Kevin James (broadcaster)

For other uses, see Kevin James (disambiguation).

Kevin James, (b. 1963) an American radio host and conservative political commentator, hosts The Kevin James Show. The program focuses on local and national politics. It airs live on KRLA AM 870 in Los Angeles between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m., Monday through Friday. With experience as both a federal prosecutor and an entertainment lawyer, James has appeared as a conservative commentator on various programs. He has drawn criticism for his May 15, 2008, appearance on Hardball with Chris Matthews.

Biography

James earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Oklahoma and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of Houston. He was a member of the California State Bar.

James worked for three years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, prosecuting federal crimes. He also worked for more than 10 years in private legal practice, representing high-profile entertainment industry clients in state and federal court.

After several years as a guest and substitute host for talk radio programs in Los Angeles, James worked as a morning drive radio host on KTOK AM 1000 in Oklahoma City in 2004.

In 2005, James became the host of Red Eye Radio, an overnight (1 a.m. to 5 a.m.) call-in program on KABC (AM) 790 in Los Angeles.

On Memorial Day Weekend 2007, James began hosting "The Kevin James Show" on KRLA AM 870 in Los Angeles..

James also appears as a panelist on television news programs. In recent years, he has appeared on CNN and as a regular guest on Court TV’s Catherine Crier Live.

James' radio program often focuses on the issue of illegal immigration, as well as on Los Angeles and California politics. On television, James usually discusses criminal law topics of national interest, such as the trials of Michael Jackson and Scott Peterson.

James is an outspoken fan of the Oklahoma Sooners, a college football team.

Hardball appearance

"His- his policies- the things that Neville Chamberlain supported, alright... energized- legitimized- energized- legitimized- and made it easier for Hitler to advance in the way he advanced."
~ Kevin James to Chris Matthews

"You don't know anything. You don't know what you are talking about."
~ Chris Matthews to Kevin James

On May 15, 2008, James appeared on Hardball with Chris Matthews, debating with Mark Green of Air America Radio to discuss remarks made by George W. Bush's speech to the Israeli Knesset in which the President made note of Idaho Republican Senator William Borah's statements in reference to not meeting with Hitler. Later in the same speech, although Bush did not mention Barack Obama by name, he drew what many observers interpreted as a comparison between Neville Chamberlain's appeasement of Hitler in World War II with Obama's expressed willingness to meet with leaders of U.S. adversaries.

Speaking on Hardball, James vigorously supported Bush's comparison and insinuated that Bush "should have been speaking in reference to Obama" even if he wasn't. Chris Matthews then asked James for a "history check", inquiring James about "What exactly Chamberlain did wrong?" During the three minutes that followed, Matthews went on to repeat variations of the question a total of 28 times. Finally, with James' reluctant admittance of "I don't know", Matthews accused James of being a "blank slate" who didn't know anything about history, adding "if you don't know what appeasement is about, then don't talk about it.

Matthews also likened James to White House spokesman Dana Perino who in an appearance on NPR's radio program Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me admitted she had had no idea what the Cuban Missile Crisis was.

External Links

• "Chris Matthews Eviscerates Right-Wing Host Kevin James" by Jason Linkins, The Huffington Post, May 15 2008.
• "Chris Matthews Stumps Right-Wing Radio Host: ‘Tell Me What Chamberlain Did?’ ‘I Don’t Know’" from ThinkProgress, May 15 2008.