Mike Stark

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W. (Wilfred) Michael "Mike" Stark is an American author, activist, and commentator with Air America Radio.^[1] He also contributes to blogs such as Daily Kos, and was a panelist at the 2007 Yearly Kos convention.^[2]^[3]^[4]

1 Activities related to Calling All Wingnuts blog
2 Opposition to Senator Allen's reelection bid
3 Highlighting violent speech on talk radio
4 Bill O'Reilly feud revisited
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Activities related to Calling All Wingnuts blog

Using his blog "Calling All Wingnuts" as an organizing tool, Stark recruited "Wingnut Spinners" during the 2006 election cycle – a group of people that were willing to join a coordinated campaign to call various conservative radio shows.^{[citation needed]}

The first call-in campaign was directed at Bill O'Reilly's "Radio Factor". It was a response to O'Reilly's creation of a petition on his website that called for the replacement of Keith Olbermann and cancellation of his show, Countdown with Keith Olbermann. Stark encouraged callers to tell O'Reilly how much they enjoyed Olbermann's television show. Over the course of the week, approximately 15 callers that Stark recruited were put on the air with O'Reilly. As they mentioned Olbermann's name, they were disconnected by the host.^[5]

Eventually, a "spinner" from Florida called O'Reilly and mentioned Keith Olbermann's name. The audio of Olbermann's name was never broadcast, but Stark captured the following exchange from the BillOReilly.com webcast:

The caller said, on air, "I like to listen to you during the day. I think Keith Olbermann —"

O'Reilly then cut in, and with his on-air co-host, responded to the caller, saying:

“

O'REILLY: There ya go, Mike is — he's a gone guy. You know, we have his — we have your phone numbers, by the way. So, if you're listening, Mike, we have your phone number, and we're going to turn it over to Fox security, and you'll be getting a little visit.

HILL: Maybe Mike is from the mother ship.

O'REILLY: No, Maybe Mike is going to get into big trouble, because we're not going to play around. When you call us, ladies and gentleman, just so you know, we do have your phone number, and if you say anything untoward, obscene, or anything like that, Fox security then will contact your local authorities, and you will be held accountable. Fair?

HILL: That's fair.

O'REILLY: So, just — all you guys who do this kind of a thing, you know, I know some shock jocks. Whatever. You will be held accountable. Believe it.^[6]

”

[edit] Opposition to Senator Allen's reelection bid

Stark again received the spotlight of the nationwide media on October 31, 2006, when he confronted Senator George Allen about Allen's arrest record and rumors of prior spousal abuse. A widely seen video, which played on national news programs, showed Allen's campaign staffers wrestling Stark to the ground after Stark asked the Senator, "Senator Allen: did you spit on your first wife?"^[7] Stark announced later that day that he planned to press charges against the Allen campaign staffers for assault.^[8] After review, the Virginia Commonwealth Attorney decided not to charge anyone, but noted that Stark had the right to bring evidence before a magistrate.^[9] Through April of 2007, Stark has not chosen to do so.

Several days later, while stringing for Air America, Stark was briefly detained and handcuffed, but not arrested, at another Allen rally after an Allen supporter claimed Stark pushed him to the ground.^[10]

"Wingnuts" is a neologism referring to far-right conservatives. Allen's campaign noted that the Calling All Wingnuts blog is subtitled Kickin' ass on the lyin' side: A never-ending battle against stupid, ugly, deceitful and corrupt right-wing water carriers.^[11]

[edit] Highlighting violent speech on talk radio

Stark has also drawn attention for his support of anonymous blogger Spocko in his efforts to bring what he called "violent commentary" on San Francisco area radio station KSFO to the attention of its advertisers.^[12] In an interview on CNN's Reliable Sources on the topic in January 2007, Stark described himself as a "champion of the First Amendment.^[13]

[edit] Bill O'Reilly feud revisited

In the summer of 2007, a member of Bill O'Reilly's staff confronted JetBlue CEO Dave Barger outside his apartment, questioning his company's sponsorship of the YearlyKos convention. O'Reilly drew criticism for approaching a private citizen at his home.

Mike Stark responded by confronting O'Reilly outside his own home. He distributed fliers and copies of O'Reilly's sexual harassment lawsuit to O'Reilly's neighbors, and put up signs saying "Bill O'Reilly: PERVERT" in his neighborhood. He approached O'Reilly when he retrieved his newspaper. A comrade took pictures and video.^[14] Stark's action drew both praise and criticism in the blogging world, and earned him the title of "Worser Person in the World" on Olberman's TV show.^[15]