Bader returns to the radio

GREEN BAY - A familiar voice is back on the airwaves of 1360 WTAQ. On Monday, talk show host Jerry Bader returned to his normal time slot.

He was suspended for two weeks after posting a story on his blog claiming Barbara Lawton dropped out of the governor's race because of an extramarital affair that was about to come to light. Bader later retracted the story and apologized to Lawton. He did so again on his first day back.

"I want to make one thing perfectly clear, one person is responsible for what happened here, and that is me," Bader said on his show on Monday.

"I want to start the show, right now, by once again apologizing to Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton," he added.

Lawton declined to comment on Monday but has previously said a two week suspension is "inadequate." Some still say Bader should be fired.

Station management did not return FOX 11's calls for comment, but on-air on Monday Bader said Midwest Communications received thousands of phone calls and emails from listeners who wanted to weigh in on his future.

One of those people was Bronson Smith. As a friend and loyal listener of Bader's, Smith says he emailed and called WTAQ. In fact, last month -- Smith event protested outside the station.

"Everybody makes mistakes and he shouldn't lose his job over it... It was just a mistake," said Smith.

A mistake Bader says he has learned from. During his show, Bader said he would not do any interviews -- saying his on-air comments would suffice.

"Last, but certainly not least, I want to apologize to the listeners. If you've come to trust me to tell you the truth, I plan on spending every day from here on out proving to you that that trust was not misplaced," said Bader.

Some think Bader went too far -- but he gets the second chance his supporters wanted.