Posted on 07/29/2005 9:28:42 AM PDT by Exton1
FIRST, CAIR JUST WANTED ME SUSPENDED....Now that I have been, they've taken the next step and now want me fired. Is anyone surprised? When you encourage the enemies of freedom, they always come back for more.
Read CAIR's newest statement on the Hot Sheet.
DOUBLE-SECRET PROBATION? Much is being made by some that my suspension from the radio waves was "supposed to be secret."
Sorry, folks, but what does that MEAN? When has a media personality ever been ordered off the air "in secret?" What's the point?
Everyone who works with me obviously knew why I was off the air. Who was supposed to be left in the dark? Only...the listeners?
Was the point of the "double-secret" suspension to keep it a secret that CAIR was getting what they want? To not let the conservatives who overwhelmingly support me--know that CAIR matters more than the listeners do? I don't know. You'll have to answer that question for yourself.
But my attitude about talk radio is that I actually WORK for the listeners. They deserve to know what's going on. I'm not going to lie to them or deceive them about what's going on when it comes to issues they care about.
They're my friends and we get together and talk about what's up, tell a little "natural truth" and have a great time.
That's what makes talk radio the best job I've ever had.
UPDATE: FROM A LISTENER ON "DOUBLE-SECRET" SUSPENSION--
"I have tried to call the station to tell them how much I support you and I can't get through.
"I've sent an email to the station, stating that I support you 200%.
"I agree with your position on Islam.
"Why is Geofff saying that your mistake was in calling the Washington comPost Democrat?
"I did notice that CAIR issued a fatwah YESTERDAY against terrorism - and only after you started to let the world know that they hadn't bothered to do that, starting on your program of 25 July.
"Gee, think there is a connection? You stated that they hadn't done enough to complain about the terrorism, they come on your show, whining and complaining and then 3 days later, come out against terrorism.
"I think they were prompted to make the fatwah by YOUR comments, Michael.
"I do not under WMAL. They state that they support you, and then do this? A double-secret suspension? What IS that, anyway? You're suspended, but not really? Your suspended as far as your listeners are told but you really aren't suspended?
"I don't get it.
"Is there something I'm missing? "
MORE FROM THE RELIGION OF PEACE: A news report from Birmgham, England.
With embarrassed police and politicians looking on, Mohammad Naseem, denied that Muslims were responsible for the bombings and he called Prime Minister Tony Blair a liar. Muslims "all over the world have never heard of an organization called al Qaeda," the cleric said.
"Muslim bashing seems to be more earnest than the need for national unity and harmony. Terrorists can be anybody -- we will have to see [whether the bombers are Muslims]. The process is not open; the process is not transparent; the process is not independent. I do not have faith in the system as it stands," Mr. Naseem said.
THE LATEST PRESS RELEASE ON THE MICHAEL GRAHAM BROUHAHA.
In a statement released this morning, avid 630 WMAL listener George Bonina, Sr. announced that his listening to WMAL's local programming would be indefinitely suspended pending the reinstatement of Michael Graham's suspension for Graham's July 25th remarks that Islam is a terrorist organization.
"Talk radio is an excellent forum to discuss issues important to our society. Nevertheless, bowing to political correctness because of controversial remarks demonstrates that WMAL's management doesn't really support free speech and really doesn't understand the nature of the terrorist threat to our nation. WMAL's actions have crossed the line," Bonina said. "We do not condone the position of WMAL management, and we believe WMAL management's actions were irresponsible. In addition," Bonina said, "He will notify the local WMAL advertisers about his suspended listening."
IBRAHIM HOOPER CELEBRATES CAIR'S "VICTORY" OVER FREE SPEECH! From today's Washington Post-Democrat:
"I think this action is long overdue and appropriate," Hooper said of Graham's suspension. "I think it's a testament to the determination of individual Muslims who contacted the station and its advertisers to say Islamophobia and anti-Muslim bigotry are unacceptable."
Who's winning in the fight over free speech in America?
A STATEMENT FROM MICHAEL GRAHAM:
My radio station, 630 WMAL, has publicly announced that I've been suspended by ABC (no doubt Ted Koppel and Peter Jennings are thrilled) and I am "under investigation" for my discussion on Islam and the tragedy of its current links to terror.
What exactly is I'm being "investigated" over, I have no idea. After all, everything I do, I do on the air in front of thousands of people. What's to investigate?
But I do know the one and only reason I've been suspended: CAIR.
As a talk show host, author and columnist, I've repeatedly criticized the current state of Islam and called for its reform. As for the "controversial" statement that "Sadly, as it is constituted today, Islam IS a terrorist organization, but the good news is that the major of Muslims--who don't support terror--can change that and take back their religion," I first made that statement on the air last Thursday.
Did I get suspended Thursday? No. Friday? No. Monday? No.
It wasn't until CAIR launched its campaign against me in the mainstream media and the story appeared in the Washington Post-Democrat that my job was threatened.
THIS IS THE KEY FACT: CAIR WANTS TO FIRE ME. AND RIGHT NOW, CAIR IS WINNING.
Read the Washington Post-Democrat story today about "sources say Graham won't be fired." Read the first WaPo story where management stands behind me 100%: "Remember that this is talk radio. We don't do the dainty minuet of the newspaper editorial page. It's not 'Washington Week in Review.' It depends on pungent statements to drive it. Michael is rattling the cage. It's designed to start and further a conversation, and it has certainly done that."
Not at the moment.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET ME FIRED:
CAIR Founded by "Islamic Terrorists"? by Daniel Pipes and Sharon Chadha FrontPageMagazine.com July 28, 2005 http://www.danielpipes.org/article/2811
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, Inc., filed a defamation lawsuit against Andrew Whitehead, of Anti-CAIR (or ACAIR), a grass-roots project whose name explains its mission: to expose the largest, most vocal, and dangerous Islamist organization in North America.
CAIR's March 2004 lawsuit is part of what seems to be a policy of using the legal process to silence or chill critics. In this case, CAIR claimed it had been harmed by six statements on ACAIR's website, including CAIR's being founded by Hamas supporters, being partially funded by terrorists, and intending to impose Islamic law on the United States.
Then, on June 20, 2005, CAIR filed an amended motion that substantially cut back on its libel claims, retaining just portions of two of the original six statements. With original misspellings retained, the offending passages are:
Let their be no doubt that CAIR is a terrorist supporting front organization…. [CAIR] seeks to overthrow constitutional government in the United States…. Why did CAIR drastically reduce its claims versus Whitehead?
It might have to do with Whitehead, admirably represented by Reed Rubinstein of Greenberg Traurig LLP, having responded to CAIR's lawsuit with an extensive and well informed set of discovery requests and documents. These filings perhaps established for CAIR the depth of Whitehead's knowledge and the soundness of his opinions. If so, then CAIR's leadership concluded that the bulk of its case against Whitehead would collapse in court.
CAIR's filing an amended motion has two apparent implications: that CAIR has tacitly acknowledges the truth of Whitehead's deleted assertions; and those assertions can now be repeated with legal impunity.
We list here the key statements that CAIR no longer deems legally improper, followed by some speculations as to why it might have decided not to contest them in court.
--CAIR is an] organization founded by Hamas supporters…. --CAIR was started by Hamas members…. --CAIR … was founded by Islamic terrorists.
CAIR's leadership must have stretched its collective memory back to 1994 and recalled (along with counterterrorism expert Matthew Epstein) that Omar Ahmad and Nihad Awad, former officials of the Islamic Association of Palestine (IAP), founded the organization, while IAP's president, Rafeeq Jabar, was (according to Steve Emerson) one of CAIR's founding directors,.
Former FBI counterterrorism chief Oliver "Buck" Revell) has described the IAP as "a front organization for Hamas." This linkage between the IAP and Hamas was decisively established in 2004, when a federal judge in Chicago found it partially liable for $156 million in damages for its role in aiding and abetting Hamas in the murder of David Boim, a 17-year-old American citizen.
And, CAIR no doubt remembered that it had been caught by Joe Kaufman exploiting the 9/11 attacks to raise funds for two Hamas-linked fundraising organizations, the Holy Land Foundation (HLF) and the Global Relief Foundation.
--[CAIR] is partially funded by terrorists…
Terrorists themselves don't literally give out money, but organizations that fund terrorism also fund CAIR.
--The Saudi-based Islamic Development Bank, gave CAIR $250,000 in August 1999. The IDB alsomanages funds (Al-Quds, Al-Aqsa) which finance suicide bombings against Israeli civilians by providing funds to the families of Palestinian "martyrs."
--The International Institute of Islamic Thought, an organization linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, gave CAIR's Washington office $14,000 in 2003, according to IIIT tax filings. David Kane, who investigated IIIT as part of Operation Green Quest's probe into some one hundred companies and organizations, described in a sworn affidavit the various ways in which it may have funded suspected terrorist-front organizations.
--The International Relief Organization (also called the International Islamic Relief Organization, or IIRO), a Saudi-financed organization being investigated by the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance for terrorism financing donated at least $12,000 to CAIR.
--CAIR receives direct funding from Islamic terrorist supporting countries.
CAIR has received funds from Saudi Arabia, such as the $250,000 from the Islamic Development Bank noted above. In addition; the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY), a Saudi-sponsored charity (and another one suspected of financing terror), announced in December 1999 that it "was extending both moral and financial support to CAIR" to help it construct its $3.5 million headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Saudi Arabia, the homeland Osama bin Laden and fifteen of the nineteen 9/11 hijackers, is reasonably described as "terrorist supporting." The 9/11 Commission staff describes Saudi Arabia as having an environment where "fund-raisers and facilitators throughout Saudi Arabia and the Gulf" raised money for al Qaeda. In July 2005, U.S. Treasury Undersecretary Stuart Levey stated that "even today, we believe that Saudi donors may still be a significant source of terrorist financing, including for the insurgency in Iraq."
--CAIR has proven links to… Islamic terrorists.
It's easy to understand why CAIR chose to leave this one alone, what with five current or former CAIR affiliates arrested, convicted, or deported on terrorism-related charges:
--Randall Royer, CAIR's communications specialist and civil rights coordinator, was indicted on charges of conspiring to help Al-Qaeda and the Taliban to battle American troops in Afghanistan. He later pled guilty to lesser firearms-related charges and was sentenced to twenty years in prison.
--Ghassan Elashi, the founder of CAIR's Texas chapter, was convicted in July 2004 along with his four brothers of having illegally shipped computers from their Dallas-area business, InfoCom Corporation, to Libya and Syria, two designated state sponsors of terrorism. In April of 2005, Elashi and two brothers were also convicted of knowingly doing business with Mousa Abu Marzook, a senior Hamas leader and Specially Designated Terrorist. He continues to face charges that he provided more than $12.4 million to Hamas while he was running the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF), America's largest Islamic charity.
--Bassem Khafagi, CAIR's community relations director, pleaded guilty in September 2003 to lying on his visa application and for passing bad checks for substantial amounts in early 2001, for which he was deported. Khafagi was also a founding member and president of the Islamic Assembly of North America (IANA), an organization under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice for terrorism-related activities.
--Rabih Haddad, a CAIR fundraiser, was arrested on terrorism-related charges and deported from the United States due to his subsequent work as executive director of the Global Relief Foundation, a charity he co-founded; in October 2002, GRF was designated by the U.S. Treasury Department for financing Al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations. According to a CAIR complaint, Homam Albaroudi, a member of CAIR's Michigan chapter and also a founding member and executive director of the IANA also founded the Free Rabih Haddad Committee.
--Siraj Wahhaj, a CAIR advisory board member, was named in 1995 by U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White as a possible unindicted co-conspirator in connection with the plot to blow up New York City landmarks led by the blind sheikh, Omar Abdul Rahman.
CAIR is a fundamentalist organization dedicated to the overthrow of the United States Constitution and the installation of an Islamic theocracy in America.
CAIR wishes nothing more than the implementation of a SHARIA law in American.
[CAIR seeks to replace the government of the United States] with an Islamist theocracy using our own Constitution as protection.... CAIR is here to make radical Islam the dominant religion in the United States and to convert our country into an Islamic theocracy along the lines of Iran.
CAIR's goals are clear, as indicated by its leaders' sometimes revealing comments:
--Ihsan Bagby, a future CAIR board member, stated in the late 1980s that Muslims "can never be full citizens of this country," referring to the United States, "because there is no way we can be fully committed to the institutions and ideologies of this country."
--Ibrahim Hooper, the future CAIR spokesman, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune on April 4, 1993: "I wouldn't want to create the impression that I wouldn't like the government of the United States to be Islamic sometime in the future."
--Omar Ahmad, CAIR's chairman, announced in July 1998 that "Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant. The Koran . . . should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on earth."
--These facts suggest why CAIR felt it had to drop most of its libel claims against Andrew Whitehead. Should this case go to court, we will watch with interest how Whitehead's two remaining opinions (that CAIR is a terrorist-supporting front organization and that it seeks to overthrow the constitutional government of the United States) will fare.
[NOTE FROM MICHAEL: Given these facts, I am PROUD to have CAIR as an enemy. In fact, I'd be nervous if they considered themselves my friends.]
TAX DOLLARS FOR DAY LABORERS? As Chris Farrell at Judicial Watch points out, if Herndon, VA and Fairfax County continue with their plans to build a day labor service center to accommodate illegal immigrants, they will be in violation of federal law. The public hearing on this plan is Monday, August 1 at 7:30pm at the Herndon Town Hall.
TERROR VICTIM? The latest edition of the Montgomery County Gazette features a lengthy pseudo-defense of convicted MoCo terrorist Masoud Khan, who is appealing his life sentence. Read the Gazette's coverage and you'll hear about Mr. Khan's children, the fact that he is a citizen, his alleged patriotism, etc.
Here's what you WON'T read:
--Khan and the 10 other defendants in this case--all but one from the DC suburbs--were indicted on weapons charges and for training with the terrorist organization Lashkar-i-Taiba. Mr. Khan was additionally charged with conspiring to provide material support to al Qaeda.
--Khan and his co-defendants didn't seek out this terrorist organization until AFTER September 11th. Instead of being horrified by the sight of the Pentagon burning and their neighbors dying, they were apparently inspired by it.
--Six of his 11 co-defendants pled guilty. Khan and two others were convicted in court.
--At his sentencing, Khan read a long statement in which he likened himself to other alleged victims of injustice, such as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and said that if he had been a "Zionist Jew or a Christian" he would have never been prosecuted. No wonder the Gazette is coming to his defense. I'm blinking away a tear right now. Let's hope we can get this terrific fella back on the streets of America ASAP!
RUN, DICK, RUN! I've long said that Dick Cheney would be a terrible presidential candidate, but now I'm ready to completely flip-flop on this issue and urge--no, BEG--Vice President Cheney to announce his candidacy today. Why? Because of this quote from White House Press Corps Bag Lady Helen Thomas: “The day I say Dick Cheney is going to run for president, I’ll kill myself,” Thomas told The Hill. “All we need is one more liar.”
Please, Mr. Vice President--Your country needs you.
This is outrageous!
We welcome your comments and concerns at 630 WMAL.
You can send us mail at 4400 Jenifer Street NW, Washington DC 20015.
Switchboard: 202-686-3100
Sales: 202-895-2344
Programming: 202-895-2327
News Room: 202-686-3020
http://www.wmal.com/contactus.asp
Test the merit of these other talk show hosts who understand the danger that is Islam.
He wasn't fired.
stop posting this crap on breaking news idiot
If you listen to the station today, it's a litany of pissed-off listeners who want Graham back.
I didn't post it, and don't call me an "idiot".
sorry guy!!! It was my fault...
Stop posting this crap on breaking news moron.
I listened to the entire show with Geoff Metcalf this Morning.
Did you hear this part?
At about 11:30 EDT, Geoff slipped and said it was a "one day suspension". This after he'd told "Omar" the caller from Tuesday's show who claimed that Michael was inciting violence against Muslims by not recognizing that that is what backlash is (ahem, Michael took care of him and his thinking "backlash" means, a priori, violence) and then Geoff said that the station manager had just been in, and Michael has only been suspended, not fired.
BUT then he said, about 4 sentences later, that it was a ONE DAY SUSPENSION.
Hmmm, is that so?
Michael is suspended today, without pay.
He is on vacation all of next week, which was pre-planned.
And so in a week, Michael will be back on the air, because his suspension is only for today?
Well, gee, Mr. Berry, why didn't you let us know that before the show was almost over today?
Get the podcast later today and listen for yourself.
Somewhere in the last hour of today's show, Geoff says that the suspension is a "one day suspension".
And Chris Core called in and said that he's going to discuss this issue tonight on his show.
Chris Core is on WMAL from 6 to 9 PM EDT - so everyone call in and tell Chris how much we want Michael back. But be nice - Chris gets upset when people disagree with his position, so be super-polite, okay?
I'm guessing it became a "one day suspension" after the management was deluged this morning.
Grandy and Andy this morning specifically said it was "Suspended without pay" pending a full investigation. No mention of length.
BTTT
bttt
BTTT
Oh yeah, chris is very sensitive!!!
LOL
BTTT
And they're going to get "deluged" again when Chris Core does his show on the subject tonight, between 6 and 9 PM EDT!!!!
I plan to call in and hope to get through this time.
Anyway, I sent a couple more emails to the station.
Well, Chris isn't conservative. I think he calls himself a Libertarian. There ae very few issues that he covers with which I agree.
However, he is going to talk on this topic tonight, so those who didn't get a chance to talk with Geoff Metcalf this Morning when he was subbing for Michael Graham, can talk to Chris and tell him how much we want Michael back!
I think about the only thing I agree with Chris Core are when he gets on "tax issues". He does get excited over those. But truthfully, after 6 hours of Michael and then Rush, I have to get on with life, and rarely ever listen to radio in the evening. I turn that time over to FNC, for "Special Report" with Brit Hume, and then BASEBALL! (Go Nats!!)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.