Pro-troops San Fran radio talker fired

Melanie Morgan involved in organization opposing Cindy Sheehan

A popular radio talk-show host in San Francisco who chairs a national pro-troops organization has been unexpectedly fired.

Melanie Morgan, half the morning duo of the "Lee Rodgers & Melanie Morgan Show" on KSFO 560 AM, was told Thursday that Friday would be her last day on the job.

This turn of events has been quite shocking � especially given the fact that it was something I was not expecting," Morgan said in a note to supporters.

"During my time at KSFO we have emerged as one of the highest-rated local radio programs in the nation. Certainly the station had to appreciate that!"

Morgan's contract ran out Friday, and despite her belief her agent had come to an agreement with the station on a new contract, the talk host says "negotiations hit a brick wall and I was asked to accept a number of bizarre compromises."

Later, Morgan says, she was told to turn in her card key, which gave her access to the building that houses the ABC station.

Morgan noted her firing comes on the heels of the termination of another talk-show host who worked for an ABC station, Michael Graham of WMAL in Washington, D.C.

Said Morgan: "My agent and I have been in contact with the station management. Since I announced on the air on Friday that my employment with KSFO was over, the station has been flooded with phone calls and e-mails. I am hopeful that in the coming week we can come to an agreement on the issues that remain. Until then I will be off the air."

Morgan has gained national attention as a co-chair of Move America Forward, which describes itself as "a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization committed to supporting America's efforts to defeat terrorism and supporting the brave men and women of our Armed Forces."

Move America Forward has been active in battling anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan during her protest at President Bush's ranch in August and since then.

Morgan writes to Move America Forward supporters: "I ask that you join with me to show the media, to show my former employers at ABC and to show the people of this nation that our voices will only grow louder � America can never cave to the anti-military crowd of Cindy Sheehan and Michael Moore. We cannot back down one inch to the demands or the agenda of the terrorists."

Morgan noted she does not receive any compensation for her work with the pro-troops organization.