Savage rips gay, gets canned

New York Daily News ^ | 7/08/03 | RICHARD HUFF and CORKY SIEMASZKO

[kattracks]

MSNBC fired talk-show host Michael Savage yesterday for savaging a caller as a "Sodomite" and "a piece of garbage" who should die of AIDS.

The rabid right-winger, whose "Savage Nation" program has drawn frequent fire from gay and lesbian groups, leaped over the line during his Saturday show, network officials said.

When a gay caller joined the discussion about the travails of airplane travel, Savage interrupted and asked, "So are you one of those Sodomites?"

The caller said he was and Savage ripped into him. "You should only get AIDS and die, you pig!" he snarled.

Savage, his eyes hidden behind his trademark sunglasses, also told the caller to "go eat a sausage and choke on it."

But it was the cable network's executives who nearly choked when they heard Savage's diatribe. "Savage made an extremely inappropriate comment and the decision to cancel the program was not difficult," MSNBC spokesman Jeremy Gaines said.

The fact that Savage's show wasn't a hit made the decision easier for MSNBC, which had hoped his successful syndicated radio program would translate into big TV ratings.

"Frankly, it's about time," said Cathy Renna, spokeswoman for the gay rights group GLAAD. "Michael Savage's latest rant made the clearest possible case for why this kind of behavior has no place on any reputable news network."

There was no immediate comment from Savage, who did not respond to E-mail requests for an interview.

The cranky conservative is one of radio's hottest jocks and founder of the Paul Revere Society - based in liberal Mill Valley, Calif. - which advocates deporting illegal immigrants and eliminating entitlement programs.

Savage was hired in February, around the time MSNBC canceled liberal talk-show host Phil Donahue.

Originally published on July 8, 2003

[Porterville]

I suspect Savage is gay... does anyone agree with this assesment??? He is a funny guy, but me thinkith he be closet-homo

[Missouri]

Savage gives us a voice, and that's why he's so popular.

I'm with you on Savage. He's a flame-thrower and I guess that bothers some folks here on the FR. I grew up in a house full of yelling, threats, and name-calling so Savage makes me feel right at home.

[Texas_Dawg]

He's a flame-thrower and I guess that bothers some folks here on the FR. I grew up in a house full of yelling, threats, and name-calling so Savage makes me feel right at home.

Some of us grew up in happy, Christian homes. It's too bad Savage clearly didn't. He might be a happier, more content person had he... instead of having to yell and hate everything. Sad life imho.

[Kevin Curry]

In the eyes of Man, maybe not.

In the "eyes of man"??? It's simple arithmetic. What in the world is your problem? Asserting that the gay lifestyle morally equivalant to premarital male-female sex is like asserting that melanoma is equivalent to acne.

[Kevin Curry]

They are all decadent.

If they are "all decadent" why do you and Texas Dawg defend the decadence of the gay lifestyle?

None of the rest of us defend the decadence of the other behaviors.

It's because you have an agenda to work.

[Texas_Dawg]

It's because you have an agenda to work.

No agenda at all. I think it's a very sinful, sad lifestyle that I wouldn't want anyone to practice. Just as any sex or lust outside of heterosexual marriage. Your problem ain't with me here, Kevin. It's with the Bible. You might want to check out what it has to say about this stuff. It's a very loving, consistent book.

[Imagine]

I agree.

[Imagine]

Chamberlain, and others like him are exceptions to this discussion. As far as decadent, I repeat, decadent is decadent. Are you gay? Are you a promiscuous gay who visits bath houses in San Francisco and engages with 20,30, or 40 sexual partners an evening? Are you a gay who marches down Castro Street flaunting your sexual organ? IF so, are you a boy scout leader? Perhaps you might let me in on your secret.

[William Terrell]

What is not mentioned anywhere is what the homosexual said during the 7 second delay that allowed the techs to cut it from the air. Boortz, in a rabid criticism of Savage, played the Savage statement.

The caller is heard responding to the call for airline horror stories, then, out of the blue Savage says, "So you're one of those sodomites, eh?". No statement we heard called for even that question.

Isn't anyone interested in what that caller said, and why is everyone rushing to criticise Savage without having heard the full exchange?

[Destructor]

"The rabid right-winger, whose "Savage Nation" program has drawn frequent fire from gay and lesbian groups..."

Look for this headline a few days from now: "Savage Hit By Purse"

[Hildy]

Does anyone else think it's strange that Savage CONSTANTLY speaks, on the radio, about how he's the only one talking about Conservative Issues? I mean, really, what planet does he live on? that's what gets me. I do not think he is playing with a full deck. And who is the "Wallpaper Hanger" he keeps talking about, Hannity? I can only listen to him for a few minutes, cause as I've stated before, he embarrasses me and I think he does not represent the Conservative movement well. Although it manifests itself in anger, to me, he sounds like a very sad man. Is he married?

[William Terrell]

Does anyone else think it's strange that Savage CONSTANTLY speaks, on the radio, about how he's the only one talking about Conservative Issues?

Another way Savage constantly speaks on radio is exactly like he spoke to the homosexual in the instant case, so, why would MSMBC be shocked? Savage pulls extremely high numbers, by talking about the issues in the manner he does. MSNBC hired him because of the numbers he pulls and then doesn't want him to talk in the way that pulls the numbers in the first place?

Really?

Again, aren't we even the least bit curious about what the homosexual said to stoke him into a rage?

[Hildy]

There are some things you can do on radio that you can't do on TV. And he should know that...and so should you. Plus, if he's not getting the ratings, then goodbye to him...just like they dumped Donahue. Is it MSNBC or FOX that just hired Dennis Miller?

[William Terrell]

There are some things you can do on radio that you can't do on TV.

What would that be, wear loud clothes? And why, voice is still the most important element of a TV talk show as well as one of radio, isn't it?

I'm not so sure I should know that. The only difference between a radio and TV talk show is that I can see the host mouthing the words. The words are still there.

It couldn't be that the difference is TV is dominated by liberal idealology, could it? Liberals have wished death on specific persons on TV before and not been fired, haven't they?

[Hildy]

NO. When Alec Baldwin got on TV and told people to kill Henry Hyde and his family, it was outrageous. Michael Savage telling somebody he wishes AIDS upon them and he hopes thathe chokes on a sausage and dies is the same thing. I pray this is not what TV will look like in the future. Stop for a second and look past your point of view and ask yourself is this is the future you want.

[William Terrell]

You don't recall (forget the female's name) airing comments that Justice Thomas' mother feed him bad food so that he would die? You don't recall Nina Totenburg wishing Jesse Helms, and one of his descendents, would catch AIDS and die?

[Hildy]

It was wrong then and it's wrong now.

[onyx]

Try this thread for the caller's identity and for what wasn't heard on-air.

http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/942988/posts

[onyx]

Thread about the caller to Savage: http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/942988/posts

BTW, I replied to you (again) on the thread regarding your husband's uncle. :-)