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| 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. | 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. | ||
| 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 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. | ||
| ==Remarks about Islam and firing from WMAL== | ==Remarks about Islam and firing from WMAL== | ||
Revision as of 18:19, 9 December 2005
For other uses, see Michael Graham (radio personality) (disambiguation). | This article's factual accuracy is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help to ensure that disputed statements are reliably sourced. (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Michael Graham is a American author, columnist, and conservative talk radio host. He is a contributor to National Review Online. He hosted a daily talk show on the Washington DC-based radio station WMAL from January 2004 until July 2005. He currently hosts the afternoon drive show on Boston's 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.
In a recent column , Graham pointed out that nearly everything in this Misplaced Pages article about him is incorrect.
INS t-shirt incident
On May 7,2005 Michael went with a tape recorder to a Rally sponsored by the advocacy group Casa de Maryland supporting area immigrants. The rally was being held in Rockville, MD at Richard Montgomery High School. Michael attempted to enter the rally wearing a shirt reading "INS". 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 illegal immigrants. The organizers of the rally, who felt Michael's t-shirt could be deemed offensive or threatening, refused to admit him. Eventually Montgomery County police were called and instructed Graham he would not be allowed to enter wearing the shirt.
Graham later claimed his First Amendment 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.
Remarks about Islam and firing from WMAL
On July 28, 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 Islam "a terrorist organization." and stated "apparently, moderate Muslims are the ones who only want to kill the Jews."
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 August 22, 2005.
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 (the gunmen) 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.
Soon after being terminated from WMAL, Graham started broadcasting a talk show called "Michael Graham: Unleashed!" on the web radio station Rightalk.com. His tenure on rightalk abruptly ended after two weeks, with Rightalk reporting that Graham had been placed "on hiatus".
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.