With two Democrats on Hannity’s Great American Panel Monday night (4/23/12) – each of whom are seasoned Fox News guests - you’d think that at least one of them might have figured out that when Hannity attacked the NAACP for kicking out Allen West, defending the NAACP – instead of questioning why anyone would align themselves with such an unhinged hate monger as West – legitimized Hannity's "issue" and ultimately played right into his hands. Panelist Bob Beckel is on the Fox News staff so we get why he would go along with the agenda. But what’s “Democratic strategist” Penny Lee’s excuse?
That isn’t to say that Lee didn’t put up a spirited argument on behalf of the NAACP. “What (West) said was irresponsible. It was reckless and he has not only not apologized but he has doubled down on it,” she said. And Beckel did a good job of pointing out that West and other black conservatives such as Clarence Thomas don’t fit into the NAACP’s stated platform.
But neither Lee nor Beckel challenged either Hannity or the other panelist, conservative Tucker Carlson, for even thinking of defending West in the first place. Denying West membership, Lee haplessly argued, “doesn’t mean that they’re not denying the fact that they are trying to advance…” The viewers never even got to hear the rest of it because Hannity interrupted to her to attack the NAACP again. Even worse, she and Beckel allowed Hannity – who has exhibited his bigotry right under Lee’s nose – to present himself as a friend to African Americans. “Look, 50% of African American youth now can’t get a summer job. The higher unemployment rates in this country are in the African America community! Obama and liberal policies have not helped African Americans,” Hannity said. Nobody pointed out Hannity's long, disturbing record of cozying up to bigotry.
By allowing the focus to remain on the NAACP, the question of its legitimacy remained foremost in viewers’ minds, no matter how strenuously Lee or Beckel defended it. It’s an old Fox News trick that Jon Stewart exposed years ago in his “Cavuto Mark” segment.
If Jon Stewart gets it, why doesn’t a “Democratic strategist?”
Rupert Murdoch employee High End Hannocchio defends Allen West, a man who he says is not suitable for vice president for Romney. Instead, Hannocchio prefers Marco Rubio as Romney’s pick for vp.
The Stop Hannity Express encourages the masses to ask West why Hannocchio thinks he’s not the best choice for vp for Romney? Our answer is easy..West is black. The Hal Turner inside him wouldn’t allow him to endorse West as vp for Romney.
NOTE TO WEST
Did Hannity tell you about Hal Turner?