Jul 21, 2008 6:25 pm US/Eastern
Savage Won't Apologize, Defends Autism Comments
Conservative Jock Ignites Firestorm After Calling Autistic Children 'Brats,' 'Morons' On Syndicated Show
Monday Rally Held At WOR Studios In Manhattan
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
-
-
Conservative radio host Michael Savage is about to feel the wrath of parents of children with autism. A massive protest is planned for Manhattan on July 21.
AP
Conservative radio host Michael Savage told CBS 2 Monday that he would not apologize for his controversial comments about children with autism, and instead tried to explain in a not-so-critical manner the point he really wanted to get across.
"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. "I'm not gonna sit and apologize, I'm going to explain exactly what I just said to you and I hope that this will open up a national dialogue on this new potpourri called autism."
During the July 16 edition of his show, Savage claimed that 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.' "
When asked to respond to those who thought his comments were insensitive, Savage told CBS 2: "Well I guess we live in an insensitive world, I would think cutting people's heads off is very insensitive too. I wish these people would pay attention to the big problems in the world instead of statements to gain their attention."
Many of these people gathered outside the WOR Radio studios in Manhattan on Monday afternoon to protest the station's broadcast of his nationally syndicated show based in San Francisco.
Opponents to his show called for the firing of the radio jock and asked for parents of children with autism to boycott of all stations carrying his signal.
The station issued a statement to CBS 2 on Monday about the comments:
"The views expressed by Michael Savage are his views and are not those of WOR Radio. We regret any consternation that his remarks may have caused to our listeners. WOR is in the business of serving the community. That is our stated goal, and we will continue to do so. Talk Radio Networks can speak for themselves."Robbie Schwartzman is a 15-year-old from our area with autism. His father, Martin Schwartzman, says Savage's attack on autism is both irresponsible and despicable.
"I couldn't understand why someone could be so heartless and so insensitive, and also so ignorant for a national talk show host," Mr. Schwartzman said.
Like many other parents with autistic children, Mr. Schwartzman is now calling on radio stations across the country to pull Savage from the air waves.
"It was so hurtful to all individuals with disabilities, particularly those with autism, but I really think he should be removed from the air," he said.
But Savage says his arguments stems from his own personal experience with mental disabilities, telling CBS 2 a "severly disabled" sibling of his died in a New York mental insitution years ago.
"I know what it's like firsthand, what a true disability is, what a true mentally disabled child is. And to permit greedy doctors to include children in medical categories which may not be appropriate is a crime against that child and his family; and I say let the truly autistic be treated, let the falsely diagnosed be free," he said.
Autism groups say 1 out of every 150 children in the US are diagnosed with autism and more than 2 million children and adults have the brain development disorder.
Savage told CBS 2 that those high statistics are the issue. He says that there are "many false diagnoses of toddlers and preschoolers" simply because they demonstrate traits that or symptoms of autism.
"What if people who wore glasses were put on the blindness spectrum, or people with moles on their face were put on the cancer spectrum? The problem here is that there is no definitive diagnosis for autism and that is why so many children are being thrown into this category, and they're being falsely diagnosed and stigmatized," he said.
Media Matters for America on Sunday also 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."
Talk Radio Network, which syndicates "The Savage Nation," claims that Savage is heard on more than 350 radio stations. The Savage Nation 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.
So far two sponsors have pulled their ads from Savage's show.
Please stay with CBS 2 HD and wcbstv.com for more on this developing story.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
2009 Celebrity Deaths
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments