Hannity Discusses NewsBusters Reports During "Media Mash"

During Wednesday's "Media Mash" segment, Fox News' Sean Hannity cited several NewsBusters reports as evidence of liberal bias in the press.

Featured in this installment were: Michael Bates' February 9 article about Rick Sanchez's (CNN) absurd argument against tax cuts; Warner Todd Huston's January 31 piece about CNN selling Obama T-shirts, and; Mark Finkelstein's February 8 posting of Claire Shipman's (ABC) irresponsible comment about speed being the only thing that matters when crafting a stimulus plan.

The video of this segment is embedded below the fold along with a transcript:

SEAN HANNITY, HOST: All right, now for our Media Mash segment. Now, this is the time of the week when we highlight the mainstream media's blatant and outrageous bias with some concrete examples.

First up, "Good Morning America," which took the liberty of using some liberal editing techniques with footage of Rush Limbaugh,including some from his appearance right here on this show. Now, cobbling together a few words here and a few words in there, they tried to brand Rush a racist. Take a look at this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DIANE SAWYER, ABC'S "GOOD MORNING AMERICA": Another big issue in the news out there on the Internet, of course, is Rush Limbaugh, who basically says that Republicans have got to take sides, and here is the question that he posed. Here's the challenge he posed.

RUSH LIMBAUGH, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: I don't need 400 words. I need four: I hope he fails. We're being told that we have to hope he succeeds, because his father was black, because this is the first black president. We -- we've got to accept this.

SAWYER: So he says he hopes the Obama presidency fails. What do you say to Rush Limbaugh?

HANNITY: Now, in context, in Rush's defense, Rush was very clear, that he said along with FDR and along with Abraham Lincoln. If he added Ronald Reagan, that's great. He'd support him.

But he doesn't support socialism, and he thinks this is bad for the country.

Now, on the race issue, he was very clear about that, as well. He said the issue was historic. And I dealt with that back in November, be said.

But as for the context, now he's moved on to the substance. When you take it out of context, it can have a very dangerous effect.

Now, Rick Sanchez is quarterbacking CNN's publicity offensive for the president's spending blitz. Now Republicans proposed tax cuts as an alternative to the pork fest currently under consideration. Well, Newsbusters points out that economist Rick Sanchez's argument against that proposal. Watch this. Roll the tape.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't care whether you're driving a hybrid or an SUV. If you're heading for a cliff, you've got to change direction. That's what the American people called for in November, and that's what we intend to deliver.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANNITY: Republicans won, too, by the way. And, by the way, tax cuts are spending, too, if your money belongs to the government.

Now one other point on this, and that is very simple. He said, "Well, of course, there's spending in the stimulus." That's not the point. Wrong spending, pork-barrel spending, that doesn't create permanent jobs. It does improve the economy. It's not private-sector oriented.

And CNN is giving us a "Media Mash" two for tonight. Now, it seems the network is branching out into the world of high fashion. Yes, if you're in need of a T-shirt, look no farther than CNN.com.

You can purchase your very own garment. Now, there you go. That tells us, the world, "Obama raises a hand and lifts a nation." Fair and balanced, of course. Watch out, Banana Republic. They may put you out of business.

You know, I'm wondering if FOX put that up there. Nah, I don't think so.

Now, when it comes to spending nearly $1 trillion of your money, now you'd think the best approach would be to do so cautiously and transparently. This is except if you're a Democrat or ABC News national correspondent, Claire Shipman.

Now, as Newsbuster points out, Shipman clearly thinks that speed trumps accuracy, and the rule is quantity over quality, not the other way around. Look at this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Don't you think. I mean, as George said, given that nobody knows the outcome. It seems as if the most important thing is speed here. That's the one thing everybody agrees on.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The one thing is speed. How are you going to know?

HANNITY: And she's covered every president from, oh, let's see, since I guess the last president. The folks says speed doesn't mean anything.

How about accuracy? How about when we're talking about putting debt on our children, on our grandchildren? How about we have full discovery of everything that's in the bill? And when the president says there are no pet projects in the bill, where is the analysis of all of the pet projects that are in there?

He said it many times. He said there's no pork-barrel spending. Well, I think that's pork-barrel spending. He said that there were no earmarks. Well, whatever name you put on it, it's still a lot of money, and we still need some taxpayer scrutiny, considering we're going to eventually have to pay for it.

Now, she has covered every president since JFK. And this past Monday night, Helen Thomas got to ask Barack Obama a question. So -- well, it was the subject of Pakistan. But take a look at how Ms. Thomas chose to refer to our enemies -- pay close attention -- in the region.

OBAMA: All right, Helen, this is my inaugural moment here. I'm really excited.

HELEN THOMAS, JOURNALIST: Mr. President, do you think that Pakistan are maintaining the safe havens in Afghanistan for these so- called terrorists?

HANNITY: Helen, with all due respect, they are not "so-called" terrorists. They are real terrorists, and actually think they're doing God's will when they kill innocent men, women, and children. The USS Cole, the first Trade Center bombing, 9/11. Terrorists, real terrorists.