The dumb guy connection
When people have complained over the years about Sean Hannity, I often have responded, “You have to understand, Sean Hannity is just not very bright.”
After spending a good amount of time years ago listening to his radio show and watching his television program, and after reading about his background, I reached the conclusion that Hannity was what was called a “slow learner” when I was in school. He is so mentally challenged he even makes the two male hosts on “Fox and Friends,” Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne, seem like nuclear physicists in comparison.
I think, though, that lack of intellect actually is part of Hannity’s appeal. Hannity, sounding like a cross between a poorly trained parrot and Jimmy Cagney, tends to repeat the same catch phrases over and over day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year.
During the Obama administration it was “Reverend Wright” and “Bill Ayers.” Then when Hillary Clinton was running for president it was “Benghazi” “Benghazi” “Benghazi.” And since Hannity buddy/confidante Donald Trump became “president,” Hannity constantly chants “deep state,” “witch hunt” and “Mueller crime family.”
I, though, believe Hannity’s lack of intelligence and lack of education – he never finished college — is what much of audience wants. His simplistic approach to politics is not an act. Simple is the only way he can be, and his audience loves it.
That lack of complication appeals to people looking for simplistic explanations and rationales, who are looking for quotes like this famous one from Hannity: “The U.S. is the greatest, best country God has ever given man on the face of the Earth.” Even if you agree with that base premise, and I do generally, the syntax is horrific, particularly because that quote came from a prepared piece on Hannity’s show and was not just some spontaneous ungrammatical rambling.
Hannity recently got into trouble because he’s spent a tremendous amount of his air time defending Trump lawyer/fixer/rejected-and-needy Labrador Michael Cohen while not informing his audience that Cohen has served as his own attorney, a revelation that came out in court in a federal case against Cohen, much to what should have been Hannity’s embarrassment.
Some smart folks say one of best indicators of a well-developed mind is the ability to think beyond your own perspective. Unable to look at the world beyond the end of his nose, Hannity is baffled as to why his lack of forthrightness about his relationship with Cohen has become an issue.
Despite his lack of brainpower, Hannity has become a success in broadcasting. Reports are that he made $35 million last year. So, obviously, there’s a place for dumb guys in broadcasting, even in broadcasting involving political discourse.
What is scarier, though, is around the same time the Cohen/Hannity connection became public, is it was disclosed that “President” Trump and Hannity are in regular contact, sometimes several times a day. Some White House employees even call Hannity the “shadow chief of staff.”
Trump and Hannity, according to reports that have not been denied, help set each other’s agenda for the day, with Trump promoting Hannity’s show on Twitter when he wants to get a certain message to his base. Hannity, insiders say, even has input into personnel matters in the government.
Certainly there’s nothing illegal about such a relationship. The issue, though, is that there have to be thousands, even millions, of people more qualified, more knowledgeable and certainly more intelligent, than Sean Hannity to provide advice to “President” Trump on national and international matters.
Dumb guys on TV are either an irritant or a hoot, and Hannity can be both.
Dumb guys in the White House could be a menace to the world.