Autism is a fad, says Michael Savage

I just returned from Netroots Nation very late last night, and though we "liberal activist bloggers" were sometimes "in" the news, most of us didn't have much chance to follow the news. I won't be able to do so yet either, as I'll be at a camp all week working with children, many of whom fall on the autism spectrum.

When I was in Austin, I worked some in the Exhibitor Hall (for Northwest Progressive Institute), to help cover my registration. There I met the woman from Autism Speaks who set up the special diet for the child of Jenny McCarthy. Her book has been one of the latest to be widely read by parents of autistic children. This woman was there to amp up the attention being paid to the autism/vaccine controversy and to spotlight the positions of the Presidential candidates in the next election. The controversy has not been settled, and both candidates spoke without being fully aware of all of the issues.

At the same time, I heard about this:

Top Radio Host: Autism Is "A Fraud, a Racket"

Host Michael Savage Mocks Those Living with Autism and Smears Minorities with Asthma

Washington, DC - Media Matters for America today condemned nationally syndicated conservative radio host Michael Savage for incendiary comments directed at those who live with autism and their families. During the same broadcast, Savage, the No. 3 talk radio host in America, also attacked those in "the minority community" who suffer from asthma.

"What Michael Savage said was foolish, mean-spirited, and hurtful," said J. Jioni Palmer, spokesman for Media Matters. "It's unfortunate he would use his radio program to make fun of and belittle these kids. Instead of ridicule and cheap shots, the children suffering from autism and asthma and their families need support and compassion."

During the July 16 edition of his show, Savage claimed that autism is "[a] fraud, a racket. ... 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.' "

Savage also stated: "[W]hy was there an asthma epidemic amongst minority children? Because I'll tell you why: The children got extra welfare if they were disabled, and they got extra help in school. It was a money racket. Everyone went in and was told [fake cough], "When the nurse looks at you, you go [fake cough], "I don't know, the dust got me." "See, everyone had asthma from the minority community."

Talk Radio Network, which syndicates The Savage Nation, claims that Savage is heard on more than 350 radio stations. The Savage Nation reaches at least 8.25 million listeners each week, according to Talkers Magazine, making it one of the most listened-to talk radio shows in the nation, behind only The Rush Limbaugh Show and The Sean Hannity Show.

So here are the action items, if you think this is ridiculous, cruel and destructive:

Find your local Savage Station, log into our calling tool and tell your Savage station manager what you think of Savage's tirade. There you can also hear the direct audio transcript (if you can stand it.)

The Savage Nation reaches at least 8.25 million listeners each week, according to Talkers Magazine, making it one of the most listened-to talk radio shows in the nation, behind only The Rush Limbaugh Show and The Sean Hannity Show.

Your voice is critical in holding Savage accountable for his comments. I hope you take the time to call and tell those running the station exactly what you think of Michael Savage.

Media Matters

(This article is cross-posted at Democracy Cell Project, where I have a Monday column.)

Comments

[Savage stands by remarks]

July 22, 2008
Savage Stands by Autism Remarks
By JACQUES STEINBERG
Michael Savage, the incendiary radio host who last week characterized
nearly every child with autism as ?a brat who hasn?t been told to cut
the act out,? said in a telephone interview on Monday that he stood by
his remarks and had no intention of apologizing to those advocates and
parents who have called for his firing over the matter.

?My main point remains true,? Mr. Savage, whose radio audience ranks in
size behind only those of Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, said in the
interview Monday. ?It is an overdiagnosed medical condition. In my
readings, there is no definitive medical diagnosis for autism.?

On the July 16 installment of his program, which is broadcast every
weekday, Mr. Savage suggested that ?99 percent of the cases? of autism
were a result of lax parenting. He told his audience: ?They don?t have
a father around to tell them: ?Don?t act like a moron. You?ll get
nowhere in life.? Among the other admonitions he felt autistic children
should be hearing, he said, were: ? ?Straighten up. Act like a man.
Don?t sit there crying and screaming, idiot.? ?

Asked Monday if he actually believed that 99 out every 100 cases of autism
were misdiagnosed, Mr. Savage conceded that figure was ?a little high.?
He added, ?It was hyperbole.?

But he said he was proud to have prodded discussion on the subject, and
planned to give over his entire show on Monday ? broadcast live from
northern California from 3 to 6 p.m., Pacific time ? to parents and other
callers who wished to disagree with him and to educate him.

- more -

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/22/business/media/22sava.html?hp

[Slugbug]

test supposed to detect predisposition for autism

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/combimatrixs-newly-updated-autism-test/story.aspx?guid=%7B87D93856-AF4D-477C-9FE4-AE0D2998503C%7D&dist=hppr

[Slugbug]

Check this out - cells from deceased autistic children can be put with frog cells, to study the neural patterns and get clues to the disorder

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14374-humanfrog-hybrids-reveal-autisms-secrets.html?DCMP=ILC-hmts&nsref=news2_head_dn14374