For 1,000th Show, Hannity Talks To Mediaite About His ‘Libertarian’ Evolution And Why ‘Journalism Is Dead’
While Hannity says he no longer has the time to or interest in watching his competitors or major network news broadcasters, he noted that he used to regularly watch NBC News anchor Brian Williams. “I thought he read prompter very well,” Hannity added, making sure to add that this is a genuine compliment because prompter-reading is a learned skill.
Hannity recently served as a leading indicator from within the Republican media complex that some conservatives were willing to embrace immigration reform as a means of repairing the Republican Party’s damaged brand with Latino voters. Since his “evolution” on the issue of immigration reform, however, many Republicans in the commentariat have determined that reforming the nation’s immigration system may not yield any political benefits for the GOP and the proposals under consideration were not worthy of support.
Hannity said, in spite of the changing political dynamic within the Republican Party relating to immigration reform, his position remains the same. “If we really, fully, completely control borders first, then I think idea of dealing with 11 million people that are in this country that didn’t respect our laws or our sovereignty — it can be dealt with in fair compassionate way,” he affirmed. “The problem with the way this bill is evolving, and even [Sen.] Marco [Rubio (R-FL)] in last 36 hours has admitted this, is that the borders are not controlled.”
“Most conservatives like myself are saying, ‘why do anything if we’re going to have a third, fourth, and fifth wave of illegal immigration because we refused to control the border first?’” Hannity asked. He noted, however, that immigration reform is not simply a political concern, but a national security issue. That, he says, is his primary concern and the basis for his continued support for immigration reform on a philosophical level.
This recent political evolution regarding immigration is not Hannity’s first. “I think I’ve moved more libertarian in terms of what people do in personal lives,” Hannity submitted. “By that, I mean it is none of our business what two consenting adults do in their bedrooms.”
“I am a strong Catholic, Christian,” he clarified. “I don’t think the government has any place in their life at all, period. But I don’t support gay marriage. But I really don’t care what people do privately.”
Hannity confided that his position on the war on drugs is undergoing a similar evolution. He notes he is no longer certain that the government’s prohibition on the sale and use of marijuana is the right policy. “I can’t get to point of legalizing marijuana, because no one has convinced me it is not a gateway drug,” Hannity told Mediaite. “With that said, I’ve known people who have used it — that do use it. I know how popular it is.”
Hannity says he is as disturbed by what drug and alcohol abuse can do to a person and to society as ever, but he is no longer certain that criminal prosecution is the appropriate response for people found guilty of abusing marijuana.
No doubt, Hannity’s political development will continue as long as he occupies the host’s chair on Fox News Channel. And his program is not going anywhere. After debuting in 2009, Hannity averages over 2 million viewers per night and, in April, ranked second place in all of cable news. The program has ranked number one in its time slot for the last 52 consecutive months.
“I think people have sought out an alternative point of view, and I think that’s been a part of my success,” Hannity concluded.
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This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in this article are those of just the author.
