Unpatriotic Sean Hannity Still Thinks McCain Has a Chance

Posted by Steve Benen, Washington Monthly at 10:02 AM on April 6, 2009.

Late last week, President Obama spoke in Strasbourg, France, and talked about his commitment to renewing our partnership with America's European allies. He conceded that "we've allowed our alliance to drift" in recent years, and went out of his way to be even-handed about it. The president, for example, acknowledged that the U.S. has, at times, "shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive" of the European Union.

But in the next breath, Obama added that Europe has "an anti-Americanism that is at once casual but can also be insidious," adding that too often, Europeans have been too quick to blame America, while neglecting to recognize "the good that America so often does in the world."

Urging both sides of the Atlantic to begin anew, Obama said, "[T]hese attitudes have become all too common. They are not wise. They do not represent the truth.... So I've come to Europe this week to renew our partnership, one in which America listens and learns from our friends and allies, but where our friends and allies bear their share of the burden. Together, we must forge common solutions to our common problems."

On Fox News, Sean Hannity aired the first part -- the part in which the president conceded recent U.S. shortcomings -- and pretended the other parts didn't happen. (In an understatement, Howard Kurtz called Hannity's creative editing "not quite fair.") The ensuing tirade was Hannity at his most Hannity-tastic.

"America is arrogant. That's what Mr. Obama said today, doing his best Dixie Chicks impression.... [T]he liberal tradition of blame America first, well, that's still alive. But should we really be surprised from a man who sat in Reverend Wright's church, from a man who launched his political career in the home of a man who bombed the Pentagon and is unrepentant. Mrs. Obama may not be proud of her country, but I bet she's proud of her husband tonight. [...]

"Didn't we see all of this in the campaign? And as I was bringing up -- didn't Reverend Wright give us a little insight into his thought process? Didn't, you know, Michelle Obama -- America's a downright mean country? ... I'm thinking, didn't we get some insight? When you sit on a board and give speeches with Bill Ayers -- didn't this -- do you think he harbors deep resentment that he just hides? Because I believe he does."

Election Day 2008 may have been about five months ago, but one gets the sense Hannity thinks just a few more attacks on Obama's patriotism might affect some swing voters in Ohio.

Kevin added, "Sean Hannity is still obsessing over Bill Ayers and Jeremiah Wright? Jeebus. Can't he come up with some slightly fresher canard to hurl into the insane-o-sphere five nights a week? Like maybe Obama is a golem or something? He's not going to keep this up for eight years, is he?"

Of course he is. Hannity, as part of his ridiculous harangue, complained about the Dixie Chicks. Natalie Maines criticized Bush six years ago, and Hannity is still whining about it.

I can easily imagine Hannity, in 2016, reflecting on Obama's legacy, telling viewers, "Yeah, but don't forget, he launched his political career in the home of a man who bombed the Pentagon...." It's absurd, but then again, so is Sean Hannity.

Tagged as: obama, sean hannity, hannity, crazy

Steve Benen is "blogger in chief" of the popular Washington Monthly online blog, Political Animal. His background includes publishing The Carpetbagger Report, and writing for a variety of publications, including Talking Points Memo, The American Prospect, the Huffington Post, and The Guardian. He has also appeared on NPR's "Talk of the Nation," MSNBC's "Rachel Maddow Show," Air America Radio's "Sam Seder Show," and XM Radio's "POTUS '08."