Sleepy Libs Drift Off During Show

LIBERAL TALK: SLEEP AID

'Progressive' Host Helps Elderly Activist Snooze


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In radio, there's perhaps no greater insult than to be told your program helps elderly listeners nod off at night. Talk shows are supposed to keep people awake, not serve as a sleep aid.

In addition, because advertisers demand audiences primarily between the ages of 25 and 54, stations usually try to aim in that direction, without completely chasing away listeners older than 55.

With that, I'm not sure if Seattle Post-Intelligencer reporter Gordy Holt meant to dig extremist KIRO/Seattle host Mike Webb, but the result was one of the most devastating verdicts ever levelled against a radio program:

Grace Stanchfield doesn't venture far these days, certainly not so far as Green Lake.

But in her assisted-living apartment at Heritage House in Pike Place Market, she continues to listen.

Today, on Stanchfield's 100th birthday, she will wake to the voices of National Public Radio. And tonight, when she hits her pillow, she'll drift off to the sound of KIRO's Mike Webb.

"But I don't care for Dori Monson," she said.

In short, she listens to liberal talk radio. Counts on it. It's what stokes her fire.

"I love it," she said, then inquired of a visitor: "Don't you think old Cheney and Bush are finally squirming a little? Don't you think maybe now the Democrats will get off their hind ends and do something for the rest of us?"

If it were any other host, liberal or conservative, I'd probably refrain from calling attention to this story, to save the person further embarrassment.

In Mike Webb's case, however, I'm merely one person in a long queue waiting to have fun with it. Why?

Let us count the ways:


--- In 2004, Webb called for President Bush's execution on-air, then denied it, even when confronted with a tape of the broadcast. He then threatened the conservative-leaning reporter who broke the story with a lawsuit.

Instead of terminating his employment, KIRO added an extra hour to the program.

--- Even some liberals don't like him, because he says one thing, then does another. He supports labor unions on the air, but pushed an AFTRA decertification effort at KIRO without disclosing it to his listeners.

--- Webb rails against Republicans for supposedly being rich, uncaring and greedy, yet drives a shiny black Lexus to work each evening.

--- While opposing Second Amendment rights on the radio, he carries a loaded gun with him nearly always, even sometimes at the station.

--- When times get especially tough, Mike resorts to threats and litigation. Some critics believe this is what keeps him employed, since his ratings are generally not strong.

--- He made an especially questionable allegation against a Seattle police officer in 2004. Read about it here.

--- In my own experience, he was a nightmare to work with. He regularly arrived at the station as his opening theme music was playing, or sometimes even late for the broadcast. Worse, he would then refuse to vacate the studio at the end of his program, keeping the next show from starting on time.

--- In terms of program content, there is only one issue: four hours of pure, nonstop anti-Bush vitriol, with gay discrimination "outrage" usually thrown into the mix.

It doesn't matter what's in the news, there is no other topic, ever. When even he can no longer stand it, he'll spin oldies discs for an hour or more.

Bullies have a way of avoiding consequences through intimidation and Webb's an expert in his field.

I do believe, however, that all people are eventually forced to account for their actions.


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ZZZzzz by Eric Norris at Tealpoint