A Savage Attack: Why Michael Savage is wrong about Autism & why Conservatives shouldn't support him.

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.” I’m not an impartial observer here. My six-year-old son has high-functioning autism. He is exactly the kind of kid that Savage attacked.

Savage’s comments were wrong and harmful. Some autistic kids do learn to read and speak, which is why misinformed people may think that they are not “genuinely handicapped.” Yes, they are. Autism is a brain disorder that affects everything from social communication to physical coordination. Autistic people have multiple problems that make it hard for them to do things that the rest of us take for granted. It may take them years to learn how to toss a ball or nod their head.

And even when they can talk, they often have odd speech patterns that instantly mark them as autistic. Other kids taunt them with the very words that Savage used. If they respond verbally, their speech problems will draw even more taunting. If they respond with their fists, they run the risk that authorities will label them as “violent.”

Once in a while, parents take the approach that Savage recommends. It never works. Screaming insults at a handicapped kid is not child-rearing. It’s child abuse.

Conservatives need to speak out against Savage. Many news stories label him as “conservative” or “right-wing,” which may prompt some people to think that we agree with him. Savage has a long history of disgusting comments, which has led David Klinghoffer to speculate that his act is a giant liberal put-on, a “lefty’s cartoon mental picture of a ranting right-wing caveman.”

The liberal website Media Matters has spearheaded the backlash against Savage’s autism comments. Understandably, conservatives might be uneasy about siding with such an outfit. Savage has tried to exploit such feelings by casting his critics as PC leftists. But just because the folks at Media Matters oppose child abuse, it doesn’t follow that we conservatives should accept it just for the sake of disagreeing with them.

Besides, liberals do not have a corner on concern for autism. California’s 1969 Lanterman Act was a landmark in serving people with autism and other disabilities. Its sponsor was a Republican, as was the governor who signed it: Ronald Reagan. In 2006, President Bush signed the Combating Autism Act. Its author was Senator Rick Santorum (R., PA).

Savage has cited respectable commentators who suggest that many kids with the autistic label are merely late talkers. His defense fails on two counts. First, these commentators don’t speak in the hateful language that he has used. Second, although they make their argument in good faith, they get things backward.

When you first notice that your child has a speech delay — around his second birthday — autism is the last thing that you want to think about. Autism is devastating and frightening. It’s more comforting to think that your kid is just starting late and will catch up soon. Clutching the “late talker” security blanket, some parents wait months or years before admitting the possibility of autism.

At that point, they may indeed conclude that a formal diagnosis could be important in getting help. States and school districts often pay for the assessment. Every autism diagnosis means thousands of dollars for services that the federal government mandates but does not fully subsidize. With tight budgets, the authorities have no incentive to encourage overdiagnosis. Once in a while, a child may incorrectly get the autism label, but underdiagnosis is probably a much bigger problem.

We need more study of the causes and prevalence of autism. At the moment, though, the issue is Michael Savage’s attack. He has since claimed that he is a nice guy who wants help to go to those who truly need it. Nonsense. If he cared about autistic kids, he wouldn’t have spewed words such as “moron” and “idiot.”

And he shouldn’t claim to be a conservative. He has cheapened political discourse and hurt defenseless children. There’s nothing conservative about that.

—- John J. Pitney Jr. is the Roy P. Crocker Professor of Government at Claremont McKenna College.

Facts and Undeniable Truths About Michael Alan Weiner, Who Goes By The Stagename "Michael Savage"

On April 18, 2007, at approximately 25 minutes into the second hour of his show, Weiner stated: "WE NEED TO STOP FUNDING THE WAR IN IRAQ AND START FUNDING THE WAR ON OUR STREETS". That's an exact quote. Weiner was apparently referring to homeless "scum" (his term).
On April 17, 2007, at approximately 45 minutes into the 1st hour of his show, Weiner said the shooting (at Virginia Tech) indicates our Gun laws are too lax.
Like Rachel Maddox on Air America, Weiner used the Virginia Tech shooting to attack President Bush throughout the 1st hour of his show on April 17th, 2007
On April 17, 2007, at approximately 20 minutes into the 3rd hour of his show, Weiner admitted he did not recognize the name Ken Blackwell.
On April 17, 2007, at approximately 28 minutes into the 3rd hour of his show, Weiner attacked President Bush for not mentioning Jesus Christ when he spoke at Virginia Tech Convocation.
Throughout his April 16 show (the day of the Virginia Tech shooting), Weiner used the massacre to repeatedly attack President Bush and Homeland Secretary Chertoff for their lack of leadership. Weiner never explained what he expected the President or the Secretary to do in the wake of the school shooting.
During the first 30 minutes of his April 16, 2007 show, Weiner called Prime Minister Blair "Tony the Coward".
Also during the first 30 minutes of his April 16, 2007 show, Weiner called the Republicans running for President in 2008 "empty-suits". Weiner singled out Mayor Rudolph Giuliani by name.
On April 16, 2007, at approximately 50 minutes into the 3rd hour of his show, Weiner claimed that Rudolph Giuliani "wants to make America like New York". Weiner offered no proof or evidence for this assertion.
Calls for the impeachment of G.W. Bush
Weiner actually did support his Congresswoman, Madame Pelosi, when she met with the Murderer Assad before he was against her meeting with Assad.
Weiner hates President Bush, except when he likes President Bush.
In the middle of his April 4, 2007 show, Weiner threw a fit and suddenly was off the air even though he had ninety minutes left.
On his Nov 20, 2006 show, Weiner hosted a love-in with Charlie Rangel.
On his Nov 17, 2006 show, Weiner played a clip from some Israeli pot smokers and then extrapolated from this clip that all of Israel have become drug addicts.
On his Nov 17, 2006 show, Weiner said that drug addicts should be executed.
Weiner advocates cutting and running in Iraq.
Weiner claims he hates San Francisco; yet, he continues to live there. (What's that about?)
Provides money to a moonbat AG candidate in a border state
Twice hosted Chuck Schumer in a blatant attempt to damage the GOP Senate Campaign during an election year.
Routinely calls our fellow Americans morons and idiots
Like his brethern on Air America, Weiner thinks multinational corporations conspire with each other
Like his brethern on Air America, Weiner thinks the oil companies conspire with each other
Supports the minimum wage
Like his brethern on Air America, Weiner h ates Conservative icons like Rush Limbaugh
Attacks other Conservatives more than Liberals
Spews hatred and vile towards our Commander in Chief during a time of war
Claims to be a sort of "Patton" on the War on Terror, but when the Israelis started bombing Lebanon, he turned into Cindy Sheehan
Routinely asks callers a question, then ignores their answer and continues on maniacal rant.
Called Cheney a liar, and said he didn't believe a word he says, ever.
Called Bush a liar.
Said the war in Iraq is purely for profit, get this, so that Haliburton can make money.
Said there's no difference between the GOP and Dems.
Called Rick Santorum "Sanitarium", and an idiot.
Said he deserves most of the credit for the ports deal not going through, and since the GOP didn't give him credit, he won't support them in any way.
Said it won't be so bad if Dems take over, outside of some minor social changes, nothing else will really change.
Called this a broken nation with corrupt leadership, making fun of Bush, and his rationale for the war on terror, and war in Iraq.
Called the GOP "the corrupt, war-mongering GOP"...
He had a caller who said he was livid with the GOP, but since the Dems are much worse, he pleaded with Savage's listeners to get out and vote... With each sentence, Savage shouted him down.
Fired by MSNBC for telling a caller to go get AIDS and die.
He believes that the Clintons and Bush family have developed some sort of consortium and political syndicate together. For the next several years, they will stiff-arm the rest of the political world and alternate family members to the Presidency. Hillary is next, then followed by Jeb.
In February 2007, Creative Artists Agency (a major talent and literary agency in Los Angeles) signed Michael Savage to represent him in all media. Within days however, it was reported that CAA had dropped Savage in response to anti-homosexual remarks he made regarding fellow CAA client.
Has said: "Organized Religion is a ponzy scheme".

Articles on Weiner

Video of Weiner

Weiner's Outburst on MSNBC

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