Jul 21, 2008 7:38 pm US/Pacific
Radio Host Savage Defends His Autism Comments
Parents Of Autistic Children Hold Demonstrations Outside Radio Station
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Conservative radio host Michael Savage is about to feel the wrath of parents of children with autism. A massive protest is planned for Manhattan on July 21.
AP
"Do you want to live in a world where one comment that offends somebody costs you you're career? We're moving into the realm of the Soviet Union."
The heavy metal music, the caustic demeanor, the self-descriptive name - talk radio's Michael Savage is on the defense Monday for suggesting many children diagnosed with autism could be faking.
It started with Savage's comments:
"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."
Parents of children diagnosed with the disorder want him fired, demonstrating outside the radio stations that carry his show.
"Autism is 24/7 it takes a toll on the entire family and everyone tries to do to raise a child with autism. As hard as we try to hear some jerk come out and make those comments, it's devastating," said Marty Schwartson.
"Don't act like a moron; you'll get nowhere in life. Stop acting like a putz; don't sit there crying and screaming idiot, autism, everybody has an illness," Savage said on his show.
"They're innocent children that this is happening to. They didn't ask for this to happen. And for someone to come out on a nationally syndicated radio station and call them names is just appalling," said Lynn Filosa.
Autism is however real, although it's cause is unknown. Reached by phone in San Francisco, Savage insisted his comments were deliberate overstatements to underline to over-diagnosis of autism in America.
"I certainly don't think 99 out of a hundred children are falsely diagnosed but it certainly got people's attention," Savage told CBS station WCBS-TV in New York City.
That it did. America's number three talk radio voice claims the controversy is orchestrated by 'Stalinist' media watchdogs. His outlet here in town, WOR said Savage's opinions are his own and management "regrets any consternation that his remarks may have caused."
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