Shocked in San Francisco: Hate Speech Hits a New Low with Michael Savage

These are "brats who haven't been told to cut the act out."

Mindless Hate Has a New Name: Michael Savage

When I came to San Francisco 34 years ago, it was a shock: there was more beauty and compassion than I could experience in an entire lifetime. Now I'm shocked that it is the home of the country's worst hate speech. KNEW-FM hosts some very conservative talk show hosts: Laura Ingraham comes to mind; but the kind of hatred that belongs in some back alley and behind a switchblade (if it belongs at all) is uttered by a man named (appropriately) Michael Savage. Of course, he can be categorized under the term "Shock Jock" but yesterday's program hammered away at a severe and unfunny disability: autism.

(from: www.autismisbeautiful.com)

“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 concluded, “[I]f I behaved like a fool, my father called me a fool. And he said to me, ‘Don’t behave like a fool.’ The worst thing he said — ‘Don’t behave like a fool. Don’t be anybody’s dummy. Don’t sound like an idiot.

Savage called autism the "Illness du Jour"

He also had this to say about asthma:

“[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.”

He's definitely out-Imused Don Imus. He's gone further than Rush Limbaugh did with Michael J. Fox. KNEW, on the other hand, claims it's laughing all the way to the bank because Savage is good for ratings. His radio show reportedly reaches more than 10 million listeners on 410 stations throughout the United States, ranking third in number of stations syndicated nationwide and third in nationwide audience behind Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. I'm not so sure about those numbers, though. That means that there are 10 million tasteless and just-for-fun vicious people out there; like people who would steal the white stick from a blind man, or poke the eyes out of a helpless kitten. How many people live under rocks in this country? Oh well, they must crawl out from under something to listen to the likes of Michael Savage once in a while.

Maybe Savage is doing us all a public service by pointing out why we need hate crimes legislation. Could be, but I doubt it. He hates do-gooders. Period.

Why does a person like Michael Savage take himself down to such a level? Money? I suppose so, but it seems a little more than that. Vengeance? Possibly. He USED to hang out with the likes of Allen Ginsburg and the Beats. Jealousy? They maintained their morals while he couldn't? Does he have higher aspirations, like maybe to become a televangelist? Well, the pay is certainly better, but the rhetoric has to be a little bit softer. Not much, but at least a little. He also has to have the power to talk to God and shower meteors on theme parks that sponsor "gay days". Maybe Savage has a secret chapel in his house devoted to his idol, Fred Phelps. That might help.

I'm sure there will be an outcry calling for an apology, but don't count on it. When Savage gives offense he never takes it back. That would make him "an Indian Giver". He looks upon his offenses as generous gifts to a dimwitted public. He'll pull out his ratings and demographics instantly to show us how many "regular" people enjoy listening to him.

The irony that escapes Savage about waging the culture war: he's waging the war, while everyone else has the culture. He not only lacks social intelligence (it must be visible only to him), he lacks a conscience. Michael Savage, it's possible, may have been born without a soul. I suppose we should pity him or make fun of him. But that would be poking fun at the disabled.

And we're better than that.

Call KNEW (415) 975-5555 or email: clarkreid@clearchannel.com

Call Talk Radio Network (541)664-8827 or email for list of affiliate contacts: affiliates@talkradionetwork.com

Call Clear Channel Communications (210)822-2828 or email: lisacdollinger@clearchannel.com

Hate Monger Score Card:

Michelle Malkin - 15 points for thinking Manzanar was a luxury resort

Rush Limbaugh - 20 points for thinking Michael J. Fox was faking his Parkinsen's

Michael Savage - 30 points for thinking autism is 99% fake
10 Bonus Points just for thinking.

And take a look at this clip from Savage's short-lived television show where
he wishes AIDS on a caller: