Posted on 04/15/2005 10:04:10 AM PDT by Bubs
Fox News host: Repeat after me
If the conservative guests on Fox News' "Hannity and Colmes" sound especially on-message, that's because they're being coached by the best:
Sean Hannity himself.
On the March 31 installment of the shouting-head show, the guests included two of the late Terri Schiavo's former nurses, Trudy Capone and Carla Sauer Iyer, arguing that their patient wasn't brain-dead.
Between commercials, according to an off-air audiotape obtained by investigative comedian Harry Shearer for last Sunday's episode of his weekly radio program, "Le Show," Hannity coached the women on exactly how to respond when liberal co-host Alan Colmes cross-examined them.
"Just say, 'I'm here to tell what I saw,'" Hannity can be heard instructing his guests. "No matter what the question, 'I'm here to tell you what I saw. I'm here to tell you what I saw.'"
Hannity adds helpfully: "Say, 'I'm not going to be distracted by silliness.' How's that? Does that help you? Look into that camera. Look at me when I'm talking."
On the air, Iyer performs beautifully. "I don't have any opinions or judgments. I was there," she declares
After the segment ends, Hannity gushes off the air to the nurses: "We got the points out. It's hard, this isn't easy. But you did great, both of you. Thank you, guys. Those nurses are powerful, aren't they?"
On his radio show, Shearer injected: "Yeah, especially when they do what you tell 'em to do. Very powerful when they follow instructions from the host!"
A Fox News flack didn't respond to Lowdown's detailed message yesterday.
(Excerpt) Read more at nydailynews.com ...
Big Deal, Sean was helping two inexperienced people on an interview, He didn't tell them what to say or to lie, just helping them stay on point.
Don't know. We could probably start down that road as soon as you can provide some REAL examples.
[Between commercial break] "Could you stop sitting there like a stump on a log and tell us what you saw? Start from the beginning and go through a normal shift...Oops! Am I subverting the news?!"
I attended a "Town Hall" meeting about social security held by Zee Klinton in the 90's. CNN hosted the event. Only a select people were put in the center camera row and only pre-screened questions could be answered. Every single questioner was selected and coached by Gwen Ifill, the CNN moderator. How is different?
That's a big "So What?"
Having been interviewed on TV and radio myself, this is not uncommon. NORMALLY the interviewer wants the interviewee to come across relaxed and articulate. So what? Sean doesn't want his guests to get flummoxed by the cross babble.
This really should have been in Breaking News. /sarcasm
Alan "Bubs" Colmes?
I say you're a troll.
This account has been banned or suspended.
welcome to fr? from an old-timey vet like yourself? :) all the back from july eh?
The old timer schtick is old, drop it.
was he or anyone able to supply a link to the audio? I'd kinda like to hear it for myself.
no prob newbie. lighten up.
I couldn't figure out why so many "comments" had been removed...OH! because BUBS went away.
You oldies are so slow.
Given the vast left wing bias of print and network news, I welcome Sean's advice to the ladies. Most conservatives are not as hip to media propaganda effectiveness as the lefties are, and so may need some help. No problem here. Why do you see it as a problem?
After all, H&C present both sides and each side has the opportunity to be most effective. How vastly superior to liberal bonzos who effectively shut out all thinking by asking questions like "your husband Bill is a wonderfully decent man...what makes him so wonderful and decent?" - Typical King/Katie-type questions...
Sean is a Legend in his own mind.
A Fluff Pundit.
Coaching by Sean Hannity would make you sound pretty silly. Cutie Pie is arguably the dimmest of the major the talk show hosts...
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