The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Did Schlussel Smear Hannity?

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Regarding this morning’s item on Sean Hannity’s Freedom Concerts, it seems that much of Debbie Schlussel’s report was very misleading. A knowledgeable source tells me: “The reason so little has been paid out from the charity is that the vast majority of the kids the money WILL go to are right now not in college. When they turn 18 they will get the money for college. But because these are the children of Iraq and Afghanistan vets, their kids are mostly not of college age yet.”

As for Hannity’s private plane, my source says “he pays for it himself,” and adds that “he personally has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars of his own money to the Freedom Alliance.”

I’m told Freedom Alliance will issue a statement on this today; I’ll update this post with their statement as soon as I get it. UPDATE: Freedom Alliance’s statement is here.

View all comments (104) | Leave a comment Leave a comment

JadedByPolitics| 3.19.10 @ 2:35PM

So the story is falling apart? did you contact Hannity to answer the story before you WENT AFTER HIM? I hope the hell that this story is your SWAN SONG!

maire| 3.19.10 @ 2:37PM

One should be cautious about Debbie S., IMO. She generally should be taken with a pinch of salt. She gets a little hysterical at times.

Not that Hannity is any paragon of conservative virtue!

Thanks for the follow-up.

SoCon| 3.19.10 @ 2:38PM

Not much of a Hannity fan are you, Tabin? Sounds like your attack was a little premature, I would say.

Shame on you.

BigRenman| 3.19.10 @ 10:14PM

Before all this gets swept away, how about having the numbers checked, perhaps by someone other than Debbie S. An accusation, based on numbers - and a serious accusation - has been made. Before wagons are circled around Hannity, perhaps a check under the wagons is in order...

Unclemeat | 3.22.10 @ 9:01PM

Ya Big, remember it is the seriousness of the charge that counts, sounds like Dan Rather to me...

SoCon| 3.19.10 @ 2:40PM

You look like a stupid fool, Tabin. You owe Hannity an apology.

Michael| 3.19.10 @ 3:04PM

Tabin should be ashamed to have published this without having the story vetted. Apology is owed, and it has damaged the American Spectator in my mind. How can we criticize liberal media when crap lack this happens?

Michael| 3.19.10 @ 3:04PM

SoCon| 3.19.10 @ 3:15PM

You notice that Tabin's premature, unsubstantiated attack was not aimed at the Left--but at someone on the Right.
I guess it's easier to eat your own for some republicans. Sickening.

They don't call us the STUPID PARTY for nothin'.

Jason Green| 3.19.10 @ 2:41PM

So, you ask a criminal if he committed a crime? What the hell do you think he is going to say? Hannity is a liar and thief.

ZerObama| 3.19.10 @ 2:45PM

Looks like Schlussel's the liar, moron.

Jason Green is an idiot| 3.19.10 @ 7:12PM

Hannity is a liar and thief? Yeah, never mind all the exculpatory evidence. As for asking a criminal if he committed a crime, I don't know if that is procedure, but I do know there is something called a presumption of innocence. Perhaps you should look into that before you make yourself look like a jackass again.

Yaliesue| 3.19.10 @ 2:45PM

Tabin commenting on this before getting the facts is what's disgusting. Tabin needs to apologize to Hannity because Sean, instead of being a thief, seems to be one of the most generous individuals around. Shame on Tabin and American Spectator for posting this trash.

ZerObama| 3.19.10 @ 2:47PM

I agree, Tabin's a real dirtbag; he's probably never done a damn thing to help anyone in his whole life.

Tim| 3.19.10 @ 2:48PM

Way to go Spectator. Another triumph of blog editing.

Sally| 3.19.10 @ 3:06PM

Horse-whipped, Tim?

Tim| 3.19.10 @ 4:00PM

IF it was true. IF Sally, IF.

Sally| 3.19.10 @ 4:03PM

Just checking. :)

Susie Q| 3.19.10 @ 2:49PM

While I am not president of the local Sean Hannity Fan Club, I must say that anyone who takes Drama Debbie's word over Sean's has got to be dingy. Debbie yearns to be the right's answer to Modo Dowd.
Thanks, but we don't need one, Deb.

The Number of the Least| 3.19.10 @ 2:52PM

So, the whole notion of 200 dollars to a triple amputee from Romulus Michigan, or 165 to another double amputee, is totally cool with you guys? Interesting...

Roger Cotton| 3.19.10 @ 6:17PM

When you can substantiate this, we can comment definitively. Until then, you just sound like an idiot.

Rod| 3.22.10 @ 12:26PM

Have you read all the facts? The Department of Defense does not allow military to receive more han 1000 dollars without a vetting. Better you ask for what purpose was he given the money. It may have helped pay for an airline ticket, for new clothes, or for something the military could not provide. You obviously won't care since you're so ready to talk without checking.

Aaron| 3.19.10 @ 2:52PM

Schlusell blames Hannity for "stealing" her original material and has decided he's the reason she's been banished from Cable TV and Radio. The real reason is because ....she's nuts. Speaking as someone who's dealt with her before, her reputation proceeds her.

Tyler| 3.19.10 @ 3:04PM

She's always looked a little unhinged to me; wild-eyed comes to mind.

li| 3.19.10 @ 4:23PM

'Proceeds' her? Really?

Nobama| 3.19.10 @ 4:36PM

It's a TYPO for heaven's sakes! Get a life.

Gary| 3.19.10 @ 3:02PM

So all those figures taken from charity records and IRS filings of paltry sum paid to triple amputees is wrong?? So more than a million dollars paid in one year for postage is wrong?? So millions paid to so called consultants is wrong?? Why would you pay even ONE CENT of this money to a consultant when the aim is to help the children of wounded troops?? What kind of a consultancy are you getting except perhaps lining up the pockets of your cronies. Frankly I had trusted his noble motives and I am totally disappointed by this. If all that Debbie alleges is true, Sean Hannity should just disappear from Public life.

Tyler| 3.19.10 @ 3:05PM

I wish you clowns on the left would disappear from public life--forever. Troll.

Roger Cotton| 3.19.10 @ 6:18PM

And the award for Drama Queen of the Computer Screen goes tooooo... GARY!

sig94 | 3.19.10 @ 3:16PM

I rarely read the American Spectator.
This nonsense is the reason why. Anyone who takes Shlussel at her word needs to be tasered.

Arthur| 3.19.10 @ 3:18PM

I can't believe you Hannity fans think everything is okay now! If you look at the statement it talks about the high percentage that goes to "program activities". It doesn't mean that's the total that goes to the troops!

Princess| 3.21.10 @ 4:09PM

Program activities --- they are programs for the vets and their families. Their mission is not to give money to disabled vets ....it's to provide scholarship funding for the children of the vets. Why is everyone is such an uproar about the money given to the vets?

Debbie Schlussel | 3.19.10 @ 3:20PM

In fact, the Freedom Alliance “response” really doesn’t answer any of the questions I raised and goes on to lie more. They don’t address why they gave a triple amputee only $200—and in fact there are many of these examples provided in their tax return addendum, but I only cited a few for brevity’s sake. They also lie and claim that they gave a lot more money to charity b/c they categorize it as “program expenses.” But I’m sorry—calling $3 million in consulting fees, printing, and postage “program expenses” doesn’t change the fact that it still went to their cronies, not the soldiers who only got on average less than $900 apiece and the college student kids of fallen heroes, who got $6,000 only to go to college. It also doesn’t change the fact that out of the money spent (I didn’t use the money they claim they raised for their scholarship fund in my figures for the amount they wasted by spending it on consultants, cronies, travel, postage, printing, etc.) the vast majority goes to those kinds of expenses. Also, the “scholarship fund” is really a war chest for something else. We’ve been at war since 2001 when we went into Afghanistan, and we’re winding down in Iraq. Unless the kids were born in 2001 or thereafter, many of these kids are in college now. With a giant multi-million dollar fund, why aren’t they giving the kids a free, complete ride to college? They could do it off the principle alone. And how many kids of deceased troops will there be in the future? (Enough to exhaust a multi-million dollar warchest they keep expanding?) Also, because they hoarded millions of dollars, their returns show the fund shrunk by several million dollars with bad investments and market losses. That money could have put these kids through college for the entire time. What’s their excuse for the soldiers with no limbs and with severe burns? Are they waiting for two decades from now when technology is better? $165 for a soldier who is blind and his face blew up? No excuse for that. Anyone who buys this excuse--especially the incredibly gullible Tabin--is a moron.

timb| 3.19.10 @ 3:49PM

Nice work, Debbie. Of course, the Washington Post publicized this in 2007 and various organizations have noted Hannity's a charlatan and a liar.

ZerObama| 3.19.10 @ 4:11PM

Debbie, you're a whackjob!

BernardL| 3.19.10 @ 5:26PM

They certainly answered your main accusation about Sean using the charity's money for extravagant expenses, Ms. Schussel. Sean Hannity paid all his own expenses and gave of his time along with hundreds of thousands of dollars out of his own pocket. Although slandering the 'Freedom Alliance' charity was a secondary target your prime libel was addressed at Sean Hannity. You owe him an apology. If you would slander a man donating vast amounts of time and money to our troops it would be illogical to place any trust in your convoluted bashing of the 'Freedom Alliance'.

Jerry Confer| 3.19.10 @ 6:48PM

Debbie, your report stated as FACT that Hannity was the reason so little was available for charity; moreover, you lying sack, you stated as FACT that Hannity paid none of his own expenses.
RETRACT, or be damned!

Go away Debbie| 3.19.10 @ 7:19PM

And your evidence the scholarship money is a "warchest for something else" is? Yeah, that's what I thought.

Also, I think I am correct in assuming that the vast majority of those who are Iraq and Afghanistan veterans were probably in their twenties when they entered the warzone. That you think most of those kids would be college age now is ridiculous.

Clarinda H| 3.19.10 @ 9:01PM

"They could do it off the principle alone."

The syntax of this sentence -- e.g., specifically the use of the word 'alone' -- suggests to me that Ms. Schlussel means "interest/earnings/return on principle" rather than "principle." Odd mix-up; leaves me wondering what else she might be mixing up.

James Ayton| 3.20.10 @ 8:44AM

The key line in Debbie's response is: "(I didn’t use the money they claim they raised for their scholarship fund in my figures"

Thanks for admitting your mistake, Debbie.

It looks like the blogger is exaggerating the squandering a little. They brought in about $21 million from 2006-2008, and $3.4 million was spent on scholarships. The blogger fails to mention that they have a Scholarship Trust Fund set up that now contains $15 million. Assuming that they brought in another $7 million in 2009, that would mean they... See More squandered less than 35%, not the 70-80% that the blogger claims. I believe that setting up all those concerts probably cost about that much.

Not that I support Hannity, but it really isn't his organization. He is just the one that brings all the donors in. The blogger says that they use the funds for things like private jets for Hannity, but he already has his own jet.

Of all the things to go after Hannity for, I don't think this is one of them.

Aaron| 3.20.10 @ 10:50AM

Debbie. This isn't the way to get back in the Green Room. You're not going to be able to shift on a dime like Huffington and start bashing the other side. Bill Maher is not going to book you to attack Hannity. The only way back is to do good original reporting (T's dotted, I's crossed etc.) on red meat stuff and slowly ease back in the game. This angle is a loser.

Duane | 3.19.10 @ 3:28PM

Schlussel you have no credibility and a drama queen. It would have been better if you had someone who was respected take your information, review it for accuracy and context and write an article. No one respects you.

Michael| 3.19.10 @ 3:30PM

"Did Schlussel Smear Hannity?"

Another question, "Did Tabin?" Seems to me that using the headline you used, "Hannity's Big Rip-Off" would also qualify, don't you think!

And, for the record, I hate Sean Hannity. I think he's a complete nutter, and I was hoping this was true. But I also believe that, oh, I don't know, PEOPLE SHOULDN'T BE LIED ABOUT NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU HATE THEM!

So before you go accusing Schlussel of a big smear job, take alook at your own headline.

Al| 3.19.10 @ 3:32PM

Be very wary, guys. Soros and the Obama White House have tentacles that reach far and wide and bottomless pockets of cash to smear and try to discredit their enemies. I don't know who this Schlussel person is but the vitriol regarding this article especially against Sean would have made MoveOn.org and ACORN proud. The democrats are desparate and would stoop to any dirty tricks to silence our voices so beware!

BamaDeb| 3.19.10 @ 3:37PM

I used to go to Ms. Schlussel's website until I got tired of her constant whining. But you Mr. Tabin, should be ashamed for declaring Mr. Hannity 'disgusting' before verifying her story. The American Spectator should be held to greater account for allowing this to be posted before all the facts were in.

JJ| 3.19.10 @ 3:37PM

Still....no one feels that the percentage of money spent on postage and printing was high? I'd love to be the printing vendor in this case.

byron bunch| 3.19.10 @ 3:37PM

At least Tabin retracted his comments unlike many journalists who defame alot more than he did and it appears Schlussel is defending what she said. I have no idea if Debbie S lied or not, but Tabin certainly didn't. The worst you can say is that he reported without double checking. One thing I have always liked about Am Spec is they don't blandly defend one side.

ZerObama| 3.19.10 @ 4:13PM

Tabin had to retract his lies, he had no choice.

BB| 3.19.10 @ 4:41PM

Tabin didnt LIE. He may have jumped the gun slightly. What possible motivation would he have?

I have seen stuff he has written before and he is very libertarian, and would not be anti Hannity unless he was misled by something. Could he have jumped the gun? Of course.

I dont think we on the right should ONLY attack those on the left and ONLY defend those on the right as some in this thread think. Hannity will recover from /this minor kerfuffle.

Remember reading about the Headline in the Chi Trib. DEWEY WINS. STUFF HAPPPENS

ZerObama| 3.19.10 @ 8:36PM

Jumped the gun SLIGHTLY? If that's true why has TAS removed Tabin's original post and offered numerous apologies to the readers? Tabin's a professional and I expect a modicum of professionalism from him. That's all.

You look like a fool trying to defend the indefensible.

Unlike you, I don't think we should ONLY ATTACK OUR OWN--what a fool's errand, and you sound like a big fool. STUPID PARTY STRIKES AGAIN!!

Nick| 3.20.10 @ 12:11AM

ZerObama,

Great point!

If you are going to publish something that might ruin somebody's life, you had better have the goods, and I mean an air tight case.

p luzzi| 3.19.10 @ 3:40PM

i believe debbie i have always thought this guy was a crook and now its been proved

JJ| 3.19.10 @ 3:42PM

Also, where is the money that they are "saving" for the college funds? In the stock market?, in a savings account?, in T bills? Wouldn't that money show up in the information submitted by Freedom Alliance?

ZerObama| 3.19.10 @ 4:10PM

I wish you stupid, braindead liberals would have just a tiny bit of your skepticism for the BS that constantly spews from the mouths of Obama, Pelosi and Reed. Talk about liars!

You idiots attack a good man like Hannity who actually helps our vets and ignore the destruction of our country at the hands of the Marxist Left.

You dumb liberals are just useful idiots.

JJ| 3.19.10 @ 4:18PM

Huh? It's a simple question...where is the money they are setting aside for our injured and fallen veteran's kids...

I'm not attacking anyone. It's a very clinical question. I think we should all charities to the same standard.

ZerObama| 3.19.10 @ 4:39PM

Yeah, right, troll. You don't care about our vets or their children--you just want to destroy Hannity.

Bug off.

JJ| 3.19.10 @ 8:26PM

Couldn't care less about destroying Hannity. I do find it interesting that conservatives aren't allow to critique each other, or hold each other accountable. That's the same tactic that the MoveOn people use to hold democrat party hostage.

Instead of just blinding following Hannity or the blogger that brought this up. I suggest you actually read the tax returns. I know I'm going to.

ZerObama| 3.19.10 @ 8:38PM

It's been thoroughly debunked, JJ. Check it out before you post anymore so you don't look like such a clueless ass.

James Ayton| 3.20.10 @ 8:48AM

I'll help you out JJ, since you seem to have a problem looking information up yourself even when you are already sitting in front of a computer connected to the internet:

The money is in a Trust Fund.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trust_fund

Pingback| 3.19.10 @ 4:14PM

Hannity Hit by Ugly Attack from RIGHT-Wing Blogger (for a Change) | NewsReal Blog links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…toward Hannity goes back a few years, and may be playing a role here. The American Spectator’s John Tabin has been following the story. Initially disgusted with Hannity, a “knowledgeable source” since told him that Sean pays for all of his travel and hotel accommodations out of his own pocket, not through FA funds, and that: The reason so little has been paid out from the charity is that the vast majority of…

ChrisMeihass| 3.19.10 @ 4:18PM

D Schlussel..my advice to you is to STOP, quit digging your abyss, just put down the shovel, and start crawfishing and slithering away...

BernardL| 3.19.10 @ 4:26PM

I won't even pretend to know how much one of those Freedom Concerts costs to put on. It must be astronomical. That Sean Hannity was accused of using the charity's money to cover his expenses is the one point 'Freedom Alliance' refuted outright with an exclamation point. Sean not only gave up untold personal time to the charity's endeavor but PAID ALL his own expenses along with hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions out of his own pocket. A false personal hit piece on a man giving up huge amounts of time and money in support of our troops on a blog is bad enough - reinforcing it in the American Spectator reeks, Mr. Tabin.

maire| 3.19.10 @ 4:32PM

OK - forthose who think not "enough" of the money earned goes to the foundation, Hannity could probably just bill the concert as a "patriotic family-friendly evening" and solicit donations at the event for the foundation.

I bet the same number of people would come to see the shows and they'd probably raise as much money. So what? People are benefiting who otherwise would not, country music/family values type people get a concert and everyone's happy.

The only glitch in my proposal is that cash reciepts are darned difficult to handle and account for.

He is not pretending to be the Salvation Army.

How about making a contribution to this or another foundation that helps vets' kids?

This is absolutely a non-story at this point.

Hannity is a rather vacuous guy (who also donates a lot of money to good causes, apparently), Debbie is hysterical, many leftists are bat-guano crazy, dog bites man.

Ranger 06| 3.19.10 @ 4:57PM

You know she did - What we have here is a fishing trip - Show me some analysis of the financial ratio's of FA vs. another charity - no way in hell they would do that because there would be no story there - better just cherry pick some items here and there and try to make a story our of it - maybe something will stick. Another note - FA did not invent GAAP, so if you have a problem with the way they account for stuff, you should at least point out that this is standard practice that 100% of charities use. But don't let the facts slow you down honey!

Show me some facts here or STFU.

JadedByPolitics| 3.19.10 @ 5:31PM

I have donated money to American Spectator in the past and I know that this will be the LAST time I ever visit and forget cash, when you allow your site to ATTACK a Conservative in the vile and pathetic manner that is used by the left you have lost the respect and your place in the blogosphere you once had.

SHAMEFUL!

Roger Cotton| 3.19.10 @ 6:23PM

I have to agree. I had come to consider American Spectator a distinguished source of considered thought and information.

After this awful exercise in liberal-style journalism, I no longer feel that way.

Dave2| 3.19.10 @ 7:13PM

Just another vote for John Tabin as Weasel of the Year for attacking Hannity, and then suddenly acting like he was all level-headed and his moronic reporting is all Debbie Schlussel's fault.

S.Hannity| 3.19.10 @ 9:40PM

just another viscous attack from the leftist Obama smear merchants. one failure leading to another this weekend.

S. Hannity| 3.19.10 @ 9:44PM

Correction: "Vicious"

S.Hannity| 3.19.10 @ 9:47PM

oops it's hard to type, do my show, talk out of both sides of my mouth, and reach around Dick Morris all at the same time.

MESSNBC| 3.20.10 @ 1:01AM

Nothing like the white hot tingle Chrissy feels down his leg every time he sees Obama. I can't even count the kneepads Chrissy has worn out for the 'Won'.

Don't get me started on Keith Dolbermann the pervert--Keith's face appears right next to 'reach around' in the Urban Dictionary.

S.Hannity| 3.20.10 @ 9:19AM

just keep bying my 'CONSERVATIVE VICTORY TOUR' tickets... whats that you ask? why is it called the conservative victory tour? Because we won, we're winners, we stopped health care reform. Oh wait a second. Ooops. Well anyways it'll be years before the white trash tea partiers figure it out.

MESSNBC| 3.20.10 @ 9:49PM

That you Keith? You and Chrissy in another reach around? Thought so, nasty, pasty white boys. lol

Don't gloat, dummy dumbtard--the health care battle isn't over until the fat lady sings--and those fat-assed hippos on your side ain't singing yet.

You'll see, dumbsh!t.

Pingback| 3.20.10 @ 11:19AM

Frum Owes Hannity an Apology | FrumForum links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Hannity is wrong: http://bit.ly/a5n3xt @ davidfrum @ daveweigel Let’s not jump to any conclusions… Tabin subsequently published two new blogposts at AmSpec. The first was tentative: “ Did Schlussel Smear Hannity? ” Tabin asked. The second was definitive: “ Schlussel’s Hannity Smear Debunked.” Tabin and the Spectator had no choice. Ditto Frum, Mak and Frum Forum. Facts, after all, are stubborn things. The…

Gerry | 3.20.10 @ 11:58AM

This kind of garbage belongs in the Rag Formerly Known as the New Republic.

If Tobin had bothered to check http://charitynavigator.org, he would have seen that Freedom Alliance gets 4 stars, the highest possible rating.

Schlussel is well known as a rabid Zionist who launches false, malicious attacks on anyone who says anthing that the beyotch disagrees with.
So, who will get fired over this?

Chrissy| 3.20.10 @ 9:50PM

Obama, hopefully.

lkt| 3.20.10 @ 11:59PM

How sad for you. President Obama has nothing to do with Ollie & Hannity's fraud. Hey that sounds like the name of a new show on Fox "news"!

Ollie & Hannity's Fraud, weeknights at 8, 9 Central, only on Fox "news".

Jeremiah| 3.21.10 @ 1:08AM

Freak! Go back to your bong, hippy stoner.

Pingback| 3.20.10 @ 4:11PM

Frum Owes Hannity an Apology | FrumForum links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…Hannity is wrong: http://bit.ly/a5n3xt @ davidfrum @ daveweigel Let’s not jump to any conclusions… Tabin subsequently published two new blogposts at AmSpec. The first was tentative: “ Did Schlussel Smear Hannity? ” Tabin asked. The second was definitive: “ Schlussel’s Hannity Smear Debunked.” Tabin and the Spectator had no choice. Ditto Frum, Mak and Frum Forum. Facts, after all, are stubborn things. The…

Pingback| 3.22.10 @ 10:54AM

Schlussel’s Anti-Hannity Allegations Investigated and Found ‘Fundamentally Flawed’ | links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…or misleading and has been removed. Any further mention of this material as having appeared in this post will either mention or disavowal or be deceiving to readers. — R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr. Click here for the update to this story. Click here for the statement released by Freedom Alliance. Click here to cancel reply. Name (required) Mail (will not be published) (required) Website Subscribe and Follow…

Pingback| 3.23.10 @ 6:39AM

Right On Right Violence To A Soundtrack Of Lee Greenwood « Around The Sphere links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…she cites are correct, the charity is seriously mismanaged, but it might not be as bad for Hannity personally as Schlussel’s report makes it look. Stay tuned. ANOTHER UPDATE: Further exculpatory information here. Schlussel’s story seems to be falling apar 4 PM UPDATE: Readers: Information regarding Freedom Alliance that appeared earlier in this spot was innacurate or misleading and has been…

office 2007 | 3.26.10 @ 9:31PM

Is Office 2007 professional better than Office 2007 ultimate ?