Ins-Hannity

Yesterday's link roundup included this post by right-wing writer Debbie Schlussel denouncing Sean Hannity's "Freedom Alliance" charity for wounded soldiers as a scam, as well as this comment thread at The Crossed Pond challenging Schlussel's claims. The dispute has triggered a boomlet of acrimony on the right; the Frum Forum re-posted Schlussel's charges, then put up another post rebutting them -- but most of the commenters there aren't buying the rebuttal. Meanwhile, Michelle Malkin wrote a post defending Hannity and denouncing Frum as an "ass" for initially supporting Schlussel, only to be denounced in turn by Frum for failing to credit his writers for their investigation. More on the squabble here. I can't tell which side is right, though the balance of opinion seems to be swinging against Schlussel. But whoever is ultimately vindicated, it's an object lesson in the risks of taking a firm stand on something before the facts become clear. The resentments engendered by such a dispute can linger even after the dispute itself is resolved.