Stupid Fox

Hannity: 'I don't need lectures from you, Jorge Ramos'

By Nick Gass

Sean Hannity and Jorge Ramos clashed early and often in a contentious interview on the Fox News personality's program Wednesday evening over — who else? — Donald Trump.

Hannity opened the two-part segment by referring to Ramos' accusations of racism against Trump as "offensive," blasting him for being "fundamentally unfair" for taking Trump's quotes about undocumented immigrants out of context.

"I'm simply reporting what Donald Trump has been saying," said Ramos, who one week earlier similarly butted heads with Bill O'Reilly on his show.

"That's not true!" Hannity replied.

Ramos then referred to Trump's comments last June that Mexican immigrants are drug traffickers, criminals and rapists, saying, "he's absolutely wrong." Hannity took issue with that characterization, remarking that Trump had indeed referred to only some of the immigrants, invoking his own experience down at the border at an intelligence briefing with former Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

On multiple occasions, Hannity accused Ramos of having an agenda against Trump, also accusing him of misrepresenting Trump's stance on closing the borders to Muslims. Ramos told Hannity that he could not blame immigrants for all of the U.S.' problems, referring to the fact, for example, that an American citizen committed the atrocity of the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary.

"You're talking about apples and oranges," Hannity said.

"Excuse me, I don't need lectures from you, because you act like a sanctimonious, objective reporter and you’ve got an agenda! You support open borders! You support illegal immigration!" Hannity bellowed. Ramos countered by saying that he is equally tough on Democrats and independents. "Big deal," Hannity said. "What do you want? A medal?"

Ramos later accused Hannity of not being tough enough on Trump, echoing similar criticism voiced to O'Reilly on March 16.

"I don’t need your lectures, thank you very much," Hannity said, later repeating, "I don't need lectures from you, Jorge Ramos."

As the segment wrapped, Hannity and Ramos were still at odds.

"You've got to think twice before throwing that racist word around, and if you're gonna quote me or quote Trump, or quote anybody, please do it accurately in the future before you lecture us on how to do journalism," Hannity said.

Ramos then attacked Hannity for spending one hour with Trump and failing to press him on specifics.

"I've done 15 interviews with him. I don't need lectures from you when you misquote him," Hannity concluded. "I don't need lectures from you when you misquote candidates. You misquoted him on purpose and you add your opinion that he's a racist."

Ending with the last word, Ramos reiterated he is "using the same sound bites that you're using."

"And as journalists, we have to question those who are in power and those who are seeking power," he said.