.

The festival committee could have chosen someone who would represent our common ideals in an intelligent and non-partisan way. How disappointing that they chose an extremist who knows only the techniques of propgandizing and character assassination.

Vern and Dawn Brimley
Gene and Dorothy Bramhall
Louis and Chris Pope
18 others

Provo

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[CARepubGal]

No Sarcasm? Oh that would make it impossible to get through a day in my life! ;) Are Liberals living on the same planet the rest of us inhabit? :)

[Utah Girl]

And the responses to the letter. (the responses are great)

Readers come to the defense of Sean Hannity

The only reason the left is opposed to Sean Hannity's visit (to the Freedom Festival) is he speaks the truth. . . . If standing up for truth and right and standing up to those who oppose them is mean-spirited, then I guess I proudly stand with him, Rush and the rest of the "Vast Right Wing Conspiracy." —Bill Both, Salt Lake City

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Brimley, Bramhall, Pope and others condemn the appearance of Sean Hannity at the Stadium of Fire. This group of 24 is obviously out of touch with Utah County. Hannity is our voice and the voice of millions of other Americans. . . . Give the conservative majority a break and let us have one of our own every four or five years. — David Dixon, Provo

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A recent contribution to the Readers' Forum opined that Sean Hannity was an inappropriate choice for the Freedom Festival. I can agree with that inasmuch as Hannity is an admitted political partisan, and the Freedom Festival should ideally set aside the ideological wars and let us celebrate freedom as one people. However, it's also true that virtually any choice for a host would be divisive in some sense. Mr. Hannity does not represent my political views, but he stands out among the talk show cohorts as being a very amiable and respectful host, whose passion does not obscure his recognition of the humanity of his guests. — Andy Piereder, Lehi

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Although at times I find Mr. Hannity somewhat extreme and, on occasion, even a little obnoxious, I applaud his courage to stand up for what he believes and I admire his passion. . . I'm sure Mr. Hannity is intelligent enough to recognize the Freedom Festival for what it is and to appropriately use his time here to unite us in patriotism, not divide us in politics. — Dalene Rowley, Provo

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We have been watching Sean Hannity for a very long time, and we have enjoyed his willingness to confront mush-headedness. God prosper friend Hannity for aggressively exposing the pap and self-serving, sell-out designs that are coming from the misnamed "liberals," their minions in the old-line media, their dupes in academia, the current R, X to XX-rated "popular" and all of their ilk. — Lawrence B. Lee, Provo

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Let me get this straight. A group from Provo calls Sean Hannity a radical, hate-filled, insulting, sarcastic, mean-spirited, extremist, propagandizing character assassin, yet he is the one guilty of "labeling."

I have found Mr. Hannity's views to be intelligent, thought-provoking and logical. I have not always agreed with him, but I have never heard him use hate as the basis for his arguments. Let's not use "labeling" as the method for getting rid of it. — David A. White, Fruit Heights

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I write in response to a June 14 editorial supposedly stamped on behalf of 24 individuals from Utah County. What most perturbed me was the fact that the letter's author tried distinguishing Hannity's philosophy from that of LDS prophet President Gordon B. Hinckley, pathetically trying to prove their ideology stems from opposite sides of the spectrum. — Morgan Vance, Provo

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To those who are upset at the forthcoming appearance of Sean Hannity at Stadium of Fire, I have just one question — Can I have your tickets? — Tim Osborn, American Fork

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[Utah Girl]

My most favorite comment was by some guy who said "well, I signed the letter, but I didn't read it all the way through, and wow, I don't agree with the sentiments in it." Typical liberal.

[oyez]

Larry King hosted it last year

That's the root of the problem. Once a liberal is in place he can only be replaced in kind.

[kayak]

I'm LOL at that last letter ..... :-)

[Utah Girl]

Actually, Larry King has hosted it for the last FIVE years. His current wife is from Provo.

[Utah Girl]

It was a good one. :) I'm going to try to find out tomorrow if there are still tickets left, this show is very popular, I hope it is sold out.

[america-rules]

I like Sean and he's pretty good but he's a lightweight sometimes and can't see politics being played out when he needs to. Not that he should agree when he doesn't but sometyimes he seems shallow or slow to counter someone he's up against.

[kayak]

Sean has his shortcomings, no doubt .... but he's intensely patriotic. I'm not familiar with this festival but it sounds like someone who loves America with the fervor that Sean Hannity expresses would be a perfect host.

It's not a political rally, for crying out loud. [That remark aimed not at you but at the idiots who wrote that stupid letter.]

[dandelion]

Post the names... let's see if they are actually living in Utah, or if they even exist...

[CARepubGal]

LOLOL! That is classic! Leftists are really scary in small groups. The appalling lack of anthing resembling logic is amusing and terrifying. Hannity is a really good guy and will be a great host for the event. Although I thought Provo wasn't a leftist friendly place for some reason. :)

[patriciaruth]

The Fourth of July celebration committee shouldn't worry a bit about the negative letters. The liberals who wrote them never go to Fourth of July celebrations anyway.

[dandelion]

So far, this is what I've got...

Mr. Brimley is a professor at Brigham Young University, and an author of "Financing Education in a Climate of Change".

Louis Pope New Founder Louis Pope was recently named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Utah 1998, in manufacturing. His company, U.S. Synthetic, manufactures sintered polycrystalline diamond compacts for oil and gas drill bits. He founded U.S. Synthetic in 1978 and invited his father, Bill Pope to become the president of the company, while Louis served as General Manager and Executive Vice President. During 1985 he setup turnkey synthetic diamond plants in China and India. After designing, manufacturing and shipping each element of the plants, he spent several months establishing both facilities and training the employees in plant operation. Louis became President and CEO of U.S. Synthetic Corporation in 1992. Since that time, the company has been recognized among the top 100 fastest growing companies in Utah, ranking 30th in 1995, 16th in 1996 and 25th in 1997. Under Louis' direction, the company has become the leading manufacturer in the world of diamond cutters for the oil drilling industry, overtaking manufacturing giants like General Electric and DeBeers, his primary competitors. Louis Pope was born and raised in Provo, Utah. He received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA from BYU. He considers his five children and four (soon-to-be seven) grandchildren his greatest achievements. He is active in community affairs, and has been appointed to several committees by the Provo City Mayor. He has served on the Government Review Council, and on the Provo/Orem Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and is currently a Commissioner of Public Housing in Provo. He can be reached by email at: lpope@ussynthetic.com

Hmmmmmm.

[Mo1]

24 people wrote a letter ... ???

And one guy admits he never read the letter before he signed it??

[Movemout]

I listen to his radio show every few days. He isn't the brightest bulb in the chandelier but he tries hard to shape what I think is a good opinion. This petition is foolishness. Sean Hannity is a basically good human being.

[Hank Rearden]

It only took me about 3 months to become totally bored with Hannity. Thank God for Michael Medved's program; it's so much better to listen to a smart guy than a smartass.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!