Fox News host Sean Hannity on Thursday highlighted a story on NewsBusters showing that ABC News spent far more time on Senator Jim Bunning and his non-scandal than the network did with Congressman Charlie Rangel's ethics violations.
Speaking to Bunning, Hannity informed his viewers: "NewsBusters, this is Brent Bozell's website, had a piece out and said that ABC News covered your issue involving your filibuster, if you will, six times more than the coverage that they gave to Charlie Rangel's scandal, which is a real scandal." [Audio available here.]
Hannity continued, shifting into a question about Bunning's insistence that a $10 billion unemployment bill actually be properly funded: "...Do you think that there are enough people in Washington with the political courage to say what you're saying and take the tough political stands to bring America back to balanced budgets?"
The NewsBusters blog cited by Hannity can be found here.
A transcript of the March 4 exchange, which aired at 9:07pm EST, follows:
SEAN HANNITY: All right, Let me ask you this: NewsBusters, this is Brent Bozell's website, had a piece out and said that ABC News covered your issue involving your filibuster, if you will, six times more than the coverage that they gave to Charlie Rangel's scandal, which is a real scandal. And here's, I guess, in the context I want to ask you this question, do you think that there are enough people in Washington with the political courage to say what you're saying and take the tough political stands to bring America back to balanced budgets? And by that I mean, will Republicans stand on these conservative principles? Do you see enough Republicans supporting you?
SENATOR JIM BUNNING: Right now, you're asking me at this present time?
HANNITY: Right now, yeah.
BUNNING: No.
HANNITY: How many short are we?
BUNNING: We're about, if- you're talking about if we happen to have a good election in 2010, how many are we short? How many do we have to make up to get a conservative majority in the U.S. Senate?
HANNITY: Yeah. A majority that will-
BUNNING: About 30.
HANNITY: 30 more. There are 20 Republicans that are not onboard with taking a tough stand to balance our budget?
BUNNING: That's about right. all right,
HANNITY: Jim Bunning. Thanks for being with us, appreciate it.
