Michael Savage “stands by” his hateful words.

I stand by my call for him to be fired.

From Media Matters:

After Media Matters for America documented comments made by Michael Savage on his July 16 radio show, on which Savage described autism as “[a] fraud, a racket,” Savage said on July 18 of the organization he called “the homosexual mafia group Media Matters”: “They’re a fascist, homo– goes out of their way to misquote me, take me out of context, and try to get me in trouble with people who love me. I stand by my words. Media Mat– and that’s it. And that’s where I’m going to leave it.”

As Media Matters noted, Savage said on July 16: “I’ll tell you what autism is. In 99 percent of the cases, it’s a brat who hasn’t been told to cut the act out. That’s what autism is. What do you mean they scream and they’re silent? 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. Straighten up. Act like a man. Don’t sit there crying and screaming, idiot.’ “

On July 21, The New York Times reported in a story posted on its website that “in a telephone interview Monday morning,” Savage “stood by his remarks and had no intention of apologizing to those advocates and parents who have called for his firing over the matter.” From the Times:

“My main point remains true,” Mr. Savage, whose radio audience ranks in size behind only those of Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, said in an interview on Monday. “It is an overdiagnosed medical condition. In my readings, there is no definitive medical diagnosis for autism…”

Asked Monday if he actually believed that 99 out every 100 cases of autism were misdiagnosed, Mr. Savage conceded that figure was “a little high.” He added, “It was hyperbole.”

In addition, Savage posted the following statement on his website [link deleted]:

My comments about autism were meant to boldly awaken parents and children to the medical community’s attempt to label too many children or adults as “autistic.”

Just as some drug companies have overdiagnosed “ADD” and “ADHD” to peddle dangerous speed-like drugs to children as young as 4 years of age, this cartel of doctors and drug companies is now creating a national panic by overdiagnosing “autism, for which there is no definitive medical diagnosis!

Many children are being victimized by being diagnosed with an “illness” which may not exist, in all cases. Just a few weeks ago doctors recommended dangerous anti-cholesterol drugs for children as young as 2 years of age! Without any scientific studies on the possible dangers of such drugs on children, corrupt doctors made this controversial, unscientific recommendation.

Increasingly, our children are being used as profit centers by a greedy, corrupt medical/pharmaceutical establishment. As the brother of a severely disabled person who suffered and died in a New York “snake-pit” of a “mental hospital,” I know first-hand what true disability is.

To permit greedy doctors to include children in medical categories which may not be appropriate is a crime against that child and their family. Let the truly autistic be treated. Let the falsely diagnosed be free.

The “truly autistic”?  Wait a sec.  I thought the whole thing was a “fraud.”  Do you think maybe someone’s cage has been rattled a bit?

For the less-informed amongst you, let me state that there is a clear, definitive diagnosis for autism.  Medical science is learning more about the condition every day.  Maybe Mr. Savage needs to read an actual book once in a while.

The national press has finally picked up on this outrage.  From an AP story published last night:

Peter Bell, executive vice president of national advocacy group Autism Speaks, said he isn’t aware of any big controversy about overdiagnosis of autism. He said Savage’s remarks, effectively blaming parents, reflect an outdated point of view.

“He’s an entertainer, he does these things for attention,” Bell said. “I think we should, to the best we can, ignore it.”

An “entertainer”?  That was being very generous.  We do not find this entertaining.    

(Of course, if he’s only doing this for “attention,” then by Mr. Savage’s own definition, we could  call him  a “brat” and an “idiot” and a “moron.”  But on this blog, we  try to be a bit more Quakerly and to use the good manners our mom taught us.)

And I’m sorry, but with all due respect to Mr. Bell, I am pretty sick and tired of people saying we should just “ignore” these people and just hope they will go away.  I won’t, because they don’t.  Sean Hannity just got a brand-new $100 million contract to carry on with his daily parade of reactionary propaganda, unrelenting hate, and outright lies.  Limbaugh recently got even more.  No, they are not going away, because they are making money for someone (you want to talk about pimping for corporations?) and too many people are still listening. 

Comments like this do real damage.  They cause real hurt and real pain.  They are NOT HELPFUL to children and families who are going through real struggles with this condition every minute of every day.  People like Savage, in their ignorance, just make things worse.  And those of us who choose to advocate for these kids need to SPEAK UP, and LOUDLY.

The official statement from Autism Speaks, posted on their web site, regarding Mr. Savage’s comments:

One important goal of increasing awareness about autism is to foster a greater level of acceptance and understanding of the very real and significant challenges it poses to individuals with the disorder and their families. The good news is that we see more and more expressions of this compassion every day and everywhere, from classrooms and playgrounds to ballparks and supermarkets. Unfortunately, there are those who are apparently incapable of feeling compassion. They deserve our pity, not our scorn.

Yes, I do feel sorry from people who remain this willfully ignorant.  But from me, this one is getting a bit of scorn, too, with a little prayer that somehow, some way, he sees the light.  He also deserves, in this case, to take a hit in the wallet.  Maybe that’s the wake-up call he needs. 

Keep those letters and emails flowing, folks.  Please.

Contact information:

Michael Savage:
michaelsavage@paulreveresociety.com

Talk Radio Network
P.O. Box 3755
Central Point, Oregon 97502
Phone: 541-664-8827
Fax: 541-664-6250

The Savage Nation
The Paul Revere Society
150 Shoreline Hwy, Bldge E
Mill Valley, CA 94941
Fax: 415-339-9383

Media Matters’ “Take Action” page.

Sponsors of Talk Radio Network, Savage’s corporate masters:

ABC
Acura  [disappointing]
American Express
Ancestry.com
Boca Java  [who also bring you Glenn Beck, another genius]
Bochringer
Bosch
Campbells
Citrix
Consolidated Resources
Direct Buy
Dish Network
Ebay Motors
Efax
General Motors  [shocking, I know]
Gallo Wines
Legal Zoom
Marshalls
Nautilus
Nivea
Outback Steakhouse  [last time I eat there]
Prudential
Purina One  [ditto on the Beck thing]
Simon & Schuster
Staples  [OfficeMax, here I come]
Subway [too much bread]
Texaco Chevron
United First Financial
Volkswagen

UPDATE:  AFLAC has pulled their ads from his show because of these remarks.  And a Mississippi radio network has yanked his show, too.  Good news.

Autism links in the blogroll to your right…