This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2007, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Conservative talk show host Sean Hannity has claimed on his syndicated radio program that Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson is putting up roadblocks to get out of their proposed debate.
But it is Hannity who is balking, and here is the proof, based in part on e-mails between Anderson's office and Hannity's staff that I obtained through an open records request:
* Hannity said on his radio program Monday: "First, he [Anderson] said he wanted a joint press conference instead of a debate. If it's just a press conference, I might as well just send a video."
* But here is a March 12 e-mail from Eileen Lofrese, Hannity's producer, to Patrick Thronson, Anderson's communications director: "For the sake of bipartisanship I think it is best to refer to this as a 'Joint Press Conference' and not a 'Debate' and I will relay that to all parties intending on broadcasting this educated and civilized forum for the voicing of opinions and conflicting viewpoints."
* Thronson responded: "Mayor Anderson cannot agree to any other format than a structured debate format, with a moderator. Mr. Hannity has repeatedly expressed his desire for a debate on the Iraq War and impeachment, not a 'press conference.' We are mystified as to why he has now apparently changed his position." Lofrese then apologized and said the misunderstanding was her mistake.
* Hannity also accused Anderson of trying to get out of the debate by saying he couldn't accept Hannity's demand that Fox News and KSL Radio get exclusive electronic media coverage. "I don't have any say in what TV stations [cover the event]," Hannity said on Monday's program.
* But Lofrese's March 12 e-mail to Thronson said: "Sean would like his Fox crew from 'Hannity & Colmes' to be permitted to tape the debate as well as for KSL, and only KSL radio, to carry the debate on their airwaves." After Thronson said the mayor wanted access given to all news media, Lofrese said: "The media coverage is something I don't think we can agree to. It is fine for local newspapers to come to this event and take photos, however, I have to insist that only FOX and KSL can video/cover the event as they are Sean's loyal affiliates that he has commitments to."
* Hannity also said he has been trying to contact Anderson to work out the details, but "Rocky can't get back to me. He doesn't have time." The e-mails show a different picture. Thronson wrote to Lofrese on March 13: "Any more word on the question of media exclusivity?" Then, on March 14, he again wrote: "Haven't heard back from you, and just wanted to make sure we were all in the same loop on this event. Is Fox willing to budge on media access?" Lofrese then wrote, "We're working on this. We'll get back to you shortly." She never did, and when Thronson sent another e-mail Monday asking where everything stood, he got an auto-response saying she wasn't available.