- Michael Graham (radio personality)
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For other people named Michael Graham, see Michael Graham (disambiguation).
Michael Graham in 2009
Michael Graham is an American talk radio host, writer, and conservative political commentator. His daily talk show, The Natural Truth, airs on WTKK. A writer, Graham is the author of several books and is a columnist for the Boston Herald.
Contents
Career
Graham was born in Los Angeles, California and raised in South Carolina. A graduate of Oral Roberts University, he worked as a stand-up comedian before beginning his political career as the primary election coordinator for South Carolina[1] for Pat Buchanan's Presidential 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",[2] Graham held positions at seven stations in seven years, including stints in South Carolina, WRVA in Richmond, Virginia, and Washington, DC, as well as the internet-only outlet Rightalk.com.
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 has also appeared as a panelist on the local Washington D.C. television program Eye on Washington [3] 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," presently airs (originally from 9 am - 12 pm EST, now at 3 pm to 7 pm).
Since 2005, Graham airs a weekly guest slot on the Monday edition of George Hook's drivetime show, The Right Hook on Ireland's Newstalk. Speaking from right-wing, US perspective, many of Graham's views are often controversial to the European audience, and so his weekly slot has proved popular with the show's regular listeners. In August 2009, Graham travelled to Dublin to present the show for three days while regular host George Hook was away.
On Sept 12, 2008 he appeared on the Dr. Phil Show Special 'The N-Word', a debate-format special of the show. Of the 6 guests, Graham was the only Caucasian. They debated the use of the word 'nigger' and the relevance of its use today by both whites and blacks.[4]
Controversy
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.[5] 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",[6] 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.[7] The situation prompted angry editorials from Graham [8] as well as appearances on nationally televised news programs to discuss the firing.[9][10]
- Graham attended a rally to protest the Real ID Act, sponsored by Casa de Maryland in May 2005.[11] 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.[12]
- 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.[13]
- Graham drew criticism from blogs on the Left and the Right 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."[14] Beck did not agree with Graham's comments.
- Graham was arrested Friday, February 13, 2009, after being pulled over at about 5:30 AM for failing to stop at a red light in Framingham, Massachusetts. He was charged with driving with a revoked license. Graham denies receiving a revocation letter, although RMV spokeswoman Ann Dufresne claims one was sent in October 2008. His license was revoked in November 2008 for failing to notify Virginia that he had relocated to Massachusetts in 2006. Graham has had a Massachusetts license since February 2006.[15]
- Assistant District Attorney Darina Belot filed for a nolle prosequi on June 19, writing that the Registry of Motor Vehicles reinstated Graham's Massachusetts driver's license on February 19. Graham was scheduled for a jury trial on Monday, June 29.[16]
- During a radio debate on the Irish radio channel Newstalk was described by the future President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, as a "Wanker" [17]
Books
- Banned From Public Radio - Pinpoint Press (1995) 0964855305
- Clinton & Me: How Eight Years of a Pants-Free President Changed My Nation, My Family and My Life - Pinpoint Press (2000) 0964855321
- The Dumbest Generation - iPublish (2001) e-book
- Redneck Nation: How the South Really Won the War - Warner Books (2002) 0446528846
- That's No Angry Mob, That's My Mom: Team Obama's Assault on Tea-Party, Talk-Radio Americans - Regnery Publishing (2010)
References
- ^ WTKK-FM biography page
- ^ Style Weekly: "He's loud. He’s controversial. And he knows he’s right," accessed 21 June 2006
- ^ WUSA.com: Eye on Washington, outdated link.
- ^ Dr. Phil Show http://www.drphil.com/shows/show/1119
- ^ Washington Post: "Muslims Call Comments by WMAL Host 'Hate-Filled'," Paul Farhi, 26 July 2005, accessed 21 June 2006
- ^ Council on American-Islamic Relations: "DC Radio Host Says 'Islam is a terrorist organization'," CAIR Action Alert, 25 July 2005, accessed 21 June 2006
- ^ Washington Post: "Talk Show Host Graham Fired By WMAL Over Islam Remarks," Paul Farhi, 23 August 2005, accessed 21 June 2006
- ^ Jewish World Review: "CAIR WINS, FREE SPEECH LOSES AT ABC RADIO," Michael Graham, 21 August 2005, accessed 21 June 2006
- ^ The O'Reilly Factor: 23 August 2005, URL accessed 7 July 2006
- ^ CNN: NewsNight With Aaron Brown, 24 August 2005. URL Accessed 7 July 2006
- ^ Washington Post: "Immigrant Groups Fight License Bill," Ray Rivera, 6 May 2005, accessed 21 June 2006
- ^ JoeUser.com: "Talker detained at pro immigrant rally, for 'INS' T shirt," TerpFan1980, 9 May 2005, accessed 21 June 2006
- ^ USA Today: "Stern under fire for Columbine comments" USA Today, 28 April 1999, URL accessed 11 October 2006
- ^ Think Progress Guest Of CNN’s Beck: Watching Someone Murder The Clintons Would Be ‘Great’
- ^ Boston Herald Graham cuffed, jailed after ‘minor traffic infraction’
- ^ Hilliard, John (June 25, 2009). "Prosecutor drops driving charge against WTKK's Graham". The MetroWest Daily News. http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/homepage/x1662368673/Prosecutor-drops-driving-charge-against-WTKKs-Graham. Retrieved July 26, 2009.
- ^ Newstalk Radio http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOxKnsT-XZg
External links
Categories:- American columnists
- American political pundits
- American political writers
- American talk radio hosts
- Radio personalities from Boston, Massachusetts
- Oral Roberts University alumni
- People from South Carolina
- Washington, D.C. radio personalities
- Living people
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