Former Congressman ‘Gopher’ off D.C. airwaves

Former Iowa Congressman and “The Love Boat” actor Fred Grandy is no longer serving as a radio host for Washington, D.C.,-based WMAL.

Grandy and his wife, Catherine Mann-Grandy (known as “Mrs. Fred” when she appeared on the show), had used their program for the past several months “to warn about the spread of radical Islam at home and abroad,” according to a quote Grandy provided to London’s Daily Mail. Although the station says Grandy resigned, the host contends that he was forced to leave.

“Catherine delivered a very tough indictment against stealth jihad, and for her efforts she was told she was off the show,” Grandy said. “I then told management [that] without Mrs. Fred at the microphone, I could not remain either.”

A statement from WMAL indicates that Grandy informed the station of his “intention to resign from the station and its morning program, The Grandy Group,” and made no mention of Catherine.

In addition to theorizing how Muslims plan to harm the U.S., Catherine also noted her agreement with the “birther” movement, which believes that President Barack Obama is foreign-born.

Grandy was elected to represent Iowans in Congress in 1986, and served in the U.S. House until 1995. In 1994, Grandy challenged Gov. Terry Branstad in a Republican gubernatorial primary, losing his bid by four percentage points.

He later served as chief executive of Goodwill Industries, and became a political commentator for National Public Radio. His radio show in Washington began in 2003 as “The Grandy & Andy Morning Show.” It was reconfigured and relaunched in May 2010 as “The Grandy Group.”