Steve Deace Resigns From WHO-AM

Steve Deace, the controversial conservative drive-time host on Iowa’s largest radio station, has resigned from his show, according to an e-mail from station manager Van Harden to employees. His last day is today, according to a story at iowaindependent.com.

Harden told employees of 1040 AM WHO in Des Moines that Deace said he and his family had been talking about resigning for some time, and “finally felt lead to make a change.”

“While he does not have another position to which he is going, he has had the ear and interest of many politicians and political campaigns seeking his strategic advice, and he says there is a possibility he may be doing some consulting,” the e-mail said. “While this came as a surprise to us, we at WHO, and Steve, want all to know this is a very friendly parting, so much so that Steve says he may be  able to make himself available occasionally to do some fill-in work for us if needed.”

Deace was an outspoken supporter of Mike Huckabee’s 2008 caucus campaign.

And he’s no stranger to controversy. In 2004, Deace garnered headlines when he criticized Shawn Green, a Jewish outfielder who at the time played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, for missing an important game scheduled during Yom Kippur. Deace said Green could solve all his problems by converting to Christianity and recognizing Jesus Christ as his Messiah.

He’s referred to TV star Oprah Winfrey as the “high priestess of American paganism,” consistently called same-sex marriage licenses “sodomy permission slips,” and said state Sen. Matt McCoy (D-Des Moines) could not be a Christian because he is gay. In the aftermath of the shooting spree at Ft. Hood, Texas, Deace said the shooter “may have done America a favor” if the tragedy serves as a wake-up call that Islam is incompatible with military service.

Read more here.