Michael Savage Autism Assessment

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Michael Savage spoke of autism that made national headlines. On his nationally syndicated radio show, Michael 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."

Two of my worlds have collided - Talk radio, in which I have made my living... and autism, which has had a profound and lasting impact on my family. Please give me a minute and a half of your time and listen to Michael Savage on Autism.

For those of you who don't follow talk radio, Michael Savage is a nationally syndicated radical host who has made his living trying to offend as many people as possible, and now autism and autistic children. He considers himself a conservative, but honestly, to call him conservative is to give real conservatives a bad name. Savage largely exists to hurt people. A protest will be held in New York today, as parents of children with autism picket WOR radio in New York and demand that Savage be pulled from the air. I sympathize with those well-intentioned folks, but I think they are making a mistake.

The Michael Savages of the talk world thrive on controversy. It is the fuel that keeps their shows alive, and the spark that prompts more listeners to tune in and see what outrageous garbage will spew from their pie holes next. If Savage is pulled from this station today, he'll be on two new stations tomorrow.

No, this is yet another lesson that we learned in kindergarten that still applies today. If everyone just ignored Michael Savage, he would eventually go away. Or better yet - have a good chuckle at his expense. Imagine Savage walking a mile in your shoes - as the parent of an autistic child himself or someone suffering from autism.

The belly laugh that that thought produces may just get this parent through the day.

Source: Reported by Life On The Beach Blog jematthews2.blogspot.com/

Source: 
Life On The Beach Blog

Comments

#1 there is no drug for autism

there is no reason for doctors to misdiagnose children as having autism...it doesn't benefit drug companies or anyone else. there is no drug protocol for autism. I advise anyone who wants to see cutting edge research on autistic spectrum disorders to look up the MIND Institute at the University of California at Davis medical school. I hate to see autism get thrown into the same pot as ADD and/or depression, which are much less serious than autism and also are comparatively very easy to treat and live with.

#2 autism confused with adhd

I can understand your reaction. I would have reacted the same way except for an experience I recently had. By the way, I am an adult survivor of aspergers. Anyway, some lady with a website, who calls herself a child advocate and claims to have a masters degree, has gone on a rampage publishing all kinds of nonsense on her site claiming that asperger's doesn't exist and is being used by educators as a way of labeling kids and even trying force drugs on them! As we all should know, there is no drug for asperger's or any kind of autism, but that fact doesn't seem to register with her. I went back and forth and round and round with her trying to educate her on the facts about autistic spectrum disorders, but she didn't want to know. Her identity as a web personage in the child protection field is so fragile that she cannot be challenged...she is married to her misconceptions and is spreading her pseudo-science to America's poorly educated and easily led parents. My point is, if you encounter people who confuse asperger's with add/adhd, don't be so surprised. It may well be on the way to becoming the next great American ignoramus-ism, just like confusing schizophrenia with multiple personality disorder. Of course they are completely different things, but using the terms interchangeably has become part of the American popular culture. I pray that won't happen with ASD and ADD, but if people like this woman have their way, it will.

#3 Jenny McCarthy's response to Savage's remarks

Jenny, alongside the many others who have had their lives impacted by autism, was appalled by the statement. What would she like to happen? “I think a great way for an apology is to be sat down and educated about it,” Jenny said. “I’d love to just quietly [sit down with him and] educate him on the facts. It was clear he doesn’t know anything about autism”

#4 Confusion

I don't know why was he using word - autism - . What he is talking about is ADD/ADHD which is being often misdiagnosed. If you understand this - there is no scandal or need for anyone to be upset. Autism is very serious illness and these kids need a lot of attention and care.

Sometimes "brats" are being "diagnosed" by irresponsible parents and teacher as ADHD just to try to make themselves life easier and put the kids "asleep" with ADHD medicine which will destroy kids life.

#5 Answer to Confusion

You are confused. What the hell are you talking about? Savage attacked autistic children not children with ADD/ADHD. What is wrong with you? This evil son of a bitch needs to be pushed off the air permanently and anyone who attacks our children needs to be dealt with in such a manor. Are you kidding me? Anyone who purchase a product advertised on any of the radio stations he is on is complicit. JCA

#6 I can understand...

I can understand your reaction. I would have reacted the same way except for an experience I recently had. By the way, I am an adult survivor of aspergers. Anyway, some lady with a website, who calls herself a child advocate and claims to have a masters degree, has gone on a rampage publishing all kinds of nonsense on her site claiming that asperger's doesn't exist and is being used by educators as a way of labeling kids and even trying force drugs on them! As we all should know, there is no drug for asperger's or any kind of autism, but that fact doesn't seem to register with her. I went back and forth and round and round with her trying to educate her on the facts about autistic spectrum disorders, but she didn't want to know. Her identity as a web personage in the child protection field is so fragile that she cannot be challenged...she is married to her misconceptions and is spreading her pseudo-science to America's poorly educated and easily led parents. My point is, if you encounter people who confuse asperger's with add/adhd, don't be so surprised. It may well be on the way to becoming the next great American ignoramus-ism, just like confusing schizophrenia with multiple personality disorder. Of course they are completely different things, but using the terms interchangeably has become part of the American popular culture. I pray that won't happen with ASD and ADD, but if people like this woman have their way, it will.

#7 Michael Savage on Autism

Michael Savage showed his ignorance, plain and simple. The man has no REAL knowledge on kids who are diagnoised under the Autism Spectrum.

I work in a school for kids on the spectrum. I'd like to see him tell a child, who can not speak, to act like a man . He needs to come and spend some time in this population of HUMAN Beings before he places a generalized statement on a truely debilitatiing disorder.

I hope to God he never has children or grandchildren that have a mental disorder.

Its not an act!!!!!!!!! and trust me, Im a teachers aide/job coach and I do not make much money helping these kids fit into OUR world. or help them to deal with people who show so much ignorance and intolerance for things they do not understand. I feel sorry for him being such a closed minded egotistical person.

#8 Autisim/ add/adhd/Depression

If you LISTENED to what Michael Savage had to say about Autism & ADD/ADHD etc...you would know that he did NOT say ALL children diagonised with these idorders were brats.....he said that many children in this country are MIS DIAGNOSED with austiim & add/adhd & depression - That many dr's are in kahootz with the drug companies for the money - also schools get extra dollars for every child on physotrophic med's like ritalin etc... as well as people on welfare or government assistance who have a child on these medications......Simply stated - TOO many children are being mis-diagnosed for the sake of the MONEY. If your child is diagnosed - GET A SECOND OPINION ! DOn't medicate your child if it is NOT necessary !

#9 there is no drug for autism

there is no reason for doctors to misdiagnose children as having autism...it doesn't benefit drug companies or anyone else. there is no drug protocol for autism. I advise anyone who wants to see cutting edge research on autistic spectrum disorders to look up the MIND Institute at the University of California at Davis medical school. I hate to see autism get thrown into the same pot as ADD and/or depression, which are much less serious than autism and also are comparatively very easy to treat and live with.

#10 Doctor Savage is a real American

Most people have only heard the excerpt that Media Matters wants you to hear. If you take the time to listen to the whole show or read his book (Healing Children Naturally), you would realize that he is speaking out against the doctors and drug companies pushing their poisons. Dr. Savage is a Real American who cares about the future of our country. Not once does anyone mention the the fact that he has spent time and money on the defence of American soldiers on trial for killing terrorisists in Iraq (look in to this story). Before you pass judgment on this man get the real facts, not just what the liberal media wants you to hear.

#11 autism

Michael Savage was abused in childhood, that is why he's a hate monster. Come on Michael admit it, your impotent! Your so angry at the world you can see straight. Shame on you, your pathetic! Never again will I think about you, and I pray the world follows. Your a sorry excuse of a human being.

#12 as for autism he is way off

as for autism he is way off base, but his comments do apply to other so-called disorders such as ADD and ADHD. We shouldn't be tranquilizing children just because they act like children

#13 Savage Nation & Autism

To say that autism is a fraud is to completely and blatantly ignore a fast growning epidemic in our nation. Michael Alan Weiner is a savage and must be fired. He represents the last of an angry, but thankfully dying breed of ignorant, vestigial sub-humans from America's shameful past. He admits that his own father was an insensitive, savage loser. As a result he is an angry, savage loser who has license to pollute our airways. His audience is comprised of mostly ignorant people who unfortunately breed, vote and believe what this Brooklyn (who lives on the west coast now) Hack has to say. The only fraud here are his credentials and the fact that he's syndicated in the USA; to speak to the ignorants and make his money by inciting even more ignorance. He's the fraud and the consummate anti-American. Leave autistic people alone Michael Weiner you ignorant savage.

#14 Social Studies: D-

Everyone who mentions the 1st Amendment, go back to school and get your GED. Please, come back and then we can have a discussion. You are making the rest of the Internet educate you.

Savage listeners seem to be ignorant about the 1st amendment. I would like to see a poll of the education level of people who believe Savage getting fired has anything to do with the 1st amendment. Read the damn thing! It's not that hard!

If his employer decides to fire him because sponsors drop his show (or because they think sponsors are affected, or almost any reason at all), that is their right as a private business. All you idiot conservatives are running the party for real conservatives. Go back to school. Get an education. Learn some basic social studies.

#15 Where are you?

Ok ok...Now I am the mother of a child with ASD...I have never even heard of this Michael Savage until this morning....The way I see it is like this...Savage had no doubt demeaned countlees people....Why is it ONLY now that you people are angry??

How do you think his other victims feel.....Does the United States not have a bully law?
If so I would suggest you get one.

Lisa
Mother of Willem age 6 ASD
Canada

#16 Shock Jock?

Well in my opinion this so-called man should be ignored...Is he not known to get people all upset?
Nothing he says is of any use and it is his listeners that add the fuel...People love him that is why he continues...I have not even heard him but I do know that people love this stuff until it attacks at them...The problem is simple JUST STOP LISTENING!! Something to think about eh?

Lisa
Mother of Willem age 6 ASD
New Brunswick,Canada

#17 We KNOW Autism

My wife and I are the parents of six children diagnosed with the Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

We KNOW Autism, Michael Savage does not.

This is the part of what he said that got my blood boiling. More specifically, he said:

"... 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."

Moron, putz, idiot... he is using those words as to what a Autism Dad should be saying. I never say these words to my children! These are HIS words attacking and demeaning MY children.

Yes he CAN say what he wants, but the next interview we have (likely this Nov when our documentary airs) I'll say what I want about him and some of these other ignorant people that have it all figured out somehow with obviously NO personal knowledge.

In fact, we have come up with three shirts (http://www.cafepress.com/autismbites) that tell Michael Savage exactly what we think.

#18 Don,t speak of something you know nothing about

I have a granddaughter 1 out of 4 beautiful girls They have 2 loving ,devoted and strict parents, concerning behavior and manners.. Their daughter is well behaved but does have autism she has been helped since she was 2.. now 5.. My son's insurance paid for some they paid for the rest.. How offensive it is for you to say such HATEFUL THINGS.. Katie ,My parents brought me up a lot different than you.. I feel sorry for you for being so Hateful

#19 Michael Savage Autism Assessment

Michael Savage is a coward. He speaks his mind and when challenged he backs downs playing the victim role and ask those working to pay (donate money to his defense) to protect him from his imaginary enemies.

Michael's real role in his life is to spew hate, keep division and whine when ask to qualify his many hate filled statements.

#20 Autism

Michael Savage is vermin who contributes nothing of value to society. His comments about Autism are disgusting, simply disgusting, but not surprising considering the source!

#21 Michael Savage/Autism

I hope the First Ammendment to the Constituion has not been taken away!! Those who are ready too burn Savage at the stake, should be sure that They are aware of what He said, and not what some have
plucked, and put together. Go too His Web site, and listen, and check other sources; unless Your only
purpose, is too be one of the sheep, and think as others have told You. If You are fair and only want the truth, You will be in for a surprise!!!...THINK FOR YOURSELF!! It could be quite satisfying.

#22 This is not about the First Amendment

I have the original audio on my site at .

I have been listening to his show in order to log the commercials and get an accurate list of current advertisers. I am doing it so I can contact them and ask them to remove their support for his show.

I refuse to debate him; that would lend him some sort of legitimacy, and he has none where autism is concerned. However, I did go over the original audio in the context of his spin, and I laid it out on my blog. I think it's important that people know that Savage continues to call sixty percent of cases where autism is the diagnoses "phony".

He could claim First Amendment rights if people were trying to regulate him off the air. Some people are asking the stations to remove him, and some have. I prefer to go after the companies who advertise on his show, because that's the recourse we have in a free market--if we don't like companies we patronize supporting the national radio presense of someone who is making incendiary remarks, we can let those companies know that we're not going to support them.

I'm not calling for a law banning Savage from the air. I am hitting him in his wallet.

Nearly every company that has responded claims that they do not advertise on Savage's show--but the commercials are logged by station and the time they aired, so I've followed up. Home Depot, for one, has been going after individual stations to stop their advertisements from airing. Prison Fellowship Ministries, The Heritage Foundation, Chattem (Gold Bond), Roger Schlesinger (Mortgage Minute Guy), AFLAC, Geico, and DirectBuy have all responded. DirectBuy was the only company to admit that they did have a contract with Savage. They had decided not to renew it.

I have a list of sponsors on my blog on the right side of the page. I encourage everyone to contact these advertisers to let them know what they're supporting.

On a final note, I find it ironic that someone who points us to Savage's website for clarification has a problem with people cherry picking audio. The audio that started it all was not spliced or altered, nor is there a context that would make it less incendiary. In fact, as I wrote in my blog piece, the context actually makes what he said worse, not better. The audio at Savage's site doesn't include the previous two attacks he's made on autism, one of which occurred on June 30th; the other, a few years back.

#23 sponsors of Savage

How do I get to your blog so I can contact the sponsors?

#24 Michael Savage

You have no idea of what you are writing about. You probably never even heard his show. Writers like yourselves should give it up. When was it a crime to speak your mind in the United States. It's about time someone tried to expose the medical industry and doctors for what they are, legal drug pushers! Get a life!

#25 Very funny

Ok now....This one will no doubt not even get approval for adding to the comments.
I am Canadian and (PROUD of it) I can look onto the United States as a third party...You say when was in a crime to speak your mind in the United States...I say when you speak your mind about YOUR president ?

Or of course if you are a Dixie Chick....hahahaha....You guys are funny...Or maybe YOU should get a life eh?hahahaha

#26 Michael Savage

It's clear from what he said that he was trying to wake those parents up who fit and their children fit into this category. OF COURSE he knows that there are the exceptions, but if you do the reseearch, you'll see that the powers that be have SAID that the goal is to get 50% of all children on psychotropic drugs. Read that as "dumb down" so that they can't figure out what is going on. Not conspiracy theory, but conspiracy FACT. MS would not be on the radio with 350 stations if he was stupid. There is no 'right' to not be offended, and probably a decent percentage of the parents who have protested and complained, are the very ones who don't want to see their free ride for being a parent of a haaaaaaaaaandicapped child taken away.

#27 autism spectrum disorder IS A SCAM

actually I think Mike Savage has it half right. One needs to differentiate between autism and ASD. I think ASD is a load of crap. Mildly autistic?thats a load of crap. right now a zillion parents are pulling their hair out needlessly turning their kids over to the state, overpaid early intervention teachers (who are paid through our insurance and taxes, this is why health insurance is bankrupt) theres scissor therapy, feeding therapy, walking therapy you name it. and its free, mandated through health insurance. and are we smarter? better eaters? more motor? what a fraud. scam! It used to be autism was diagnosed as severe emotional withdrawal and obsessive behavior. now everyone has autism "spectrum disorder." and moms are not vaccinating their kids, mainly bc they have a low chance of catching disease because most people still do it (this is really fair) Mike Savage is a big mouth who doesnt know what is really going on but ASD is mostly a scam. ANd the teachers and bueracrats involved in it are living high off the hog, the FEAR INDUSTRY.

#28 Igorance is bliss. I have

Igorance is bliss. I have aspergers syndrome, which means I have a mild form of autism. You think I am fake without even knowing me? ok.

#29 There is no separation here

Autism is a spectrum disorder. There is no differentiation; only degrees. Take the range people consider "normal", then add autism.

You're buying into Savage's spin and myth-making. Nobody from the state is raising my daughter; your tax dollars aren't paying for her care or her therapy; my health insurance provider isn't contributing one damned cent.

I resent people who have no clue what it means to have an autism spectrum commenting on what autism is or isn't. Savage isn't an expert, and the "experts" he brings on have about as much legitimacy as snake oil salesmen.

Have you ever been around children with ASD? No, please, don't answer that question; I already know tha answer. It's quite clear you haven't.

#30 Autism is being overdiagnosed.

Don't let your emotions cloud your reason. He was taken out of context.