Left Uses Savage Autism Flap For Political Gain

SAVAGE REALITY CHECK

Host's Controversy Demands Proper Perspective







While the left side of the Internet continues to use Michael Savage's latest on-air controversy for political gain, it's time for a reality check. Will conservatives allow themselves to be smeared based on a false association with the syndicated talk host?

First, in case you've just returned from Bora Bora or live under a rock, the Marin County- based talker has been under fire since last week after this comment about childhood autism: "In 99 percent of the cases, it's a brat who hasn't been told to cut the act out..."

That was quickly captured by the left-wing anti- talk radio crusaders over at Media Matters, who immediately utilized their mainstream media friends to spread the story across the country.

Within days, angry parents began to protest Savage's comments, placing pressure on affiliate stations and what may or may not be actual program advertisers:

The cancellation follows the decision on Monday by Aflac, the insurance company, to pull its advertising from the show. On his Web site, Michaelsavage.com, the host posted a letter on Monday in which he iterated the central point he said he had been trying to make on his July 16 program: that autism is too often misdiagnosed in the cases of children, or falsely diagnosed, at least partly as a means of wringing resources. “Let the truly autistic be treated,” he wrote. “Let the falsely diagnosed be free.” On July 16, Mr. Savage, above, referred to autism as “a fraud, a racket,” and asserted that what “99 percent” of children with autism most needed was a parent willing to tell them things like, “Don’t act like a moron.”

But we've seen this scam before: Media Matters and other left-wing groups claim "victories" against Savage's "advertisers", when in fact these companies never sponsored his show on a national level.

It's a topic we've covered several times in the past, but the mainstream media (including the New York Times) never ceases to fall for the trick.


Before we go any further, let's get something straight: there's no way to defend Savage's comments. Though he's holding firm on his statements, both on-air and at his website, it may be making the situation worse.

Here, he's issued a full statement:

The Autism Controversy

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.

Michael Savage

Meanwhile, left-wing groups who likely couldn't give a rat's behind about autism are ecstatic about the prospect of picking off a "conservative" host. Their real agenda is only barely disguised. Our favorite example, via MSNBC: a reaction from "Hollywood" on the controversy.

With this background, let's make a few points clear right here and now:


Savage is not a conservative in any known sense of the word. In fact, he's almost always at odds with leaders on the right, including Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly and many others. He chastises all of them regularly on his program, using disparaging names.


Savage's views on medicine are based firmly on the alternative side, including holistic remedies often associated with the left, particularly in California. That belief system triggers these kinds of discussions on his program and led to the current controversy.


Talk radio is an entertainment medium and Savage is AM's version of a shock jock. In some ways, he's Howard Stern without the porn. Nobody tunes in expecting a soft and easy delivery. On any given show, he makes similar remarks which go unreported.


Liberals need to make up their minds once and for all as to whether talk radio is an effective and influential medium or not. On one hand, they want to downplay audience estimates, while on the other, they crank up the OUTRAGE machine over the supposed "damage" caused by a host who is out of line.


Make no mistake: Savage is wrong here, but those who are leading the charge against him have shady agendas and are not to be trusted.


FOR New England regional talk radio updates, see our other site.



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