Last week Sean Hannity displayed a very un-Christian-like attitude toward a botched execution in Arizona. Last night, in a nod at balance, Hannity hosted the defense attorney for the executed prisoner. But Hannity was so busy talking up firing squads - and browbeating and bullying - that his guest barely had a chance to speak.
Hannity was a bit more polite to this guest than he was to his Palestinian-American guest last week. But not by much. And this guest, Dale Baich, only got a little more opportunity to answer the slightly-less loaded questions.
“This is about the state carrying out the death penalty and the execution of one of its citizens…” Baich began before getting interrupted.
The hostility left Hannity’s voice and a note of enthusiasm crept in. “There’s one way you can do it really quickly. What about a firing squad?” Hannity reverted to his combative aggression as he continued: “Is there any means of execution you would support if you don’t like this method?”
Of course that was not at all what Baich was there to discuss. But Hannity was intent on demeaning his guest, apparently thinking it made him look tough and cool.
Predictably, Baich did not want to express a preference for forms of execution. “That’s not for me to answer,” he said after a bit of bullying. “My position is…”
But Hannity didn’t care what Baich’s position was. In his belligerent voice, Hannity sneered, “Sure it is. For example, if you have a firing squad – it’s over. He’s dead.” He swiped his hands together, as if ridding himself of a problem.
Hannity later asked, “So would you prefer something that would be guaranteed to do the job quickly?” This time, Hannity rapped on the desk for emphasis.
This is at least the second time Hannity has relished the idea of executions by firing squad. He’s not the only one at Fox News to do so, either.
This post was originally published on NewsHounds, where "we watch FOX so you don't have to."
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