Jon Stewart exposes Hannity for using Glenn Beck's 9/12 rally footage

November 10, 2009: Sean Hannity Uses Glenn Beck's Protest Footage

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Sean Hannity Uses Glenn Beck's Protest Footage
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Sean Hannity Uses Glenn Beck's Protest FootageJON STEWART: Can we back up a little, Cuz that was weird. When that clip started it was a clear fall day in Washington DC. Not a cloud in the sky, the leaves have changed. It's well attended but sparse but then the leaves turn green again, then it's cloudy and it looks like thousands and thousands more people arrive. If Ididn't know any better they just put two different days together. Where have I seen that last footage before.

(Glenn Beck footage is played)

Wow! That was actually from Glenn Beck's 9/12 rally two months ago, his much bigger 9/12 rally.It seems Sean Hannity used footage of a totally different event to make the GOP Healthcare rally more heavily attended

Though the analogy isn't airtight in this instance, Wrestling has its own storied history of inflating audience numbers

WWE (WWF) - FAQ
Was the Wrestlemania III attendance really 93,173? I've heard from several credible sources that it was a work, and that the actual number is closer to 78,000. Can you guys clear that up?
First of all you have to understand that the WWF back in those days routinely lied about attendance numbers on TV to make them bigger than they were...

Meltzer asked Vince McMahon himself why they used to inflate the numbers, because the shows were sold out themselves and the real number was impressive enough. Why add a few thousand? Vince was quoted as saying what appears on television people should consider for entertainment purposes. This actually isn't exclusive to WWE, as other forms of sports and entertainment often lie about the actual attendance to make it sound impressive.

Read discussion of The Hannity shows' "creative editing" from Conservative blog 'Hotair' - Uh-oh: Jon Stewart catches Fox News’ creative editing

Update: November 12, 2009
Sean Hannity apologizes and concedes that Jon Stewart was right, thought he inserts a subtle dig by referencing "Jon Stewart's writers"

VIDEO: Hannity Apologizes To Jon Stewart For Airing Wrong Protest Footage

SEAN HANNITY: Although it pains me to say this; Jon Stewart, Comedy Central - he was right... He was correct... It was an inadvertent mistake but a mistake nonetheless. So Mr Stewart you were right, we apologize and by the way I'd like to Thank You and all your writers for watching.

Jon Stewart follows up on Hannity's apology and comments unflatteringly on the 'Hannity' program - Sean Hannity Apologizes to Jon