Posted on 08/23/2005 2:15:45 PM PDT by FreedomNeocon
Small addendum from today
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2005
IT'S NICE TO KNOW ABC RADIO MADE SOMEBODY HAPPY: "CAIR applauded WMAL's decision [to fire Graham]. The organization had asked the station for a retraction or an apology, but 'we didn't get specific on what [Graham] should say,' said Rabiah Ahmed, a spokeswoman. 'We were looking for an acknowledgment that his statements were anti-Muslim and hateful, and harmful to our community and our country's image.'
DOES ANYONE REALLY "CAIR?" Some of the CYA spin now coming from the folks who caved into CAIR's demands is that CAIR's pressure had nothing to do with my firing. Instead, I was fired because...and then the story breaks down. Because I wouldn't apologize (would you be asking for an apology if CAIR weren't protesting?), or because the station found my comments offensive (then why did you let me spend FOUR DAYS IN A ROW saying them on the air without objection?).
Well, let's check the record. After four days of happily broadcasting my "controversial comments" on 630 WMAL, CAIR mounts a campaign of complaint. Listeners support my comments on loaded phone lines. Result: I'm suspended without pay.
After I'm suspended, CAIR issues a press release (July 29th) complaining that suspension isn't enough and I should be fire. Listeners swamp the station to support me and oppose my suspension.
Result: I'm fired.
Now, it could be that ignoring your own listeners and making decisions to outrage them is a new business model for successful talk radio. It could be a mere coincidence that the station happened to give CAIR what it wanted.
Hey--I report, you decide.
Having said that, it torques me off when people falsely drape themselves in the First Amendment. This is not a First Amendment issue, as the government is not involved. A commercial enterprise made a (lousy) business decision based on the professional conduct of one of its employees.
I don't care which side does it, we cheapen the Constitution to read rights into it that aren't there.
http://www.wmal.com/contactus.asp
WMAL's contact page. Fire away, folks.
I hope Mr. Graham finds gainful employment elsewhere, and soon.
WMAL is owned by Disney, which doesn't have the organizational guts to be in the talk radio business. They should acknowledge that and either convert their stations to something bland and uncontroversial like easy listening, or sell them off to a group who can tell pressure groups to go to hell.
At least this: Michael's comments and stand have brought more publicity to the thought than had CAIR or ABC let it fly. This is not without impact.
I heard Michael when he said it, and I recall shaking my head and thinking, damn, the boy's absolutely right -- and he's damn well gonna hear from somebody. It crossed my mind that radio believes that there is no bad publicity, but I am, nonetheless, not surprised that ABC Radio caved to PC.
I'll never forget, as a kid, roaming the DC Mall grounds during the 1970s. For a kick, my friend, a good and well-informed Christian, would argue theology with the Moonies, while I'd sit around and laugh. One time, while my friend was at it with the loons, some tripped out dude with a beard and funny garb approached me to see how I felt about Mohammed. He told me that if I didn't see things his way I deserved to die. I was fifteen or so, and immortal, and laughed in his face. I remember it as clearly as a spotless day. I have yet to hear anything -- anything -- from any Muslim that refutes or condemns what he told me that day.
I hope he comes back to AM 570 WTNT.
See I think you're wrong there.
This isn't about trying to say that WMAL should not be allowed to fire him... its about making it not 'acceptable' (a business mistake, if you will) to have mad the (legal) decision to do it.
Didn't you read the article? He said it, a special interest group CAIR complained, but overwhemling majority of listeners (customers) called in support and he was suspended. Then special interest group CAIR demands he gets fired, once again they are SWAMPED with listener support (so much so that micheal actually pleaded with people to stop becuase he though the point was made and we were going to start hurting him... it was that much)... he is fired.
Anyway... point is, it is the people that got screwed, here and some small special interest group that maniulated. To top it off, it really could be a productive discussion to have, and I really think it was starting to have an effect (which is prob. why CAIR freaked out). Its just such a horrible thing to throw a wet towl on IMO.
Wishing you the best. Tried to catch your show when I could. I respect your courage. WMAL (and most of America) probably thinks what you said on the air.
Disney is a total liberal, homo-loving company, so it's ironic it supports Muslims, who in turn support the murder of homosexuals.
But, that's liberals for you - really don't believe in a damn thing.
agreed, apparently journalists, commentators, and artists, feel that the first amendment entitles them to payment from one or more corporate entities without any accountability to the parties paying them regarding performance.
Michael Grahm made the serious mistake of calling Islam on the carpet. Had he offended an activist group for white men, Christians, conservatives, gun owners or southerners, he would have been held up as enlightened and defended by management. Truth cannot co-exist with political correctness.
says my email addy is not valid. Guess my email is not valid either.
I disagree with nothing you said. All I said was that it was inappropriate to invoke the First Amendment as he did. It's irrelevant.
And that's the problem, too many people think like you do. The First Amendment is clear: Congress shall make no law...
Nope. This is a private corporate action. It might violate the law, if we had a labor law in place that specifically prohibited termination due simply to speech. But it certainly doesn't violate the First Amendment.
what did he say?
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