Michael Savage Issues Inane Clarification To His Inane Autism Commentary

As many of you likely already know, right-wing radio freakazoid Michael Savage recently garnered a helping of the bad sort of attention when he referred to autistic children as "brats" who, "in 99 percent of the cases... [haven't] been told to cut the act out." Well, since then he issued a "clarification" on those remarks, claiming that he spoke out only because he wanted to - get this - raise "awareness."

His statement, in part, reads:

My comments about autism were meant to boldly awaken parents and children to the medical community's attempt to label too many children or adults as "autistic."

Just as some drug companies have overdiagnosed "ADD" and "ADHD" to peddle dangerous speed-like drugs to children as young as 4 years of age, this cartel of doctors and drug companies is now creating a national panic by overdiagnosing "autism, for which there is no definitive medical diagnosis!

Many children are being victimized by being diagnosed with an "illness" which may not exist, in all cases. Just a few weeks ago doctors recommended dangerous anti-cholesterol drugs for children as young as 2 years of age! Without any scientific studies on the possible dangers of such drugs on children, corrupt doctors made this controversial, unscientific recommendation.

Well, if there's one thing I know about the HuffPo community is that they don't take kindly to the malefactions of people like Savage. And if there's a second thing I know about the HuffPo community, it's that they like the refreshing commentary of my wife, Caroline, a special education professional who has years of experience working with the autistic. [This is an inside joke from the Sunday Morning Liveblog, which - ha, ha - I guess you'll all have to start reading now! --Ed.]

Anyway, she read Savage's statement, and later clarification, and offers the following professional insights.

1. "How anyone can observe autistic children and conclude that they are "brats" completely eludes me. A great many autistic children are actually perfectly sweet, compliant children."

2. "'Drug companies' do not 'diagnose' people, let alone 'overdiagnose' people. I'm a little shocked that I actually need to explain this."

3. "Autism does not have a 'definitive medical diagnosis?' Really? Really. I'm going to have to bet Michael Savage a smack across the face with the DSM IV that there totally, totally is."

4. "In my professional opinion, I feel it's likely that this Michael Savage fellow has failed to arrive at, or at the very least, complete the formal operational stage of Piaget's Stages of Cognitive Development."

Anyway, there you have it. Tune in next week, when Michael Savage raises awareness of fire safety by burning down a Berkeley, California bathhouse.

Comments

[Ira7]

Part 2:

Jamie has Aspergers Syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder. He can't tie his shoes, run, ride a bike, or swim in water over his head--because his gross and fine motor skills are so poor, even after years of occupational therapy (since he was 5). He can speak and communicate fine--but very often, you can't understand him, because autism is a social learning disability, and no matter how many times you correct him to speak up, he doesn't instinctively have that empathy for the listener.

His likes, wants and routines are very rigid and structured, which can make life difficult at times--especially when it comes to eating. He is immediately identified by the layperson as "odd" when they see how he walks, talks, and carries himself.

But there's a very huge "but" to this:

[Norge]

Michael Savage ignorance about autism is typical and he should not even be answered for to do so is to give him¨
a type of credibility he does not deserve. He knows nothing about autism or he would never even consider making such a comment.
I work with an autistic children and I have a wide education about autism and I have done my own research of autism. To be a brat is not part of the Autistic experience and they have no consept of such human behavior.

Michael Savage is what his name tells us he is, a savage mentality.

Rolf Krogsæther

[5150]

Psych! Poison gets poured in their ears and gets shoved down my throat.

[linlou34]

I can only hope that WOR will do the right thing and send Michael Savage packing. I have called and written emails to everyplace I know to request this man to be fired. There comes a time when the right thing needs to be done and for Michael Savage, the time is now for him to be removed from the radio, TV, and any other source. He is a menace to our society!

[CamJam]

In a very small way Savage might be correct when regarding Autism and DRUGS.
DRUGS: ie Ritalin is all that Kaiser (our insurance ) has offered as a solution for our almost 5 year old non-aggressive twin son before he's been given any chance with therapy. He was diagnosed Aug 13 2007 shortly after they turned 4 years old. And all they have offered for him is DRUGS.

I just found out KAISER is NOT above Oregon's mandated HB 2918 Health Parity Law that went info affect Jan 1 2008.. That they MUST provide therapy for Autism etc. But what to do? Sue the big HMO Kaiser? We don't have the money..

But we sure as hell know our son does NOT need drugs and deserves better treatment than this.

Anyway, Savage and those like him can shove it up where the sun don't shine.

[MarkieBee]

Savage wants to be Rush Limbaugh so badly it's funny. Whatever he can do to top El Rushbo, Savage will do it. Whatever Limpbuagh says Savage has to go to the right of that. It must be tough hard being in the shadow of Limpbaugh's jowls.

[MWChris]

Savage has no idea what he is talking about.

[nellie]

Looking at this guy—he is not okay. Something's wrong. He's being used. Not excusing what he said, but he doesn't look like he knows what he's doing.

[BADEN]

He's been falling off that bar stool for many many years.

If he didn't have access to a microphone and studio, he'd been shoveled out the door of the nearest bar and into the gutter daily.

He's the barfly on the Simpsons.

He's a pathetic man who is just plain nasty.

No sympathy for the devil.

[arsphidius]

So, this moron thinks autism isn't real, that most of it was made up so pharmaceutical companies could make more money? Well, where do I sign? Someone, please, give me a simple pill that will treat my son's autism! I've spent a fortune on behavioral therapy and speech therapy, in the hope that someday my son could possibly live in a group home (that's the best-case scenario). If only I knew that the drug companies made all of this up! It's so simple when you're ignorant, isn't it Mr. Savage?

[nunzia]

Any comment about that loud mouth jerk should use his real name.
Why should we let him get away with an alias while he spouts such garbage?

[flanardiente]

It does make you wonder when a man named Michael Wiener picks "Savage" as his new improved macho media name.

[Roxanna]

People like Michael Savage make money for spewing Hate, with not logical truth behind what they say. I guess that's the American Way. Make it up as you go along.

[useyourbrain]

it's all part of the corporate consensus -- not an organized plot -- but a shared consciousness that uses fear and hate to make it "them" and "us". From politics, to news, to almost anything -- it's them or us. As GBW has so eloquently stated, "you're either with us or agin us".

[NoahVail]

Mr. Weiner likes his brats with sauerkraut and mustard. Why does this make him artistic?

[levibatgirl]

wiener's version of metro sexual. lol!

[proudliberal4truth]

As a professional who spent the last 8 years of a 30 year education career working with autistic children, I'm thoroughly pissed off at Mr. Savages stupid characterization. Suggesting that 99% of these kids simply need to be told to quit acting out is ludicrous. If Savage had seen the very real pain that I've seen in so many families dealing with an autistic child he would (hopefully) feel a sense of shame for his idiotic remark. Autism is a very real disease that HAS a definitive medical diagnosis and can be devastating for families. It's a spectrum disorder that affects all children differently, but severe autism is a heartbreaking condition to witness and to live with. And, as far as the drug companies are concerned, there is no really effective medication that I've seen that effectively treat autism. Some related conditions such as OCD are helped by meds, but overall, chemical treatments do not work.

[LittleSanityLeft]

I was hoping Savages clarification was "I'm an insensitive idiot who's brain to mouth filter has seriously malfunctioned due to public my soapbox giving me delusions of grandeur."

Now that's something I could have understood and maybe even forgiven but clarifying such inane belligerent speech about autism to just plain ol' inane speach about autism isn't even close to getting dumb @ss out of the frying pan.

[CraigWilloughby]

Little correction in your clarification....it should be butt to mouth filter.