right" during a Defense Department aircraft and weapons display in Southwest Asia, Oct. 20, 2006 Michael Smerconish is an American radio and television personality, newspaper columnist, and author. His talk radio show broadcasts from WPHT 1210 AM in Philadephia, Pennsylvania from 5:30 a.m. until 9 a.m., Monday through Friday; the show has been nationally syndicated since January 2009. He began his radio career in 2002, when he left his law practice. [1] Smerconish has substituted for Bill O'Reilly on The O'Reilly Factor , Glenn Beck on his CNN Headline News television program, Chris Matthews on Hardball , and for Joe Scarborough on his former MSNBC show Scarborough Country . He also has a regular column in the Philadelphia Daily News and the Philadelphia Inquirer . Born in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Smerconish is a graduate of Lehigh University and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He is of Yugoslav descent and married to realtor Lavinia Smerconish. The Pennsylvania Report named him to the 2003 "The Pennsylvania Report Power 75" list of influential figures in Pennsylvania politics. [2] A simulcast of Smerconish's show aired on WPHT and MSNBC during the week of April 23-April 27, 2007. He broadcast live from the MSNBC studios in Secaucus, New Jersey. The simulcast replaced Imus in the Morning on a trial basis. [3] The program was originally intended to be a three-day trial from April 23 to 25 but was extended for the full week after the April 23 broadcast. In-studio guests included Jon Anderson of the musical group Yes, Senator Barack Obama, and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Smerconish stated during his stint that he would stay on MSNBC "as long as they will have me." He said several days after the simulcast that he "wanted the call" to get the position permanently, but he wasn't expecting to land the position (he predicted David Gregory would get the job). If an offer had come, he stated he wasn't sure he would accept it, given he would have to travel to MSNBC's studios outside New York City. [4] The MSNBC job instead went to Joe Scarborough, whose evening program Scarborough Country was retooled for the morning as Morning Joe . On November 10, Smerconish's Philly-based talk show was introduced to a Washington, D.C. area audience via simulcasting on AM 1580. [5] WOR-AM will also pick up the show in an evening time slot. [6] Dial Global handles syndication rights; the show is distributed live and as a replay replacement for the now-discontinued The Radio Factor . [7]

MICHAEL SMERCONISH TICKETS The Wizard of Oz - Immersive Film Experience Beauty and the Beast Tickets Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey Circus Rupaul's Drag Race Tickets Penn & Teller Tickets Dude Perfect Tickets

Political positions

Having voted for Republican candidates for president all his life, Smerconish endorsed Barack Obama for President on October 17, 2008. ^{[8] [9]}

Smerconish supports the use of torture as a "last resort." ^[10]

Smerconish is an outspoken critic of political correctness and has written three books on the subject:

• Flying Blind: How Political Correctness Continues to Compromise Airline Safety Post 9/11 (2004)
• Muzzled: From T-Ball to Terrorism - True Stories That Should Be Fiction (2006)
• Murdered by Mumia - about Murdered Philadelphia Police Officer, Daniel Faulkner (co-written by Maureen Faulkner). ^[11]

On August 20, 2009, Smerconish was selected as the first talk radio host to interview President Obama in the White House. The interview was held in the Diplomatic Reception Room, where the fireside chats were held. The President took questions from Smerconish and his listeners on a variety of subjects including the recent debates on the pending Healthcare Reform Bill.

References

1. Jeffrey Zaslow, "America's Next Top Pundit: What does it take to be a talking head?", ''Wall Street Journal'', October 20, 2006
2. The PA Report “Power 75” List
3. TheBigTalker1210.com
4. TheBigTalker1210.com
5. [1] Announcement of simulcast of Smerconish's talk show. Retrieved on 10 November 2008.
6. Fybush, Scott. Northeast Radio Watch report. 12 January 2009.
7. Show information page from Dial-Global.com
8. In Philly, Conservative Talk Radio Host Backs Obama
9. Head Strong: McCain fails the big five tests
10. Smerconish, Michael. Torture must remain a last resort. 25 January 2009.
11. Murdered by Mumia, official book site