Posted in Autism, Family, From the Emailbox, Idiocy/Lunacy, News, Those Kooky Conservatives!

Michael Savage: No Apologies

   July 21, 2008

This past Saturday, I blogged about comments made by Michael Savage on the July 16th edition of his nationally syndicated radio show. During his show, Savage called autism a “fraud, a racket” and proceeded to explain that in 99 percent of the cases, autism is a brat who hasn’t been told to cut the act out because they have no father around. Now obviously Savage’s comments are ignorant, offensive, and inflammatory on many levels, and as the parent of a child affected by autism, I was more than a little outraged by his comments.

In the Milwaukee area, Michael Savage’s show is syndicated by 620 WTMJ, so I gave Tom Parker, the Program Manager, a call to see if he condoned Savage’s comments. Having not heard back from Mr. Parker, I decided to send an email as well:

——– Original Message ——–
Subject: Michael Savage’s Comments on Autism
From: “Zachary W.”
Date: Mon, July 21, 2008 7:26 pm
To: tparker@620wtmj.com

Dear Mr. Parker:

My name is Zachary W, and I’m writing this email in response to recent comments made by Michael Savage during his radio show, a show your station syndicates. During the July 16th edition of his radio show, Mr. Savage claimed autism is “[a] fraud, a racket. … 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.’ ”

As the parent of an autistic child, I am deeply offended by Mr. Savage’s statements, and what’s more, I’m disappointed 620 WTMJ would air such inflammatory, ignorant, and insensitive remarks. What’s more, I’m surprised your station has not issued any kind of statement disavowing the comments made by Michael Savage, given the fact that his comments have received national attention – and not in a positive way.

I would greatly appreciate a response from you regarding this situation.

Sincerely,

Zachary W

Savage offered no apology in a message posted today on his Web site. Instead, Savage said greedy doctors and drug companies were creating a “national panic” by overdiagnosing autism, a mental disorder that inhibits a person’s ability to communicate. Savage also expressed his opinion that “Our children are being used as profit centers by a greedy, corrupt medical/pharmaceutical establishment,” but sadly enough, he couldn’t bring himself to apologize for his ignorant and uninformed opinion.

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34 thoughts on “Michael Savage: No Apologies”

  1. I also blogged about Michael [the] Savage

    http://blogs.franklinnow.com/in_the_race/archive/2008/07/20/autism-speaks-savage-freaks.aspx

    After this was brought to our attention by our friend John Michlig.

    I, too, called Mr. Parker. I was able to speak to him, unfortunately. Before I could utter a few words, he asked me if I was a listener of WTMJ radio. Next he asked if I was a listener of Mr. Savages show and if I had heard the actual airing of the show. Since I am not a listener or a fan of Michael Savage, my opinion of this issue did not matter one bit to Mr. Parker. His only concern is of those fans of listeners of the show.

    He will not be taking the show off the air…”he didn’t break any law.”

    You know, of course we need to preserve our constitutional rights. Savage may use the excuse now that he was trying to educate the American people about disabilities….see, he’s an expert now because he had a brother who was disabled and passed away. So that gives him the right, the authority, the expertise on autism…that makes him the judge and jury. That makes him entitled to take something that causes so much heartache in families and turn it into something shameful. And he even tries to link disabilities with race. And Parker? he didn’t have a clue..he starts talking about ADHD…and that his statement was taken out of context.

    I think he picked the wrong disability to mess around with. This guy is a total loser.

  2. Hi !

    I found your site thru google. I was looking for an e-mail address for Savage, but couldn’t find it. Just wanted you to know that I agree with you 100%! I have a 14-year old autistic daughter and know many, many other autistic children (her classmates). Those comments made by Savage are so harmful to our children by those unfamiliar with autism believing what he says is true.

    I have a site for my daughter (that needs to be updated badly). 🙂
    http://sweettori.livejournal.com/profile

  4. Janet, it’s unfortunate that Mr. Parker seems to condone attacking kids with special needs. Apparently it’s just not politically incorrect enough to warrant a statement disavowing the comments.

  6. Kudos for Janet Evans for going the extra mile and actually CALLING WTMJ, thereby exposing the management’s cluelessness.

    NOT EVEN A PACKER GAME; WTMJ is officially off my dial for good.

  7. John, I’ve called and sent emails, and I’ve yet to hear a response. Apparently my opinion doesn’t matter, but that’s okay, because like you said, WTMJ is off my dial for good.

  8. Though I disagree with most of Michael Savage’s views on other issues, I TOTALLY agree with his views on Autism!! God Bless You for that, finally someone spoke the truth! I am a mother of 2 children that have been diagnosed with autism… What a joke!! They are nothing but late talkers that are spoiled brats as well… God Bless You man! and parents, PLEASE snap out if it.. stop acting like victims… You’re really pethatic!

  9. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say J.S. is just a troll. Then again, if she’s not, then wouldn’t she be to blame for her kids being “spoiled brats?”

    Oh, and by the way, it’s pathetic, not pethatic.

  10. Savage is right! Think about it,I am 42 yers old my generation never had to deal with “auistic” classmates or drugs to make our fellow classmates normal or free from the effects of an “A D D”.They were discribed as hyper or retarded…..thats it.It’s not insensative or mean spirited…it’s reality.Parents ,doctors are not Gods,they are not the last word,how about this word…….uh …lets see……acountability…..Try taking some and your kids can stop taking drugs.

  11. Braddley, my son doesn’t take drugs, nor do many autistic kids.

    And what exactly do parents need to take accountability for? I’d love to hear your thoughts on that.

  12. I commend Savage for busting the myth of the “Spectrum” of disorders. It’s just one more example of how we Americans LOVE to be victims of something. Everyone, but especially kids, that doesn’t display predictible behavior is labeled, whether it be ADD, dyslexic, austic, Asperger, etc. Whispers of the (former) richest man in the world being an Asperger were circulated because he “rocked” softly during testimony in his antitrust case. Mediocrity continues to be championed in this country (hell we voted for Bush twice) so any exceptional behavior is worrisome. In the name of control, we label our kids, drug them, what’s next, lock them up? Savage is speaking truth to power, because make no mistake about it, plenty of power is behind all the “Spectrum” diagnoses because there’s BIG MONEY to be made in the treatment of such “disorders.” For once, I send a kudo to you Savage!

  13. It’s good to see so many enlightened folks making their way over here!

    I’d encourage you all to do a little reading and perhaps think past what you’re fed by conservative talk radio.

  14. Hey Zach..wake up .The giant phamacutical companys love the parent victims.JUMP TO A CONCLUSION BABY.Free your self from falt,free yourself from guilt.Its the American way

  15. Hey Braddley…learn to read. What part of me saying my son’s not on medication didn’t compute for you?

    But hey, you’re entitled to your opinions, however misguided, uninformed, and ignorant they may be.

  16. So wonderful to see parents like myself! Pushing there kids to be where they should be… I feel sorry for the rest of the parents!

  17. Thank you j s ,but its not a suprise to see people like Zach result to name calling when confronted with truth once the guilt of poor parenting in the first years[one through three years] flows off their backs like so much water off a ducks back.ALSO big business doesnt care about your situation or your family. LISTEN TO SAVAGE.I ll bet a million dollars Zach has never heard a word of Savage’s show yet comment is in order for him. God bless him and his son. 10-10

  19. Judging by their spelling skills, or lack thereof, it is quite understandable why these creatures fail to understand basic anatomy, biology, or medicine.

    Or why they would listen to Savage.

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