Hannity's Not a Gentleman or Journalist
Reported by Deborah - October 18, 2004 -
On Friday night,10/15, on Hannity&Colmes, Laurie Dhue reported on Teresa Heinz Kerry's tax returns which I posted about, Teresa's Daily Dose.Tonight, there was an entire segment devoted to the same story but framed and distorted to make Teresa appear devious and hypocritical.
10/18/04 9PM ET
During the headlines portion of Hannity&Colmes, Laurie Dhue reported that Teresa Heinz Kerry released her returns which revealed that she paid $800,000 in taxes and recieved a $250,000 dollar refund because she overpaid her estimated tax.
Tonight, Hannity changed the figure to $600,000 without mentioning the overpayment and refund which paints a slightly different picture. Then he and Tammy Brown made a big production about Teresa only releasing two pages of her returns which means that she has something to hide. Tammy Brown came off like Kerry was devious, disreputable, and untrustworthy. Hannity carried on about the lower percentage she paid compared to other's in her financial position. What is she hiding?
Colmes then mentioned a little detail that Hannity and Tammy chose to ignore. Seems that Teresa has a large chunk, over 2 million, invested in tax free municipal bonds bringing her income down from 5 to 3 million dollars.Hannity and the Fox headline claimed that Teresa paid on 12% when in fact it was much higher.
After trashing Mrs. Kerry's integrity, Hannity asks if the country really wants someone like this to be our First Lady, glibly mentioning her infamous " shove-it"
remark.
When he finally asks Eleanor Clift to remark, she claims that her sound has been off and has heard little of the conversation or question. (accident?)
Clift adds that the profession listed on the tax return is Philanthropist and that would certainly change her returns and tax liability. Clift added that the two pages released had all the valid information needed and only personal things were ommitted.
comment: This was a partisan hatchet job with no news merit and done solely to discredit the Kerry's. Hannity is so desperate to win this election, he will resort to the lowest form of tabloid like personal attacks. Of course, he is an expert on character defamation an ability honed at the expense of the Clintons.
