Michael Graham

Proponents of political correctness, a radical Islamic organization, and the management at the spineless ABC Radio Network joined forces to squelch free speech.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A radio talk show host in Washington is out of a job after refusing to apologize for calling Islam "a terrorist organization."

WMAL had suspended Michael Graham for a making the comment during a broadcast last month. His comment drew protests from CAIR, the Council on American-Islam Relations.

Graham said in a statement on his Web site that he was fired after refusing to retract his comments about Islam and deliver an on-air apology.

WMAL president and general manager Chris Berry told the broadcast publication Radio & Records that Graham's comments about Islam "went over the line." Berry said Graham had been previously reprimanded for "insensitive language and comments."

Graham blamed CAIR for his firing and said his free speech rights were violated.

Read Michael Graham's take on the matter. On his website, Graham provides an opportuntiy for the exercise of free speech.

He writes:

FREE SPEECH FORUM: In the interest of open discourse, let's hear from some folks who are glad I was fired:

"I am a christian and very faithful christian. First of all you are full of SH**!

You don't know anything about ISLAM or any religion. You are so
ignorant, I can n't understand how you even got the job in the first
place. Think before you open your mouth you don't disgrace ISLAM you have disgraced all religions. Don't you know that all religion speaks of truth, faith and PEACE.

Thanks God You are fired."

AND...

"As far as your 'firing' goes, it had nothing to do with First Amendment free-speech rights. You certainly have a right to voice your opinion, but when you start to generalize, you better be prepared to take some flak.

Demagoguery has no place in intelligent discourse, whether it comes from the right (Limbaugh) or the left (M. Moore)...

I've no doubt you've thousands of supporters who are upset over your dismissal, but if I were you, I wouldn't find much comfort in their kind of support. My guess is they're incapable of recognizing the absurdity in your remarks.

As for me, I won't waste any more time with you or your pseudocelebrity."

I don't know where to begin, which is usually my reaction in the face of such poorly reasoned remarks.

Suffice it to say that the comments reveal the intellectual inadequacies of the authors.

Joel Mowbray wrote about the Michael Graham controversy and got into the group behind the "Fire Graham" movement.

Although the column was written on August 18, 2005, prior to Graham's firing, it still provides plenty of insight into CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

First, Mowbray gives Graham's remarks in their full context:

"Because of the mix of Islamic theology that -- rightly or wrongly -- is interpreted to promote violence, added to an organizational structure that allows violent radicals to operate openly in Islam's name with impunity, Islam has, sadly, become a terrorist organization. It pains me to say it. But the good news is it doesn't have to stay this way, if the vast majority of Muslims who don't support terror will step forward and reclaim their religion."

Mowbray continues:

Plenty of people can -- and should -- take issue with the framing of the religion itself as a "terrorist organization." But his surrounding comments have more than a ring of truth. Islamic theology is used to promote violence. And in many parts of the world, radicals have taken control of Islam--and the moderates have been effectively silenced.

And Mr. Graham's desire that moderates reclaim control of Islam is shared by many, though likely not by CAIR or groups of its ilk.

Then, Mowbray sheds some light on CAIR.

CAIR was founded in 1994 by two former high-ranking officials with the Islamic Association of Palestine, a rabidly anti-Semitic organization known as Hamas' biggest political booster in the United States.

Since September 11, CAIR officials have been careful to avoid the appearance that they support Islamic terrorism. But not before September 11. In November 1999, CAIR President Omar Ahmad addressed a youth session at the IAP annual convention in Chicago, where he praised suicide bombers who "kill themselves for Islam": "Fighting for freedom, fighting for Islam ? that is not suicide. They kill themselves for Islam." (Transcript provided by the Investigative Project.)

Though CAIR's mission is not to serve as an overt Hamas partisan, the organization has refused to specifically condemn the terrorist organization. Ditto for Hezbollah, which is responsible for murdering more Americans than any other terrorist group besides al Qaeda. And CAIR refused to condemn bin Laden or al Qaeda by name until three months after September 11.

The Washington Post in November 2001 asked a CAIR spokesman to condemn Hamas or Islamic Jihad. He refused, explaining, "It's not our job to go around denouncing." Asked a similar question about Hamas and Hezbollah by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in February 2002, Mr. Hooper called such queries a "game," and added, "We're not in the business of condemning."

Of course, CAIR is very much "in the business of condemning." The group gleefully slams critics of radical Islam, television shows, and talk-radio hosts. But when it comes to Islamic terrorist organizations or prominent Muslims who endorse terrorism, CAIR's silence is deafening.

Here is CAIR's news release discussing the Graham controversy.

"Just as Michael Graham has the right to hold bigoted views, so, too, does our society have the right to live free of hatred and incitement," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. "We are saddened that Michael Graham would not take responsibility for his hate-filled words, but we do welcome WMAL's action as a step toward reducing the level of anti-Muslim bigotry on our nation's airwaves."

Awad thanked local Metropolitan-D.C., interfaith and community leaders and the many people in America and worldwide who contacted WMAL and its advertisers to express their concerns over Graham's bigoted comments.

CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

If CAIR's mission is to truly "enhance the understanding of Islam," it's quite revealing that the organization refuses to condemn terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah.

Is that what Islam is about?

As fas as protecting civil liberties go, CAIR set out to strip Michael Graham of his right to free speech. Rather than seeking his "punishment," CAIR could have countered his remarks by condemning terrorism and enumerating ALL the ways that Islam has promoted peace and justice.

The group could put its energies into getting out the message that Islam finds the actions and philosophies of Hamas and Hezbollah to be reprehensible. Instead, CAIR attempted to silence Graham.

Although WMAL axed Graham, KFI-AM in Los Angeles picked him up for a fill-in show.

Drudge reports, "'KFI has an extended offer for Michael Graham to fill in at the station because KFI still values free speech,' says KFI pd, Robin Bertolucci."

In addition, Graham will be doing a one-hour weekday webcast.

CNS writes:

Beginning Monday, Aug. 29, Michael Graham -- who had hosted a mid-morning talk show on WMAL until he was suspended without pay on July 29 and later fired by the station -- will begin a new program called "Michael Graham, Unleashed!" that will air at 12 noon on the Rightalk.com website.

"Finally! I'm going to be back on the radio again -- and the best part is, they'll be able to hear it in Washington, D.C.!" Graham said in a statement posted Wednesday on his website.

The host saw several advantages to his new show, including "no liberal network execs, no advertisers, not even the FCC. You'll be able to listen live, or the show will be available for podcasting or downloading every hour, on the hour."

...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," Graham stated.

..."'Michael Graham, Unleashed' is going to be a very exciting experiment for me, and I can't wait to get started," Graham stated. "And yes -- you will be able to call in live during the show."

CAIR isn't going to be very happy about this," Graham joked on his website.

I am glad that Michael Graham has not been silenced.

I'm not familiar with Graham, so I'm not endorsing him. I don't know his style or his position on the issues.

I do know that he has the right to express himself.

From what the Times printed, when taken in context, his remarks don't seem all that inflammatory to me. As Mowbray said, many, including myself, wish moderates would be a louder voice in the Islamic community. They need to overpower the radical Islamic fundamentalists that preach the message of death to all infidels (non-Muslims).

Let's be honest. What Graham said was no more extreme than what can be heard coming from the Left on Air America.

Cindy Sheehan is lauded for calling President Bush a terrorist and saying America would be a fascist state if not for the Internet and all her other reckless, extremist rhetoric.

However, rather than anyone attempting to silence her, the liberal media and the radical far left-wingers have elevated her to hero status.

Clearly, some believe that liberty and justice for all doesn't necessarily mean free speech for all.

I'm thankful that KFI stood up for Graham when WMAL balked.

Another thing:

Did the ACLU condemn the firing of Michael Graham?

I didn't think so.