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{{for|the British broadcast commentator|Mike Graham (journalist)}}
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{{Infobox person
|name = Michael Graham
|image = Michael graham.jpg
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|caption = Michael Graham in 2009 giving a speech in downtown Boston
|birth_name =
|birth_date =
|birth_place = ]
|death_date =
|death_place =
|years_active= 1998–present
|occupation = Radio host
|spouse =
|alma_mater = ]
|website =
}}


'''Michael Graham''' ({{IPAc-en|g|r|æ|m}}) is an American conservative media personality and commentator based in ]. He is a political editor for ''NH Journal'', a columnist for the '']'' and a ] News analyst.
'''Michael Graham''' is a American ], ], and ] ] host. He is a contributor to ''] Online.'' He hosted a daily talk show on the ]-based radio station ] from January 2004 until July 2005. He currently hosts the afternoon drive show on ] WTKK-FM. He is also the author of several books, including ''Redneck Nation: How the South Won the War'' and ''Clinton & Me: How Eight Years of a Pants-Free President Changed My Nation, My Family and My Life''. Graham makes regular appearances on the usual litany of pundit-TV programs, including "The O'Reilly Factor," "Hardball with Chris Matthews," "Real Time with Bill Maher" and "Fox and Friends." His trademark is his "I am Michael Graham" greeting at the beginning of the show.


==Career==
He commutes to Boston daily by single-engine aircraft from the Provincetown, Massachusetts home he shares with his partner, a novelist.
Graham was born in ], and raised in ]. A graduate of ], he worked as a stand-up comedian before beginning his political career as a ] for ]'s Primary campaign in ].<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927092052/http://www.wtkk.com/FMTALKPersonalities/MichaelGraham/tabid/64/Default.aspx/about.asp|date=2007-09-27}} biography page</ref> This experience led to his working in various ] campaigns over the next few years. One of his candidates included Harold Worley, a Republican challenger to Senator ] in ].


In 1998, Graham moved to the talk radio circuit. Living up to his self-proclaimed description of being "loud, obnoxious and frequently fired,"<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060218095624/http://www.styleweekly.com/article.asp?idarticle=6028 |date=2006-02-18 }}: "He's loud. He's controversial. And he knows he's right," accessed 21 June 2006</ref> Graham held positions at seven stations in seven years, including stints in ], ] in ], and ], as well as Rightalk.com{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}, an Internet radio outlet previously hosted by ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aim.org/press-release/roger-aronoff-on-rightalkcom/|title=Roger Aronoff on Rightalk.com|date=2005-07-21|website=Accuracy in Media|language=en|access-date=2020-02-05}}</ref>
⚫ In a recent column, Graham pointed out that nearly everything in this Misplaced Pages article about him is incorrect.
==INS t-shirt incident==
On ],] Michael went with a tape recorder to a Rally sponsored by the advocacy group ] supporting area immigrants. The rally was being held in ], ] at Richard Montgomery High School. Michael attempted to enter the rally wearing a shirt reading "]". Michael stated that the "INS" on his shirt stood for “I Need border Security!”. He also stated that his intent was to make a political statement about the lack of government agents at an event which he claimed was being attended by admitted ]. The organizers of the rally, who felt Michael's t-shirt could be deemed offensive or threatening, refused to admit him. Eventually ] police were called and instructed Graham he would not be allowed to enter wearing the shirt.


In 2002, Graham released his first printed book of original material, '']'' through ].
Graham later claimed his ] rights were violated by an overzealous police department and event organizers. In the end, no legal action was taken by any of the parties involved.


Graham appeared on '']''. In addition, he made a number of appearances during 2005 on '']'', '']'', and '']'' pertaining to his "America is at war with Islam" controversy. Graham also appeared as a panelist on the local Washington, D.C., television program ''Eye on Washington,''<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2004/11/13/saturday/59b40569-ebbd-4712-951b-5b4e2967d11f/ |title=Saturday |newspaper=The Washington Post |first1=John |last1=Maynard |first2=Chris |last2=Richards |date=November 13, 2004 |access-date=June 22, 2023 |quote=Eye on Washington. WUSA's Derek McGinty hosts the new talk show, with regular panelists Susan Page of USA Today, Slate's William Saletan and WMAL's Michael Graham debating the news of the week...}}</ref> until his dismissal from ] in August 2005. In November 2005, Graham joined the lineup of Boston's ]; his show, dubbed "The Natural Truth," aired from 3:00&nbsp;p.m. to 7:00&nbsp;p.m. His contract was not renewed and he parted ways with the station in December 2012, just before the station announced that it was abandoning the all-talk format and switching to music only.
==Remarks about Islam and firing from WMAL==
On ], 2005, Graham was suspended without pay after his employer, WMAL, received numerous complaints regarding on-air comments made by Graham that were intended to link practice of the Islamic faith and terrorism. Graham's comments included "Islam is at war with America" "We are at war with a terrorist organization called Islam," and "The problem is not extremism. The problem is Islam." . Over the course of four broadcast days, Graham repeatedly called ] "a ] organization." and stated "apparently, moderate Muslims are the ones who only want to kill the Jews."


Since 2005, Graham airs a weekly guest slot on the Monday edition of ]'s ] show, '']'' on ] '']''. Speaking from an American ] perspective, many of Graham's views are often controversial to European audiences. In August 2009, Graham travelled to ] to present the show for three days while regular host George Hook was away.
Reaction to Graham's suspension was swift: WMAL received numerous emails, some supporting Graham and others expressing approval of the suspension. After a careful review of the incident, WMAL management informed Graham of their terms for his return to the air. These conditions included an on-air apology for his remarks, and several hours working with the muslim community to gain a greater understanding of their faith and practices. When Graham refused, WMAL exercised their legal right ot terminate his contract on ], ].


On February 11, 2013, Graham began hosting a talk show on ] in ]; the program was also heard on ] in ], ] in ], ] in ], ] in ] and ] in ].<ref name=aa-wcrngraham>{{cite news|title=Michael Graham Returning To Air At 4 Massachusetts Stations|url=http://www.allaccess.com/net-news/archive/story/114917/michael-graham-returning-to-air-at-4-massachusetts|access-date=March 21, 2013|newspaper=All Access|date=February 4, 2013}}</ref> On August 5, 2013, his show premiered on the Boston Herald's new online radio station.<ref name=herald-radiograham>{{cite web|title=Herald Radio – The Michael Graham Show {{!}} Boston Herald|url=http://bostonherald.com/herald_radio/the_michael_graham_show|work=Boston Herald|access-date=6 August 2013}}</ref> Graham left the Boston radio market at the end of April 2014 and spent two years in ] at Cumulus-owned radio station ] (All News 106.7). He left that station in May 2016 following an on-air segment where he accused fellow talk show host ] of using drugs and insinuated that Peterson engaged in ].<ref name="Radio and TV Talk 2016">{{cite web | title=Bizarre Michael Graham/The Kimmer feud as Graham exits NewsRadio 106.7 | website=Radio and TV Talk | date=2016-05-25 | url=http://radiotvtalk.blog.ajc.com/2016/05/25/michael-grahamthe-kimmer-feud-before-grahams-exit-on-newsradio-106-7/ | access-date=2017-12-20 | archive-date=2017-12-22 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222105034/http://radiotvtalk.blog.ajc.com/2016/05/25/michael-grahamthe-kimmer-feud-before-grahams-exit-on-newsradio-106-7/ | url-status=dead }}</ref>
No stranger to controversy, Graham’s 2005 dismissal from WMAL is not the first instance where insensitive and indefensible comments resulted in his removal from the airwaves. In 1999, while working for WBT Radio in Charlotte, N.C, Graham was let go for making a crude joke just hours after the horrific spree of shootings at Columbine High School in Littleton, CO. The statement Graham made on-air was, "They were targeting minorities and athletes - which, the athletes part, (is) one minor benefit to this otherwise horrible story" In announcing his dismissal from WBT, program director Randall Bloomquist stated: "There was a pattern of nonsensical remarks by Michael that were the result of his mouth working faster than his brain." Though Graham later apologized for his remarks, he was fired from WBT as a result.


==Controversy==
Soon after being terminated from WMAL, Graham started broadcasting a talk show called "Michael Graham: Unleashed!" on the ] station ]. His tenure on rightalk abruptly ended after two weeks, with Rightalk reporting that Graham had been placed "on hiatus".
{{Criticism section|date=February 2024}}


Graham has been involved in various controversies over his career.
On November 14, 2005, Michael Graham was offered an afternoon drive slot on Boston talk-radio station WTKK-FM (96.9), replacing Jay Severin, who had signed a national syndication deal with Infinity Broadcasting.


* In July 2005, Graham used Islam and terrorism as the basis for a multi-day discussion on his WMAL talk radio show.<ref name=WaPoAug>{{Cite news|last=Farhi|first=Paul|date=2005-07-26|title=Muslims Call Comments by WMAL Host 'Hate-Filled'|newspaper=] |language=en-US|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/25/AR2005072501649.html|access-date=2023-02-06|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> A number of Graham's comments prompted over one hundred complaints to the station and the ] (CAIR) issued action alerts to its subscribers encouraging them to contact WMAL to urge that "Graham be reprimanded for his anti-Islam statements," ultimately prompting WMAL to suspend him. After 28 days, WMAL elected to terminate Graham stating that he violated station policy and disregarded "management direction" to redress the situation.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Farhi|first=Paul|date=2005-08-23|title=Talk Show Host Graham Fired By WMAL Over Islam Remarks|newspaper=] |language=en-US|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/22/AR2005082201255.html|access-date=2023-02-06|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> The situation prompted angry editorials from Graham<ref>: "CAIR WINS, FREE SPEECH LOSES AT ABC RADIO," Michael Graham, 21 August 2005, accessed 21 June 2006</ref> as well as appearances on nationally televised news programs to discuss the firing.<ref>{{Cite web|last=O'Reilly|first=Bill|title=The O'Reilly Factor - Tuesday, August 23, 2005|url=https://www.billoreilly.com/show?action=viewTVShow&showID=421|access-date=2023-02-06|website=www.billoreilly.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|website=CNN.com - Transcripts|url=https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/asb/date/2005-08-24/segment/01|access-date=2023-02-06|title=Newsnight with Aaron Brown |date=24 August 2005}}</ref>
==External references==
* Graham attended a rally to protest the ], sponsored by ] in May 2005.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rivera|first=Ray|date=2005-05-06|title=Immigrant Groups Fight License Bill|newspaper=] |language=en-US|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/05/AR2005050501705.html|access-date=2023-02-06|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> He was photographed in an ] shirt, and was blocked from entering the event even as he showed ABC Radio credentials, with officials citing public safety. An altercation ensued, and police were called, with a second altercation occurring following their arrival. After questioning, Graham was allowed to enter the event with his shirt turned inside out.<ref>: "Talker detained at pro immigrant rally, for 'INS' T shirt," TerpFan1980, 9 May 2005, accessed 21 June 2006</ref>
* Proof that almost everything in this posting is untrue.
* Graham was fired from his first commercial talk-radio job at WBT in ], after comments he made on-air in the wake of the ] in 1999.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/index/colo/colo106.htm |work=USA Today |title=Stern under fire for Columbine comments |date=28 April 1999 |access-date=11 October 2006}}</ref> Just hours after the shootings he said that the killing of athletes at the school was "one minor benefit of this otherwise horrible story."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/28/AR2005072802241.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006102016/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/28/AR2005072802241.html |archive-date=2008-10-06 |title=WMAL Suspends Talk-Show Host for Comment on Islam|newspaper=] }}</ref>
* Graham drew criticism from ] across the political spectrum for comments about ] and ] made on ]' '']'' on June 20, 2007. Referring to a ] ad based on the ] of '']'', Graham said "...didn't you at some point want to see, like, ], somebody come in here and just whack them both right there? Wouldn't that have been great?...Come on! Where's ]? Come on! Let's make it happen...I wanted that."<ref>
Guest Of CNN's Beck: Watching Someone Murder The Clintons Would Be 'Great'</ref> ] did not agree with Graham's comments.


* During a debate on the Irish radio channel ] on May 28, 2010, the future ], ], accused Graham of indulging in "the radio of hysterical ignorance" and urged him to "be proud to be a decent American rather than being just a ] whipping up fear."<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227230214/http://www.newstalk.ie/2010/programmes/all-programmes/the-right-hook/the-two-michaels/ |date=2012-02-27 }} Newstalk.ie, 2010-05-28. (Quote from 15 min 25 sec.)</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Michael D Higgins unloads on Tea Party favorite Michael Graham|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOxKnsT-XZg|language=en|access-date=2023-02-06 |quote=The fact if the matter is, look, young people from the United States are travelling all over the world again. They're welcome in Europe, they're backpackers in hostels, people are talking to them because the image of the United States – we've got away from this war mongering – is getting better. The many mistakes Obama is making...at least 47 million people that the likes of you condemn to no health care in a country that I was proud to work in – these people are going to have some health care, so this is the issue, so therefore be proud to be a decent American rather than being just a wanker whipping up fear.}}</ref>
* A far more reliable source of information than Misplaced Pages

==Books==
* ''Banned From Public Radio'' – Pinpoint Press (1995) {{ISBN|0964855305}}
* ''Clinton & Me: How Eight Years of a Pants-Free President Changed My Nation, My Family and My Life'' – Pinpoint Press (2000) {{ISBN|0964855321}}
* ''The Dumbest Generation'' – iPublish (2001) ]
* '']'' – ] (2002) {{ISBN|0446528846}}
* ''That's No Angry Mob, That's My Mom: Team Obama's Assault on Tea-Party, Talk-Radio Americans'' – ] (2010) {{ISBN|978-1596986190}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}


==External links== ==External links==
* *
⚫ *
* {{C-SPAN|82447}}

{{authority control}}

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Latest revision as of 22:52, 8 November 2024

For the British broadcast commentator, see Mike Graham (journalist).
Michael Graham
Michael Graham in 2009 giving a speech in downtown Boston
BornLos Angeles, California
Alma materOral Roberts University
OccupationRadio host
Years active1998–present

Michael Graham (/ɡræm/) is an American conservative media personality and commentator based in Boston. He is a political editor for NH Journal, a columnist for the Boston Herald and a CBS News analyst.

Career

Graham was born in Los Angeles, California, and raised in Pelion, South Carolina. A graduate of Oral Roberts University, he worked as a stand-up comedian before beginning his political career as a statewide coordinator for Pat Buchanan's Primary campaign in 1992. This experience led to his working in various Republican campaigns over the next few years. One of his candidates included Harold Worley, a Republican challenger to Senator Strom Thurmond in 1996.

In 1998, Graham moved to the talk radio circuit. Living up to his self-proclaimed description of being "loud, obnoxious and frequently fired," Graham held positions at seven stations in seven years, including stints in South Carolina, WRVA in Richmond, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., as well as Rightalk.com, an Internet radio outlet previously hosted by Accuracy in Media.

In 2002, Graham released his first printed book of original material, Redneck Nation: How the South Really Won the War through Warner Books.

Graham appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher. In addition, he made a number of appearances during 2005 on The O'Reilly Factor, Hardball with Chris Matthews, and Fox & Friends pertaining to his "America is at war with Islam" controversy. Graham also appeared as a panelist on the local Washington, D.C., television program Eye on Washington, until his dismissal from WMAL in August 2005. In November 2005, Graham joined the lineup of Boston's WTKK; his show, dubbed "The Natural Truth," aired from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. His contract was not renewed and he parted ways with the station in December 2012, just before the station announced that it was abandoning the all-talk format and switching to music only.

Since 2005, Graham airs a weekly guest slot on the Monday edition of George Hook's drive time show, The Right Hook on Ireland's Newstalk. Speaking from an American right-wing perspective, many of Graham's views are often controversial to European audiences. In August 2009, Graham travelled to Dublin to present the show for three days while regular host George Hook was away.

On February 11, 2013, Graham began hosting a talk show on WCRN in Worcester, Massachusetts; the program was also heard on WBNW in Concord, WESO in Southbridge, WPLM in Plymouth, WXBR in Brockton and WCCM in Salem, New Hampshire. On August 5, 2013, his show premiered on the Boston Herald's new online radio station. Graham left the Boston radio market at the end of April 2014 and spent two years in Atlanta at Cumulus-owned radio station WYAY (All News 106.7). He left that station in May 2016 following an on-air segment where he accused fellow talk show host Kim Peterson of using drugs and insinuated that Peterson engaged in bestiality.

Controversy

This article's "criticism" or "controversy" section may compromise the article's neutrality. Please help rewrite or integrate negative information to other sections through discussion on the talk page. (February 2024)

Graham has been involved in various controversies over his career.

  • In July 2005, Graham used Islam and terrorism as the basis for a multi-day discussion on his WMAL talk radio show. A number of Graham's comments prompted over one hundred complaints to the station and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) issued action alerts to its subscribers encouraging them to contact WMAL to urge that "Graham be reprimanded for his anti-Islam statements," ultimately prompting WMAL to suspend him. After 28 days, WMAL elected to terminate Graham stating that he violated station policy and disregarded "management direction" to redress the situation. The situation prompted angry editorials from Graham as well as appearances on nationally televised news programs to discuss the firing.
  • Graham attended a rally to protest the Real ID Act, sponsored by CASA de Maryland in May 2005. He was photographed in an INS shirt, and was blocked from entering the event even as he showed ABC Radio credentials, with officials citing public safety. An altercation ensued, and police were called, with a second altercation occurring following their arrival. After questioning, Graham was allowed to enter the event with his shirt turned inside out.
  • Graham was fired from his first commercial talk-radio job at WBT in Charlotte, North Carolina, after comments he made on-air in the wake of the Columbine massacre in 1999. Just hours after the shootings he said that the killing of athletes at the school was "one minor benefit of this otherwise horrible story."
  • Graham drew criticism from blogs across the political spectrum for comments about Bill and Hillary Clinton made on CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck Show on June 20, 2007. Referring to a Clinton campaign ad based on the final episode of The Sopranos, Graham said "...didn't you at some point want to see, like, Paulie Walnuts, somebody come in here and just whack them both right there? Wouldn't that have been great?...Come on! Where's "Big Pussy"? Come on! Let's make it happen...I wanted that." Beck did not agree with Graham's comments.
  • During a debate on the Irish radio channel Newstalk on May 28, 2010, the future President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, accused Graham of indulging in "the radio of hysterical ignorance" and urged him to "be proud to be a decent American rather than being just a wanker whipping up fear."

Books

References

  1. WTKK-FM Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine biography page
  2. Style Weekly Archived 2006-02-18 at the Wayback Machine: "He's loud. He's controversial. And he knows he's right," accessed 21 June 2006
  3. "Roger Aronoff on Rightalk.com". Accuracy in Media. 2005-07-21. Retrieved 2020-02-05.
  4. Maynard, John; Richards, Chris (November 13, 2004). "Saturday". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 22, 2023. Eye on Washington. WUSA's Derek McGinty hosts the new talk show, with regular panelists Susan Page of USA Today, Slate's William Saletan and WMAL's Michael Graham debating the news of the week...
  5. "Michael Graham Returning To Air At 4 Massachusetts Stations". All Access. February 4, 2013. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
  6. "Herald Radio – The Michael Graham Show | Boston Herald". Boston Herald. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  7. "Bizarre Michael Graham/The Kimmer feud as Graham exits NewsRadio 106.7". Radio and TV Talk. 2016-05-25. Archived from the original on 2017-12-22. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
  8. Farhi, Paul (2005-07-26). "Muslims Call Comments by WMAL Host 'Hate-Filled'". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  9. Farhi, Paul (2005-08-23). "Talk Show Host Graham Fired By WMAL Over Islam Remarks". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  10. Jewish World Review: "CAIR WINS, FREE SPEECH LOSES AT ABC RADIO," Michael Graham, 21 August 2005, accessed 21 June 2006
  11. O'Reilly, Bill. "The O'Reilly Factor - Tuesday, August 23, 2005". www.billoreilly.com. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  12. "Newsnight with Aaron Brown". CNN.com - Transcripts. 24 August 2005. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  13. Rivera, Ray (2005-05-06). "Immigrant Groups Fight License Bill". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  14. JoeUser.com: "Talker detained at pro immigrant rally, for 'INS' T shirt," TerpFan1980, 9 May 2005, accessed 21 June 2006
  15. "Stern under fire for Columbine comments". USA Today. 28 April 1999. Retrieved 11 October 2006.
  16. "WMAL Suspends Talk-Show Host for Comment on Islam". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2008-10-06.
  17. Think Progress Guest Of CNN's Beck: Watching Someone Murder The Clintons Would Be 'Great'
  18. Michael Graham v Michael D. Archived 2012-02-27 at the Wayback Machine Newstalk.ie, 2010-05-28. (Quote from 15 min 25 sec.)
  19. Michael D Higgins unloads on Tea Party favorite Michael Graham, retrieved 2023-02-06, The fact if the matter is, look, young people from the United States are travelling all over the world again. They're welcome in Europe, they're backpackers in hostels, people are talking to them because the image of the United States – we've got away from this war mongering – is getting better. The many mistakes Obama is making...at least 47 million people that the likes of you condemn to no health care in a country that I was proud to work in – these people are going to have some health care, so this is the issue, so therefore be proud to be a decent American rather than being just a wanker whipping up fear.

External links

Categories: