Matthew Yglesias » Kuttner v. Hannity

Sep 13th, 2008 at 9:14 am

Kuttner v. Hannity

This video of my former boss Bob Kuttner arguing with Sean Hannity is pretty funny:

It’s fascinating to me that Hannity’s talking points are still to deny that we’re experiencing any economic problems. I thought the current line from the conintern was to concede that the economy is bad and pretend that conservatives have plans to fix it.

Comments
30

30 Responses to “Kuttner v. Hannity”

Jeffrey Davis Says:
September 13th, 2008 at 9:23 am
Kuttner didn’t do anyone any good with insulting Hannity. As the saying goes, “And the pig likes it.”
Davis X. Machina Says:
September 13th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Most HS debate judges have seen this –I saw it a lot in novice policy debate, consisting of an attack on significance (Hey, there is no problem…) and proposing a counterplan (..and we can solve it better!).

Of course, those were ninth-graders, early in the season, pulling briefs out of the varsity’s ox-boxes, and running them without understanding them, in a perhaps overzealous attempt to win.

Hannity’s excuse — he’s just an idiot.
calipygian Says:
September 13th, 2008 at 9:31 am
Hannity is unwatchable and unlistenable and anybody who goes on his show for any reason is pretty goddamn stupid.

Including your former boss.
msw Says:
September 13th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Can’t wait for the Hannity/Palin interview. It really could provide some very embarrassing momments for Palin.
Err, that is it would if we didn’t live in Bizarro World.
jonnybutter Says:
September 13th, 2008 at 9:36 am
The economy *is* fine – for people like Hannity. If you make millions of dollars pimping for a major political party, on television and radio, things are going great.

I don’t quite understand why Kuttner went on the show. I know he’s on a book tour, and you do some PR stuff you aren’t thrilled about when you’re on tour, but…really, what was the point?
Tyro Says:
September 13th, 2008 at 9:43 am
really, what was the point?

1 million people who hadn’t heard of his book have now heard of it. Even if 95% of them have no interest in buying it, that’s 50,000 potential new buyers.
advance Says:
September 13th, 2008 at 9:44 am
interesting article +1
jonnybutter Says:
September 13th, 2008 at 10:44 am
You’re right, Tyro. I’d make it more like 1%. But that’s still 10k. Or 1.5%, which would be 15K.
kth Says:
September 13th, 2008 at 10:59 am
If Hannity had the show by himself, wouldn’t it look silly for him to invite guests on, then hector and disrespect them? If so, then that’s what Colmes is for: to give the illusion that it isn’t just Hannity’s show, and thus allow Hannity to throw food at the invited guests.

People tune into that show to watch Hannity berate liberals. It’s more like professional wrestling than even something as borderline-moronic as Crossfire was. No way anyone is watching that show with an open mind, even if they are unemployed and uninsured.
observerfrommars Says:
September 13th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Hannity doesn’t seem to know much about anything. He reminds me of E. O’ Neal.
W.D. Says:
September 13th, 2008 at 11:23 am
The only time I’ve watched FNC in a year or so, I happened to tune into this segment. What struck me was the element of absurdity–like hearing two AM radio stations at once while driving. Kuttner and Colmes are having a civil discussion about the pros and cons of narrative- vs fact-based campaigning, interspersed with stock campaign footage. Then a disembodied voice is heard off-screen, bellowing “This is garbage!”, etc. An uninitiated viewer might think some lunatic just barged into the studio. But no, just Mr. Hannity, doing his thing.

For a few seconds I had almost forgotten that this is the norm on that network, not the exception. Reminds me why I canceled cable (but I still get Fox News for free for some reason–lucky me!).
angler Says:
September 13th, 2008 at 11:37 am
You can’t win with Hannity and Fox. Getting Kuttner’s goat was the only point Hannity had going. For the Fox audience chorus whatever Kuttner said was crap. They were waiting for Hannity to get in shout him down and when he did they called it a righteous ass kicking. Don’t go on Fox.
Don Williams Says:
September 13th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Shove the facts in Hannity’s face.

How about pointing out that the S&P 500 is LESS than what it was when Bush came into office — and if you adjust for inflation and the massive loss in value of the dollar that’s occurred on Bush’s watch, the cornholing of the US investor is even more apparent.

How about an increase in federal debt of $5 Trillion — and with the economy still limping alone even with that drunken spending spree? Because it was NOT invested –it was consumed.
right Says:
September 13th, 2008 at 11:49 am
He probably should have called Hannity’s bluff and walked off the set.
Nat Says:
September 13th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
We will know we have turned a corner of some sort when the Hannity’s of the world change the narrative to ‘the economy is trashed and the Democrats did it.’

With Fannie/Freddie/Lehman that time might be pretty close.

And my own little conspiracy theory: the GDP numbers are juiced.
Brennan Griffin Says:
September 13th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
I thought this was fine! Better to give some back to Hannity then just sit there looking dumb and arguing policy while Hannity smears you at the same time. That’s the mistake a lot of liberals usually make on shows like Hannity and O’Reilly. Call ‘em on their bullshit when they’re throwing it at you, and throw a few policy points in while you’re at it.
brewmn Says:
September 13th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
It would have bee nice if Kuttner had actaully cited some statistical evidence for his claims about the economy, other than “tell it to the average American, Sean.”

Like he does with devastating effectiveness in every piece he writes at TAPPED, for instance. Because his failure to do so made him look like just another hack with an ideology to grin, IMO.
brewmn Says:
September 13th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
or grind.
yave begnet Says:
September 13th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Shove the facts in Hannity’s face.

Facts are irrelevant to someone like Hannity.

For some reason, I find him more irritating than any of the others–GWB, O’Reilly, Limbaugh. It must be his smug self-assuredness and his complete impermeability to facts that don’t fit his world view. His standing as a conservative icon is a sad commentary on the intellectual fitness of that movement.

But people have been saying this for years … nothing much seems to have changed. Dispiriting.
Don Williams Says:
September 13th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Kuttner should have pointed out to Hannity that there is a bright side to the Bush Economy: all those Middle Class Republicans who have depended upon Hannity and Fox to keep them informed have been screwed like dogs.

Not only are their investments in the tank, but Bush has dumped roughly $50,000 in debt on each of them –money that will have to be collected via future taxes on them. along with interest.

Kuttner should grin while he’s saying it.

Otherwise, the only reason for going on Sean Hannity’s show is to get within striking distance. (Cut under the ear and slightly forward.)
Johnnyk Says:
September 13th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
No economic problems for Hannity. How fat was his latest contract? About $15 million a year or so?
Rupert loves him, Hanjob delivers the grade-school dropout market which is significant.
Nobody in that market gets invited to Hanjob’s or Rupert’s cocktail soirees though.
essrog Says:
September 13th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Hannity is doing O’Reilly Lite here, he failed to cut the mike.

The video was ok, but it would have been more satisfying to see Kuttner laugh in Hannity’s face instead of trying to fight with facts
jimBOB Says:
September 13th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
I think anytime you can make a segment of the Wurlitzer proclaim that the economy is doing well, you have a win. Kuttner is right, people have a sense of how poorly things have gone, and making Hannity bray about how good it is corrodes Hannity’s credibility.
latts Says:
September 13th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
For some reason, I find [Hannity] more irritating than any of the others–GWB, O’Reilly, Limbaugh.

I’ve been saying for years that if Hannity wasn’t making millions as a professional asshole, he’d simply be developing his amateur’s potential by slipping mickeys in the drinks of women who wouldn’t bother with him otherwise. He’s just that kinda guy.
Sarah Says:
September 14th, 2008 at 12:01 am
Yes, it is impossible to have adignified discussion at Hannity, but the moment when Bob said “you fool” totally made my day.

To paraphrase Hitchens: If you gave Hannity an enema he could be buried in a matchbox
JonF Says:
September 14th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Re: And my own little conspiracy theory: the GDP numbers are juiced.

How? Those numbers are based on data that anyone (with the proper education and resources) could access and use to calculate the figures. If the government were simply making up numbers out of thin air any university economics department could call them on it.
oral Says:
September 16th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
I do not understand , as such delirium possible to write?????
NSinNY Says:
November 29th, 2008 at 11:58 am
I just took another look at this, a few months after the fact. Hilarious. Somebody ought to play this on loop in front of the Fox News building.
Sally Says:
March 11th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Of course, what a great site and informative posts, I will add backlink – bookmark this site? Regards, Reader.
Carol Says:
March 11th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Of course, what a great site and informative posts, I will add backlink – bookmark this site? Regards, Reader.

Matt Yglesias

Kuttner v. Hannity

30 Responses to “Kuttner v. Hannity”

Blogroll