Angelo Carusone, president of the left-leaning watchdog group Media Matters, went on the record with CNN’s Michael Smerconish on Saturday to defend his organization’s attack on Fox News host Sean Hannity this week over his controversial coverage regarding conspiracy theories about a murdered DNC staffer.
Media Matters fired back at Hannity’s coverage by posting a list of advertisers that support Hannity’s Fox News program in hopes of pressuring them to pull out. Some already have.
Carusone said he was simply trying to provide inside information about Hannity’s volatility so investors could make smart business decisions.
“I don’t think that it is censorship if a company doesn’t want to associate with or give money to a personality, Carusone told Smerconish after being asked if the campaign is pushing for censorship. “I am not saying Sean Hannity shouldn’t be able to say the things he says, I’m just saying that businesses should have some intentionally behind their advertising.”
Media Matters reportedly also played a role in taking down former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly last month, after allegations of sexual harassment surfaced.
