Hannity, Beck Respond To Remarks About Conservatives

In a radio interview last week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) made some disparaging comments about pro-life conservatives, stating they had “no place in the state of New York because that’s not who New Yorkers are,” according to breitbart.com. 

Those remarks drew the ire of conservative talk show host Sean Hannity, who on his Monday radio program declared he had enough and was abandoning his home state, where he hosts his widely syndicated radio show and his high-rated Fox News Channel television program.

“Now I want to tell you something – I was born and raised in New York,” Hannity said. “I want you to know that and I can’t wait to get out of here. I really can’t. I don’t want to pay their 10-percent state tax anymore. I live in the second-highest property taxed county in the entire country in Nassau County. I can’t wait to sell my house to somebody who wants it. I can’t wait to pay no state income tax down in Florida or Texas. I haven’t decided yet, but I’m leaning Florida because I like the water and I like to fish.”

Hannity has hosted a radio show in New York City since the late 1990s. In 2001, the show was syndicated and has since filled the current 3 p.m. ET to 6 p.m. ET time slot. He will be following in the footsteps of conservative radio talkers Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck, who had also fled the Empire State for Florida and Texas, respectively.

“Gov. Cuomo, I’m going to leave and I’m taking all of my money with me – every single solitary penny,” he added. “And by the way governor, because I work here – there’s a whole bunch of people that work for me and benefit because I do two shows. And I guess maybe some of them will be out of work, governor. I’m sure you’ll take care of them.”

In an open letter to Cuomo, Beck wrote:

We (conservatives) are fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, entrepreneurs, dreamers, visionaries, hard-workers, straight, gay, black, white, believers, non-believers, liberals and conservatives. More importantly than any one of these labels, we are decent and kind human beings, and upstanding, loyal and patriotic Americans. 

We are principled in the content we provide, and we work under a simple ethos: We tell the stories of love and courage where the good guys win.

We don’t see things as left and right. We see things as right and wrong. 

Our organization creates jobs for hundreds of people in your state, and provides news, opinion, entertainment and a helping hand for millions of people across this country. 

Are our contributions, tax dollars, and genuine goodness as citizens not welcome here? 

We respectfully request an answer on whether there are two classes of citizens.