Right-Wing Radio Spreads Flu Lies

The last thing our country needs is radio hosts spreading dangerous misinformation about the flu outbreak. But that's exactly what we're getting thanks to people like Michael Savage, Jay Severin and Neal Boortz. These right-wing demagogues are targeting America's immigrant community and trying to turn a possible pandemic into politics.

This is simply deplorable and seriously dangerous.

A few days ago on his show, Michael Savage said, "Make no mistake about it: Illegal aliens are the carriers of the new strain of human-swine avian flu from Mexico." That is nothing more than fear-mongering and race-baiting in search of ratings. This is exactly the type of rhetoric that fuels discrimination and violence, and those violent acts are why last night the House voted to pass the Hate Crimes Bill. Apparently that wasn't enough of a signal to these guys that they've lost and tolerance and unity have won, but we'll keep fighting.

We can't afford to make this serious health emergency into a conservative radio circus. Americans need to stay calm and informed by listening to their doctors and our public health officials. And I'm asking Michael Savage, Jay Severin, Neal Boortz, and anyone who would repeat their arguments to stop now. Stop spreading these lies and work with us to keep Americans healthy and safe.

Comments

[LiberalInTexas]

Here's a little anecdote about why this matters. The owner of my cleaning service told me that they've had a spike in cancellations. Her employees are losing pay and she is losing revenue because many customers in our heavily Conservative Republican area are panicking, afraid that her brunette, Spanish-speaking employees may be carriers of H1N1. Never mind the fact that a) not one of her employees is sick, b) they literally prevent the spread of disease for a living, and c) they wear gloves and masks as a matter of course. Also never mind the fact that d) every one of them can legally work in the US (a fact I checked before hiring them) and e) none of her employees are actually even from Mexico!

Everyone loses in this sitation. Customers are not getting the services they require, employees are losing pay, employers are losing revenue, the flow of money within an entire community is impacted, and it ripples out from there.

This is the problem with racism of any kind. It is it's own kind of virus. It causes people to make decisions that are empirically irrational, and the damage of those decisions ripples infinitely.

Anyone who would INTENTIONALLY spread racism as a political device MUST be called out for it. We can never let this disease spread.

[Polichick66]

Aren't we all missing the point that the virus actually came from a factory farm where the animals were sick and when they died, were left to rot on the hillside? With village nearby?

Apparently our safety standards were to high in the US, so the guy took his farm to Mexico where regulations were much more lenient.
Hmmmm, which side of the aisle does this thinking come from?

[beckpod1]

People who listen to this crap are too lazy and stupid to actually think for themselves and check other sources. They deserve all the stress and misinformation that they can swallow.
You won't change the mind of a believer!
There are left-wing nuts out there....but on a low scale...because liberals(from the word liberty)...understand that politicians are politicians....and double-check from different sources what's being said. We know they lie!
From the very beginning...the swine flu...could become a pandemic....but it was never considered a deadly flu. Over the counter medicine works just fine. But if you're a radio talk show host and have a few hours to kill....

[neehow]

Congrats for Cong. Israel for calling out Savage. You all must listen to this guy. He is all but called out for his listners to harm the President and others. I am for free speech, but he is way over the line! His ,Hannity, Mark Levin , Rush and others keep up their vitriol non stop. They will cause harm.I truly believe this!

[BigRube]

Just the same old Right Wing BS. Nothing new about this.

[pfc1369]

It's not even "right wing.'

It's no wing.

Just that non-stop ranting forever has become a very lucrative job for many in this benighted land.

[sengal68]

Radical left-wingers who defend the infiltration of illegal immigrants that are flu carriers are so brain damaged probably from contacting the same virus. It amazes me how a person that cannot articulate their position has the gall to call other people ignorant when they cannot defend their own position. Labrador Retrievers are too smart to represent baby killers. The reservation is the best place for people that are close minded.

[dogstar7]

OK sengal68; you're on. I'm about as left-wing and radical as anyone who would stoop to reply to your vitriol.

Has anyone called you "ignorant" lately? Was it because you cited false information such as "illegal immigrants that are flu carriers". I challenge you to find any of the flu cases currently being tracked by the CDC ( http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/index.htm ) and point to ONE that involved an immigrant here under less than legal circumstances.

You also mentioned "baby killers". What was that in reference to, exactly? Also, exactly what "reservation" are you talking about in the last paragraph. One can only guess at the level of your "ignorance", but you inability to present a comprehensible argument is self-evident.

[cered]

Great response dogstar7!

[uvymopka]

The last time we had Swine Flu was when Jimmy Carter was President, thats..............wait a just a minute, he was a Democrate, weak national policy, inexperienced.....kind of like what we have now. I'm going to get my shot, this could be bad.

[Polichick66]

Ford was president....hmmmm

[bedfordny]

Ford was president. Nice try again, Michelle.

[PatA]

Why celebrate ignorance by commenting up on their comments?

[sengal68]

Congressman Israel, the great Michael Savage has challenged you to debate the Mexican Flu. Since you claim to know so much about it, accept the challenge and appear on his show. Then maybe we can decide on whether you have enough credibility in defending your position or you're merely sounding off without merit because you want the illegal hispanic vote, which I am sure, is your main interest. It is obvious that is the only way for extreme radical liberal politicians to get elected.--- No guts, no glory.

[TrueD]

In what way is Michael Savage Weiner great? Is it the PhD that he obtained in Ethnobotany that he failed to use to make a single scientific discovery, but instead used to publish books such as "Getting Off Cocaine"? Or is it that you admire his 'courage' in attacking autistic children? Perhaps you're enthralled by how he characterized Elizabeth Smart, a victim of kidnapping and rape, as "Lizzie does Utah"?

[sengal68]

Had you done research before you attacked Mr. Savage, you would’ve had some credibility instead of misconstruing data. Its hate mongers like you and Israel that misinform the public and do an injustice to free speech.

Here are the facts. Savage has a PhD in Nutritional Ethomedicine from Berkeley, a study of traditional medicine. He has degrees in medical botany (living organisms and diseases) & medical anthropology. He has researched and written books on alternative medicine and homeopathy.

In his defense on Autism, he acknowledged many cases were valid; however, some cases were part of a racket to get disability payments for families who wanted the government to pick up the tab (welfare fraud) regardless of having Autism. Can you honestly believe there aren’t cases like that?

Savage has written over 25 books, including a bestseller. What have you contributed that has been a positive influence to our nation’s welfare and freedom? Have you made a stand for our Marines who have been ostracized for defending their country? Savage has, by donating large sums of money for their defense as well as their families. How about our veterans being placed on a watch list by our government after their return from fighting a war? Savage filed a suit demanding to see the names of those on the list. For all you know, you may be among them. So instead of making false accusations, get to know something about the man. Yes, he is great and I thank him for his

[Solaris123]

"Make no mistake about it: Illegal aliens are the carriers of the new strain of human-swine avian flu from Mexico."
People like Savage and the Blob are ignorant and irritating granted.

But in case of this statement , can someone explain which part of the above is factually incorrect?

Please, no long winded sloganeering....

[LiberalInTexas]

Have you seen one single documented, confirmed case of H1N1 who is an illegal alien?

[byrdland49]

Jay Severin was just suspended from his Boston radio station for blatantly racist comments...too disgusting to repeat here

[McMullen]

So, right-wing talk radio is spreading dangerous lies. This is news?

In other news, the earth orbits the sun once a year...

[oncethere]

One of the best ways to deal with righ-wing radio is to publicly call them out on their inflammatory speech and hate-mongering. Call them by name. Many of the hosts cannot deal with criticism and fly into a rage when they are "attacked" and spend hours on air proving they are right and whining about how their freedom of speech is being limited. Savage flies into a rage; limbaugh and Hannity go on and on for days rationalizing their hate-speech. Actually, Beck seems to be the most together when dealing wih criticism, the least toxic of the four.

[spikemom]

When is someone going get the point across that the swine flu has been spread by PEOPLE WHO VACATIONED IN MEXICO AND THEN WENT HOME. The sick folks in Canada, the US, Europe and New Zealand aren't Mexicans who brought the flu with them - they are NATIVES of their countries who sat on the beach in Acapulco, drank margaritas, and then flew home bringing the swine flu with them.

[Lark817]

Exactly how far do these morons have to go before they can be charged with hate speech. Isn't hate speech a crime? I Googled hate speech just to see what came up. It is, to say the least, very interesting. Here's the best I could find:

http://griperblade.blogspot.com/2009/04/i-commit-hate-crime.html