March 23, 2005
News Hounds to FOX News and Sean Hannity: Be Man Enough To Admit The Truth
Yesterday, we posted evidence that Sean Hannity misrepresented the credentials of Dr. William Hammesfahr, who appeared on Hannity & Colmes Monday night, 3/21/05, and gave the Hannity-pleasing opinion that Terri Schiavo is "like a child with cerebral palsy" who "absolutely" can be rehabilitated and talk one day. As I posted yesterday, Sean Hannity stated several times in a FOXNews.com transcript that Dr. Hammesfahr had been nominated for a Nobel prize when, in fact, he had not been formally nominated. According to Media Matters, Hannity repeated the claim eight times during the course of the interview.
Now, new allegations have arisen further casting Dr. Hammesfahr's credibility into doubt. Yet according to Deborah's post and the FOXNews.com website, neither Hannity nor FOX News have made any move to alert the public about these highly relevant facts of the guest they presented as a credible expert.
According to mediamatters.org,
In February 2003, the Florida Board of Medicine ruled that (Dr. Hammesfahr) violated state law by charging a patient for services that were not provided (Finding of Fact No. 71, PDF p. 40). The board fined Hammesfahr $2,000, placed him on probation for six months, and ordered him to pay approximately $52,000 in administrative costs and to perform 100 hours of community service. While the board also ruled that Hammesfahr's treatment of stroke patients, using a procedure he has claimed could help Terri Schiavo, was "not within the generally accepted standard of care" (Finding of Fact No. 55, PDF p. 33), it declined to rule that the treatment was harmful to his patients and noted that some patients improved after treatment.
Did Hannity simply fail to check the background of his guest or did he not care about the ethical questions about someone espousing a sympathetic point of view?
Yesterday, the News Hounds received a gmail addressed to us as well as Hannity providing the information about Hammesfahr's "nomination." So we know that Hannity has learned of Hammesfahr's misrepresenation about his nomination.
Did Hannity not care? How else to explain the fact that the transcript of the Monday night interview with Hammesfahr remains on the FOXNews.com site, with four references to the nomination (Note: I erroneously posted yesterday that there were three). No correction has been posted nor is there any information provided about Dr. Hammesfahr's other ethical challenges that cast doubt on his credibility. In fact, the headline of the transcript makes him sound authoritative: "A Doctor Who Has Examined Terri Talks with Hannity & Colmes."
Is this the same Sean Hannity and FOX News that so berated Dan Rather for using biased, untrustworthy sources? For example:
Hannity: There is a ton of circumstantial evidence (of CBS bias). They went to obvious political operatives like Lieutenant Colonel Burkett, who was visible, an outspoken critic of President Bush. Then they went to Ben Barnes, a well-known supporter and a huge fundraiser for John Kerry. It's clear that they had a political agenda here. You cannot do that unless you have a political agenda. Your journalistic ethics would forbid you from doing otherwise. (my emphasis)
...Dan Rather was out there in front. Now I know he announced his retirement but he doesn't seem to be paying any price in all of this... You look at Jayson Blair. You look at "The New York Times." You read "The New York Times" editorials. You see this particular case, I believe clearly political.
...It is so transparent to me that this is why people have found those alternative sources of information. I believe, and tell me if I'm nuts, talk radio has become popular to fill a void of bias and political agendas like this. You look at Jayson Blair. You look at "The New York Times." You read "The New York Times" editorials. You see this particular case, I believe clearly political. And I think talk radio, FOX News, the bloggers, Matt Drudge, all successful because this is institutionalized at the networks. 1/11/05 Hannity & Colmes
Comment: What a case of the pot calling the kettle black! A truly fair and balanced news network would admit their mistake and let their audience know the truth about their guest - and stop attacking other news outlets for similar mistakes.
The neoCONS, their supporters and their ilk are above reproach. They are out to save the world, and save it they will, by any means. GWB has a direct line to God, as does Bob Jones, Jerry Falwell and Ashcroft (He probably left for more $$ due to the long distance charges to God).
The war has been extended to all parts of our fallen world. Just let Bush and his friends set things right, and until they have finished, do the right thing and SHUT UP!
Posted by: Kent Brockman at March 23, 2005 04:10 AM
Fox is all about the clap for tinkerbell journalism
Posted by: jr at March 23, 2005 04:50 AM
Did anyone else notice that this guy's "nomination" letter, which can be found at http://www.hnionline.com/nobel_prize_nomination.htm actually uses the phrase "Nobel PEACE Prize in Medicine"?
Ummm, okay. Is that a new award they're giving out? Did I miss a meeting?
Posted by: John at March 23, 2005 06:59 AM
The only bigger fraud than Dr. Hammesfahr is Sean Hannity himself. And no other vehicle has blatantly exposed him as such in recent memory than this case. The Schaivo matter has exposed Hannity as:
1. A Liar
2. A Fraud
3. A Phony
4. A Conspiracy Theorist
5. A Cheap Sensationalist
6. A Willful Propagator of Misinformation
7. An Exploitationist
7a. Someone so low, he's not beneath exploiting both someone in a ->PERMANENT<- Vegatative State and/or their family for ratings and to further the strategy of the GOP
8. A Right Wing Shill
9. Utterly Immoral and Unethical
10. A Political Pornographer
11. An Asshole
The arguments for keeping Schaivo, who has only a functioning brain stem, as severe atrophy has resulted in her cerebral cortex being replaced with spinal fluid, from her right from a peaceful death - as was her will, as determined numerous times by the courts, are beyond mute.
This is clear to anyone who isn't either the most irrational, illogical fanatic or who despicabley hopes to gain political capital from this case.
Posted by: Rupert MurDick at March 23, 2005 07:39 AM
"Why, don't be so modest, Dr. Hammesfahr.
"...or should I call you 'HERR DOKTOR PROFESSOR' Hammesfahr?
"You seemed to enjoy being called that, back at the Academy in Leipzig. Oh, but -- silly me -- that was BEFORE all that unpleasantness with the authorities. Something about a little girl, wasn't it? Quite tragic, really. Regrettable. But Science is a war, and wars have casualties. I'm sure it couldn't be helped.
"Brandy, Herr Doktor?"
Posted by: Rotwang at March 23, 2005 08:10 AM
If you are waiting for Sean Hannity to admit the truth, you may be in for a long long wait.
Posted by: Wes Powell at March 23, 2005 09:05 AM
Sean Hannity political pornographer, could careless about the truth and his Minitrue viewership agree with him. This isn't a news network it is an entertainment network with all the credibility of "Fear Factor". My apologies to “Fear Factor”.
Posted by: il128 at March 23, 2005 09:12 AM
I'm surprised scumba-I mean, J$ isn't trying to weasel a saving grace for his icon. Actually, last I checked, he was too busy extolling the virtues of the discredited nurse.
Man, that guy gets under my skin.
Posted by: Argos at March 23, 2005 09:28 AM
When will someone remove Hanninty's feeding tube so we can all get some peace. My concern over the government intruding into every facet of my life is being played out today. The polls show the outrage the American public are expressing. When will the Democrats start taking advantage of this outrage?
I love my country, but I fear my government.
Posted by: Mike The Y at March 23, 2005 09:31 AM
Even O'Reilly on his Tuesday Radio Show dismisses this guy as nothing more than a shill for the anti abortion forces.
Posted by: rick at March 23, 2005 09:48 AM
If you tune in the AM right-wing hate-fest radio, an interesting phenomenon can be observed. Since their "base" is split on this one, it almost seems their strategy is to have some hosts take the (A)"pro-life" nutcase stance, and others taking the rational (B)"individual-right-to-die-without government interference- after the matter has already been decided in the courts and state laws were followed" stance. Locally, in the Philadelphia area:
GOP Radio Hosts:
1. Michael Schmerconish (local)... B
2. Glenn Beck (syndicated)... A
3. Sean Hannity... A
4. Limbaugh... A
5. O'Reilly... B
Kinda an interesting phenomenon. Most callers are of the illogical, irrational "A" stance. Schmerconish - a lawyer, for the first time, seemed quite frustrated this morning with his audience's inability to reason.
I really think the GOP miscalculated this one. A significant portion of their base seems rightfully outraged at their willingness to trample the constitution, write legislation on behalf of an "individual", and interfere with a private decision regarding a case that - though tragic, is really not all that extraordinary. Though they would never say it, I sense that many conservatives are also disgusted, as well they should be, by the exploitive, lowbrow politics exhibited here.
Posted by: BushisOurRuination at March 23, 2005 10:09 AM
Hannity and company may have finally over reached on this one. Lets hope.
Posted by: james at March 23, 2005 10:16 AM
BushisOurRuination:
Ironic, ain't it?
Posted by: Rotwang at March 23, 2005 10:17 AM
smerconnish is probably the more logic of all the right wing leaning hosts i've heard. Smart guy.
I wonder if he could imagine, that his frustration of his listeners to reason, is because they've lost the ability to do so, because they've been conditioned to dwell on talking points, not by his doing...but by the ideology of people that listen to this stuff.. We all know that talk is cheap.
Posted by: happyK at March 23, 2005 10:23 AM
You people with your dirty comments about
Sean Hannity make me sick. You are all so jealous of him you don't know what to say or
do with yourselves. Sean Hannity is honest,
intelligent, full of morals and has class that
none of you know anything about.
Posted by: Jennifer at March 23, 2005 11:13 AM
The ruling from the 11th Ciruit Court holds an interesting tidbit. The Schindlers not only wanted the court to force the feeding tube back into Mrs. Schiavo, but they also asked the Court to force the doctors to perform "...any medical treatment necessary to sustain her life..."
The Court also shows thast CONgress screwed up big time if they wanted the Courts to force the reinstertion of the feeding tube, as the dissenting opinion judge said that CONgress wanted to "maintain the status quo". The other judges pointed out that the status quo is that Mrs. Schiavo is not receiving nutrition and hydration.
Yep, CONgress actually mandated that the feeding tube NOT be reinserted!!! As usual, if you want something screwed up, turn it over to the GOP!
"Our dissenting colleague says that “the denial of Plaintiffs’ request for an injunction frustrates Congress’s intent, which is to maintain the status quo.” Dissenting Op. at __. The status quo is that Mrs. Schiavo is not receiving nutrition and hydration. The plaintiffs do not want the status quo maintained. They want this Court or the district court to issue an injunction affirmatively requiring the respondents to change the status quo by bringing about the surgical procedure necessary to reinsert the feeding tube into Mrs. Schiavo."
The dissenting judge made it clear that he felt the court should become activists and not follow the law by deciding the case itself, not just the appeal before the court. Thankfully he was the minority.
Bill Kristol was on Faux this morning saying that the judges had refused to do what Congress had mandated- issue a stay. Bill Kristol is full of BU**SH**.
The Court found that in fact, CONgress had specifically not mandated a stay. The Court cited the Senate record where Bill Frist specifically stated that the bill would not mandate a stay.
"Mr. FRIST. I share the understanding of the Senator from Michigan, as does the junior Senator from Florida who is the chief sponsor of this bill. Nothing in the current bill or its legislative history mandates a stay. "
The Court issued a sound ruling. I am sure the trolls will never accept that as fact, but I think anyone with a rational mind will see the Court acted properly:
"There is no denying the absolute tragedy that has befallen Mrs. Schiavo. We all have our own family, our own loved ones, and our own children. However, we are called upon to make a collective, objective decision concerning a question of law. In the end, and no matter how much we wish Mrs. Schiavo had never suffered such a horrible accident, we are a nation of laws, and if we are to continue to be so, the pre-existing and well-established federal law governing injunctions as well as Pub. L. No. 109-3 must be applied to her case. While the position of our dissenting colleague has emotional appeal, we as judges must decide this case on the law.
AFFIRMED; PETITION FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF DENIED."
Posted by: Charles at March 23, 2005 11:14 AM
Jennifer,
How long have you and Sean been married?
Posted by: john t at March 23, 2005 11:17 AM
Jennifer,
Welcome to NewsHounds. Thanks for your post.
Since we have made you sick, I would like to suggest you immediately draw up a living will to express you wishes regarding your family forcing medical procedures on you against the wishes of your next of kin. You never know when some right-wing-nut will want to force you to endure decades of confinement to a hospital bed...
Posted by: Charles at March 23, 2005 11:19 AM
Jennifer:
Hannity's a pimp. You can work out the downstream implication of that on your own. Well, maybe not.
Posted by: Rotwang at March 23, 2005 11:21 AM
You people with your dirty comments about
Sean Hannity make me sick. You are all so jealous of him you don't know what to say or
do with yourselves. Sean Hannity is honest,
intelligent, full of morals and has class that
none of you know anything about.
Posted by: Jennifer at March 23, 2005 11:13 AM
--------------------->
Housefraus for Hannity UNITE!
Posted by: BushisOurRuination at March 23, 2005 11:22 AM
Jennifer,
Hello, and welcome to newshounds.us. We appreciate your desire to express your opinion, but regret to inform you that your post lacks the basic standards of respect and rationality that we expect of our posters. We invite you to try again, and perhaps explain your point, asking yourself such critical questions as "why do I feel this way?", "what if I were wrong?", or "am I presenting my argument in the most convincing manner?" Thanks for your continued interest."
(TM Stephen)
Posted by: Kim, Pb.D at March 23, 2005 11:24 AM
Good lord,
Faux just showed a gang outside Mrs. Schiavo's hospice who want to force their way into the hospice to bring Terri a glass of water!!!
They actually showed a lady with a stack of styrofoam glasses.
Great. Now the wing-nuts want to go drown Terri!
Posted by: Charles at March 23, 2005 11:30 AM
Pat Mahoney, one of the terrorists from Operation Rescue (newly renamed Operation Save America), is being cited by Faux as a supporter of the Schindlers!
Posted by: Charles at March 23, 2005 11:32 AM
OT, in case you were wondering how Jewish Law, Halacha, stands on the issue of removing a feeding tube, a la Terri Schiavo, here's your answer:
http://www.jta.org/page_view_story.asp?strwebhead=Halachah’s%20guidance%20on%20Schiavo&intcategoryid=5
At the traditional end of the spectrum, Rabbi Avi Shafran of the fervently Orthodox Agudath Israel of America said the Schiavo case is “straightforward from a Jewish perspective: The most important point from a halachic standpoint is that a compromised life is still a life.” “In the Schiavo case, you’re not dealing with a patient in extremis,” he said, noting that until her feeding tube was removed, Schiavo was not dying. ... Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, executive vice president of the Orthodox Union, the central arm of modern Orthodoxy, agreed that from a halachic perspective the Schiavo case is straightforward.
“Doing something to actively interfere with a person’s ability to continue to live technically is murder,” he said. “I can’t imagine a scenario that would make removing the feeding tube permissible.”
Posted by: QueenEsther at March 23, 2005 11:39 AM
Ironic, ain't it?
Posted by: Rotwang at March 23, 2005 10:17 AM
--> Ya know, I really think the GOP miscalculated this one big time. I think this is one of the most disgusting, exploitive, disingenuous, acts that tramples the constitution, state's authority, and interference with private citizens acting in accordance with the law.
It is the most "anti-republican" initiative I have ever witnessed. Really incredible. When the dust settles, that's what will be remain.
-------------------------------------------->
smerconnish is probably the more logic of all the right wing leaning hosts i've heard. Smart guy.
Posted by: happyK at March 23, 2005 10:23 AM
-------------------->
I almost always disagree with Smerconish - and he IS capable of going low, like his cowardly, disgusting, published "letter" to Nick Berg's father in the Phila Daily News. However, I must say, his arguments are rational, and he is nowhere near as vile as Sean Hannity, which is probably why Smerconish is not syndicated nationally.
Posted by: BushisOurRuination at March 23, 2005 11:41 AM
Charles:
I'm listening to the water-rescue on the radio. These people are apparently visiting from the 10th Century.
If they talked this crazy in a supermarket aisle, they'd get the wet-sheet treatment.
Confrontation with cops pending...
Posted by: Rotwang at March 23, 2005 11:45 AM
The media/press of old used to report facts. They did investigative stories about politicians, dems or repubs, who were doing wrong, who were screwing up. Soon people began to realize most of the bad stories were about the republicans.
That's when the repubs started hollering BIAS.
That's when they started whining about the elite left wing media.
Then comes Rony Rodent and Rupert Murdock screaming about the liberal press.
Now it's been turned around and it's the neo-conservatives who control the press and have succesfully silenced the so called `liberal press'.
The motto at FNC is, "tell a lie long enough and loud enough and the ignorant will follow us."
The people who believe that FNC is telling the `truth' wear helmets and have to hold hands and walk single file when ever they go out in public.
Posted by: Jimb at March 23, 2005 11:51 AM
Rotwang, Charles,
I saw some of this symbolic 'styrofoan' glass of water civil disobedience.
They've even had a father with children go up and be arrested.
Scarlet, PbD
Posted by: Scarlet, PbD at March 23, 2005 12:08 PM
[quote]
I'm listening to the water-rescue on the radio. These people are apparently visiting from the 10th Century.
[/quote]
Is it just me, or does that seem to be happening a lot lately?
Coming Soon, Primitives [/Army of Darkness] Fox News!
9:00 am
Fox & Friends
Topic: The Better way to kill a witch. Rev Falwell discusses the merits and drawbacks of methods ranging from burning, weighing with stones, and drowning. Guests include Rev Dobson and Bob Jones III.
11:00 am
Your World With Neil Cavuto
Topic: Finding the Philosophers' Stone. Neil and Alan Greenspan discuss the latest technology of turning Iron into gold.
12:00 pm
Hannity & Colmes
Topic: Is the World Really Flat?
Hannity and Colmes duke it out in a no holds barred discussion of the Biblical evidence that the world is, in fact, flat. Colmes kept on stretcher rack the entire time, concedes that "we really don't know the world is round."
1:30 pm
Fox News Exclusive!
Topic: How to Burn Books with Ann Coulter.
Says Coulter, "Anyone who thinks book burning is wrong is a traitorous round-earth liberal!"
Posted by: Kim, Pb.D at March 23, 2005 12:09 PM
I've been watching this circus on Fox this morning. This whole water thing is a joke. I've not heard one person on Fox admit that giving her a glass of water would kill her. They need to rename Fox the National Enquire Circus Show.
Posted by: john t at March 23, 2005 12:12 PM
Kim Pbd,
ROFLMAO
thanks : )
lcg
Posted by: left coast girl at March 23, 2005 12:40 PM
“Doing something to actively interfere with a person’s ability to continue to live technically is murder,” he said. “I can’t imagine a scenario that would make removing the feeding tube permissible.”
Posted by: QueenEsther at March 23, 2005 11:39 AM
-------------------------------------------------
Rabbi Avi Shafran's seems to be an extreme "it's cast in stone" moralist.
"The current American cultural milieu will redefine morality as it sees fit. So, for better or worse, will religious organizations and movements. But Jews, whatever their affiliation or lack of one, or whatever their "pressure point"-sensitive rabbis may tell them, are a people chosen to show the world what it means to bend human wills to that of the Creator of all."
Rabbi Avi Shafran
Once again, who interprets "the Creator's message"? Fallible humans, of course.
Posted by: Kent Brockman at March 23, 2005 12:48 PM
They've even had a father with children go up and be arrested.
Scarlet, PbD
Posted by: Scarlet, PbD at March 23, 2005 12:08 PM
---------------
That's nothing.
These are the same folks who chained their kids to the undercarriage of cars and road graders that they left blocking a major highway in Wichita during their "Summer of Hate" privacy protests.
These people are domestic torrorists, plain and simple.
Posted by: Charles at March 23, 2005 12:57 PM
I wouldn't mind if Hannity spoke as many false statements as he does were it not for Fox's fair and balanced slogan or his radio show's blurb about being "your most complete source for news and information."
Bottom line, a toothless FCC cannot hold him to any standard other than profane language. He has no journalstic credentials, nor does he claim to. Whenever he is pressed by his critics, he is always capable of retreating to, "I'm a commentator, not a reporter/journalist." He does not have to be correct, and he knows it.
His audience seems to be quite willing to forgive him, or see any attempt to correct him as a personal attack against him, thus fueling the whole "us vs. them" mindset he fosters. Personally I dont think even he believes some of the things he says, but has found his niche. He is laughing all the way to the bank.
Posted by: Steve at March 23, 2005 01:09 PM
Tune in to Hannity on the radio and you hear a huge, deep announcer voice stating:
"The last beacon of truth in a troubled time"
Then Hannity comes on and welcomes his listeners to "the best and most comprehensive source for news and information on the radio today."
I want to puke. Why can't this man be sued? Why can't someone make him accountable?
Posted by: LD at March 23, 2005 01:14 PM