Sean Hannity felt right at home when he walked on stage at Utah Valley State College Monday night. The conservative talk show host was greeted by thunderous applause and a standing ovation.

Hannity took jabs at liberal filmmaker Michael Moore and Democratic Presidential Candidate John Kerry.

"Brave men are risking their lives so Michael Moore can say whatever he wants," he said.

Hannity said if Michael Moore agreed to debate with him, he would fly back to the college at his own personal expense. Moore is scheduled to speak at the college on Oct. 20.

"Please send him a message that Sean Hannity said he is a gutless coward for not showing up tonight," Hannity said. "Michael Moore isn't worth one red cent of student funds. I would demand your money back."

Hannity called for all the liberals in the audience to stand up and said he did not hate liberals but disagreed with them. He called liberals "cheap" and said they are trying to get "something for nothing."

Comparing President George W. Bush with former President Ronald Reagan, Hannity said Bush and Regan both had moral clarity and a belief system.

Concerning the war in Iraq, Hannity said the threat Saddam Hussein poses has been justified by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and other terrorist attacks around the world.

"We are facing one the toughest battles in our lifetime," he said. "They [terrorists] are plotting and they are planning. This is a real threat."

Hannity contrasted Bush and Kerry's record and played clip after clip of Kerry and his infamous "flip flops." In several points throughout his speech, he had the audience shout out "flip flop."

"John Kerry never accomplished a single thing that anyone can point to," Hannity said, citing that in the 20 years Kerry has served in the Senate, he has raised taxes 98 times to the amount of 2.3 trillion dollars. "That is his legacy."

The crowd of 7,500 reacted positively to each of Hannity's statements.

"This is why I love Utah, I belong here," he said. "I need to move to Utah."

Less than 20 protestors gathered outside the McKay Events Center, but most protested the war rather than Hannity.

"We are not protesting Hannity in the sense of changing anyone's minds," said UVSC Philosophy Professor Dennis Potter. "We're letting people know that there is a dissenting opinion."

Potter, who yelled statements to people waiting in line to enter the events center, said there is no tolerance in Utah County.

"As a Mormon from out of state, I would have expected Utah County to have some semblance of Christianity," he said. "It's almost as if it's another religion than that one I spent two years proselyting for."

Hannity's visit "electrified" the campus.

"I don't think our campus has ever been so much alive as it has been in the last few weeks," said Joe Vogel, vice president of academic affairs. "It's been electrifying. There have been ethical, philosophical and political dialogues occurring all over campus."



Copyright Brigham Young University 12 Oct 2004