Rocky, Hannity finally OK debate terms

While "agreement" may never be the right word to use when talking about Sean Hannity and Rocky Anderson, the two have at least come to a consensus on most of the terms of their pending debate.

The conservative radio and TV talk-show host and the liberal Salt Lake City mayor have been bickering for weeks through the media, over plans for a debate in Salt Lake on the Iraq war and Anderson's calls for the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.

Hannity and Anderson finally spoke in person on Wednesday, live on the air via Doug Wright's KSL-Newsradio talk show, and settled on the big questions of date, time and debate format.

The debate is now planned for May 4 at 8 p.m., most likely sponsored by the Associated Students of the University of Utah at a location yet to be determined.

The radio-show discussion showed the tensions between the mayor and the talk-show host.

"You've been nothing but insulting until now," Anderson told Hannity. He also said Hannity had been "dishonest" in his depiction of the negotiations so far. Both have accused the other of putting up roadblocks that have stalled the planning.

"You calling me a liar, sir?" Hannity asked.

"Yes, absolutely," Anderson replied.

The debate was arranged after Anderson's scheduled appearance on Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes" show March 8 was canceled by Fox producers. In interviews shortly after the cancellation, Anderson suggested Hannity lacked the confidence to debate him.

A caller from Salt Lake City to Hannity's nationally syndicated radio show told the host of the mayor's statements, and Hannity said, "I will fly out to Salt Lake City at my own expense for charity, and I will debate the merits of the war, impeachment and the liberal-conservative debate of our time."

Since then, Anderson and Hannity have each accused the other of delaying the scheduling of the debate. On the Wright show Wednesday, they agreed that the debate will begin with Anderson making a 30-minute presentation on his case against the war and for impeachment. Hannity will follow with a 30-minute presentation of his own.

Then the two plan a 15-minute period of Anderson posing questions for Hannity to answer and another 15 minutes of Hannity questioning Anderson. However, Hannity wanted to cap the response time for each question at 30 seconds. Anderson contended that wasn't nearly enough time for substantive answers and asked for something closer to three minutes.

"That's not a debate," Anderson said. "That's a Sean Hannity interrupt-fest."

"Oh, you're afraid to answer questions, mayor?" Hannity said.