Ron Smith (radio host)
Encyclopedia
Ron Smith is an American
talk radio
show host on WBAL
in Baltimore, Maryland. His show now airs weekdays from 9 to noon ET. It formerly aired from 3 to 6 pm ET.
In September 2011 Smith was recognized by being selected as the first annual recipient of The John Caroll of Carrollton Freedom Award in honor of his twenty-six years of bringing the concepts of The Constitution to his massive listening audience. Carroll was a signer of The Declaration of Independence from Maryland. Smith is consistently rated as the most listened to talk show host in the Baltimore/Washington area.
During the 1970s, he was an anchor on WBAL-TV
.
Smith's political views can be described as conservative or, more specifically, paleoconservative. Thomas DiLorenzo
, a friend of Smith, categorizes him as an "Old Right"
conservative. Unlike the majority of conservative talk radio show hosts, Ron Smith is a critic of the Bush administration
and the Iraq war.
While Smith usually takes conservative or paleoconservative political positions, he frequently criticizes Republican
s. He supports Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, but refers to George H.W. Bush as "Joe Isuzu
." He reluctantly supported the American invasion on Afghanistan
, but opposed regime change in Iraq
. Smith also frequently addresses issues about the right to own and carry a firearm and the immorality of gun control on his program. In addition, some of Smith's other favorite topics are the discussion of unintended consequences of government programs, corrupt politicians, and what he views as the disastrous state of public education, especially in Baltimore City.
After the Iraq invasion, Smith's show changed from a traditional talk show format to focus more on interviews with personalities and newsmakers, both conservatives and liberals. When WBAL cancelled Rush Limbaugh
's program in June, 2006, his show expanded to four hours, from 2 to 6 pm ET, but was returned to its three-hour format in April 2007 when another host was found for the noon to three spot.
In an Op/Ed for the Baltimore Sun on March 10, 2011, he described the US military's treatment of detained alleged Wikileaks
source Bradley Manning as torture.
On October 17, 2011, Smith announced on-air that he has "grade four pancreatic cancer that's metastasized to your liver, your abdominal cavity, the lungs and so on".
On November 17, 2011, Smith announced on-air that he has "After consultation among all those involved it was determined that additional chemotherapy was a futile way to go...there isn't going to be any miracle. I'm okay with it. "http://www.wbal.com/absolutenm/articlefiles/83208-Ron_11172011.mp3
On November 28, 2011 Ron announced his retirement from WBAL citing his dependence on home hospice care.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
talk radio
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
show host on WBAL
WBAL (AM)
WBAL is a news-talk radio station located in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. WBAL broadcasts on a clear channel frequency with 50 kilowatts of power. Owned by the Hearst Corporation, WBAL's tri-mast transmitters are located in Randallstown, Maryland...
in Baltimore, Maryland. His show now airs weekdays from 9 to noon ET. It formerly aired from 3 to 6 pm ET.
In September 2011 Smith was recognized by being selected as the first annual recipient of The John Caroll of Carrollton Freedom Award in honor of his twenty-six years of bringing the concepts of The Constitution to his massive listening audience. Carroll was a signer of The Declaration of Independence from Maryland. Smith is consistently rated as the most listened to talk show host in the Baltimore/Washington area.
During the 1970s, he was an anchor on WBAL-TV
WBAL-TV
WBAL-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station in Baltimore, Maryland. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 11. It is one of the flagship stations of Hearst Television, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Hearst Corporation, which also owns sister radio stations WBAL and...
.
Smith's political views can be described as conservative or, more specifically, paleoconservative. Thomas DiLorenzo
Thomas DiLorenzo
Thomas James DiLorenzo is an American economics professor at Loyola University Maryland. He is an adherent of the Austrian School of Economics. He is a senior faculty member of the Ludwig von Mises Institute and an associated scholar of the Abbeville Institute...
, a friend of Smith, categorizes him as an "Old Right"
Old Right (United States)
The Old Right was a conservative faction in the United States that opposed both New Deal domestic programs and U.S. entry into World War II. Many members of this faction were associated with the Republicans of the interwar years led by Robert Taft, but some were Democrats...
conservative. Unlike the majority of conservative talk radio show hosts, Ron Smith is a critic of the Bush administration
George W. Bush administration
The presidency of George W. Bush began on January 20, 2001, when he was inaugurated as the 43rd President of the United States of America. The oldest son of former president George H. W. Bush, George W...
and the Iraq war.
While Smith usually takes conservative or paleoconservative political positions, he frequently criticizes Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
s. He supports Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, but refers to George H.W. Bush as "Joe Isuzu
Joe Isuzu
Joe Isuzu was a fictional spokesman used in a series of television advertisements for Isuzu cars and trucks. Created by the ad agency Della Femina, Travisano, and Partners, the segments aired on American television in 1986-90, reaching their zenith in 1987 after the character was featured during...
." He reluctantly supported the American invasion on Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, but opposed regime change in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. Smith also frequently addresses issues about the right to own and carry a firearm and the immorality of gun control on his program. In addition, some of Smith's other favorite topics are the discussion of unintended consequences of government programs, corrupt politicians, and what he views as the disastrous state of public education, especially in Baltimore City.
After the Iraq invasion, Smith's show changed from a traditional talk show format to focus more on interviews with personalities and newsmakers, both conservatives and liberals. When WBAL cancelled Rush Limbaugh
Rush Limbaugh
Rush Hudson Limbaugh III is an American radio talk show host, conservative political commentator, and an opinion leader in American conservatism. He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United...
's program in June, 2006, his show expanded to four hours, from 2 to 6 pm ET, but was returned to its three-hour format in April 2007 when another host was found for the noon to three spot.
In an Op/Ed for the Baltimore Sun on March 10, 2011, he described the US military's treatment of detained alleged Wikileaks
Wikileaks
WikiLeaks is an international self-described not-for-profit organisation that publishes submissions of private, secret, and classified media from anonymous news sources, news leaks, and whistleblowers. Its website, launched in 2006 under The Sunshine Press organisation, claimed a database of more...
source Bradley Manning as torture.
On October 17, 2011, Smith announced on-air that he has "grade four pancreatic cancer that's metastasized to your liver, your abdominal cavity, the lungs and so on".
On November 17, 2011, Smith announced on-air that he has "After consultation among all those involved it was determined that additional chemotherapy was a futile way to go...there isn't going to be any miracle. I'm okay with it. "http://www.wbal.com/absolutenm/articlefiles/83208-Ron_11172011.mp3
On November 28, 2011 Ron announced his retirement from WBAL citing his dependence on home hospice care.
External links
- Ron Smith page on WBAL.com (Stream live shows here.)
- Ron Smith's Commentary
- "Supremacist Case Unites Improbable Contingen" By Tim Craig, Washington Post, October 26, 2003; Page C01