Exclusive interview: Michael Savage defends his controversial remarks on autism

Oh for the love of god I need to go into the field of radio if this jackass can be allowed on the air....

Peter Thorne,

Your interview proves to all that are a hero for our children. Thank you and thank your station for creating a forum for such an important interview. Mr. Savage is misinformed. For several years scientists have been able to see numerious differences in the brains of people with autism, the most well known being the consistant misfiring of mirror neurons.

It is interesting to me that Mr. Savage has a sibling who decades ago was sentenced to an institution for a developmental disability(of which autism is the most common). Savage is right to scream at the medical establishment for removing his loved one from society in
what passed for "treatment" for autism back in the day. I feel sorry that he lived in a time when society refused to embrace the people with developmental disabilities in his family. This fact I believe, is the emotional truth behind Mr. Savage's cruel rant.

The first amendment is a pillar of our democracy. However, to use the first amendment as cover to attack children who are disabled proves Mr. Savage to be less than human.

Enough said,

Rosanne Walden

This is an attack on talk radio by 'media matters'.I don't know why I even bother typing this because it's obvious that the cw11 blog previewer is only allowing anti-savage comments on this page.

Yeah,I'm talking to you.Your divisive and vindictive media bias seems to be working doesn't it? How come the Jesse Jackson,"cut this nigga off!",thing disappears but Michael Savage is portrayed as a social pariah? keep this up and we'll see where this country will be in twenty years...then the joke will be on you!

Michael Savage is a complete jackass who needs to be fired and have his ass royally kicked!!!!!

Savage doesn't have the brains or the medical knowledge to know what the hell he is talking about!!!!!

Thank you, Peter Thorne, for your efforts to get this basket case to commit to the inappropriate comments he made!!!!!

I fully support Jim Watkins and his family as well as ALL of the parents of Autistic children. I thank you deeply for your efforts to clear this persons badly damaged brain!!!!!

As I wrote to Jim Watkins after the original report, Michael Savage is a perfect example of a person who suffers from constipation of the brain and diahrrea of the mouth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mitch Wolper

This guy right here is an ingnorant jackass who doesn't. Know what in the world he is talking because I have a brother that has autism and my brother is a sweetheart and wouldn't hurt a fly ....and we have a wonderful father that cares about us so instead of kids with autism cutting the act out why don't you cut the crap off

Proof that Michael Savage is a wussy little bully hiding behind a microphone. He wasn't man enough to go through life with the last name "Weiner." And when he changed it he chose a self-parodistic new name he undoubtedly thought was the height of macho.

As Bugs would say, "what a maroon!"

As a person with HFA who needs support and help after my parents pass away I deem the radio man a threat. I have tried to live independently before and it did not work out, I could no get to the grocery store and was isolated. The mans ignorance is a threat to my life and the current services I get through The Redwood Coast Regional Center that make me less isolated and have less anxiety for when my parents pass. My I.Q is high in one part but educationally I also need help. The world is just becoming more accessible to me with awareness and social programs, to have it taken away becuase I'm higher I.Q with autism would be nothing less the torture. I'd like to talk to that big man radio host on the air. I come from a military family so I know about my freedom of speech.

I think that Savage should be put off the air. Comments like Savage made about autistic children, he should be ashamed of himself and just reitre to never never land.

mike is right on. autism is being misdiagnosed by teachers , quack droctors and the people in it for the big money . the reporter's agenda was
to push his left wing agenda for media matters. he's twisting the story, does not know or care about autism. he would not listen to mikes piont. thats reporting?

I have a 13-year old child with Autism, I am also the Chair. of the Consumer Council of Bernard Fineson DDSO, our Queens' organization that oversees the services and programs of the NYS OMRDD, for people with a wide variety of challanges.

The 'hate-mongering' of Savage and his diatribes and lack of information of the Autistic Spectrum (named such as a result of the varying degrees of this genetic-neurological disorder) is nothing but dangerous.
Everyone is entitled to his opinion, but, there is an appropriate approach and a measure of civil expression, in a public forum. The issue I find most egregious with Savages' comments is his 'bulldog' rhetoric and 'heavy-handed' manner of speaking as a purported 'voice of reason', when in fact it is all just personal opinion, unfortunately listened and accepted by many folks as facts. That's the main danger here, with this guy.

Lets' call it for what it is....personal Dogma. Nothing more.
With all the progress that has been made in diagnosing and treating the folks on the Austistic Spectrum, do not let one malevolent voice influence our confidence in our children, or in our selves.

Get rid of this guy, post-haste.

As a person with a stepson who has been diagnosed with autism, I completely AGREE with Mr. Savage! Not to say that all children who have been diagnosed with autism don't actually have it, but I do agree that some of them are misdiagnosed and it is a matter of parents being too damn easy on their kids. I do believe that the little tantrums can be controlled with sternness. It doesn't help if when a child acts crazy, for the parent to just say, "Oh it's because they have autism"...it makes no sense! For so many children to be diagnosed with autism compared to years before is just a quick excuse for parents not to do their job and control their kids.

As a person with a stepson who has been diagnosed with autism, I completely AGREE with Mr. Savage! Not to say that all children who have been diagnosed with autism don't actually have it, but I do agree that some of them are misdiagnosed and it is a matter of parents being too damn easy on their kids. I do believe that the little tantrums can be controlled with sternness. It doesn't help if when a child acts crazy, for the parent to just say, "Oh it's because they have autism"...it makes no sense! For so many children to be diagnosed with autism compared to years before is just a quick excuse for parents not to do their job and control their kids.

Wonderful interview!!! As a mother with a young autistic child, I cried over Savage's comments. His ignorance hurt me deeply for the pain my family and I feel daily is not simply due to behavioral issues, a lack of discipline, nor the lack of a father figure. Savage's comments dismiss years of hard work, tears and great pain- crushed dreams, struggles and great financial distress. In fact, our entire family is so very involved in my son- grandparents, uncles and so forth- all involved in my son's strengths and weaknesses, his education, therapies, research and diagnoses. We are not fools, I am certainly not trusting of the medical community, are well educated parents actively involved with our son's situation. We knew something was not developmentally correct with my son at a very young- we educated ourselves and researched greatly, and in no way was an autistic diagnosis made quickly.

What I am greatly concerned about is I struggle daily with so many, especially with people of "normal" functioning children, in educating them about my son's differences and what makes him special. Many do not understand, do not "get it" and most likely share the ignorant viewpoints of Savage. Most want to avoid the topic of Autism because it makes them uncomfortable, or treat my son as if he has an incurable and highly infectious disease. A child that stims on the playground? Flaps his hands, patterns- doesn't play age-appropriately? Has poor receptive speech as well as poor fine motor skills? This is all due to our parenting? Ridiculous. The stares and the constant comments from others are harmful to the whole of our society. Savage is feeding into that mentality by spewing more ignorance.

I can state that for every autistic child I have met, which have been many, there is no way one could stand there and agree that they have been misdiagnosed, or are the products of many of Savage's claims. How many parents are out there, not educated, or agree with Savage's comments, to only inappropriately handle their child which may have an autistic spectrum disorder? Yell at the child? Call them names- make a "man" out of them? What about spank the child? That should fix them! That's right! 99% of those misdiagnosed children just need some yelling and possibly a spanking to fix them! I can't even imagine- the thoughts are too heavy to bare. To dispense such inaccurate information may be Savage's right, however it is my right to require ownership over his comments and to discuss his lack of education and ignorance. It is my right to pursue Savage if I so choose to defend my son, and my family. It is my right to fight for my son who cannot fight for himself so society understands his pain and torment. No one would wish an Autism Spectrum Disorder on anyone. Anything that parents can do to help their diagnosed children they try to do, in hope and love.

Thank you Jim Watkins and Peter Thorne, and CW11 News.

As a person with a stepson who has been diagnosed with autism, I completely AGREE with Mr. Savage! Not to say that all children who have been diagnosed with autism don't actually have it, but I do agree that some of them are misdiagnosed and it is a matter of parents being too damn easy on their kids. I do believe that the little tantrums can be controlled with sternness. It doesn't help if when a child acts crazy, for the parent to just say, "Oh it's because they have autism"...it makes no sense! For so many children to be diagnosed with autism compared to years before is just a quick excuse for parents not to do their job and control their kids.

As a person with a stepson who has been diagnosed with autism, I completely AGREE with Mr. Savage! Not to say that all children who have been diagnosed with autism don't actually have it, but I do agree that some of them are misdiagnosed and it is a matter of parents being too damn easy on their kids. I do believe that the little tantrums can be controlled with sternness. It doesn't help if when a child acts crazy, for the parent to just say, "Oh it's because they have autism"...it makes no sense! For so many children to be diagnosed with autism compared to years before is just a quick excuse for parents not to do their job and control their kids.

As a person with a stepson who has been diagnosed with autism, I completely AGREE with Mr. Savage! Not to say that all children who have been diagnosed with autism don't actually have it, but I do agree that some of them are misdiagnosed and it is a matter of parents being too damn easy on their kids. I do believe that the little tantrums can be controlled with sternness. It doesn't help if when a child acts crazy, for the parent to just say, "Oh it's because they have autism"...it makes no sense! For so many children to be diagnosed with autism compared to years before is just a quick excuse for parents not to do their job and control their kids.

As a person with a stepson who has been diagnosed with autism, I completely AGREE with Mr. Savage! Not to say that all children who have been diagnosed with autism don't actually have it, but I do agree that some of them are misdiagnosed and it is a matter of parents being too damn easy on their kids. I do believe that the little tantrums can be controlled with sternness. It doesn't help if when a child acts crazy, for the parent to just say, "Oh it's because they have autism"...it makes no sense! For so many children to be diagnosed with autism compared to years before is just a quick excuse for parents not to do their job and control their kids.

As a person with a stepson who has been diagnosed with autism, I completely AGREE with Mr. Savage! Not to say that all children who have been diagnosed with autism don't actually have it, but I do agree that some of them are misdiagnosed and it is a matter of parents being too damn easy on their kids. I do believe that the little tantrums can be controlled with sternness. It doesn't help if when a child acts crazy, for the parent to just say, "Oh it's because they have autism"...it makes no sense! For so many children to be diagnosed with autism compared to years before is just a quick excuse for parents not to do their job and control their kids.

As a person with a stepson who has been diagnosed with autism, I completely AGREE with Mr. Savage! Not to say that all children who have been diagnosed with autism don't actually have it, but I do agree that some of them are misdiagnosed and it is a matter of parents being too damn easy on their kids. I do believe that the little tantrums can be controlled with sternness. It doesn't help if when a child acts crazy, for the parent to just say, "Oh it's because they have autism"...it makes no sense! For so many children to be diagnosed with autism compared to years before is just a quick excuse for parents not to do their job and control their kids.

As a person with a stepson who has been diagnosed with autism, I completely AGREE with Mr. Savage! Not to say that all children who have been diagnosed with autism don't actually have it, but I do agree that some of them are misdiagnosed and it is a matter of parents being too damn easy on their kids. I do believe that the little tantrums can be controlled with sternness. It doesn't help if when a child acts crazy, for the parent to just say, "Oh it's because they have autism"...it makes no sense! For so many children to be diagnosed with autism compared to years before is just a quick excuse for parents not to do their job and control their kids.

As a person with a stepson who has been diagnosed with autism, I completely AGREE with Mr. Savage! Not to say that all children who have been diagnosed with autism don't actually have it, but I do agree that some of them are misdiagnosed and it is a matter of parents being too damn easy on their kids. I do believe that the little tantrums can be controlled with sternness. It doesn't help if when a child acts crazy, for the parent to just say, "Oh it's because they have autism"...it makes no sense! For so many children to be diagnosed with autism compared to years before is just a quick excuse for parents not to do their job and control their kids.

As a person with a stepson who has been diagnosed with autism, I completely AGREE with Mr. Savage! Not to say that all children who have been diagnosed with autism don't actually have it, but I do agree that some of them are misdiagnosed and it is a matter of parents being too damn easy on their kids. I do believe that the little tantrums can be controlled with sternness. It doesn't help if when a child acts crazy, for the parent to just say, "Oh it's because they have autism"...it makes no sense! For so many children to be diagnosed with autism compared to years before is just a quick excuse for parents not to do their job and control their kids.

Evidently Krystal has a problem. Are you agreeing with Mike Savage's comment, because it is your stepson? Evidently you have never been a "real" parent, just a bitter individual. Your opinion tells me that maybe you were never diagnosed correctly. Maybe you should not be quick in saying that the reporter has no knowledge of "autism", he works with someone that is living with a child that has it. You, Michael Savage and the other two "idiots" that posted negative comments should fly off to land of makebelieve.

As a teacher of students with Autism for 28 years, I find Michael Savages comments sad and frustrating. There have been great strides made in the treatment of Autism. Too bad there have been no great gains in the treatment of hate.

The fact is Autism is not a fraud, and it is not an excuse for parents not to do their job. I have a 4 year old Autistic daughter who is non-verbal. She struggles daily to communicate and perform basic tasks. Parents with autistic children work hard every day. Our children require speech, occupational, physical, and behavioral therapies, and contrary to Mr Savages' belief, we have to pay for these services. Many insurance companies will not cover these treatments, getting a diagnosis of autism so that the state can assist is extremely difficult, and no, there is no magic pill to cure Autism. So who exactly is it that is benefiting from this diagnosis? Calling autistic children, brats, morons, and idiots is unconscionable. He is an adult and despite his personal opinions he should know better than to attack a child, disabled or not.

I am the parent of a 5 year old autistic child who is devastated at the ignorant comment made by that SOB Savage.He is obviously uneducated and cruel.The fact that he would say that autism is due to lack of parenting skills or discipline is outrageous.Even worse is the fact that he says that autistic children are brats,morons and idiots is incredibly insensitive and mean.My child has a neurological and developmental disorder that affects his communication, his socialization, his behavior, his emotions, his learning and many other things.I have to deal with many people who dont understand my childs behavior everyday.The comments,the looks, the stares is very hurtful.I only wish they new how difficult,stressful and challenging it is to care for an autistic child.He is non-verbal and still in diapers. He receives physical therapy,occupational therapy, speech therapy and applied behavioral analysis and is still in great need of more help and no its not a "spanking" or a "cut it out" "grow up""act like a man" "dont be an idiot" comment like F...Face Savage said.I think he needs to go to school, do some research,read a book and maybe ,just maybe he'll learn something about autism,and while hes at that maybe he should go to the hospital and get a heart.

Wow, does the reporter have ears? I thought Mr. Savage made his point quite clear that he was not talking about legitimately diagnosed kids with autism but rather the group of kids that are misdiagnosed with the condition and are then treated with a cocktail of drugs and used as guinea pigs by the pharmacutical industry when they just might be late developers or worse overly intelligent kids that are just late talkers. The 99% claim was not meant to mean that 99 out of 100 kids with autism don't actually have it as the reporter would have you believe. I can't believe so many people can get in such a huff without ever listening to the comments he actually made. Not all kids are walking and talking by 2 years old. Too many parents these days are being told that their kid is borderline autistic or has ADD. They then use this diagnosis as a crutch for why their kid is different rather than just applying some good parenting skills. I believe this was the overall point Mr. Savage was trying to make. Too bad the reporter was just trying to play gotcha with all those quotes from people that also heard Mr. Savage's remarks out of context as well.

I tuned into his radio show today and he spoke to the President of one of the leading autism advocacy groups and unlike the reporter who refused to comprehend his actual comments, she seemed to agree with a lot of what Mr. Savage had to say on the subject of the misdiagnosed kids.

The radio man used what I have heard called bait and switch. He used words that intended to make autism like it was an act then went on likely knowing or even trying to outrage people to get a reaction then twisting things. He said things concerning autism like cut the act out but then used statements that seemed to protect people who really do have it.

Basically his statements were an act to get more
listeners and attention to himself. I do not know that he has apologized in general to anyone whom he may have hurt emotionally so called not intending to. To me it's just a game he is playing to make money by saying things to make people confused and have the ability to turn it around as if it wasn't a bad thing.

Thing is his approach on the whole matter was destructive which is how he likely talks and thinks in general.

Politics & Autism

If anyone might reply to me in a way that is more neutral and overall descriptive I might find a satisfactory conclusion in my thought.

1. Autism to me is something that should only be diagnosed when traits (symptomatology) are manifest enough in which the result is an impairment in ones life substantially enough to warrant intervention in early development and or in adulthood when normalcy (so called normality) cannot be achieved reasonably without supports because of symptoms. Otherwise the quite frank reality of the stigma when cognitively able to be thoughtful of them cam have an effect to self-esteem but the label might assist with required services which are positive over the stigma that is negative. So in my understanding this was the intent of the radio man (Savage). However his personality seems destructive and emotionally hostile and full of anger in tone of voice.

2. These politics of conservative and polar opposite liberal are indeed effecting opinions. However this cannot be said for sure in all cases. Due to this bias I have thought that I shouldn't really pay much attention to some types of expressions. Although understanding this all requires ultimately the explanation that the "conservatives" will advocate for integration and support programs as do liberals. I must say I don't know whom supports what, liberal or conservative.

Otherwise

This "controversy" I ask for an explanation because as a person with it whom can think for himself I expect that political fighting won't effect my quality of life such as social and disability to work day programs because I am intelligent. So when said and done I hope that both sides whom seem to have potential effects in my life fully know that this is entirely unfair overall to myself and others with it. I find this overall to be disturbing and don't mind arguing in public forum issues relevant to myself but if your intent is to call me an idiot, a fool and ask me to snap out of my mental being the conversation ends.

This whole thing is disturbing.

Wait untill the statistic comes out that Autism is now affecting one in 70. People the Canary in the mine is DEAD and we are all standing around talking about it. My son is 10 and the last time he spoke was when he got his shots for school. "My name is Tanner. My name is Tanner." Mr. Savage you are correct that we should be amazed at the numbers... But you went completely the wrong direction in your hate for the medical community (Big Pharma). We created this mess through things in the environment, things we eat, and things we inject. Genetic disorders do not explode overnight (in this case 20 years)... I wish I could ask my son's Doctor but he committed suicide. I guess I am sticking with Jim on this one. Thanks again for all your comments and support.

I think Peter Thorne did a nice job of staying calm while Savage tried to frustrate him with senseless answers. What I hope people notice is that while Savage makes his hurtful comments, he has the gift of making his voice sound reasonable and knowledgeable. That makes him a dangerous person. People who don't think for themselves or are unwilling to find out for themselves what's true about children with autism may not realize that they're followers of someone who uses his "gift" to make fools out of them.

I think Peter Thorne did a nice job of staying calm while Savage tried to frustrate him with senseless answers. What I hope people notice is that while Savage makes his hurtful comments, he has the gift of making his voice sound reasonable and knowledgeable. That makes him a dangerous person. People who don't think for themselves or are unwilling to find out for themselves what's true about children with autism may not realize that they're followers of someone who uses his "gift" to make fools out of them.

I have determined Savage to be illogical to fact and grossly intolerant of the behaviors relevant to autism he doesn't understand. I have HFA and thank goodness that all the parents protested because otherwise a future of hope for integration would be less possible.

Michael Savage says that "99 percent of kids with autism are faking it" and that they should be slapped back to normality.

And then he calls himself a "compassionate conservative".

Mr. Watkins / Mr. Thorne:

After it's all said and done, his idiotic remarks - whether directly referring to those afflicted with autism or not - probably provided the best press he'd received in a long time.

Our media try to produce the next Howard Stern (sadly) in an effort to turn the quickest dollar. With no real ethical guidelines to follow, the result is this sad, over-ripened, one-trick pony who's missed his trick. Shock value comentary is all he has left after everyone else has sailed that boat.

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I really believe Mr. Savage speaks out of pure ignorance and parents of autistic children I know you are all stronger than that to let his blatant comments get to you. If you let them get to you, you are letting all the Savages of the world get to you.

I would like to say that Mr. Watkins I watch you on the news and really enjoy your sincerity, all the best to your son.

To Mr. Savages's comments on children being mis-diagnosed by quack doctors...I ran around for 2 years taking my son from psychologist to psychiatrist as well as a neurologist and behavioral specialist because at 3 years old he was still not speaking at all. This process drained me emotionally, physically and financially. My son is now 7 years old, still wears a diaper, receives physical, occuptation, speech and ABA therapy which only has helped him to point and tell us one word answers. Most of the time we have to guess what his needs are. I think the worst part is when he has an ear infection or hurts himself in school he is not able to tell us, we just have to guess and research for ourselves.

Parents with Autistic children work extremely hard every day and receive looks from strangers when the child has tantrums in public. These kids are not brats or idiots, they have tantrums which autism children have and are no fault of the parents.

To the woman who wrote she has a stepson with Autism and agrees with Mr. Savage, please take some time to read up about Autism. Parents of autistic children live through enough critism each and every day. The correct word you are trying to use is STRUCTURE. Any child with autism needs to have structure in his/her life or else they will start to have tantrums which can range to out of control behavior. Sterness is not the key. If you use sterness with a child that has autism that's like telling someone that's about to jump off a building "come down from there right now!@!" the jumper is more likely to jump rather than come down right? You need to use simple reasoning, understanding and most of all love. Children with Autism are very affectionate and can see right through a person that is angry with them and instead of calming down their tantrums will increase. The other thing you need to have is patience, children with autism require a lot of patience and love and understanding. All my wishes go out to all the families struggling with autism each day.