MSNBC fires Savage after anti-gay remarks

Associated Press ^ | Jul. 7, 2003 01:00 PM

[sakic]

NEW YORK - MSNBC on Monday fired Michael Savage for anti-gay comments.

The popular radio talk show host who did a weekend TV show for the cable channel referred to an unidentified caller to his show Saturday as a "sodomite" and said he should "get AIDS and die."

[Ichneumon]

When will people like you learn?

Who are "people like me", exactly?

You can't beat the Gay-stapo with hate. They feed off of it, and use statements like yours to convince folks to get off the fence and support them.

You mean, like when people use childishly silly hatemongering labels like "the Gay-stapo"?

Wake the heck up.

I am awake. I'm also not a hypocrite.

[conservativefromGa]

Caught his show for a few minutes one time on PMSNBC. Didn't really spark any interest. Weird guy.

[L.N. Smithee]

Explain.

Being a pariah doesn't sell books or get you radio ratings. Being good at what you do does, and if you are polarizing enough (easy for a conservative guy), THEN you become a pariah.

Savage has proved that he's not good at TV, and now he's gone. Over and out, stick a fork in him, he's done. All he had to do was control his mouth, and he couldn't manage that. THIS WILL NOT HELP.

[djjava]

Howard Stern does stuff like this all the time.. what's the differnce?

[sakic]

Free Speech it was once called

Your non-understanding of the concept of free speech makes it easier to absorb any criticism you might toss at those that are brighter than you.

[Dave S]

for the intelligence impaired, the above is a joke. I never really said any such thing to anyone

Thats the difference between you and Savage.

[SamAdams76]

Even before this incident, Savage rubbed me the wrong way. There are many talk show hosts and pundits who represent the conservative viewpoint in a civilized, yet uncompromising manner, such as Sean Hannity and Ann Coulter to name just a couple.

I place Michael Savage in the same category as Howard Stern. He makes up for his lack of talent by being as outrageous and attention-getting as he can be. In other words, Savage is just a shock-jock. Some here may remember the Robert Downey Jr. show from about 10-15 years back. For a short time, he was the hottest ticket in town. But in order to keep his audience, he had to keep getting more and more outrageous. Eventually, he became a laughingstock and people stopped taking him seriously (not that many did in the first place).

[sakic]

Savage has the courage to tell it like it is and I think more people should stand behind him.

Was your joke intentional?

[Ohioan]

Michael Savage is the Anti-Morford. Every time he opens his mouth he makes Conservatives look stupid.

Michael Savage does not make Conservatives look stupid. He is obviously very intelligent, although--like Rush--has an inflated ego, that sets him up for a certain number of irrelevant attacks. He, also, shows rather bad manners and an uncouth use of vulgarisms, in his flow of rhetoric. Although that makes him less than an ideal spokesman, he is still entertaining, and on balance, definitely helps the cause.

I do not agree with some aspects of Savage's foreign policy, but like his stand on immigration very much. I also think he does a very good job in pointing out that "Liberalism" with its "diversity" babble, and attacks on traditional faith an morality, is undermining American Society in an irreparable manner. My conclusion is that Savage could be much more effective, if he had better manners. But one has to take one's allies as one finds them. The idea of Conservatives denouncing him, makes no sense whatsoever. One can recognize his vices and still respect him as an overall asset.

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

[truenospinzone]

Howard Stern does stuff like this all the time.. what's the differnce?

Howard Stern doesn't expect to be taken seriously...

[af_vet_rr]

This will only help him. He is now a pariah again.

I was thinking the same thing. From what he said, sounded like he was looking to get fired (contract problems, and he wanted out perhaps?) or he was looking for the publicity.

[Dr. Frank fan]

[One wonders why they hired him in the first place. Presumably, just so they could play "gotcha" and fire him] Others here also have expressed similar opinions. Let me assure you that the people who program TV would never do such a thing. It would get them fired and TV is a land of trying to survive.

To be fair, I'm sure you're right. My tongue was half planted in cheek when I made that comment.

The problem is, if "gotcha" isn't the explanation, then the only remaining ones are sheer stupidity and/or incompetence. Because like I said, it was completely and totally predictable (even people who like Savage would admit this!) that Savage would eventually make a comment like this one. And if MSNBC knew that, and deems such comments to be against their standards and fire-worthy, why did they hire him? Incompetence. Or if they didn't know that, why not? Stupidity. Why didn't they uh investigate Savage a little (listen to his radio show) before giving him the forum? Incompetence.

Incompetence and stupidity, or "gotcha" conspiracy.. take your pick. ;-)

[Dave S]

I think of him as the "Right's" "Off the Wall" answer to the "Left's" numerous "Shock Jocks"!

Maybe a more appropriate comparison would be that fat Moore creap.

[ffusco]

I think the forthcoming public outrage about his comment might boost his ratings on the radio. He is an entertainer, not a journalist. A shock-jock.

[JoeGar]

I preferred Savage's radio show over his TV show. It was apparent that MSNBC made him be more politically correct than he is on radio.

[L.N. Smithee]

Good point. MSNBC would never fire any Bolshevik left winger like Malveaux for making the most outragious statements.

Everyone knows there is a double-standard -- in fact, that is what a competent conservative commentator would point out. But now, Savage has sunk to Malveaux's level.

He can no longer claim higher ground.

[fishtank]

Thanks.

Great reminder.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Some here may remember the Robert Downey Jr. show from about 10-15 years back.

Morton Downey Jr.

[The Wizard]

they were looking for an out after the first show when he called hildebeast a pig.....

Call fox news....

[The Wizard]

they were looking for an out after the first show when he called hildebeast a pig.....

Call fox news....