Newsom to return $25,000 contribution from Savage's son

SFGate: Politics Blog ^ | 5/22/9 | Carla Marinucci, Chronicle Political Writer

[SmithL]

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, a declared Democratic 2010 California gubernatorial candidate, has decided to return a hefty $25,000 campaign contribution -- from the son of controversial conservative talk show host, Michael Savage.

As we reported earlier this month, Savage was one of 16 individuals on a "name and shame" list who was banned from the United Kingdom. U.K. Home Secretary Jaqui Smith charged that Savage's right wing controverial broadcasts constituted "hate speech" and could promote violence, and did not represent the "values" of Britian.

Now, the move at home against Savage comes after a progressive activist in San Francisco, Aaron Baldwin, asked the Newsom campaign to reject the May 11, 2009 contribution of $25,000 from Russell Weiner, the CEO of Rockstar Energy Drinks. The company which was founded in Nevada in 2001 promotes a popular energy beverage -- but is a family business, charges Baldwin. Janet Weiner, the wife of Savage -- real name, Michael Weiner -- is the chief financial officer for both Savage Productions and Rockstar, documents show.

Baldwin told us he contacted Eric Jaye, the Newsom campaign consultant, to inform him of a campaign called "The Truth About Rockstar.'' He said 10,000 have already signed up on Facebook to now promote a boycott of the energy drink based on Savage's links with the brand.

"When I found out Rockstar was affiliated with Michael Savage, I thought it was necessary people know,'' Baldwin said, arguing that public documents show "it is a privately-held company, the (Savage) assets are co-mingled with it.''

[SmithL]

UPDATE: In a new email to us, talk show host Savage said the following: "I had nothing to do with the founding or creation of Rockstar. These are my political enemies, trying to hurt me through my son." He calls it a "McCarthyesque smear campaign.''

[wac3rd]

Funny, they hate truth.

Prayer rugs, Sha’ria Law are ok, however.

[GOP_1900AD]

So the son, who was a GOP candidate at one time, is now greasing the wheels on both sides of the fence now that he’s big CEO.

[fishtank]

ping

[exist]

So the son, who was a GOP candidate at one time, is now greasing the wheels on both sides of the fence now that he’s big CEO.

Ya what's up with that? Did he just change his mind, or was he just faking it when he ran as a conservative?

[americanophile]

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Savage supported Jerry Brown, his son support Gavin Newsom.

[dynachrome]

Thanks for the ping. Stalinists hate truth. Will this change young Savage’s mind about libtards?

[Landru]

"Ya what's up with that? Did he just change his mind, or was he just faking it when he ran as a conservative?"

Regardless the letter following the name, it proves just how hard fascists are to detect.

[Landru]

*Rockstar* Energy Drinks???

HA!!!

Never heard of it.

[tflabo]

Newsom, a declared Democratic 2010 California gubernatorial candidate, has decided to return a hefty $25,000 campaign contribution

Hope Son of Savage stops wasting $$ on marxist leftards!

[Lizavetta]

Pure theater to appeal to Twosome Newsom's base.

When Newsom is elected he will quietly accept the donation and put energy drinks that start with an R into some favored tax break category, or whatever it is that Savage's son wants to keep his business in California.

Of all the years of double dealing politicians who take contributions from their political polar opposites, hasn't anyone figured this out yet? Their puffery and outrage is A-C-T-I-N-G.

[rfp1234]

"When I found out Rockstar was affiliated with Michael Savage, I thought it was necessary people know,'' Baldwin said

Thanks for the tip, you 'progressive' Baldwin dufus. Finding out about that just made it even more likely that I'll stock up on cases of the drink for the summer.

[yldstrk]

ewwwwwwwwwwwww this money has cooties...........what imbeciles

[rockrr]

Brings to mind the old adage about sleeping with dogs....

[truthguy]

Rockstar Energy Drinks don't taste very good and they are very expensive. I don't know if they give you energy or not because I've only had 3 or 4 and I do not like the taste.

[donna]

So now, in America, the children are to be punished for the “sins” of their fathers?

[whatisthetruth]

I agree, I’ve yet to find one that does.

[miliantnutcase]

Your joking right?

[ChetNavVet]

Personally I find Doc Mike to be entertaining at the very least.

He makes me laugh.

I did not know about the Rockstar connection, now that I know his son is an entrapeneur(sp).

I gotta try one can, My expectation will most likley be far less like his dads radio show, IOW 12 teaspoons of sugar, followed by a crash. Doc Mike is a real Doc, a nutritional Doc to boot, that his son is a purveyer of rockstar sugar filled garbage non energy drink - actually amazes me.

But despite the fact that mayhaps the apple falls from the tree near or far. I respect the Doc, I admit that I do not always agree with him, and will even go so far as to say I object to a small portion of what he says, but I truley respect him. I must point out that I could name 4 or 5 talk show hosts that I respect more. But I refuse to write Doc Mike off, never.

I have my own reasons for what I belive in, in the end, for me, he is the most likley to be attacked, and there is precedent to back up that claim, this time, in the end he was banned from England because of the idiotic lies of others.

If I were to make a comparrison, I’d say that many people that think that Beavis and Butthead should never made it to the second season. It is NOT THE SAME EXCEPT THIS:
Most of the detractors of Mike Judges cartoon NEVER WATCHED IT. Most of the detractors of Doc Mikes program (esp in England) probably never heard the man speak.
Fear?
The last point that I’ll make is the very same point that the Doc makes himself:

If they get me, You are next.

[jmaroneps37]

A nice little bit of justice here. The kid stabs Savage in the back and makes himself look like the scummer he is then get stabbed in the back by the POS he was sucking up to and gets NO benefit from his treachery. :-)