Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Analyze This

Here, in its entirety, is CAIR's official statement about the firing of Michael Graham from WMAL Radio:
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 8/22/05) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today applauded a Washington, D.C., radio station's decision to fire a talk show host who stated repeatedly that "Islam is a terrorist organization."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said media reports indicate that WMAL-AM fired host Michael Graham last Friday after he refused to retract his anti-Islam statements, make an on-air apology and conduct additional outreach efforts to the Muslim community and others offended by his words.

The controversy began last month when Graham stated: 1. "Islam is a terrorist organization." 2. "Islam is at war with America." 3. "The problem is not extremism. The problem is Islam." 4. "We are at war with a terrorist organization named Islam." Other listeners said that Graham even encouraged a public "backlash" against Muslims. (Graham later claimed he meant a backlash of social pressure, not violent attacks on Muslims.)

In response, CAIR initiated a public campaign against WMAL and the station's advertisers after receiving complaints from listeners who heard Graham make those anti-Islam remarks. While WMAL initially stood behind Graham, it changed its position after hundreds of people responded to the group's action alerts by contacting the station and its sponsors.

"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. To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to: http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About

- END -

And here is an excerpt from an August 23, 2005 Washington Post article :
"[Graham's] comments drew complaints and prompted an organized letter-writing campaign against WMAL and its advertisers by a Muslim group, the Council on American-Islam Relations (CAIR) of Washington. The protests led several advertisers to ask WMAL to stop airing their ads during Graham's weekday show, although the station says it didn't lose any advertisers amid the controversy.

"In a statement yesterday, Graham blamed CAIR for his firing and defended his comments: 'As a fan of talk radio, I find it absolutely outrageous that pressure from a special interest group like CAIR can result in the abandonment of free speech and open discourse on a talk radio show.'

"Graham, in an interview last night, said he and the station had reached an agreement on terms of his return last week, but the station called back to withdraw. 'It was a done deal,' he said. 'They revoked it because, after further consideration, it didn't contain an apology. And I will not apologize for something that is true.'

"Chris Berry, WMAL's president and general manager, disputed Graham's characterization, saying in an interview that no one involved in this decision ever had any contact with anyone from CAIR.' Instead, he said, Graham was terminated because he violated station policy and disregarded 'management direction' to redress it.

"Officials at WMAL, which is owned by the Walt Disney Co., had initially declined to take disciplinary action against Graham, defending his comments as part of the overheated rhetoric of talk radio. But that stance began to change as complaints about Graham's remarks mounted.

"Graham, 43, is one of several conservative talk hosts featured on the station. WMAL (630 AM) also carries Rush Limbaugh's and Sean Hannity's nationally syndicated radio shows. Graham's WMAL show is not syndicated.

"The station had hoped to work out an agreement that would return Graham to the air, Berry said, but it was evident by early yesterday that Graham would not agree to the station's terms...."

WMAL Radio broadcasts the slogan "Where America comes first." So, just for a refresher, check this for information about the origins of CAIR, and see if the founders and the officers of CAIR think that America comes first.

17 Comments:

At 8/24/2005 8:09 AM, Blogger beakerkin said...

This is amusing because free sppech only extends to people who bash America, Jews,Christianity, Israel and sometimes India.

I do not agree with Grahams statements but he should not have been fired for making them. Terrorism is in the annalysis of Fred Issac a historic tool of Islam. The goal was to get people to convert of flee.

Yet did anyone hold Dennis Raimondo
or any accademic moron who claimed the JOOOOs were responsible for 9-11. Thus Falwell regularly is held accountable for his stupid post 9-11 remarks on Gays. Has anyone done the same to Raimondo, Cindy Sheehan ,Ward Churchill etc.

 
At 8/24/2005 10:32 AM, Blogger Jason Pappas said...

I was disappointed with Bill O’Reilly last night. He showed considerable ignorance about Islam during his interview with Graham. O’Reilly believes it’s only 2% that are pro-jihad apparently because only 2% are involved in actual militant activities. But how many support or adhere to this doctrine? There is widespread approval. Even when there is disapproval it is often tactical (“we are not strong enough now to win on the battlefield”). The goal of subjugating others under Islamic oppression is shared by the vast majority of Muslims.

But O’Reilly still believes the lie.

 
At 8/24/2005 11:31 AM, Blogger Σ. Alexander said...

Things get complex when minority right is an issue. Ethnic minorities are extremely sensitive to criticism in any countries. Sometimes, their voice is over-represented in the media.

 
At 8/24/2005 12:40 PM, Blogger G_in_AL said...

AOW, just FYI, you are getting banged up by another comment on mine. Mainly on the gas price post, and on Patty boys comment. Just tossing it to you of you want to respond.

 
At 8/24/2005 12:41 PM, Blogger G_in_AL said...

this is finally getting some attention, even if OReilly gets it wrong, still gets publicity.

 
At 8/24/2005 5:52 PM, Blogger Always On Watch said...

G,
I found the Robertson blog article and posted a response to Anonymous. Is there another article's comments I need to see?

 
At 8/24/2005 6:32 PM, Blogger (((Thought Criminal))) said...

I knew I was going to be disappointed by the O'Reilly Factor show last night with Michael Graham. I had listened to O'Reilly's radio show at lunch yesterday, and he was ranting about how allegedly an entire religion can't be a terrorist organization.

Mel Gibson should make a movie about Muhammad, but the scenes of rape and violence would give it an XXX rating. Most people wouldn't know that, and it's people like O'Reilly who won't investigate it sitting in the thrones of the MSM refusing to allow such discussions to take place on the air.

I guess I'm one of the people in the world that loves Fox News but can't stand O'Reilly.

If Islam has nothing to do with terrorism, then what's CAIR's beef?

 
At 8/24/2005 7:30 PM, Blogger David Schantz said...

Has anyone tried calling for a boycott of WMAL radio and it's advertisers until Graham is put back on the air?
I have updated Gas Prices In Your Area, I hope you will stop by for that.

God Bless America, God Save The Republic

 
At 8/24/2005 9:04 PM, Blogger Always On Watch said...

Bonnie Blue,
Yes, Graham has another job, as a stand-in, I believe. However, if you check CAIR's web site @
www.cair-net.org , you'll see that CAIR also objects to newspaper articles and even letters to the editor--all across the United States. I believe the category used is "Action Alerts." There's also a "Hate" category.

We need to keep track of what happens with Graham. Will CAIR follow him?

 
At 8/24/2005 9:05 PM, Blogger Always On Watch said...

Beak,
Well said!

 
At 8/24/2005 9:09 PM, Blogger Always On Watch said...

Jason and Beamish,
I was also disappointed, but I think that Graham got in a few shots. I waited to reply here because I wanted to see what O's mailbag covered.

One good thing O said tonight (a paraphrase here), "More than 2% of Muslims support terrorism, even though only 2% are terrorists." Not enough, but something.

Last night, I felt that O was not prepared for the interview. He needs to do some research, especially on CAIR.

 
At 8/24/2005 9:11 PM, Blogger Always On Watch said...

Shah,
America is downright paranoid about not offending minorities. Sometimes this paranoia borders on silly; other times this paranoia borders on dangerous.

 
At 8/24/2005 9:12 PM, Blogger Always On Watch said...

NY Girl,
Mr. Beamish has a way of getting to the heart of the matter, doesn't he?

 
At 8/24/2005 9:15 PM, Blogger Always On Watch said...

Robert Spencer said the following on August 10, 2005 @

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives
/007612.php :

"'Too many people might be emotionally affected by the subject matter. … It’s too controversial to be aired at this time.'
"So said a statement from CBS/Infinity Radio..."

The topic was running an ad for The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam. An excellent book, and very user-friendly.

 
At 8/24/2005 9:28 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

IMO, CAIR is a dangerous organization who is playing fast and loose with our own Constitution. It is time that we the people called them on it, and AOW has done a legion job of that in this post.

Were Senator's Schumer and Durbin lying when they stated publicly that CAIR is a front for terrorist organizations? I doubt it.

I think CAIR sucks, and it is time WE brought them down.

 
At 8/24/2005 9:31 PM, Blogger The Exile said...

I have to commend CAIR, which has demonstrable ties to terrorism, for not screeching, "Death to the infidels!" and firing it's AK-47's into the air during their statement.

And Mr. Beamish, any movie about Mohammed would have to include child pornography, which is illegal in the USA. He did, after all, marry a 9-year-old girl.

I've already written to Disney and told them that they can kiss my business goodbye. No big loss for them or me, I'm sure. When's the last time that they've made a movie where a white male is the hero, anyway? My daughter has plenty of other choices.

 
At 8/24/2005 9:34 PM, Blogger David Schantz said...

I just read that Michael Graham is back on the air at, http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=45950 . I thought your readers might want to check that out.

God Bless America, God Save The Republic

 

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