Remember when Hannity complained that politicizing a tragedy “is almost like a sickness” with liberals? If so, then Hannity needs urgent medical attention for his blatant attempts to manipulate the grieving mother of a Marine slain in Chattanooga last week into attacking President Obama and/or the military’s policy of not allowing guns in military recruiting centers.
Hannity’s guest was Cathy Wells, mother of Lance Cpl. Skip Wells, killed in the Chattanooga shooting last week. “Cathy, our thoughts, our prayers are with you,” Hannity said sympathetically. “I can’t imagine the pain you’re going through. It’s got to be really hard. I don’t think there’s anything worse. How are you holding up?”
“I’m doing the best that I can,” she told him. It was obvious from looking at her that her best was not very good.
But that was the end of Hannity’s interest in how Wells was doing. From there, he segued right to using her to advance his own political agenda.
First, “sympathetic” Hannity prodded Wells to attack the military’s policy of not allowing guns at recruiting centers. As if that would be foremost in a grieving mother’s mind.
HANNITY: When you heard this incident happened. And then you hear – which really shocked me – that people like your son who were willing to serve this country, trained in the use of firearms, that they are forbidden from even bringing a firearm into a recruiting station that we know is being targeted by ISIS and groups like that and their sympathizers. Does that make you more angry? How do you react to that?
Wells replied cryptically, saying that she was going to fulfill her son’s wishes and get a certain kind of gun for herself.
So “compassionate” Hannity tried to goad her again.
HANNITY: It seems to me that we’re asking these guys, we’re training these guys in the use of firearms, we know that they’re being targeted. We knew on July 4th weekend that was happening. And then we don’t let them protect themselves. It’s like the rules of engagement. We send men to war and they can't even defend themselves in some cases. For me, that would make me angrier if it was my son, if I can even dare to put myself in the position you're in now.
Wells replied, “I am angry, but I am, I'm mourning the loss of my son. I am angry. …I’m mourning."
So Hannity switched to trying to get her to attack President Obama.
HANNITY: Have you heard from the president?
WELLS: No.
HANNITY: Does that surprise you?
WELLS: No.
HANNITY: The same White House that - I didn't even see the flags at half mast, did you?
WELLS: I know that some states are doing it.
HANNITY: I'm talking about Washington.
WELLS: No.
But that wasn’t enough for “sensitive” Hannity. He now suggested Obama cares more about gays and Muslims than our soldiers
HANNITY: Is this the same White House that, after the Supreme Court decision, put rainbow colors on the White House?
WELLS: You know the answer to that one. Yes.
HANNITY: Is this the same White House that put out statements about Ramadan?
WELLS: I believe so. Like - I have really just been focused on my son. My son was taken from me, and he couldn't defend himself.
In those exchanges, Wells repeatedly signaled she did not want to talk politics. Yet “patriotic” and "caring" Hannity ignored her obvious wishes and continued his efforts to use her as a weapon against Obama.
HANNITY: All these brave men that are willing to sacrifice for us every day and put their lives on the line, what do you want the American people to know about your son? And is there anything you'd like to say to the president, to the president that didn't pick up a phone and call you, his commander in chief?
Again, Wells deflected.
WELLS: My son loved what he did. He wanted from the time I can remember he wanted nothing more than to be a Marine. …He died for his country doing what he loved for the love of his country and for his family.
And again, Hannity tried to push her into attacking President Obama.
HANNITY: Tell us what you would say to the president. This is the commander in chief. Statements on Ramadan, you got the White House, beautiful rainbow colors. What would you say to him if you could?
WELLS: I can't answer that, Sean. I can't answer that.
…HANNITY: You don't want to say it on TV?
WELLS: Correct. …I mean -- no, I can't.
Finally, Hannity relented, saying, laughably, “I don't want to add to your pain. I want to wish you and your family you're in our thoughts and in our prayers. I'm so sorry about what happened to your son.”
Maybe he is sorry. But he's certainly more than glad to exploit her son's death.
Watch it below, from the July 20 Hannity.
To see the Foxies exploit Cathy Wells is typical of this fourth rate channel. They don’t care about her. It’s only for ratings. They will move on to the next tragedy in the next three weeks.
Hannocchio would exploit his own children against President Obama. He is a vile cretin who only cares about his image, his money and his ratings.
Coming down the pipeline:
1. Hugh’s black sheep son will be forced to choose sides in this latest power play.
2. Hannocchio confesses.
3. Things go downhill for the foxies.
4. Foxies experience a serious backlash.
5. The GOP pushes the “plant” theory.
Grab a big bag of popcorn and a nice cold drink. You are witnessing the destruction of the GOP.
Also, thanks for the explanation about half-staff and half-mast. It makes total sense but I never thought of it before.
Standard procedure in the military now limits the carrying of weapons on military installations to LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL ONLY. That includes military recruiting offices. (Incidentally, this is pretty typical of ALL government installations. I work for the Postal Service, and the ONLY Postal employees allowed to carry weapons on the grounds are the Postal Inspectors—even outside police officers can only enter the building armed with permission from the Inspection Service. I also kind of wonder how many visitors to the FoxNoise building have to go through a security check to make sure they’re not carrying weapons—not that any right-thinkin’, gun-totin’ "Merkin would ever want to shoot up their sacred temple. Even though, churches and other sacred sites aren’t exactly any safer than anywhere else.)
*Even though, according to the reports, the shooter never actually entered the recruiting station—an action more accurately described as a drive-by shooting.
Also, Ellen, you didn’t mention what time this aired but, Obama ordered the flags to half-staff (and you’d think that Hannity would know the CORRECT terminology; “half mast” applies, technically, only to ships—which have masts*) yesterday afternoon. It’s also kind of worth noting that the REPUBLICON leaders of Congress only took action of their own (to lower the flags at the Capitol building) on Tuesday morning. Where’s Hannutty’s outrage at his fellow ‘Con artists’ lack of action?
*I can’t tell you how many people (mostly military-connected) I’ve run across—mainly online but some in the real world—who will have a conniption when someone says “half-mast” but referring to a land-based flagpole. I’d love to see how many of Hannutty’s fans will be willing to ignore his “innocent mistake” because, Obama—but who’d excoriate a more “liberal-leaning” commentator saying the same thing.