NEW YORK — Radio talk show host Michael Savage, who described 99 percent of children with autism as brats, said Monday he was trying to "boldly awaken" parents to his view that many people are being wrongly diagnosed.
Some parents of autistic children have called for Savage's firing after he described autism as a racket last week. "In 99 percent of the cases, it's a brat who hasn't been told to cut the act out," Savage said on his radio program last Wednesday.
Savage offered no apology in a message posted Monday on his Web site. He 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.
On his radio show last week, he said: "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, you idiot.'"
The government estimates about 1 in 150 children have some form of autism. But many experts believe these unsociable behaviors were just about as common 30 or 40 years ago and that the increase is mostly caused by a surge in special education services and a corresponding shift in diagnoses.
Wendy Fournier of the National Autism Association, a parents' advocacy group, said she was invited to speak Monday on Savage's three-hour program by Savage's boss, Mark Masters of Talk Radio Network, which syndicates the show across the country. A spokeswoman from Talk Radio Network did not immediately return a call for comment.
Fournier called Savage's comments "way, way, way over the line and cruel."
"I'm hoping to make him see the reality of what these kids are facing," she said. "You can't fix it by telling a kid to shut up. It's like telling a kid with cancer to stop being sick."
Evelyn Ain, whose 8-year-old son has been diagnosed with autism, said she had never heard of Savage and couldn't believe what she had heard when she first listened to the remarks. She organized a demonstration Monday outside New York's WOR-AM, which broadcasts Savage.
"That isn't just freedom of speech, it is hateful speech when you say 99 percent of children with autism are brats," she said. "I'll tell you, I wish I had a brat."
Savage, with more than 8 million listeners a week, is talk radio's third most popular personality behind Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, according to Talkers magazine. He's made a living off bold, outrageous statements: His brief MSNBC show was canceled after he told a caller he should "get AIDS and die, you pig."
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."
Can't help but notice the similarity between Michael and his pooch.....what a buffoon....
As usual, Savage goes too far, but I agree that many behavioral issues today are due to parental lack of discipline. I have a friend who works at a very expensive Ausberger's Syndrome treatment center and she says most of these teens are spoiled brats with wealthy parents who find it easier to throw money at the problems. This is a generalization that isn't appropriate for many, but worth considering that parents just don't know how to be in charge these days.
So, someone who has never heard of him, doesn't listen to him, wants him fired? He's a RADIO PERSONALITY. Don't like him or his views? Change the channel. If enough people do it, he won't have a job anymore because no company will spend the money to sponsor his show if no one is listening.
Demanding someone be fired from the airwaves because they hurt someone's feelings will leave no one broadcasting at all.
Just as he has the right to freedom of speech - so does his employer have the right to terminate the employee.
It appears that certain Hollywood elitists and others believe that we live in a fascist state, where they can prevent others from voicing opinions contrary to their own. If every public figure lost their employment because they offended someone there would be a lot of people out of work. I'm personally offended by the Democratic Party platform and those who vote to support it, should they all lose their jobs? Use your common sense. I don't care for Mr. Savage's program so I exercise my personal freedom... I don't listen to it. We got to stop trying to control everyone else and learn to tend to ourselves.
i don't think he should be stripped of his personal freedoms. i think he should educate himself before he opens that big mouth he has. as a parent of a mentally challenged child, it's people like him that make it harder for us to help our children adjust to an already harsh world. he has no idea what it's like to go through what we as parents go through with special needs children,. i can only hope that he never experiences the gift of one of these wonderful children because he lacks the commonsense and compassion it takes to help them. he has shown his ignorance to the entire nation and is an embarrassment!!
Mr. Savage does not think his job should be at risk for the comments he made, he wants to know if we want to live in a country where someone's career is in stake for comments made. Well Mr. Savage we already do, I work with hositalized individuals and if I went around making rude comments about them I would lose my job. We live in a country where we have freedom of speech, but we still need to exercise some responsibility for what we say. You have every right to your opinions, but like everyone you need to be responsible for your comments. You are in a position to influence people and should use that influence responsibly. Like any working individual, if you cross the line you should be held responsible. Millions of Americans go to work each day and watch their tongues to keep their jobs, why should you be any different.
He is paid money to say things that some people will be happy about and that some will be deeply offended by. A little different than having a job in a hospital and talking about the patients-kind of Apples and Oranges. This guy gets paid to talk and entertain-not to provide physical therapy or other help benefit.
I don't agree with his comments-and I don't listen to him. People need to get off the 'I'm offended, so he must go' kick. Turn the channel, my friend.
On his radio show last week, he said: "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, you idiot.'"
Now there's a loving way to speak to your child.
This guy is definitely screaming for attention - and we're giving him just what he wants!
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