Conservative Radio Host Bob Grant Dies

Longtime conservative radio host Bob Grant, whose combative style and backing for Israel became the template for other broadcasters, died Tuesday at age 84.

Grant was once fired by WABC over his acid-tongued remarks about the plane crash death of one of President Bill Clinton’s cabinet members, the first black commerce secretary.

“Remember this: If you are offended during the next two hours, it’s nobody’s fault but mine,” he once began a broadcast. “Because somebody’s got to say these things. It has to be me.”

Grant was born Robert Ciro Gigante in Chicago in 1939. Over the years, Grant offended some listeners by referring to former Mayor David Dinkins as a “washroom attendant,” insulted then-President Bill Clinton, and denigrated welfare recipients.

Grant was a strong backer of Israel on his shows, even during times when he was a lone voice on air doing so. He routinely signed off with the chant “Get Gaddafi,” in a taunt at Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

This article appeared in print on page 4 of the January 3rd, 2014 edition of Hamodia.