No Freedom Of Speech For Michael Graham
The following information, posted here word for word, came to me from anti-CAIR:
ABC DISNEY BACKS DOWN TO THREATS FROM CAIR,
Conservative talk-show host Michael Graham was suspended without pay today by ABC Disney after threats from the Council for American-Islamic Relations over his on-air comments regarding terrorism and Islam.
Despite repeated statements of support for Graham's free-speech rights by management at 630 WMAL in Washington, D.C. ----- the ABC-owned radio station where Graham works as mid-morning host ---- he was summarily suspended pending an "investigation."
"I honestly don't know what Disney is investigating me for, unless it's for doing a compelling talk show that gets people's attention," Graham said. "I thought that was my job." Graham has been harshly criticized by CAIR for public comments linking the current theology and structure of Islam to the repeated acts of terror in its name. CAIR sent mass e-mails to its members urging them to contact ABC and demand the company to punish Graham for his remarks.
The statements at the heart of the controversy reflect Graham's opinion that, as he puts it, "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 re-claim their religion."
Ironically, CAIR announced today that a group of US Muslim scholars were issuing a fatwa against terrorism. According to Ibrahim Hooper of CAIR, the fatwa was issued in part due to criticism from talk radio hosts like Michael Graham.
"Nearly four years after the World Trade Center fell, CAIR is participating in a blanket denunciation of terrorism, and my attitude is "better late than never." If our conversation on 630 WMAL helped CAIR finally take this long-needed step, then we've done something good for the future of Islam," Graham said.
Graham acknowledged that his statement has upset some people, but he refuses to recant. "Ahmed H. Al-Rahim, an Iraqi-American who has taught Arabic and Islamic studies at Harvard, wrote a piece in the Wall Street Journal earlier this week about a prominent Egyptian moderate who criticized the Islamists and their influence on all of Islam, and was threatened with death. He recanted and promised to be silent to save his life."
"I can't blame him."
"But I'm an American, and if fighting for free speech and for the truth in the war on terrorism means getting fired by some corporate suit at ABC Disney who can't stand up for free speech ----so be it. But I will not recant," Graham said.
To contact ABC Radio in Washington and express your opinion about their decision to cave into pressure from CAIR, call the General Manager, Chris Berry, at 202-686-3100 or email here.*
ACAIR Note: (Listen to Michael Graham's full Tuesday show from link below)
PS: This morning, on CBS Morning News, who appears but Ibrahim Hooper, representative of CAIR. He wasn't speaking about the Graham censorship but rather against profiling of Muslims. Hooper's position seems to be that anything 'offensive to Muslims' is taboo. Who is speaking for the rest of us?
Note (07/30/05): According to the Washington Post, Moore Cadillac, the largest Cadillac/Hummer dealer in Northern Virginia, would not completely cave into CAIR's demands. "One advertiser, Moore Cadillac Hummer, wrote a letter to CAIR denouncing Graham's statements but did not say it would pull its ads..." Please contact Moore Cadillac here. Inform Moore Cadillac that the dealership should be pulling ads IN SUPPORT of Graham, not tacitly supporting CAIR.
If the above link to Moore doesn't work, try the link below:
http://www.moorecadillac.com/contact_form.htm?bhcp=1
or go to www.moorecadillac.com and click on "Contact."
posted by Always On Watch @ 7/29/2005 06:57:00 AM
26 comments
26 Comments:
My Email:
Mr. Berry,
When we start allowing the First Amendment to be eroded by “offended” people, where will it stop. Worse still is that you are allowing an organization, with counter-US intentions to influence the practice of our own constitution. I am ashamed that a member of our “Media”, whom should value this right more than any would censor programming to appease a small group of lobbiest.
-America the Free?
G,
Excellent! Especially this part: "[Y]ou are allowing an organization, with counter-US intentions to influence the practice of our own constitution."
We must not allow the censorship of Michael Graham to stand!
This is the time to act. I sent my first e-mail. Off to work ...
That e-mail didn't work for me but you can go to their website:
http://www.wmal.com/contactus.asp
What is he bitching about? They aren't profiling Muslims. They should be, but they aren't.
And as for Graham, someone will hire him.
Jason,
I have now corrected the email information. Thanks!
LA Sunsett,
I agree with you that Michael Graham may well find another position. But I am appalled that WMAL so rapidly changed position of supporting Graham; previously WMAL stated the intention to stand by Graham--See my blog of July 27.
And, yes, it's time for some profiling! I call it "criminal profiling" or "terrorist profiling."
Great one g. And AOW -- awesome job staying on top of this. I will prepare my letter now! This is insanity.
Esther and The Mary Hunter,
We must stay on top of this--put the pressure on WMAL.
Hmmmm, wonder why???? The email I sent got returned... anyone have another email address?
AOW: The WMAL website has a logo that says, "Join 630 WMAL in serving those who serve their country." Well, apparantly WMAL isn't serving the country by caving in to a seditious organization such as CAIR. It is insulting that WMAL would think that it is serving those who serve America when it decided to fire Michael Graham for exercising his right to express opinions.
If you can't reach the management, then perhaps your growing following can reach WMAL's sponsors. There is more than one way to skin a cat.
"Ironically, CAIR announced today that a group of US Muslim scholars were issuing a fatwa against terrorism. According to Ibrahim Hooper of CAIR, the fatwa was issued in part due to criticism from talk radio hosts like Michael Graham.
The Counterterrorism Blog says, The American Islamic Leaders' "Fatwa" is Bogus.
"Nowhere does it condemn the Islamic extremism ideology that has spawned Islamic terrorism. It does not renounce nor even acknowledge the existence of an Islamic jihadist culture that has permeated mosques and young Muslims around the world. It does not renounce Jihad let alone admit that it has been used to justify Islamic terrorist acts. It does not condemn by name any Islamic group or leader. In short, it is a fake fatwa designed merely to deceive the American public into believing that these groups are moderate."
HB,
The largest Cadillac dealer here, Moore Cadillac, has condemned WMAL for the firing of Graham. Moore has not pulled its WMAL ads, however. I am going to see if Moore Cadillac has a website whereby I can contact the manager there.
My last email to WMAL went through, and I told them off.
Warren,
Yes, this fatwa is bogus! Just a ploy to fool the dhimmis, but more people are catching onto their tricks.
Ibrahim Hooper makes me want to puke! He's smug and subversive--all the way.
PS: Thanks for the link you posted. I will check this out.
Excellent post! Why do we even allow these organizations to exist?
CAIR = Terrorists. I'm not sure why so many people don't get that.
I threw this out to Moore Cadillac
"Do not cave in to the demands of CAIR. They are a proven anti-US orginization that is trying to limit our constitutional rights when it "offends" them. They are not the ones that are buying your cars, and their threats are empty, they are not infuential enough to hurt your sales."
I contacted Moore Cadillac and I wrote to WMAL again. Good work AOW ... and everyone else.
Jay 777,
To answer your question...The leftists support any organization which harms America.
In effect, CAIR = the Muslim ACLU.
G,
Moore Cadillac indeed caved in--at least, partially. I wonder how full their contact inbox got yesterday?
Thanks for sending the email.
Ogre,
People don't get it about CAIR because CAIR is the consummate pr organization. CAIR has placed books of their own choosing into every public-library system in the United States.
Daniel Pipes has done a good job of exposing CAIR. But Andrew Whitehead of Anti-CAIR is in court.
Toni,
The ACLU doesn't need to step in because the CAIR does the same work. Conflict of interest and all that.
Ralph, you're missing the point. No, this isn't a violation of the Constitution form of free speech, but it does show a willingness of one media organization, which is supposed to SUPPORT free speech, caving to the demands of terrorists and attempting to silence someone who opposes terrorists.
The rest of the post mentions attempting to use the power of capitalism and freedom to support the truth about terrorism getting out -- in other words, attempt to financially destabilze someone who supports terrorim.
Ralph, I can hear the same rhetoric from air america that I hear from many other leftists moonbats, but nobody is taking those LIARS off of the air.
At least Michael Graham was speaking the Truth, and not spewing venom, hatred and sedition.
Ralph,
I took the time to look over your blog. If you want the freedom to worship God as you see fit, you need to consider what CAIR's chairman has to say about freedom of religion (from www.danielpipes.org):
"Omar Ahmad, CAIR's chairman, announced in July 1998 that 'Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become dominant. The Koran . . . should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on earth.'"
As you have pointed out, not everyone can say what he wants on WMAL radio. But if CAIR pressured the station to suspend Michael Graham--and CAIR is openly claiming that the organization has that type of clout--the loss of the freedom of speech of others won't be far behind.
When I don't like what I'm hearing on the radio, I change the station or turn off the radio.
While I certainly agree that free speech is not always free, and is certainly not unrestricted WRT employment, I will say that it is idiotic to fire someone under these circumstances:
1) pandering to a terrorist organization (or terrorist supporting one)
2) the person being fired is merely speaking the truth
And WRT "You can hear the same rhetoric from a large number of conservative talk show hosts" ... his ratings would reflect how much of a loss it is. If he had good ratings that it would indeed be a loss; specifically of revenue for his employer (compounding the stupidity of firing him).
Kender - don't forget, Air America is not just a bunch of liars ... but they are liars who have stolen money from the poor :).
/TJ
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