Since the original source of the news is Media Matters, I would take this news with extreme caution as this group has been angling to get talks shows hosts like Rush Limbaugh off the air.
I agree that this should be taken with a huge grain of salt and while I agree that some fact checking is in order, this guy has been known to say some things that would lead one to believe that he “could have” said it.
He probably said something to the effect that autism is like ADD, way over diagnosed. Certainly there are kids with serious problems, but it should not be to the point 1 out of three kids need to be on medication.
I agree...I listen on a regular basis and don’t recall this. But I do know for a fact that Media Matters is an unreliable source at best and down right liars at worst.
If true that Savage said that, then he is mistaken and should correct himself. As Rosie O'Donnell famously said to Bill O'Reilly many years ago, "if you are on the air for many years, you are bound to say something stupid"
Writing a “script” is more PC and less trouble than challenging parents to get the job done.
if he said this, he’s partly right, but very wrong.
he’s partly right that it’s being over-diagnosed. the professionals recently even expanded the umbrella of what they call autism.
but he’s very wrong. i have a friend who has a grand daughter who is autistic, fortunately for her she’s not the extreme case of a child you see on tv huddled in the corner with outbursts.
one of the key issues with her and of autism:
is the inability to make eye contact with others. many mothers notice this very early, 18 mos etc.
and the inability to feel that others are experiencing pain, pleasure, etc.
i’ve spent a lot of time around this kid and i notice a lot of improvement. she’s had professional training and benefited from it.
it will be interesting to see what she’s like in ten years.
Paraphrasing here, he was talking about the boom in diagnosis of ADD, ADHD, and Autism, for purposes of getting on the government gravy train.
He was not talking about the truly autistic, or mentally disabled.
Remember, he had a brother who died, that was severely mentally disabled.
MM is on a jihad against free speech, and talk radio in particular.
This reminds me of the time many years ago when some offended woman, the caretaker of a mentally ill person, phoned Rush Limbaugh to complain about his use of the word “straightjacket” to describe a device used for restraining the mentally ill.
I agree with Savage that the vast majority of children diagnosed with autism and/or ADHD are simply suffering from what I call bad child syndrome.
Now if he had called them nappy-headed ho’s... Actually I have heard Savage lividly accuse Howard Stern of making jokes about retarded people on his show. If that were true, you’d think Media Matters would go after Howard as well... well maybe not.
By no means am I a fan of Savage, but I agree with you. If Media matters is the "source", I would write this off as BS.
I would expect Savage to make the comment in relation to ADD because many times it is just an excuse for a hyperactive child. But not Autism.
I have a nephew who is Autistic. The child wants so badly to be like everyone else, but is trapped in his own world of attraction and distraction. His parents have become very strong people because of the challenges the son brings every minute of every day.
I never heard Savage say this alleged statement.
When will people learn that Savage is not a conservative? He is a caricature of how they see conservatives!
The voice in their recording doesn’t even sound a thing like Savage. What would compel these morons to produce something like this? Also, can Savage take any legal action?
Key phrase. Leftist bastard.
I’m a big Savage fan and I do think he is partially right. I did hear him say that. I know myself, when I was young, I was slow in many things and I had many tests done. This was in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. There are times I wonder if I have Asperger’s, it would explain a lot of things with me. Still I think he is partially right where there could be disruption in schools and stuff but I do think with some work, like my mom did with me along with the school, you can minimize or eliminate the problem and push the kid in the right direction. So he is partially right and partially wrong on this one. He is dead wrong on the ones who are severely autistic where they cannot function in society without help. I can see where he is coming from though, there are many claims out there for welfare and the like that are false or at least a bit shady to the point to where one can still work and contribute to society but instead uses this as a crutch to live on the dole.
There’s a reason why I stopped listening to this raspy voiced blowhard. Now I know I’ll never listen to him again.
2. I agree with him 100%. EVERY childhood behavior problem is now being lumped under the great “AUTISM” umbrella.
This is actually hurting those children who truly suffer from the acute/severe symptoms. Even what was called “mental retardation” in the 60’s is now part of the Autism family. On the other side of the spectrum is the “A.D.D” religion, which too many parents have been using as a crutch as an excuse for not disciplining their children, or accepting their child as different from the norm.
One of our nephews, who we dearly love, was born with a severe brain defect which rendered him completely frozen with the mind of 2 year old. He is termed “Autistic” by the neuro specialists who treat him. On the other end of the spectrum, a slightly socially awkward 16 year old son of a friend, who does not fit the “norm” is called “autistic” by his parents.
Past terms to describe “mental retardation” thru “eccentric” is now being lumped into the “Autism” family, mainly under the movement of political correctness.
Somewhere in between are the same % of kids who truly suffer from a unique set of symptoms that is not an issue of mental retardation or a bad case of nerdiness.
"Autism" now encompasses everything from normal kids who are a little obsessive/compulsive about one thing or other to people who can only sit in a corner and rock back and forth with drool coming down their mouths.
I believe it is the former group that Michael Weiner is referring to.