Michael Graham (radio personality)
Michael Graham | |
|---|---|
Los Angeles, California | |
| Alma mater | Oral Roberts University |
| Occupation | Radio host |
| Years active | 1998–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
In 1998, Graham moved to the talk radio circuit. Living up to his self-proclaimed description of being "loud, obnoxious and frequently fired,"[2] 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[citation needed], an Internet radio outlet previously hosted by Accuracy in Media.[3]
In 2002, Graham released his first printed book of original material,
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,[4] 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
Controversy
 | This article's "criticism" or "controversy" section may compromise the article's neutrality. (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.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.[9] The situation prompted angry editorials from Graham[10] as well as appearances on nationally televised news programs to discuss the firing.[11][12]
- Graham attended a rally to protest the Real ID Act, sponsored by CASA de Maryland in May 2005.[13] 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.[14]
- 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.[15] Just hours after the shootings he said that the killing of athletes at the school was "one minor benefit of this otherwise horrible story."[16]
- Graham drew criticism from 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."[18][19]
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) e-book
- ISBN 0446528846
- That's No Angry Mob, That's My Mom: Team Obama's Assault on Tea-Party, Talk-Radio Americans – ISBN 978-1596986190
References
- ^ WTKK-FM Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine biography page
- ^ 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
- ^ "Roger Aronoff on Rightalk.com". Accuracy in Media. 2005-07-21. Retrieved 2020-02-05.
- ^ 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...
- ^ "Michael Graham Returning To Air At 4 Massachusetts Stations". All Access. February 4, 2013. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
- ^ "Herald Radio – The Michael Graham Show | Boston Herald". Boston Herald. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
- ^ "Bizarre Michael Graham/The Kimmer feud as Graham exits NewsRadio 106.7". Radio and TV Talk. 2016-05-25. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
- ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- ^ Jewish World Review: "CAIR WINS, FREE SPEECH LOSES AT ABC RADIO," Michael Graham, 21 August 2005, accessed 21 June 2006
- ^ O'Reilly, Bill. "The O'Reilly Factor - Tuesday, August 23, 2005". www.billoreilly.com. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- ^ "Newsnight with Aaron Brown". CNN.com - Transcripts. 24 August 2005. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
- ^ JoeUser.com: "Talker detained at pro immigrant rally, for 'INS' T shirt," TerpFan1980, 9 May 2005, accessed 21 June 2006
- ^ "Stern under fire for Columbine comments". USA Today. 28 April 1999. Retrieved 11 October 2006.
- ^ "WMAL Suspends Talk-Show Host for Comment on Islam". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2008-10-06.
- ^ Think Progress Guest Of CNN's Beck: Watching Someone Murder The Clintons Would Be 'Great'
- ^ Michael Graham v Michael D. Archived 2012-02-27 at the Wayback Machine Newstalk.ie, 2010-05-28. (Quote from 15 min 25 sec.)
- ^ 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.