ABC News' Dan Childs on Michael Savage and Autism

Dan Childs of ABC News has run a piece about Michael Savage and his diatribe against people with autism. Savage called those of us with autistic children "frauds" and suggested that we covet the autism label so that we can bilk the government for special services and money. You can read the ABC piece HERE. I'm kind of proud of the last line in the piece (thanks, Dan!) where I'm quoted giving the monster charity Autism Speaks a bit of advice. (They took Mr. Savage to task with a silk glove on their website, which angered many of their supporters, who expected Autism Speaks to have a stronger voice.)

Who declared open season on people with autism? Last week it was a dingbat radio host from Cincinnati (that bastion of liberalism) agreeing that our kids shouldn't be in restaurants as they are prone to tantrums. This week it's nationally known Michael Savage.

Autism ain't for wimps. Whether you're a pre-verbal toddler or a high functioning forty year old, autism has challenges most folks can not fathom. How about a little compassion? The autism parents I know work tirelessly to teach their children how to navigate the world appropriately. We don't have just to instill right from wrong in our kids, we have to break down the steps of almost everything they do, from morning until night. We teach in our sleep, for crying out loud.

My Lord, are there really so many people angry at our unruly, poorly raised, undisciplined children? The comment trail on the ABC article was disheartening.

Here's a gem from a reader who is likely busy touching up his "Dubya" sticker on the back of his Mercury Grand Marquis.

here, here for savage. if you don't like what he is saying, change the frigin' station!!!! he has his right to voice his opinion. and he is right to a certain degree. his percentages may be way off, but he is right. when parents lost the right to disciplining a child, they ran-a-muck. then parents concentrated on the careers. the kids were lost to do what they wanted. instead of a "time out" these kids need a good crack on the behind and told to sit down and read the book and explain it to me when you are done. instead, doctors would rather label them adhd or autistic and make it easier on the parents to deal with. just give them a pill and everything will be all right. bull crap!! discipline is the key word

Ah yes, more discipline is always the answer. Right now, I look like a heroin addict. My arms are covered in tiny dotted scabs. Why? I don't ride "the white horse" (although autism has driven more than a few of us to a not-quite-5 o'clock glass of Chardonnay) my youngest daughter has taken to pinching when she's stressed. I could take her out to the shed and tan her fanny until it was raw. She would still pinch me, until I figure out how to re-direct her behavior to a more acceptable and less painful tap on my shoulder. We're working on it. She pinches because she does not speak, not because she's a brat.

Here's an erudite comment from a person I suspect has a banjo and a tin of Skoal in the back of his F150:

Most of you people are morons. If you don't like what you hear, then change the radio station, or switch the television channel. NO one is forcing you to listen. It is such a shame that we live in a society where one statement that offends people is enough to cost a man his job... FREE SOCIETY anyone? FREEDOM OF SPEECH? Ever heard of it? Oh wait... sorry, I forgot we're turning into a society that is trying to govern everyone's actions.. Grow some thicker skin people and move on. You have WAY too much time on your hands if you let someone's opinion ruin your day.

So that's all I need to do? Grow some thicker skin so that Michael Savage's telling millions of Wyler's swilling (I liked Goofy Grape best, you?) followers that my kids are frauds won't have an impact on public perception of them? I'm trying! Just look at these scabs! Grow skin, grow! And I'm a moron with too much time on my hands? Three kids with autism, a writing career and two sparkling clean toilets in my house. I think I'm quite busy enough. But not too busy to fight tooth and nail against loudmouths who do not walk in my shoes, or the shoes of thousands of families trying to help a loved one with autism through the day.

Sure, Savage has the right to say what he wants on his program. Just don't expect me to sit on the sidelines and let him run over my kids (and yours.) I'm just not that disciplined...

Thanks again, Dan Childs for a good article. I hope you HuffPo readers will take a moment to read it yourself. And add your own comments. Thanks.

(PS) If you drive an F150 and/or chew Skoal but would never speak so angrily about people with autism, please accept my apology for painting a picture of some of Savage's listeners that doesn't represent all of you. I'm going to duck and run for cover now before someone in a Grand Marquis runs me over.

Comments

[reasonshouldrule]

I'm getting sick of hearing the "freedom of speech" argument from all these compassion-challenged yobos. We all have freedom of speech, but few of us have access to the airways where we can speak to millions of people--and influence many of them. And so many who do have access to the airways use their "freedom of speech" to spew hatred and bigotry. And by the way, all you who think autism parents should just change the dial, remember that those parents have the right to complain as loudly as they want and boycott the station and advertisers if they want. This "Savage" kind of hatred goes over the line and should NOT go unchallenged.

[WadeRankin]

Well said, Kim! That there are people out there spewing forth their ignorance in the same vein as their hero, Mr. "Savage," provides ample reason why we can't choose the path of silence advocated by Autism Speaks.

[HarryHofherr]

Great job, Kim.

You echo my sentiments about his audience, exactly. For the most part I continually find them ignorant and abusive of the disabled, in spite of their own disabilities.

Keep up the great work you're doing.

Harry

[LaniersMom]

I have a beautiful 10 year old daughter who at 18 months ceased talking and lost all motor skills right before my very eyes. It was a heartbreaking and gut wrenching experience to watch your precious bright eyed child fade completely before your very eyes...

How I wish simply screaming at her and calling her names might help her attempt to form a single word. I watch daily, heartbroken, as she struggles to form words while she winces in pain from a rare auto-immune disease that she also suffers from.

As I look across the room at my voiceless, daughter I somehow feel a sense of relief knowing she will never attack the character of people she has yet to meet. The Savage Beast might hurt her mothers heart, but the words from the callow, ignorant Savage will never hurt my sweet dear daughter, she lacks the skills to interpret the insensitive words from the crass, arrogant bully.

I am sure when the Savage is at home by himself and the glasses are removed and his bellowing, "savage" voice is put to rest, he is a shallow, small ignorant man by every measure.

Our children are the true heroes' and their parents are champions. Maybe the ignorant words and unkind actions from the Savage beast have helped us garner more troops for our cause to aid children and families suffering from this most tragic and horrific condition.

Leslie Weed
HEAL Foundation
Healing Every Autistic Life
www.healautismnow.org

[amdachel]

Autism is a health crisis that officials have ignored for years. The CDC isn't worried about a rate of one in 150. They're the first to say that there's no known cause or cure. But hey, if the CDC isn't sounding an alarm, why should anyone else?
This leaves the public to come up with their own perverse theories to explain why an epidemic number of children suddenly have a once unknown disability.
Enter Michael Savage.
If one in 150 kids suddenly have autism it must be a mistake. "A fraud" as he stated.
On Larry King Live he asked,
"How could there be an epidemic that's come out of nowhere?"
"One in 150 children suddenly have an illness that hardly existed twenty years ago?"
Savage blames parents for not laying down the law and he blames doctors for over-diagnosing, but try as he might, he can't make them disappear.
Soon we'll have eighteen year olds at Social Security offices everywhere applying for disability. Later, when all the worn-out parents can no longer care for them, the taxpayers will have to take over full support for the autism generation.
The cost for this is going to be a tsunami with hundreds of thousands of disabled Americans who weren't here thirty years ago. The public will demand to know why no one warned us. When that happens, we can all look back to the time we wasted listening to the likes of Michael Savage.
Anne Dachel

[carmel66]

Exactly, Ann. Exactly.
And if anyone wonders why schools are currently in crisis - they can point to our kids again.
But I point to the insurance companies and of course the other part of the medical community that can't be bothered. Everyone wants to pass the buck back to the parents.
We didn't create this mess (really, we didn't). Maybe folks should look at WHY so many people have autism and then make THOSE folks pay for the upkeep of this generation.

[kellianndavis]

"You have WAY too much time on your hands if you let someone's opinion ruin your day."

Unfortunately, this "opinion" has the potential to *set back* the political advocacy work that I've dedicated the last 7 years of my life to and "having time on my hands" has absolutely nothing to do with it.

Having an opinion based on knowledge of the issue is one thing; having an opinion in which you don't even have a crude, rudimentary grasp of the *basic facts* is quite another.

Great piece Kim. You made me laugh *big time* as always.

Kelli

PS...Speaking of pinching, how's mastery of the "P's" coming along?

[Kim Stagliano - Huffpost Blogger]

Perfect. Pass the bandaids.....

[TannersDad]

I called Autism Speaks and requested a stronger response. I was excited after being hung up on twice by the automated system to actually talk with a person. Kim you are right. Savage Nation has a huge fan base. We must respond in kind. It is amazing that Autism Speaks would stand by and allow a shock Jock to pour acid on the parents of Autistic Children.
He keeps saying his comments are out of context. So I listened to six hours of his muck. He has no clue where the autistic children are coming from. He feels that mainstream medicine is driving the diagnosis so they can drug the children. Most Doctors say your child has Autism ... Go have a nice life.
The reason there are so many diagnosis is that there are so many damaged children. Savage thinks this came out of no where so it must be a mistake. Lets take a look at what is in the environment that causes this.
What are we are doing different to previous generations... Maybe it could be this group of 4 to 15 year olds got the mercury from the shots?
I go back to my bird in the mine analogy. When the bird dies does everyone debate the cause? No they get out. That is what we need to do. Protect our children. NOW!

[ObjectiveAutismDad]

Kim, thank you, again, for picking up the gauntlet. Maybe Mr. Savage will be in a restaurant when my son has an outburst... Maybe he'll even lean over, get in his face and say something to him... Then my son would react the way he normally does when he's agitated and head butt him so hard he'll pass out. Yeah, my son needs the kind of discipline he's advocating!???

[hmclennand]

"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.”

WOW...if only I knew that, when my son was hitting his head against the wall, toy chest, window, headboard because his wooden thomas the train track came undone...All I need to do is HIT him harder then he is hitting himself....fab, super great logic. Im SOLD!!!!

My son, according to Mr. Savage isnt autistic because he has a high IQ and cognitive ability, and yet he was picked out at Target by another mom who "knows the deal" when it comes to autism and speech because he still cant have a conversation even though he has a HUGE vocabulary.

99% diagnosed incorrectly? and Parents are pushing for this diagnosis to get more services they dont need...OOOOOHHHH, I get it!!!!

And here I was being pissed that it took this diagnosis so long.....I mean, as a parent...I LONGED for a Autism diagnosis. How intoxicating, the idea that my son my never have a friend, live on his own, be married and know love and just enjoy the simple pleasures of life? The fear that keeps me up at night that if we die who will take care of him, will he be able to survive on his own, will he be abused by the people who are supposed to be caring for him?

[chapnalli]

Kim is one awesome mom with a plate so large Savage nor any of the people spouting inaccurate autism comments couldn't ever possibly comtemplate handling.. She is stronger than he could ever think of being. Savage insulted Kim, insulted me and insulted every other excessively hardworking parent that tries desperately every second of the day to communicate, teach and protect their children with Autism. It is no day at the beach!! It is the most difficult, complicated, heartwrenching job I have ever had to take on. We parents take a LOT of heat but we can handle it, because of autism we can handle anything. But when you insult our kids that's where we take issue with your hate speech. Savage needs an education and needs to retract, and he most definitely needs to appologize with the most sincerity he has ever mustered. These kids have to put up with way too much hate and discrimination on a daily basis for us to just soft glove and gloss over his ignorance.

If Savage meant to insult big pharma and main stream medicine, have at em', but what he said was that my son was a brat, faker, and being bred as a sissy..That isn't insulting big pharma, that's an outright insult directed at children who litterally cannot speak for themselves. Savage=insensitive coward that preys on children.

Great job Kim, Thank you...

[JeanneCant]

Kim,

Thank you for writing this piece. We're not ready to "play nice" and you've explained why. It's a ridiculous situation - I can't believe there are so many ignorant people in the world.

Jeanne

[foe2Hg]

Thanks Kim for advocating for not only your 3 beautiful daughters, but for my Meg and the thousands like them. Savage is savage...like a caveman who has no manners, no compassion, basically, few visible human attributes . As you pointed out, his followers were equally scary. I stopped reading when I heard "dueling banjoes" playing in the background.

This will not be the first, big, loud, and so wrong assessment of the autism epidemic. It is imperative that our kids be seen and understood for who they are, their pains, their joys, and the reality of this long misunderstood disorder (not Bruno's, or Freud, or even Kanner's wrong diagnosis---but a generation of poisoned kids). Thanks for leading the way!

Teresa

[usna73]

Kim, here is much I have to say here, but first let me answer Barbara. Home Depot is a sponsor with Clear Channel and Savage. Mr. Marcus, is a(big) supporter of Autism Speaks. Bernie Marcus is the former Chairman of Home Depot. He is a good friend of Mr. Wright. Mr. Marcus is a good and decent man.

We all must continue to keep pressure on sponsors of Mr. Savage as he only does what he thinks will make money for him. It's a tragic fact that has infected the whole culture.

We must continue to fight so that this young country of ours doesn't revert to it's usual ability to demonize the victims. The forces which lynched black Americans 50 yers ago, demonized gays and denied so many their basic human rights all did it for the same reason: financial gain.

But, these evil forces have been and will be defeated in the long run.

This country belongs to all of us and the resposnsibility goes to each of us to stand up and fight. We have to pay whatever the price may be for a nation whose greatness can be measured by how we treat the least fortunate among us.

I have worked along side the best and brightest and I believe that people like Mr. Savage will be relegated to the dustbin of history, while we continue to become truly a compassionate nation.

Thank you for all you do for families like mine.

[2kids]

I'm fairly certain that I read today that Home Depot (aka Mr. Marcus, dear friend and huge financial supporter of Autism Speaks) pulled their ads from Savage Nation along with AFLAC. I can't find it at the moment...does anyone have a link to confirm this?
Diane

[mogrammy]

Hi Kim,
As always, great piece. I listened to Savage last night(a first) and it got my blood pressure up so that there will be no radio tonight(only HG-TV). The information he is spreading about autism and our children is so completely incorrect that one wonders where it all comes from. Actually I don't care about the wheres or whys because his comments are just plain dangerous, not only for the autism community, but to anyone listening who has children. I hope that some learn from all this not to mess with the autism community. We are a FORCE to reckon with.
Maurine Meleck
South Carolina

[autism123]

Thanks Kim, another good one. I am incredibly disappointed with Michael Savage and doubt I can ever listen to him again. Hey Mike how would you feel if I blamed you and your parents for your disabled brother not acting "normal" ?

[Kim Stagliano - Huffpost Blogger]

Knowing what he has said about the gay community and how he blamed "inner city" (meaning b-l-a-c-k) kids asthma epidemic as a welfare scam on Larry King, I could never have listened to him anyway. This is just the pickle flavored icing on the mold infested cake. Gluten filled, I might add. He's happy. He's gotten publicity. And we've educated some of his listeners, I hope. Thanks for commenting. KIM