Utahns cheer, jeer Hannity

PROVO — Organizers of the Stadium of Fire say they hand-picked Sean Hannity to host this year's Independence Day bash because of his courage and patriotism.

But some think the political commentator is the wrong man to host the major event of America's Freedom Festival at Provo, saying his radical comments do not reflect a Christian community.

In recent weeks, the Deseret Morning News has received a slew of letters both supporting and decrying Hannity's scheduled appearance at the annual concert and fireworks show at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

And in separate letters to the editor published in the Deseret Morning News, Salt Lake Tribune and Daily Herald in Provo, a group of 24 people wrote that Hannity's appearance at the Freedom Festival will be an embarrassment to Provo and Utah. "I think he's very radical," said Maxine Bounous, a resident of Provo who signed the letter but says she doesn't listen to Hannity very often because he irritates her.

"I've heard him say that all liberals are evil," she said. "I think that is terrible, accusing a whole group of people that he doesn't know of being evil."

Letters printed in the Salt Lake Tribune and the Daily Herald claimed that Hannity recently denounced all Muslims as "sick" during one of his radio shows, a claim Hannity said he never uttered.

"I personally feel it is actionable when you purposefully misquote somebody," Hannity said in a interview Wednesday with the Deseret Morning News. "I never ever, ever said anything like that. They quote me as saying something directly, which was never, ever said, and it's frankly actionable."

Hannity said he has hired an attorney to look into the matter. He said the Tribune and Daily Herald should have never published the letters because they carried inaccurate information.

"My disappointment with the newspapers is that nobody called me . . . and asked, 'Did you say it?' It shouldn't have been printed," Hannity said.

Salt Lake Tribune Editorial Page Editor Vern Anderson declined to comment directly on the issue but said his paper does its best to verify that all letters are factual. Don Meyers, opinion page editor at the Daily Herald, said his paper verifies the author of each letter to the editor that it publishes.

Michael Perkins, chairman of Brigham Young University's communications department, said court cases regarding letters to the editor tend to go in favor of the newspaper.

Perkins, a media-law expert who earned a law degree at the University of Utah, said courts recognize how important letters to the editor are as a public forum for the exchange of ideas.

"Even if it is found to be defamation, I would guess newspapers have a strong defense by saying this is a public comment," said Perkins. "Hearing these letter writers' opinions is more important to society than the justice of him (Hannity) protecting his reputation that might have been marginally damaged."

The controversy was the hot topic of Hannity's radio show on Wednesday. He read several letters to the editor from the Utah newspapers.

In all three publications, the writers claimed Hannity has built a career by speaking in a tone of insult and sarcasm, a voice they claim Gordon B. Hinckley, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has counseled people to avoid.

Nearly 90 percent of residents in Utah County, home to the Freedom Festival, are members of the LDS Church. The majority of Utahns also are church members.

"My Christianity is the most important part of my life," Hannity said. "I've been a Christian my whole life. I don't think it is very Christian to bear false witness, if we're going to question people's Christian credentials."

Springville resident Louis Pope said he signed the letters because he thinks Hannity is a "ridiculous choice" to host the festival. But Pope said he signed the letter without reading it in full, attaching his name to comments he didn't necessarily agree with.

"I think the letter was a little over the top," Pope said. "I read the letter after it was published and would not probably have agreed on the Muslim thing."

Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Lawrence Lee said he welcomes Hannity to Provo — and applauds the host for defending his values. Lawrence is also an active letter-writer.

"There is nothing we have ever heard Sean Hannity say that would be in any material disagreement with the teachings of the LDS Church," said Lee, an Orem resident. "Most people here believe (Hannity) has been a fighter for the best values of Christianity and Western civilization."

Hannity said he believes his ratings in Utah show that the majority support him.

"I think what is happening here is that you have like four people that are trying to demonize me with a flood of letters to newspapers and frankly telling just outrageous lies," Hannity said.

Freedom Festival chiefs remain firm in the decision to have Hannity host the Stadium of Fire. "We're concerned, but we stand by the choice," said Reid Robison, 2003 festival president. "We're very disappointed that people are upset by this.

"Our aim is to celebrate freedom and make this an evening of celebration, and we would hope people would look to Sean Hannity's strengths rather than some controversial shows he may have had beforehand."

CNN talk show host Larry King, who is generally viewed as politically liberal, hosted the Stadium of Fire last year.

Freedom Festival Executive Director Carl Bacon said he finds it ironic there were no complaints about King's participation, especially because Utah County is known for its conservative bent.

"Larry King was a liberal on radio for years, and Larry King hosted it last year, so I guess only liberals can host it," Hannity joked.

Listen, Mrs Gopherit and I drove from Maryland to go to this probably the largest collection of Great Americans I've ever been to. The respect and tribute paid to the Service Members was open, loving, and enthusiastic. Sean led the way, Ollie added the exclamation points, and Reba the stuff of a concert. The sound and light was spectacular. The whole thing is summed up by the moving rendition of the last stanza of the Star Spangled Banner that opened the event:

Oh thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

With that, enough said.

I'm glad you had a great patriotic time. I don't go to the Stadium of Fire, but I did watch the fireworks last night. Spectacular. The whole Fourth of July Festival in Provo is great. I've attended many of the events since I was a little girl growing up in Provo. Glad you had a good time.

The crowd at Stadium of Fire, 54,000 strong, create a gigantic flag. The yellow symbolizes the wish for soldiers to come home safely from serving overseas.

There are at least 24 evil liberals in the great State of Utah ...
Pity that.

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