At least three metro-area businesses have asked radio station KOA-850 AM to pull their advertisements from the “Gunny Bob” Newman show following remarks about Muslims made last week by the conservative talk-show host.
The companies, Excel Roofing, Ralph Schomp Automotive and Three Tomatoes Catering, asked that the ads run in different time slots on KOA after being petitioned by ProgressNowAction, an advocacy group in Denver.
At least one other advertiser with the radio station is also considering asking that its spots be removed from Newman’s show, said Michael Huttner, the group’s executive director.
“We are turning up the volume,” Huttner said. “We are going to increase it until (the radio station) feels the heat and understands that this type of hate- mongering will not be tolerated.”
Huttner said the group has sent thousands of e-mails to Colorado residents on its subscriber list, urging them to ask local companies that advertise with KOA to join a boycott.
The three companies that have asked that their ads not run on the show did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment.
ProgressNowAction has taken issue with comments Newman made regarding Muslims. During a broadcast last week, he said: “I want every Muslim immigrant to America who holds a green card, a visa, or who is a naturalized citizen to be required by law to wear a GPS tracking bracelet at all times.”
He also proposed that the government “bug their places of work and their residences.”
Newman – whose talk show typically airs during the evening, depending on Colorado Rockies baseball – made the comments while discussing a foiled terrorist plot to allegedly attack Fort Dix in New Jersey. The comments aired just weeks after noted talk-show host Don Imus was fired for making racially charged and derogatory remarks about women.
Kris Olinger, a director of programming in Denver for Clear Channel, the San Antonio-based radio giant that owns KOA, said Newman has not been disciplined for his comments.
“It was his opinion”
Olinger noted that advertisers occasionally request that their spots not air during certain programs. She pointed to Rush Limbaugh, also a conservative talk-show host, as an example.
“We have clients that don’t want to be on certain shows, and we accommodate them,” Olinger said.
She added that Newman was discussing terrorism and “how far we are willing to go to keep our country safe.”
“He stated his opinion – yes, it is an extreme opinion – but it was his opinion,” Olinger said.
Newman is a retired U.S. Marine who has consulted businesses and government agencies on terrorism and security, according to a biography provided by Clear Channel. He is a former Denver Post columnist.
He was unavailable for comment Wednesday.
Newman won a 2002 Edward R. Murrow Award for investigative reporting on terrorism, as well as a 2001 Associated Press/Colorado Broadcasters Association Award, also for reporting on terrorism and homeland security.
Staff writer Will Shanley can be reached at 303-954-1260 or wshanley@denverpost.com.
