Where Were You Guys?

So at the end of a day of reporting, we have good news and bad news. Sean Hannity has not billed a charity for his planes or hotel suites or other extravagant expenses. The bad news: as we investigated the charges this morning, it became evident that almost nobody in the conservative world except us and American Spectator's John Tabin was working this beat.

So at the end of a day of reporting, we have good news and bad news. Sean Hannity has not billed a charity for his planes or hotel suites or other extravagant expenses. He is not helping himself out of money intended for wounded soldiers. That’s the good news.

Now the bad news: As we investigated the charges this morning, it became evident that almost nobody except us and American Spectator's John Tabin was working this beat. Granted: it's a busy day, with the great battle raging over healthcare reform. Yet Schlussel's charges were important, they were facially credible, and they got wide pickup on the left-hand side of the blogosphere. You'd think the conservative world would want them investigated, if only to be debunked.

Our friend John Guardiano tweeted this afternoon: "Earlier today @DavidFrum asked why conservatives were "ignoring" the charges against Sean Hannity. Now we know why: because they were bogus!" The charges were indeed bogus. But sadly, that's NOT "why" they were "ignored." The people who ignored the charges did not know the charges were bogus, and in almost no case did they make any effort to find out. If conservatives now know the charges against Hannity are bogus, it's because we at FrumForum asked on their behalf.

Freedom Alliance put out a statement earlier today. But that statement was not fully responsive to the charges. And while we appreciate Freedom Alliance's willingness to invest the time to answer our questions, too often they seemed to take for granted that their plain statement should suffice to dispose of all concerns.

Conservatives rightly demand accountability from government. We need an accountability culture within our own institutions too however. We're delighted to report that Sean Hannity has not betrayed his fans' trust. But remember that old Reagan saying about needing to verify as well as trust? More of that please.