Hannity Targeting Gay Admin Figure Because He’s Feeling Heat From Glenn Beck?
As devoted watchers of Fox News know, Sean Hannity has been waging something of a jihad against Kevin Jennings, a high level education official in the Obama administration who has been targeted by conservatives because of his past as a gay rights advocate.
Last night Hannity called for the firing of Jennings. In this regard, he’s starting to sound awfully similar to his Fox colleague Glenn Beck, who recently succeeded in scoring the scalp of fired green jobs adviser Van Jones.
So what’s driving Hannity’s jihad? One wonders whether it’s driven by the fact that Beck is experiencing a ratings surge that has to have Hannity spooked big time. The just-released Fox News third quarter ratings show that Beck’s surge dwarfs Hannity’s by a wide margin.
Beck’s overall viewership has climbed an astonishing 89%, and in the key 25-54 demo it has exploded by 136%. By contrast, Hannity’s overall viewership has climbed a measly nine percent, and in the key demo it’s jumped only 17%.
Pretty paltry performance, given all the passions unleashed by the Age of Obama. What’s more, Beck inhabits the lowly 5 PM slot while Hannity enjoys the plum 9 PM perch.
Would Hannity be pursuing Jennings scalp if Beck hadn’t seen his popularity surge in the wake of Jones’ firing? Maybe. At the very least, though, maybe this explains the zeal driving Hannity. He wants his own scalp! Call it a quest for Beckian glory…
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Update: In fairness, one other issue conservatives are raising is that as a young teacher Jennings failed to report it when a teenager confided in him about a sexual encounter, which Jennings later regretted. Seems clear that’s not necessarily the overriding issue driving the campaign against him, though.
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Who the heck is Kevin Jennings?
Perhaps the folks at MSNBC should take note?
Who cares what Hannity thinks.
He’s an enemy of the state and should be thrown in jail along with Beck for inciting violence against the U.S. Govn’t.
On the other hand, the Rep from Florida’s youtube clip has over 100k hits right now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-usmvYOPfco
He’s a media sensation.
# sbj | October 1st, 2009 at 03:32 pm
Who the heck is Kevin Jennings?
Perhaps the folks at MSNBC should take note?
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Well Mr. G@Y Republican, why don’t you do some research and find out. Why not call up all your Republican friends who are against “the g@y agenda” like you say you are. I am sure they will be able to provide all the G@y and Lesbian Scapegoating talking points that you will need, for to use in 2010.
sbj, I just added a link to a Tapper piece that has all the details. It’s a pretty high profile campaign.
Why start being fair Greg?
Because he does not want to behave like you, Jerk!
Thanks, Greg. Sounds like the fellow has made some bad choices – as a young teacher – and he now regrets those choices. Sounds like he’s also said a few things that sounds like typical snark from some of your readers! I can’t get too worked up about him. Obama has a perfect right to appoint people like this (and Hannity has a right to stoke the flames of ‘controversy’ for the sake of ratings).
I’d only really be interested in knowing what the admin thought about this stuff when it must have come out during vetting? I also find Greg’s framing awfully funny (nice try!) – FNC worried about their ratings? Aren’t they better than ever?
sbj, I don’t think I said FNC was worried about their ratings. I said Hannity is feeling the heat from Beck.
Aren’t they calling him an accessory to rape, even though the age of consent in Mass was 16? False accusations seems like a pretty serious problem for Hammity.
So now, SBJ, the G@Y Republican, says that Hannity “has the right to stoke the flames”, and engage in G@Y bashing.and scapegoating. Amazing how those log cabin Republicans think!
So, I guess the Republican’s trying to force McChrystal to testify failed.
I’d like to see Democrats take this route. Every increase in troop levels should be tied to an increase in the top 1% of earners in the U.S.
@Greg: Could be, but quite doubtful. Do you have anything else to back your opinion up with? Sounds like a bit of wishful thinking to me.
One could just as easily theorize about where FNC keeps finding these ‘gullible morons.’ My theory? Since FNC appeals only to uninformed idiots and haters, FNC must be gaining new viewers from dissatisfied watchers of MSNBC and CNN.
Shame on you for watching FNC!
OT again sorry.
I’m not sure how this will work yet but it sounds like a step forward. Only nay dem vote was Lincoln and no repubs.
“The Senate Finance Committee added a quasi-public option to the healthcare reform bill Thursday.”
“Two days after Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and a few other Democrats joined Republicans to defeat amendments to create a national government-run public option health insurance program, the committee voted in favor of a proposal by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) to enable states to form their own public options.”
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/61215-senators-approve-state-based-public-options
The Generals chain of command is that they report to the Secretary of Defense, and the President. They do not report to the legislative branch. If the congress want to get testimony, then they should call on the Defense Secretary to brief them.
# sbj | October 1st, 2009 at 04:55 pm
@Greg: Could be, but quite doubtful. Do you have anything else to back your opinion up with? Sounds like a bit of wishful thinking to me.
One could just as easily theorize about where FNC keeps finding these ‘gullible morons.’ My theory? Since FNC appeals only to uninformed idiots and haters, FNC must be gaining new viewers from dissatisfied watchers of MSNBC and CNN.
Shame on you for watching FNC!
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Since you and Sean Hannity both want to protect the rest of us from “the G@y Agenda”, then you should try to go work for Hannity.
The young man in question was of legal consent age (for Mass 16) at the time of this anecdote was collected for Jennings book. Media Matters has more. http://mediamatters.org/research/200910010014
So Moe is now envious of Curly.
I think Hannity started to mimic Beck months ago.
Not only was he 16, but there was no “sexual encounter.” The wingnuts just made that up. Apparently their strategy of repeating it ad nauseum worked, because you repeated their lie as if it were a fact.
That’s really the problem, everytime another crony is discovered to be a nefarious moron the left runs to their defense.
Jennings was also on record as being a fan of NAMBLA, this is FACT, not hyperbole.
You may HATE the messengers but you can’t deny thier reporting no matter how much you squeal, kick and scream. http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2009/10/obamas-safe-schools-czar-praised-nambla.html
Glen Beck has been steadily presenting facts. He ha criticised both Democrats and Republicans for their short comings. Hannity has been hell bent on Obama for a long time. He is so obsessed with his conservatism and many times mierably failed. His latest topic of Jennings is no way comparable to Glen Beck’s exposure of Van Jones because Glen had the facts and he presented them in the proper way. No wonder more people of both parties are viewing his show. Fox may seriously consider changing the time slots between Hannity and Beck.
Anderson, well put. I agree with your position about Hannity.
His show on TV as well as his Radio show have been declining for years. He carries the water for supposed Conseratives no matter what. That and he whines, and complains way too much for my likeing. His laugh has got the most strained and false twang to it that it makes me uncomfortable sometimes.
I don’t hate the guy, but Glenn Beck seems alot more genuine to me, and apparently millions share the same sentiment.