Beck's and Hannity's roles are not adversarial to each other, but complementary. Even as so many marvel at Beck's transcendence of politics, there is a need to recognize that Hannity shares traits with Beck, even as he fights for the more openly political causes he believes in.
Hannity came from modest beginnings. He worked a variety of jobs while taking college courses. In the 1990s, he landed in radio in Atlanta, where he was in competition with Neal Boortz, who is now one of the top radio talk-show hosts in America. (The two are friends today.)
For many, it's easy to envy Sean as what they would like to be. He's ice cream and apple pie made flesh. A good guy who just happens to do battle with Democrats and liberals as naturally as he breathes. That's what made him candidate Obama's unofficial nemesis in 2008, and that of the president and all Democrats now.
Of course, media stars like these are as much entertainers as they are political pundits. I can't imagine that any of them see themselves as single-handedly, seismically altering the American political and cultural landscape. But anyone who thought the ascendancy of Obama would mean a death knell for conservative talk radio and TV has to be flummoxed.
Beck with his peaceful rally. Rush Limbaugh with his daily dose of rhetorical combativeness. Boortz with his appeal to stubborn logic. It's clear that these and others comprise a collective voice that is again taking a conservative revolution mainstream. Consider that this week's Gallup poll showed that Americans prefer a Republican Congress by an astounding 10 percentage points.
Of these strong media voices, none has been as steadfast and confident in providing loyal opposition to the Democratic powers that be than Sean Hannity. The left's dislike of him is the proof. It's hard not to believe that Hannity's influence and accomplishments match those of Beck, or anyone.
This has been the year that Glenn Beck and those who attended his Washington rally humiliated mainstream media. It may soon be the year for Hannity to claim victory, too.