All My Children Discussion Group

Topic: My reporter friend met Sean Hannity in an elevator at the DNC

My friend Doug works for a San Francisco all-news radio station and has been heavily covering the elections through his work blog.  Today was Day One of the DNC and the guy already had stories to tell.  He's the kind of person that the most amazing things happen to.  Stuff you wish would happen to you, happens to him.  ALL THE TIME!!!

So today's blog mentioned his encounter with Sean Hannity in an elevator:

On the fun side, I did go down in the elevator with conservative talk show host Sean Hannity, who greeted me like a long-lost friend. Not recognizing him, I was confused and asked if we'd met before. He took off his sunglasses and introduced himself, praising KCBS and said he knew our station well, and that we run a solid news operation. This brilliantly disarming move kept me from sharing my honest opinion of his radio show. I asked him how he was doing here so far, and he muttered something about trying to avoid the liberals. I wished him luck with that.

After Hannity, his next brush with greatness was with my IDOLS - the Daily Show news team!

Then I literally ran into the entire "Daily Show" political team - all four of Jon Stewart's reporters - taping a not especially funny bit about how the food vendors in the arena are trying to outgreen each other (the pretzel stand recycles; the nacho stand has green salsa, etc.). I thought I would do a funny bit with them for the radio, since I did that at the last convention (GOP in 2004) with then-Comedy Central correspondents Mo Rocca and Stephen Colbert. The new guys? Not so funny. When the camera was off, they were as grumpy and stone-faced as all the other hot, sweaty, tired-legged media. Rob Riggle - I think that's his name - swore into my microphone. I guess I won't be using that on the radio!

Who'd have figured Hannity would be more polite than a fake newsman!?!?  LOL!  I would HATE to be in Denver right now.  It sounds like an absolute mess.  There aren't enough hotel rooms so everyone's staying within a 50 mile radius of the "epicenter," for lack of a better term. 

I find it interesting to hear behind the scenes stuff like this, so I thought I'd share.  Hope you enjoyed it, too.

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I've never met anyone who can stand him. He's a blowhard, IMO. But it's nice to know he can be complimentary, too. --susie

Maybe he thought he was talking to someone just like himself. / Vivian

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Posted by: girlygirl1124
Date posted: Tue Aug 26 11:29:50 2008
Message:

I so wish I was in Denver right now.  From whatever age I saw my first convention on TV, I've wanted to go.  They look like so much fun.  I'd love all that craziness.

Your friend sounds like he'd be a lot of fun.  Can you give us a link to his blog?  I'd like to keep up with it.

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If I were still in my 20s, the DNC would be a blast. I think I'm too old for all that insanity. : ) Doug's blog is at www.sovernnation.com. He's a terrific writer and I think you'll love the blog. : ) --susie

My daughter was supposed to go, but then decided she didn’t feel like she wanted to get into all the craziness either. / Vivian

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Posted by: Shea
Date posted: Tue Aug 26 6:15:23 2008
Message:

Strictly speaking, Hannity is not a "real" newsman either.  He makes it up pretty freely from what I've seen and heard. 

I have no real use for TDS's new news team members.  I just don't find them very funny.  I do like Larry Wilmore.  His ironic approach is more measured than most (more like Colbert).  Jon Stewart carries that show these days IMO.

 

 

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LOL. I never thought of it that way, but I suppose just because someone is on Fox as opposed to Comedy Central doesn't make them any more legitimate. : ) ITA that the Daily Show news team is not what it once was. I still love Samantha Bee, though! --susie

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Posted by: ingyandbert
Date posted: Mon Aug 25 21:26:19 2008
Message:
Too bad your friend didn't tell Sean Hannity, ''I wish I could say likewise.''  That would have been my response.

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*That is just the height of ignorance*....He was being friendly and complimentary. Why would anyone take that as an opportunity to insult the guy?

I totally see your point, Bubbs. I think Ingy was being tongue in cheek. She's far too nice a person to be rude to someone who paid her a compliment. --susie

Thank you susie, I'll take your word for it. I would hope that , as Sean Hannity demostrated, people can still act civil to one another even though they have different views. //Bubbs

I think I would have demonstrated that people can disagree without lying and promoting hate talk by saying something civil but respectfully letting him know I am dismayed that he so often chooses the low road to make his point. I'd have said it isn't really very patriotic to promote the type of divisiveness that allows a certain type of person to believe comparing a political rival to someone universally seen as *evil* is acceptable, and that he is in part responsible for encouraging the idea that the type of behavior he exhibits on his show (and allows his guests to exhibit) is in any way to be considered *political discourse.* //Shea

Thank you, Susie. I just have to add that a few nice words to one person in an elevator hardly makes up for the kerap that Hannity spews to millions of people on the air everyday. ~i&b

There's a time and a place for that. Sean Hannity was being pleasant and non-confrontational. His views are as valid to him as yours are to you and he is allowed to express those views any way he desires. I only watched his show once. From what I gather, it is very popular. I didn't like what he was saying about Rosie O'Donnell, so I turned it off and never watched again. Just because a person doesn't like his style of broadcasting or what he's saying, doesn't mean that you can't have a brief, friendly exchange. I doubt that in that setting, a lecture on how you feel he should broadcast his views would make any difference other than annoyance and rightfully so. Why hold so much anger at people who see things the way you do? It says more about your true character, than his. Relax. It's only politics with a dash of show business tossed in. //Bubbs

That end line should say Why hold so much anger at people who *don't * see things the way you do. I left out that very important *don't* word. // Bubbs

Bubbs, if only it were just stylistic differences. Hannity outright lies. ~i&b

I'm a little surprised at the harsh words, Bubbs. Why would you question a person's character based on what has been said here on this little board? And yet, you apparently are fine with Hannity's lies and manipulations on national radio/TV that his followers take as gospel. Have a nice day. // Shea

Harsh words? Really? Just common decency and accepting that even though not everyone shares the same POV, you can still smile and say hello. I'm surprised that someone who has embraced Obama's campaign of change and making this world a better place, would be so rigid and unwilling to turn the other cheek. Obama can ask for change all he wants, but it takes a willingness for his supporters to reach down inside themselves, swallow their bitterness and actually follow his lead. /Bubbs

Well said Bubbs!! Isn't that the truth. - Iwht

It’s not a case of disagreeing with Hannity, or of not sharing the same point of view. That would be easy. It’s his hatemongering and slanderous lies that make it hard to be polite to him, just as it would hard to be polite to Ann Coulter or Michelle Malkin. If I ran into someone as full of hatred as any one of them, I probably wouldn’t give them the time of day, but I see nothing wrong if someone wants to give them a piece of their mind. / Vivian

This board is full of lies and hatred about all things Republican. If it weren't so pathetic, you'd all be hilarious.

As Bob Casey said last night, *Barack Obama and I have an honest disagreement........but the fact that I'm speaking here tonight is testament to Barack's ability to show respect for the views of people who may disagree with him.* I can not understand how you can embrace Obama with such passion, Vivian, and say you are so inspired by his books , I would think you'd take his words to heart and apply them when they count the most. //Bubbs

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