Monday, July 21, 2008

THE LAWSON FILE: MICHAEL SAVAGE SAYS AUTISTIC CHILDREN ARE FAKING IT


Michael Savage is a piece of shit.

Savage said on his radio show autistic children are fakers who just need a little discipline.

"In 99% of the cases, it's a brat who hasn't been told to cut the act out. That's what autism is," Savage said last week.

"They don't have a father around to tell them, 'Don't act like a moron. You'll get nowhere in life. Stop acting like a putz."

A number of parents of autistic children took to the streets outside his studio today in protest.

"It's horrific," said Natalie Smith, the Staten Island representative for Autism United. "I mean, who would say something like that? These are children, not animals. I don't know what was going on in that guy's head."

Ed Moffitt, 75, proudly showed a picture of his 8-year-old grand-nephew, Bob.

"Bob can't speak. He never called Savage any names," Moffitt told the New York Daily News.

"We are dying to hear him say 'Mommy' or 'Daddy.' And (Savage) says that he is just acting out?" said the boy's grandfather, retired NYPD officer Bob Moffitt. "It hurts me."

WOR Radio said they couldn't be held responsible for what Savage says because he is a syndicated host broadcasting out of San Francisco.

Bullcrap!


WOR knows the hateful venom Savage spews everyday. They don't care. Not as long as they get their piece of the pie.

Meanwhile, Savage himself told CBS 2 Monday that he would not apologize.

"My comments on autism were meant to boldly awaken parents and children to the medical community's attempt to label far too many children or adults as autistic," he said in a phone interview with CBS 2.

Of course, that isn't what he said on the air.

Media Matters for America on Sunday condemned Savage for his comments.

"What Michael Savage said was foolish, mean-spirited, and hurtful," said J. Jioni Palmer, spokesman for Media Matters. "It's unfortunate he would use his radio program to make fun of and belittle these kids. Instead of ridicule and cheap shots, the children suffering from autism and asthma and their families need support and compassion."

The leader of a national coalition of disability, civil rights and social justice organizations called on Talk Radio Network to fire Savage. ADA Watch/NCDR called on Talk Radio Network to fire Michael Savage. Jim Ward, founder and president of ADA Watch and the National Coalition for Disability Rights (NCDR), stated: "As America prepares to celebrate the 18th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26th, people with disabilities, parents, family members, friends and advocates across the nation are outraged over Savage's latest attack on people with disabilities. His despicable assault on children with autism -- calling them "frauds" and "brats" -- is rightly being condemned as hateful and bigoted. But it is just the latest of Savage's numerous and painful attempts to demean and disenfranchise people with disabilities."

He added that Savage has also used his bully-pulpit to declare that:

-- High levels of asthma impacting minority children was because "the children got extra welfare if they were disabled." (July 2008)

-- The "handicapped" workers at the Phoenix Cafe would "drool" and put dung in diners food. He made up names for the food on the menu, such as "nutburger." (July 2002)

-- Members of the disability rights community are the "Wheelchair Mafia."

-- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the world's first civil rights law for people with disabilities, should be called the "Lawyers' Improvement Act."

-- His political opponents are "degenerate slime bags" with "mental disorders" and have a "virus like leukemia."

-- When he was younger, he "touched the hand of a midget [Dwarf]," it really "freaked him out" and, since that episode, he doesn't like public places. (June 2004)

-- The "autism lobby of devastated parents is just a scam to get more money."


Representatives from Autism United said they expected between 800 and 2,000 people to rally in front of Savage's San Francisco studio on Wednesday to demand an apology and his termination. They said major advertisers Home Depot and Aflac have pulled support and that several stations across the United States have agreed to stop broadcasting Savage's show (Why in the hell were Home Depot and Aflac sponsoring his shows to begin with and why are stations across America helping to spread his hate).

It's not like until now Savage has just been another right wing blather box.

But you know what is really disgusting?

The Savage Nation, his radio show, reaches at least 8.25 million listeners each week, according to Talkers Magazine, making it one of the most listened-to talk radio shows in the nation, behind only The Rush Limbaugh Show and The Sean Hannity Show.

What in the name of God is wrong with people?

The following is from Newsday.

Parents of autistic kids protest radio show host

Advocates for autistic children are protesting remarks by conservative radio host Michael Savage.

Some parents held a news conference Monday outside WOR, the New York radio station that carries Savage's San Francisco-based talk show.

Last week Savage said "99 percent" of autism cases involve "a brat who hasn't been told to cut the act out." On Monday he said autism is being overused as a diagnosis.

John Gilmore, executive director of Autism United and father of a nonverbal 8-year-old boy, said Savage "needs to get another job."

A spokesman for the station says Savage's views are his own.

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