Posted on 08/24/2005 12:07:05 PM PDT by Bob J
ABC booted Michael Graham for linking Islam to terrorism
It didn't take long for Michael Graham to find another job after he was fired last week by ABC Radio for his comments linking Islam to terror.
He's been hired by the Internet-based conservative radio network Rightalk.com, and will start on Monday in a show called "Michael Graham, Unleashed!"
"No liberal network execs, no advertisers, not even the FCC," says Graham. "Rightalk.com has asked me to do this show, not because they necessarily agree with everything I say, but because they understand that free speech and open discourse are key elements in successful talk radio, not to mention successful democracies and thriving societies, too."
His one-hour daily show will be live at noon each weekday, and will be available for podcasting or downloading every hour, on the hour.
"I don't believe Michael intended to brand all of Islam as supporters of terrorism. However, that many people perceive militant Islamists as fundamentally supporting terrorism indicates Michael's comments were relevant and need to be discussed," said Rightalk executive producer Bob Johnson. "Rather than silencing opinions, moderate Muslims who are disgusted at what extremists are doing in the name of their religion should be engaging that discussion to dispel those perceptions."
WorldNetDaily broke the story of Michael's firing last week following weeks of pressure applied by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a group with its own well-documented connections to terrorism.
Graham was the popular mid-morning host on WMAL in the nation's capital until four weeks ago when CAIR demanded he be punished for his on-air statements about Islam. After initially backing the host, WMAL, which is owned and operated by ABC, suspended him without pay July 28.
"CAIR immediately announced that my punishment was insufficient and demanded I be fired," Graham said in a statement to WND. "ABC Radio and 630 WMAL have now complied. I have now been fired for making the specific comments CAIR deemed 'offensive,' and for refusing to retract those statements in a management-mandated, on-air apology. ABC Radio further demanded that I agree to perform what they described as 'additional outreach efforts' to those people or groups who felt offended. I refused. And for that refusal, I have been fired."
CAIR is a spin-off of a group described by two former FBI counterterrorism chiefs as a "front group" for the terrorist group Hamas in the U.S. Several CAIR leaders have been convicted on terror-related charges.
Graham's suspension stemmed from characterizing Islam a "terrorist organization." Graham explained that when a significant minority of a group conducts terrorism and the general population of that group does not denounce it, it is safe to conclude that the group promotes it.
Before his Internet job begins Monday, Graham is slated to fill in Friday night for 2 hours on KFI Radio in Los Angeles.
(c) 2005 WorldNetDaily.com
I was just on another thread saying that Graham is now about to break out big time.
Don't know if this is the way he'll do it...but good luck to him!
Good. For those liberals who are lurking - double-plus good.
I was a tooth-gnashingly infuriated as the next man over this affair, but say, are we absolutely certain this wasn't at least partially a stunt? I happen to like Michael Graham but radio guys are notorious for publicity shenannigans.
Wow, I didn't know there were more developments (firing) in the WMAL case.
I hope Graham keeps up the good (realistic) work. Cuz he's correct.
Mm-kayyy... Any idea how many listeners you get there? How about sponsors? What does a 30-second spot cost?
and will be available for podcasting or downloading every hour, on the hour.
Maybe I don't understand this 'podcast' thing. Is he doing more than one hour per day? If not, why wouldn't the daily one-hour podcast/download be continuously available?
Hot diggity!!! One for our side! Heeheeeeeee, liberals suck!
Great news, Bob.
Amazing... things are so socially and politically backward in this country, that an Islamic group with proven ties to terrorism can now control the public discourse of free speech!
Wahabist Islam demands the destruction of all non-Islamics. SOOOOOOOO crazy that someone might call a spade a spade.
Congratulations and good luck.
I wouldn't be surprised if CAIR does not routinely send protests to all the conservative venues.
I listened to Right Talk a few months ago and the quality was pretty lousy. I have no idea how they make any money.
Of course, the 'Left' understands all too well; hence their fear and loathing of 'free speech' that speaks to the truth; as opposed to their 'free speech' which is sourced in the lies of propaganda; designed to serve their own agenda and delivered straight from hell.
Thriving democracies are precisely what they fear/hate the most; and they are determined to render null/void; all efforts to that end.
Good luck to Michael. . .
It was no stunt. Michael thought up to the moment he was terminated that they would put him back on the air.
That was a mistake in communication that went out in the press release. Michaels show, like all others on RIGHTALK, repeats for 24 hours,a t the top of every hour (we currently have 5 channels). If you prefer listening say, on your way to work, shows can be downloaded to your ipod.
We've spent a tidy dum on our control room to make it broadcast quality, however, some of our hosts send us their signals over a telephone line and therefore at times we at the mercy of ATT.
I think you will find 95% of our webcasts are as good as what you hear over AM.
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