Martz caught up in radio show controversy

By KATHLEEN McLAUGHLIN Missoulian State Bureau

HELENA - Gov. Judy Martz is still set to appear on a controversial Kalispell talk-radio program where the host recently suggested to his listeners that "somebody call in a bomb threat" to the governor's office.

Martz's office released a tape Tuesday of a recent broadcast by KGEZ station owner John Stokes, who hosts a three-hour daily call-in program that has fanned the flames of controversy in the Flathead Valley. On the undated tape, Stokes and his wife are heard expressing frustration that Martz had a scheduling conflict and had to cancel a telephone interview some weeks ago with the program. Stokes says on the tape that Martz's office called the station and said she was in a meeting and unavailable.

"Somebody call in a bomb threat. ... Get her out of the meeting," Stokes says, laughing heartily. "Just kidding."

Mary Jo Fox, spokeswoman for the Republican governor, said she'll play the tape for the governor and let her decide whether to keep her scheduled appearance on Stokes' program. The governor's office has been bombarded with phone calls and e-mails over the past week from human rights groups and others urging her to cancel her date with Stokes.

"This is another thing," Fox said of Stokes' comment about a bomb threat.

"The First Amendment doesn't protect speech that advocates violence and it's never a joking matter, so that's a concern - not just because it's directed at the governor's office," said Fox.

On Tuesday, Stokes vehemently denied making any threats of violence against anyone. He called the allegations a "flat lie" and said he would never incite violence. He noted that he is a federally licensed broadcaster and such threats could shut down his station and land him in jail.

The fray over Martz's planned appearance on the Stokes show drew more attention in the past few days, with a leading religious organization and a state gay-rights group adding their weight to pressure Martz against going on the program.

At the same time, supporters of Stokes have flooded the governor's phone lines to encourage her to keep her appointment in Kalispell. As of late last week, when Stokes began urging his listeners to call the governor, 105 people had phoned the office to request Martz appear on his show. Forty-two other callers objected to the governor's appearance on what human-rights groups are calling "hate radio."

Democrat Attorney General Mike McGrath canceled his appointment with Stokes last week, saying he was deeply offended by Stokes' on-air comments ridiculing a Holocaust survivor.

In the year since Stokes bought the station and started his three-hour weekday talk show, he has rallied Flathead Valley residents upset over economic conditions in the area. His most inflammatory comments place the blame on environmentalists, whom Stokes refers to as "green Nazis," and the environmental movement, which he calls the "Fourth Reich." His opponents say his message diminishes the suffering of Jews in the Holocaust.

The controversy boiled over with McGrath's cancellation at the urging of the Montana Human Rights Network and the state Association of Jewish Communities. Now the Montana Association of Churches and PRIDE, a state gay-rights organization, have jumped into the fray.

"PRIDE hopes Gov. Martz will take a bold, proactive stand against incivility and support the right of all Montanans to live a life unburdened by fear," said Karl Olson, PRIDE director.

Margaret MacDonald, executive director of the Montana Association of Churches, said she believes Stokes' rhetoric is dangerous. She said she's asking the governor to stay away from his program because by appearing on KGEZ, Martz will give the impression that she condones Stokes' message.

"Words, in fact, do have power," said MacDonald.

The Association of Churches has 10 member groups, including the state's two Catholic Diocese, American Baptists, the Episcopal Diocese and Evangelical Lutherans. When told the association asked Martz to cancel her appearance on his show, Stokes replied, "Big whoop."

Stokes said Tuesday he's being attacked from all sides in an organized effort by the "human rights nitwits" and "this militant gay and lesbian group."

"They're all tied at the waist on this stuff," he said.

Stokes warned, "I and the rest of the majority of Montanans don't give a damn what they think anymore."

Stokes noted that his station supported Martz's campaign for governor and, "I think she's doing a great job."