Hannity criticized lyrics that call women “B's” and “ho's,” but didn't object to his “friend” Ted Nugent calling Clinton a “worthless bitch”

Written by Hannah Dreier

Published

Discussing demonstrations held around the country against degrading lyrics in the music industry, Sean Hannity said, “I don't like the lyrics that refer to women as 'B's' and 'ho's.' ” But in August 2007, Hannity aired concert footage of Ted Nugent, whom he referred to as a “friend,” calling then-Sen. Barack Obama a “piece of shit” and referring to Sen. Hillary Clinton as a “worthless bitch.”

On the January 12 edition of Fox News' Hannity -- formerly Hannity & Colmes -- during a discussion with Meat Loaf and Al Sharpton, who recently led one of several demonstrations around the country against degrading lyrics in the music industry, Sean Hannity said, “I don't like the lyrics that refer to women as 'B's' and 'ho's,' and we've had many discussions about this.” However, on August 24, 2007, Hannity aired concert footage of rock musician and right-wing activist Ted Nugent calling then-Sen. Barack Obama a “piece of shit” and referring to Sen. Hillary Clinton as a “worthless bitch.” After airing the clip, Hannity referred to Nugent as a “friend and frequent guest on the program.”

In the video clip, Nugent holds up what appear to be two assault rifles, and says “Obama, he's a piece of shit, and I told him to suck on my machine gun” and “Hey, Hillary, you might want to ride one of these into the sunset, you worthless bitch.” After airing the clip, Hannity referred to Nugent as a “friend and frequent guest on the program.” Moments later, Hannity compared Nugent's comments to a statement by Obama, which Hannity distorted by claiming Obama “accus[ed] our troops of killing civilians.” Hannity then asked Democratic strategist Bob Beckel: “What's more offensive to you? Is it Barack Obama's statement about our troops or Ted Nugent?” During his response, Beckel asked Hannity if he was “prepared to disavow this lowlife,” to which Hannity responded: “No, I like Ted Nugent. He's a friend of mine.” When Beckel later said that Nugent “ought to never come on your show again, and if you have him on, you ought to be ashamed of yourself,” Hannity responded: “Not at all. We have you on.”

From the January 12 edition of Fox News' Hannity:

HANNITY: Let me ask you a question, because Reverend Al, you -- you ran -- you had a big rally against the rap industry. And here we have Meat Loaf here. And you know what? I don't like the lyrics that refer to women as “B's” and “ho's,” and we've had many discussions about this. Then we have hard -- you know, heavy metal music, really angry and mean.

MEAT LOAF: They've been censoring music --

HANNITY: Yeah.

MEAT LOAF: -- since Gustav Mahler in Paris.

HANNITY: So, you don't want any -- any government involvement?

MEAT LOAF: No, because -- OK, with Elvis. Take Elvis in the '50s. They wouldn't show him below the waist; they wouldn't play his music on the radio. Censorship is bad, and it is wrong.

HANNITY: Is Reverend Al wrong to go after the companies that are making money on these?