Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 12:48, 8 May 2008

Mark Reed Levin (b. September 21, 1957) is a conservative radio talk show host on WABC in New York City, syndicated on both terrestrial radio and satellite radio.

Professional career

Commencing in 1981, Levin served as adviser to several members of President Ronald Reagan's Cabinet, eventually becoming associate director of presidential personnel and ultimately Chief of Staff to Attorney General Edwin Meese. He has practiced law in the private sector, and is president of the Landmark Legal Foundation in Leesburg, Virginia. His radio career began in 2002 as a Sunday evening host on WABC. Since the fall of 2003, he's been in the weekday 6-8 p.m. (ET) timeslot.

Books and punditry

Levin authored the bestselling book, Men In Black: How The Supreme Court Is Destroying America (ISBN 0-89526-050-6), in which Levin identifies the perils of "judicial activism" and claims that members of the judicial branch have "legislated from the bench." Levin advocates originalist constitutional interpretation. He also advocates the unitary executive theory, and often accuses members of the Congress of attempting to stack the Supreme Court with "activist judges".

Levin is a contributing editor for National Review Online (NRO) and blogged there from 2006-2007. In addition to his originalist views on the Constitution, Levin has conservative beliefs on policy and social issues, often ridiculing President George W. Bush and centrist Republicans in Congress for attempts at moderating their views on social issues under the "compassionate conservatism" label. His positions on foreign affairs and the utilization of U.S. military power in places such as Afghanistan and Iraq.

In 2001, the American Conservative Union gave Levin its Ronald Reagan Award.

In 2007, Levin released a non-political book about his personal experience with "man's best friend," titled Rescuing Sprite: A Dog Lover's Story of Joy and Anguish.

Contributions to other radio shows

Levin began his broadcast career as a guest on conservative talk radio programs. For many years he was a frequent contributor of legal opinions to The Rush Limbaugh Show, who referred to him on-air as "F. Lee Levin," a tongue-in-cheek reference to the famous defense attorney F. Lee Bailey. He was also a contributor to The Sean Hannity Show and eventually got a radio slot of his own, on WABC, following Sean Hannity's program. Hannity has nicknamed Levin "The Great One." Levin and Hannity remain frequent contributors to each other's programs, often calling in and facetiously referring to each other as "Doctor Hannity" or "Doctor Levin."

Radio show

Levin's radio show is a mix of political and social commentary from a conservative point of view. He also covers legal issues in some detail, including decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court. Levin follows the traditional talk radio model of taking listener phone calls throughout the show. As of 2006, his show is syndicated by ABC Radio on over 150 stations as well as on the America Right and SIRIUS Patriot channels. Levin's show has been rated number one in its time slot in New York, Chicago, Detroit, Dallas and Washington, D.C.

Levin has been criticized by Bill O'Reilly for engaging in what O'Reilly calls "personal attacks." Levin has responded by claiming to embrace uninhibited political discourse. He further pledged that if O'Reilly persists with his critique, Levin will devote an hour of his show to O"Reilly's phone sex/porn scandal. (http: //www.marklevinshow.com - The Mark Levin Audio Archives - 1/16/08 (8:00)) Levin, following in the same vein as Joe Pyne, often insults callers who disagree with them, cutting off their calls with a shouted "get off the phone, you big dope!" and urges callers to "thank me for your call!"

Levin frequently engages in ad hominem attacks, or personal name calling, of supporters or members of the Democratic party, as well as some members of the Republican Party. He often refers to liberals as "socialists," "communists," or "Marxists." (See www.marklevinshow.com - The Mark Levin Audio Archives - April 29, 2008) He has several derragatory names for various politicians and pundits on both sides of the political spectrum.

Levin is very supportive of the armed forces, as well as policemen, firefighters, and emergency responders, going as far as offering them a verbal salute at the close of nearly every show. He regularly plays the theme songs of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marines on his show, in addition to dedicating "America" by Ray Charles (which he plays every Friday) and "God Bless America" by Martina McBride to men and women in the armed forces.

Levin has worked with Sean Hannity to set up several benefit concerts to aid the families of fallen soldiers, and uses his show to promote them.

Political stance in 2008 primaries

Initially favoring Fred Thompson until he dropped out, he then called on conservatives to support Mitt Romney, as have other talk radio hosts, as part of a strategem to stop Senator John McCain. He now calls on people to make John McCain accountable to the conservative interests he claims to represent.

References

1. ^ Jeffrey, Terence (2006-10-02). "Mark Levin Takes Talk Radio by Storm". Human Events. Retrieved 2007-09-16. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
2. ISBN 1-41655-913-2

External links

• Mark Levin Show, The Official Mark Levin Website
• And Another Thing . . . on National Review Online, Levin's blog
• Landmark Legal Foundation

• 1957 births
• American columnists
• American lawyers
• American radio personalities
• Broadcast news analysts
• American journalists
• United States presidential advisors
• American Jews
• Living people
• Global warming skeptics
• Jewish American Republicans (United States)
• People from Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
• WABC-AM
• Radio programs on XM Radio
• Conservatives