Lying for a “More Civil” Conservatism: Did FrumForum Repeat Slander Against Sean Hannity?

NewsReal ^ | 07/07/10 | Calvin Freiburger

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

David Frum’s self-serving war on talk radio has alienated many conservatives who once respected what he had to say, but the latest from his website may hit a new low.

FrumForum’s Tim Mak reports that a Mormon radio station in Salt Lake City has dropped Sean Hannity’s show, and it couldn’t possibly be a simple business decision:

While the station asserts that the move was made to make room for more local programming, the Salt Lake Tribune’s Glen Warchol reports that Hannity’s show apparently ran counter to the LDS-owned KSL radio’s new mission statement, which includes articles such as:

- I honor principles espoused by our owner in the products and services I provide.

- I promote integrity, civility, morality, and respect for all people.

- I seek to lift, inspire, and help others find enduring happiness.

I have no idea what KSL’s motives are, and transparently biased though it may be, it’s hardly news that the FrumForum gang is happy to take the speculation of some lefty blogger as fact over the radio station’s own stated reasons for their decision. No, it’s what comes next that crosses the line:

Warchol speculates that the controversial nature of Hannity’s show made it incompatible with these values, pointing to things that Hannity has said on his show, like: “I’ll tell you who should be tortured and killed at Guantanamo - every filthy Democrat in the U.S. Congress.” [Emphasis added.]

Such a vicious statement would certainly be enough to scare away stations, and rightly so. Here’s the thing, though: there’s no evidence Hannity said it.

Warchol’s source is a not-quite-professional blog called Political Quotes, which claims the quote comes from the June 15, 2005 broadcast of “Hannity & Colmes,” but provides no audio, video, or links to any transcript. All of my attempts to nail down the quotes’ origins thus far have led to the same place. Not even the obsessive-compulsive smear merchants at Media Matters have any record of the quote.

David Frum and Tim Mak owe Sean Hannity and their readers either a verification of the quote’s accuracy, or an apology for uncritically repeating it. Mak’s defense will probably be that, at most, he was too trusting of Warchol. That’s probably true as far as it goes—I doubt Mak knew the quote was fake—but it’s also probably true that Frum and followers relax their skepticism when it comes to whatever will reinforce their favored narrative: a heroic band of “reasonable” conservatives valiantly risking persecution to swim against an ever-increasing current of hatred, ignorance and dogmatism.

Frum and Mak surely know that the Left and the media routinely victimize conservatives, especially those in talk radio, with false quotations. And this wouldn’t be the first time FrumForum has played fast and loose with the truth to smear conservatives. He accuses Rush Limbaugh of knowingly damaging the conservative movement to advance his own success (but whines about “mind-reading” when his own ox is gored). When partial-birth abortionist George Tiller was murdered by a pro-life extremist, the website joined the campaign to cast Bill O’Reilly and the broader pro-life movement as sharing the blame. When Hannity’s work on behalf of soldiers’ families was smeared back in March, Mak commendably debunked the charges, but Frum somehow spun the story into an indictment of the rest of the Right.

The Right will always have a certain degree of genuine disagreement, and when it’s borne out of a sincere desire to do what’s best for our country, it can be healthy. But the conservative tent should never be big enough for liars.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Ping.

[Durus]

I confess...that is my quote. ;)

[Right Cal Gal]

Poor, poor David Frum. Jealous of Levin, who sells 1,000,000 books to his paltry 4,000; jealous of Hannity, who has a TV show and a radio show, while he is merely a “contributor” on occasion; jealous of Limbaugh, who is a real conservative with influence, while he is ignored by the TEA Party.

Get over yourself Frum. No one considers you a conservative except liberals.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

See also, from earlier today: David Frum Plays the Race Card (against Sarah Palin)

My, someone's been a busy little RINO this morning.

[a fool in paradise]

More wikiquote cyber-lynching of talk radio hosts with fraudulent transcriptions.

That is slander. It cost Rush Limbaugh his opportunity tot investing in a major league football franchise.

[LeonardFMason]

David Frum must wear his thong undies high and tight to have become such a bitter, angry, man.

[Liz]

I see Frum agrees with the Republican PTB:

We're the Republican Right. We got no Plan, got No Program, got No Leaders, got No Clue about what we're doing.

I guess that's why we had decisive victories in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Virginia, and so on. One desperate Dem, Critz, even ran as a conservative, voting against everything Ohaha stands for..... including health care, cap and trade, etc.

Yoo hoo, Frumpy baby----here's A Group With A Plan.

=============================================

BTW, there is a reward out for anyone who can determine what Frum and his pukeneo buddies actually do for a living. None of the pukeneos have any visible means of support, unless you count: (1) media prostitution, (2) infiltratng the US government, (3) endless think-tank pontificating on how nice it is to have US troops invade foreign countries, (4) squatting in the Repub Party, hoping to destroy it from within, and, (5) kicking so/con Repubs to the curb.

[Jabba the Nutt]

KSL in Salt Lake City decides to drop Hannity to produce more local content. Okay, how long will it be before Hannity has a new affiliate in Salt Lake?

3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . bzzzzt, time's up:

"Stu Stanek, General Manager at KNRS-FM, wasted no time snagging the top-rated conservative. In a news release Friday, Stanek announced that Hannity will be moving to the "Family Values Talk Radio" station on October 4."

That announcement is from July 2nd, which I found after predicting that Hannity will land another spot in Salt Lake City.

David Frum is a tool, a fool and a dip.

[Carley]

Bernie Goldberg is another who is jealous of Sean.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

We got no Plan, got No Program, got No Leaders, got No Clue about what we're doing.

[::singing::] "This ain't no party... ain't no disco... ain't no foolin' arounnnnnnnnnnd -- !"

Oops. Sorry. Involuntary "Talking Heads" flashback, there. My bad. I'm going to shut up now... ;)

[Liberty Valance]

http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/2010/03/my_fault_apolog/

[Liz]

Hey great idea---we lockup the pukeneos and play this 24/7 to break 'em. "This ain't no party... ain't no disco... ain't no foolin' arounnnnnnnnnnd -- !"

Just like they broke the Commie in the hilarious Cagney movie "One Two Three."

They cruelly played "She Wore a Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini," til the guy confessed.

[muawiyah]

Frum is reading my private stash of notes Fur Shur.

My latest ~ in response to the proposal to turn Dr.Donald Berwick loose on medical rationing schemes to advance the cause of Obamakkkare ~ was to demand the elimination of all medical services for Democrats.

It's my thesis that will eliminate long lines at emergency rooms, reduce demand for surgical services thereby bringing down costs for surgeons AND for critical care units, and best of all, free up a lot of ambulances for better use by Republicans!

Eventually someone is going to say Hannity said that.

So, now, Hannity DID NOT SAY THAT. I said that. I love to say it. I hope that others get the idea that payback is going to be very difficult for Democrats.

[rrrod]

How about CIVIL WAR against those trying to destroy this country?

Im sick on whiney GOP/RNC types whining and not fighting. Hanging is too good for them!

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

They cruelly played "She Wore a Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini," til the guy confessed.

Heck, if it'd been "Afternoon Delight," I would have confessed to the Rape of Nanking.

And then uncontrollably wet myself.

And then chomped gun barrel. ;)

[Liz]

Man, you’re s-o-o-o-o easy. LOL.

[Paul Ross]

Joe Scarborough fits in category 1. Media Tool

Obviously trying to become the next David Gergen.

[Paul Ross]

Hey!

No fair! That was one of my favorites from Bobby Darin!! Look at these wonderful lyrics...sheer genius!~

"She was afraid to come out of the locker she was as nervous as she could be she was afraid to come out of the locker she was afraid that somebody would see

Two three four tell the people what she wore

It was an Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini that she wore for the first time today an Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini so in the locker she wanted to stay

Two three four stick around we'll tell you more

She was afraid to come out in the open so a blanket around her she wore she was afraid to come out in the open and so she sat bundled up on the shore

Two three four tell the people what she wore

It was an Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini that she wore for the first time today an Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini so in the blanket she wanted to stay

Two three four stick around well tell you more

Now she's afraid to come out of the water and i wonder what she's gunna do now she's afraid to come out of the water and the poor little girls turning blue

Two three four tell the people what she wore

It was an Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini that she wore for the first time today an Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini so in the water she wanted to stay

From the locker to the blanket from the blanket to the shore from the shore to the water
yes there isn't any more"

[Liz]

You must see that “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” scene in the Cagney movie-—it is hilarious.