Sean Hannity Denies Past Association With White Supremacist Who Calls for "Lynchings" in Kalamazoo

Another night, another high tech lynching of Barack Obama on Hannity & Colmes. It was the usual attacks on Obama over those with whom he associates. But last night (3/19/08), Sean Hannity was confronted about his own past association with white supremacist Hal Turner ...

Reported by Ellen
March 20, 2008

First Hannity denied knowing Turner, then he said he had long ago banned Turner from his show. While it’s probably true that Hannity banned Turner, what Hannity didn’t mention is that before Turner got banned, he was regularly welcomed on Hannity’s show, even after saying on the air that if it weren’t for the graciousness of white people, "black people would still be swinging on trees in Africa."

Malik Shabazz, of the New Black Panther Party, was the guest. FOX News frequently hosts members of that organization, usually as objects of derision. Last night, Shabazz was there because his organization had endorsed Barack Obama. It was an endorsement that Obama specifically rejected but FOX News deliberately trumped up the endorsement by inviting Shabazz on the program (See, look what kind of extremists Obama associates with), playing a clip from one of Shabazz’ more incendiary confrontations with Hannity (Jews knew about 9/11 and got out of the way), and repeatedly running the “news” on the crawl that the Obama campaign had rejected the endorsement because the New Black Panther Party is considered to be an organization that advocates violence.

But last night, Shabazz wisely toned down his rhetoric and confronted Hannity on his own bias against Obama. “Why won’t you acknowledge the brilliance of Barack Obama’s speech? Why won’t you accept his call to come out of the divisive throngs of racism?” Shabazz asked.

Hannity praised Obama as a very effective politician. Then Hannity added, “What I don’t think you’re understanding here, Malik, is that when you hear the minister of him for 20 years, when you hear the associations with Louis Farrakhan, one of the biggest racists and anti-Semites in the country, what you’re not understanding is, America hears extremism at its worst.”

Shabazz responded, “Let me ask you this. Are you to be judged by your promotion and association with Hal Turner?”

Hannity waved his arm around. “I don’t know anybody named – this is nonsense. I don’t…” Then Hannity changed his tune. “Sir, sir… That was a man that was banned from my radio show ten years ago, that ran a Senate campaign in New Jersey.”

Then, as Shabazz refused to stop talking or back down, Hannity, in a tacit admission, said, “I’m not running for president.”

“A neo Nazi, you backed his career,” Shabazz said.

Hannity answered, “That is an absolute, positive, lie and you’ve been reading the wrong websites (presumably, he meant ours), my friend. Good try.”

In fact, the information about Hannity’s association with Turner comes from an article by Max Blumenthal in the online version of The Nation magazine, dated June 3, 2005. And while it may be a stretch to say that Hannity "backed Turner's career," there's little doubt that Hannity promoted Turner's views.

To quote from the article:

Turner was once a prominent activist in New Jersey's Republican Party. To area conservatives, he was best known by his moniker for call-ins to the Sean Hannity Show, "Hal from North Bergen." For years, Hannity offered his top-rated radio show as a regular forum for Turner's occasionally racist, always over-the-top rants. Hannity also chatted with him off-air, allegedly offering encouragement to Turner as he struggled to overcome a cocaine habit and homosexual leanings. Turner has boasted that Hannity once invited Turner and his son on to the set of Fox News's Hannity and Colmes. Today, Turner lurks on the fringes of the far right, spouting hate-laced tirades on his webcast radio show. Hannity, meanwhile, remains mum about his former alliance with the neo-Nazi, homing in instead on the supposed racism of black and Latino Democrats.

…On WABC Hannity inherited (Bob) Grant's fan base of angry white males, who listened to his show in the New York City area. Hannity recognized his audience's thirst for red meat, racist rhetoric. However, he knew that if he wanted to avoid Grant's fate, he needed an air of deniability. When "Hal from North Bergen" began calling his show, Hannity found he could avoid the dangers of direct race-baiting by simply outsourcing it to Turner.

During an August 1998 episode of the show, Turner reminded Hannity that were it not for the graciousness of the white man, "black people would still be swinging on trees in Africa," according to Daryle Jenkins, co-founder of the New Jersey-based antiracism group One People's Project. Instead of rebuking Turner or cutting him off, Hannity continued to welcome his calls. On December 10 of the following year, Turner called Hannity's show to announce his campaign to run for a seat in the US House of Representatives from New Jersey, and to attack his presumptive opponent, Democratic Representative Robert Menendez, as a "left-wing nut."

By this time, according to Jenkins, Turner and Hannity had bonded off-air. In 1998 Hannity received an anonymous e-mail linking to an AOL discussion board on which Turner had allegedly confessed to a cocaine problem and alluded to past homosexual trysts. Turner (or someone claiming to be Turner) wrote in an August 4, 1998, Google discussion forum that Hannity called him to clear the air: "Just last week, Sean phoned me at home from his job at FOX News to continue a conversation we'd begun earlier while he was at WABC," Turner wrote. "Sean advised that one of you sensitive souls sent him an e-mail about 'revelations I had made' here on the internet. He told me it was obviously and [sic] attempt to 'poison the water.' " Turner continued, "I told him that I've done things I'm not proud of, and had dark times in my life; and those experiences helped shape the way I live today...the right way. He [Hannity] laughed and commented that he knew the feeling." Turner added that such chats with Hannity were "not unusual," often occurring while Hannity held his calls during commercial breaks.

But Turner and Hannity's relationship collapsed in 2000 after the Hudson County Republican Party endorsed Turner's primary challenger, Theresa De Leon, an accomplished businesswoman and dark-skinned Latina. "I had never judged people on their race, not prior to that point," Turner recalled in a February 23, 2003, article in the Bergen County Record. "And there I was, on the receiving end--in America--of a decision that I wasn't good enough because I was a white male." Turner finished last in the primary, just as Hannity was hitting his stride as a major Fox News personality. When WABC's screeners began blocking Turner's calls, he realized he was no longer of use to Hannity.

Co-host Kirsten Powers jumped into the fray for a fraction of the time with Shabazz that Hannity got. But, as we have come to expect from her, her advocacy on behalf of Obama (or any Democrat) took a back seat to cozying up to conservatives. It was her third day subbing for Alan Colmes, every day has been a full-out attack against Obama and, by extension, the Democrats’ chances to win in November. Surely, Powers was politically savvy enough to understand why Shabazz had been invited. But instead of thinking of some way to advocate for her own side (She could have, for example, pointed out that while she rejects Shabazz’ organization, that Obama’s message that we have to work together to solve the serious problems facing the country is an important one they can both agree on, that it’s more important to have a real dialogue about issues such as the war in Iraq, the economy and health care than to dwell on what Obama’s pastor says and whether or not Obama denounced it soundly enough.) Instead, she used her portion of the interview to further fan the flames of divisiveness. “First of all, the Obama campaign says it doesn’t want your endorsement… You were just saying to Sean how Barack Obama wants to move past all this racial divisiveness.” Smiling scornfully, she continued, “I mean, I’ve read some of the stuff that you’ve said about white people and about Jews. Do you think that that’s moving past racial division?”

At the end, she read the following teaser in a chirpy, upbeat voice (please forgive the video splicing): Coming up, Barack Obama is starting to feel the political heat over the fall out of Jeremiah Wright. Wait until you see how the polls have moved since last week!”

http://www.newshounds.us/2008/03/20/hannity_denies_past_association_with_white_supremacist_but_evidence_suggests_otherwise.php
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Racist Rally Organizer's Call for "Lynchings" in Kalamazoo Part of a History of Extremely Violent and Racist Statements

July 9 2007 Comments Print Friendly Page Email

Racist radio talk show Hal Turner, who lives in New Jersey and is an associate of various white supremacist groups, has planned a rally for next month in Kalamazoo. The rally, billed as a "Rally Against Black Terrorism" against what Turner claims are targeted killings of white residents by African-Americans, is expected to be attended by representatives of many of the prominent organizations on the racist right, possibly making it the largest white supremacist gathering in Michigan since the National Socialist Movement (NSM) rally in Lansing last year.

Hal Turner has a history of extremely violent statements in which he calls on his supporters and members of the racist right to consider violent attacks against people of color. With regard to the Kalamazoo rally, Turner has commented that he believes Kalamazoo needs "a couple of lynchings" and that "savages are attacking, beating, and killing" whites. For his part, Turner has indicated that his violent rhetoric goes beyond the level of being idle talk, and has suggested that he is willing to undertake the violent acts that he regularly advocates. In an email, Turner told an activist that "I advocate what I am willing to do," stating "what keeps me out of jail is that I do things alone and, unlike so many others, I don't tell anyone I've done something illegal."

What follows is a small selection of Turner's statements over the years, culled from a variety of Internet sources and presented here as a means of arguing that this speech cannot be ignored and must be addressed for what it is, a call for genocide towards people of color that must be aggressively challenged and critiqued.

In regard to the current immigration debate, Turner has threatened to assassinate politicians supporting immigration reform:

ANY MEMBER OF CONGRESS WHO INTRODUCES, CO-SPONSORS OR VOTES IN FAVOR OF ANY SUCH AMNESTY WILL BE DECLARED A DOMESTIC ENEMY AND WILL BE CONSIDERED A LEGITIMATE TARGET FOR ASSASSINATION.

Turner first made this threat just before the November 2006 elections, arguing that violence might be needed to "turn things around" for white people:

Sorry to have to be so blunt, but the country is in mortal danger from our present government and our liberty is already near dead because of this government. If you are too stupid to turn things around with your vote, there are people out here like me who are willing to turn things around with guns, force and violence. We hope our method does not become necessary.

Focusing on undocumented immigrants, on April 1, 2006 Turner claimed that Mexicans are "sub-human" and advocates machine gunning immigrants at protests:

These filthy, disease ridden, two-legged bags of human debris are too stupid to believe... Just think, America, if we bring enough of them here, they can do for America exactly what they did for Mexico! Turn our whole country into a crime-ridden, drug infested slum....These people are sub-human. I would love it if folks who do have such weapons, used them on the crowds on April 10 [at immigration rallies]. I advocate machine gunning these invaders to death at their rallies!

On March 26, 2006, Turner advocated so-called "Lone Wolf" attacks against immigrants in which racists would individually kill immigrants in order to avoid the attacks being associated with a particular group:

Clean your guns. Have plenty of ammunition. April 10 is the day we fight....Wherever thousands of illegal aliens gather is the place. This is the perfect scenario, opportunity and obligation for LONE WOLF action....Go to the area well in advance, scope out several places to position yourself then do what has to be done....I think it would be correct for Military members to fly strafing runs against the assembled hordes. They wouldn't have to worry about being Court Martialed and sentenced to death; the U.S. Military hasn't executed a member since April 13, 1961!....I would love to see private pilots come in low, dump their fuel over the crowds and someone near the crowds throw a flare to ignite the fuel!

In December 2005, Turner argued advocated lynching African-Americans whom he described as a "beast" "species" that is different due to genetics:

How many times do these things have to happen before the rest of America wakes up to the fact that whites and blacks are totally incompatible? We are two separate species that simply cannot exist together because our very genetics make us so different. This beast should be LYNCHED!

In December 2005, Turner warned the world that rioting by African Americans unhappy with the Tookie Williams verdict should warrant this response:

IF YOU RIOT WE WILL GUN YOU DOWN IN THE STREET LIKE THE SAVAGE APES THAT YOU ARE...The days of filthy nigger savages running riot are OVER.

On November 6, 2005, turner commented on North African immigrant riots in France and once again argued that Africans have a genetic make-up that makes it impossible for them to live the "civilized" world:

I love the way the media tries to divert attention from who is really doing all this harm: SAVAGE NEGRO BEASTS! They are allowed into a civilized, white, first-world country. They cannot fit in because they simply do not have the genetic make-up to assimilate properly. Then they get angry that they cannot keep up; with rioting, pillaging and burning the inevitable result. When will the politically-correct crowd realize this irrefutable fact and stop pushing their stupid multi-culturalism on the civilized world?

On October 27, 2005, Turner threatened to send the "black community" back to Africa in chains. Turner cited the United States' success in annihilating the Native Americans as proof that such a plan could succeed:

What I want to say to Black Americans, and I mean this, I mean this...your ancestors came here against their will in chains. If the Black community does not clean up its act and reign [sic] in its hoodlums...all of you and I mean *all* of you, can leave here the same way. That's right, against your will and in chains. Think we can't do it? Look at the Indians. All we have to do is play cowboys and Indians..see where they are? Well, the time is rapidly approaching where we're going to play cowboys and niggers. Get the picture.

On October 11, 2005, Turner advocated killing undocumented immigrants and expressed hope that his rhetoric would inspire killings:

For the second time in a week, multiple Mexicans have been found shot dead just inside the U.S. Border. ! I ADVOCATE KILLING MORE OF THEM! For years I have been publicly advocating on my radio show and this web site, that Mexican illegal aliens be SHOT DEAD as they cross into the U.S. illegally. Now, they ARE being shot dead! I hope my rhetoric contributed to their deaths. I plant the seeds verbally and the seeds grow in the minds of others...I am proud to advocate even MORE killings! Illegal aliens should be KILLED as soon as they cross the border into the U.S.... Water stations placed in the desert should be poisoned. When enough of the illegals are KILLED, the rest will get the message not to come here. Death is a great deterrent! Even better is that it takes around 36 hours before cops even find the dead bodies. You can go on "safari" to kill dozens of these brown-skinned, sub-human animals and be long gone before the cops ever find your handy work.

In July 2005, turn advocated "violence" as the only means to achieve the goals of the racist right:

If you want social change in this country, if you want the homos shoved back in the closet, if you want the border with Mexico sealed, if you want the illegal aliens rounded up and deported out of the country, if you want the niggers and the spics to stop beating up, raping, robbing white people; well, guess what folks, it's going to take violence. ... That's the reality. It is going to take violence.

On June 3, 2005, Turner advocated killing elected officials and judges:

Let me blunt; by 'violence' I mean KILLING elected officials and judges whose sinister, evil exercise of power has struck at the very heart of what America really is : A Constitutional Republic based upon White Christian values...I am ready to do what's needed. Are you?

On May 15, 2005, Turner advocated killing undocumented immigrants:

I urge the hunting and killing of all illegal aliens as they cross the border into America. I implore Americans to arm themselves with sniper rifles and night vision scopes and kill every Mexican man woman and child who illegally crosses the U.S border. I advocate extreme violence against illegal aliens... I think it would be terrific to trap them by their ankles in steel bear traps then beat them to death when you return and find them in the trap. After they're dead, they should be decapitated and their heads put on spikes as a warning to other Mexicans. I advocate putting poison in desert drinking water stations they use. They deserve to be doused with gasoline and set on fire. Another great idea is to shoot at them from planes and helicopters. Oh, if any American sides with the illegals- like a bigmouth politician or a politically-correct, ass-kissing local Sheriff, lawyers, Judges or the like - it would be a real public service to kill them too! If they side with the enemy, they should share the enemy's fat.

On February 8, 2005, Hal Turner encouraged people to kill African-Americans in honor of his birthday:

I think a full day of violence against blacks ... would be a really nice thing ... complete with lynchings, church burnings, drive-by shootings and bombings to put these subhuman animals back in their place.

On September 25, 2002, Turner advocating killing Jewish Americans:

It is time to start killing Jews in the United States, cut their throat as they walk down the street, drive by and blast them with a shotgun...throw Molotov cocktails through their jewelry store windows and then Israel can ask us to stop.

On October 22, 2002, Turner encouraged his listeners to consider killing undocumented immigrants:

If the INS can't do its job, and round up these illegal aliens, then in my opinion, we people who are here legally, should maybe think about drive-by shootings with machine guns in front of every Mexican Consulate and kill every single one of these invaders.

On August 28, 2000, Turner praised the apartheid government of South Africa and argued that the country is now unable to integrate into "civilized" society:

South Africa was a civilized society that was governed by white people who did what they knew was necessary to keep their indigenous population from killing themselves and from destroying the country. And because the left wing in this country thought that that was a terrible thing, they systematically went about depriving the South African government of its ability to do business in the world; and as a result the South African government stopped its system of apartheid and allowed 'one man one vote.' What they didn't count on was that the one man that they were giving the vote to was a savage who had no idea how to exist in a civilized society.

In August 1998, Hal Turner asserted on Sean Hannity's radio show that if it were not for white people, "black people would still be swinging on trees in Africa."

http://www.mediamouse.org/features/070907racis.php