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Autism Is A Fad, Says Conservative Talk Show Host
I just returned from Netroots Nation very late last night, and though we "liberal activist bloggers" were sometimes "in" the news, most of us didn't have much chance to follow the news. I won't be able to do so yet either, as I'll be at a camp all week working with children, many of whom fall on the autism spectrum.
When I was in Austin, I worked some in the Exhibitor Hall (for Northwest Progressive Institute), to help cover my registration. There I met the woman from Autism Speaks who set up the special diet for the child of Jenny McCarthy. Her book has been one of the latest to be widely read by parents of autistic children. This woman was there to amp up the attention being paid to the autism/vaccine controversy and to spotlight the positions of the Presidential candidates in the next election. The controversy has not been settled, and both candidates spoke without being fully aware of all of the issues.
At the same time, I heard about this:
Top Radio Host: Autism Is "A Fraud, a Racket"
Host Michael Savage Mocks Those Living with Autism and Smears Minorities with Asthma
Washington, DC - Media Matters for America today condemned nationally syndicated conservative radio host Michael Savage for incendiary comments directed at those who live with autism and their families. During the same broadcast, Savage, the No. 3 talk radio host in America, also attacked those in "the minority community" who suffer from asthma.
"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."
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.' "
Savage also stated: "[W]hy was there an asthma epidemic amongst minority children? Because I'll tell you why: The children got extra welfare if they were disabled, and they got extra help in school. It was a money racket. Everyone went in and was told [fake cough], "When the nurse looks at you, you go [fake cough], "I don't know, the dust got me." "See, everyone had asthma from the minority community."
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 here are the action items, if you think this is ridiculous, cruel and destructive:
Find your local Savage Station, log into our calling tool and tell your Savage station manager what you think of Savage's tirade. There you can also hear the direct audio transcript (if you can stand it.)
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.
Your voice is critical in holding Savage accountable for his comments. I hope you take the time to call and tell those running the station exactly what you think of Michael Savage.
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Truly scary remarks by Savage, who, oddly enough, is a former nutritionist (or some such sort). The Mercury / vaccine angle is quite controversial, and apparently not supported by any of the recent scientific studies – as least according to the reports about the controversy that I’ve come across.
The thing that sickens me about America nowadays is the way that these kind of remarks actually boost one of these loudmouths' ratings / book sales - rather than leading to their isolation by the society at large.
July 22, 2008
Savage Stands by Autism Remarks
By JACQUES STEINBERG
Michael Savage, the incendiary radio host who last week characterized nearly every child with autism as “a brat who hasn’t been told to cut the act out,” said in a telephone interview on Monday that he stood by his remarks and had no intention of apologizing to those advocates and parents who have called for his firing over the matter.
“My main point remains true,” Mr. Savage, whose radio audience ranks in size behind only those of Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, said in the interview Monday. “It is an overdiagnosed medical condition. In my readings, there is no definitive medical diagnosis for autism.”
On the July 16 installment of his program, which is broadcast every weekday, Mr. Savage suggested that “99 percent of the cases” of autism were a result of lax parenting. He told his audience: “They don’t have a father around to tell them: ‘Don’t act like a moron. You’ll get nowhere in life.” Among the other admonitions he felt autistic children should be hearing, he said, were: “ ‘Straighten up. Act like a man. Don’t sit there crying and screaming, idiot.’ ”
Asked Monday if he actually believed that 99 out every 100 cases of autism were misdiagnosed, Mr. Savage conceded that figure was “a little high.” He added, “It was hyperbole.”
But he said he was proud to have prodded discussion on the subject, and planned to give over his entire show on Monday — broadcast live from northern California from 3 to 6 p.m., Pacific time — to parents and other callers who wished to disagree with him and to educate him.
- more -
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/22/business/media/22sava.html?hp
I heard the state legislator from Bellevue who was the guy who introduced the Bush impeachment resolution from WA state - he is a scientist as well as a state legislator.
He gave reasons why the studies saying mercury isn't r/t autism are faulty and outlined some new ones coming out that haven't hit the press yet that have different conclusions.
Kids now get so many shots and some kids may have a predisposition to so much going into their system PLUS there are so many other toxins in the environment to push them over the edge.
For example, when I was a kid, Santa gave out PEANUTS to every kid in town. You never heard of a peanut allergy back then.
Also, I heard a talk at Netroots Nation about how parents of autistic children do not TRUST the government or the scientific studies it funds - because money is involved - drug money - from the pharmaceuticals. Some physician who approve things for the FDA and who are involved with the CDC get big kickbacks from pharmaceuticals.
I did also spend my day with autistic kids and will do it again for four more days.
What Mr. Savage is prescribing would not remotely be helpful for me.
What is helpful is something pictorial and concrete to convey what is going to happen next. Some of these kids process information very differently. Their brains are organized very differently.
& as for Mr. Savage, his brain (if he has one) is organized still a different way - he is full of hate - I have read his book jackets though I have not heard and will not be hearing his show. He is a pathetic xenophobe and how he got near a microphone I have no clue.
He is probably laughing all the way to the bank.
Video added.
& here is a test supposed to check for predisposition to autism -
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/combimatrixs-newly-updated-autism-test/story.aspx?guid=%7B87D93856-AF4D-477C-9FE4-AE0D2998503C%7D&dist=hppr
Check this out -
Cells from brains of deceased autistic children can be put with frog cells to check neural patterns, discover clues to autism
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14374-humanfrog-hybrids-reveal-autisms-secrets.html?DCMP=ILC-hmts&nsref=news2_head_dn14374