Savage and Autism

Michael Savage continues to stir controversy with his comments on autism.  Last week on his radio show, The Savage Nation, Michael Savage gave his own definition of Autism: 

"You know what autism is? 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." 

He also described it as the "illness du jour" and said "They don't have a father around to tell them, 'Don't act like a moron.'".

You can hear him on YouTube here 

Newsday are reporting that members of the National Autism Group, "will also protest today in front of the Manhattan studios of WOR710, which airs "The Savage Nation," calling for a national boycott of Savage's radio show, which originates in San Francisco." 

Steve Young in the Huffington post says, "rarely does anything said on talk radio ever cause me to lose my sense of humor. Until this past Wednesday." 

He continues, "There's so much I wanted to say, not only to pound some actual knowledge into whatever Savage uses for a brain, but also to defend those families who have been besieged by the heartbreak and hardship of living with someone, especially their children, with Autism." 

He then publishes a thoughtful and poignant open letter to Michael Savage from his son, who has an autistic daughter. 

EmaxHealth points out that firing him won't deny him a platform.  "If Savage is pulled from this station today, he'll be on two new stations tomorrow.  No, this is yet another lesson that we learned in kindergarten that still applies today. If everyone just ignored Michael Savage, he would eventually go away. Or better yet - have a good chuckle at his expense." 

MarketWatch are quoting Jim Ward, founder and president of ADA Watch and the National Coalition for Disability Rights (NCDR) saying, "people with disabilities, parents, family members, friends and advocates across the nation are outraged over Savage's latest attack on people with disabilities. His despicable assault on children with autism -- calling them "frauds" and "brats" -- is rightly being condemned as hateful and bigoted." 

MarketWatch also point out some of Michael Savage's previous controversial comments, including: 

The "handicapped" workers at the Phoenix Cafe would "drool" and put dung in diners food. (2002) 

When he was younger, he "touched the hand of a midget [Dwarf]," it really "freaked him out". (2004) 

High levels of asthma impacting minority children was because "the children got extra welfare if they were disabled.