Savage Defends Remarks Questioning Autism

(CBS/ AP)  Right-wing radio talk show host Michael Savage, who described 99 percent of children with autism as brats, said Monday he was trying to "boldly awaken" parents to his view that many people are being wrongly diagnosed.

Some parents of autistic children have called for Savage's firing after he described autism as a racket last week. "In 99 percent of the cases, it's a brat who hasn't been told to cut the act out," Savage said on his radio program last Wednesday.

Savage said: "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, you idiot."'

Savage offered no apology in a message posted Monday on his Web site. He said greedy doctors and drug companies were creating a "national panic" by over-diagnosing autism, a mental disorder that inhibits a person's ability to communicate.

Savage's Web message 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 over-diagnosed '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 over-diagnosing 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.

"Increasingly, our children are being used as profit centers by a greedy, corrupt medical/pharmaceutical establishment. As the brother of a severely disabled person who suffered and died in a New York 'snake-pit' of a 'mental hospital,' I know first-hand what true disability is.

"To permit greedy doctors to include children in medical categories which may not be appropriate is a crime against that child and their family. Let the truly autistic be treated. Let the falsely diagnosed be free."

The government estimates about one-in-150 children have some form of autism. But many experts believe these unsociable behaviors were just about as common 30 or 40 years ago and that the increase is mostly caused by a surge in special education services and a corresponding shift in diagnoses.

Wendy Fournier of the National Autism Association, a parents' advocacy group, said she was invited to speak Monday on Savage's three-hour program by Savage's boss, Mark Masters of Talk Radio Network, which syndicates the show across the country. A spokeswoman from Talk Radio Network did not immediately return a call for comment.

Fournier called Savage's comments "way, way, way over the line and cruel."

"I'm hoping to make him see the reality of what these kids are facing," she said. "You can't fix it by telling a kid to shut up. It's like telling a kid with cancer to stop being sick."

Evelyn Ain, whose 8-year-old son has been diagnosed with autism, said she had never heard of Savage and couldn't believe what she had heard when she first listened to the remarks. She organized a demonstration Monday outside New York's WOR-AM, which broadcasts Savage.

"That isn't just freedom of speech, it is hateful speech when you say 99 percent of children with autism are brats," she said. "I'll tell you, I wish I had a brat."

One demonstrator, Lynn Filosa, who has an autistic child, told CBS News, "They didn't ask for this to happen. For somebody to come out and literally call them names on a nationally-sundicated radio station is appalling."

Savage, with more than 8 million listeners a week, is talk radio's third most popular personality behind Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, according to Talkers magazine. He's made a living off bold, outrageous statements: His brief MSNBC show was canceled after he told a caller he should "get AIDS and die, you pig."

Peter Bell, executive vice president of national advocacy group Autism Speaks, said he isn't aware of any big controversy about overdiagnosis of autism. He said Savage's remarks, effectively blaming parents, reflect an outdated point of view.

"He's an entertainer, he does these things for attention," Bell said. "I think we should, to the best we can, ignore it."

Still, later this week, autism advocates are expected to call for a boycott of the stations that carry Savage's show, says CBS News correspondent Meg Oliver. She adds that two sponsors have pulled their ads, but savage insists he won't apologize.

[joeldgold]

This isn''t very complicated. This ignorant man has no idea what he''s talking about. Let him spent 24 hours at my house with my autistic three year old and I assure everyone he would promptly apologize for making such painful comments. Any father raising an autistic child deserves compassion not onsult. It is one of the most emotionally devastating imaginable. Although everything said is so, for lack of a better word dumb, what really bothers me is that at a time where there needs to be far greater resources available to determine the source(s) of this epidemic, he is encouraging folks to dismiss it as "bad behavior" which CBS should not allow to go unchecked. I''d say do not fire him, but require he spends a week with an affected family and see if his opinion changes. My guess is it will.

[teekaa1]

I am a retired special education teacher, and I have taken EXTREME offense at the thoughtless, inane statements made by Mr. Savage. If he thinks that these children with this condition are brats, then perhaps he should visit a special education classroom and witness firsthend before he shoots off his mouth!! There is not enough space for me to address the number of children and their behaviors with this condition that I have worked with. AND to refer to autism as a sickness further defines his ignorance. A sickness is curable in many instances. Autism is a condition and not a sickness! Some children are more severe than others, but some children who are autistic are prisoners on their own little minds and that, unfortunately, for some of them is life long!! Do not think that a parent can get this taken care of by simply accepting his narrow-minded philosophy of discipline 101 for Autostic children. He is the putz who needs to get a grip, and I wish that every single sponsor would pull their advertising from his show!! We don''t need idiots like that on the air!

[4marlene]

nobratz, you are ignorant and have no experience outside of your snobbish little clique. You judge these kids from a distance. Spend time with these damaged children, you can see the difference between a brat and ''autistic''(vaccine damaged) kid. Brats you can look in the eye, straighten them out. They can respond to discipline. With my own normal ''brats'' they''d get a swift swat on the rear, a good scolding followed by an appropriate follow up punishment. It works. My autistic son was tragically different. He screamed in terror at minor events. He''d rip off his clothes when they felt like they were full of fire ants. Florescent lights hurt his eyes, music hurt his ears. He walked on tippy toes for 12 years. Now he is 90% recovered from the effects of toxins that were in his body. I educated myself on body chemistry and treated him myself w/o drugs. His diagnosis was not easy to obtain! 3 pediatricians, & a psychologist, he met all criteria in the DSM IV for autism. If you look up mercury poisoning you will see there are 100+ symptoms that are congruent to ''autism. Drs borrow the autism label to avert a revolt on vaccines. This also allows lazy doctors to ''pass the buck'' as hopeless. Acquired ''autism'' is treatable in many cases, but fewer than 1/3 recover. Did I want this? I lost my business, my home of 24 years,& my husband over this. It is financially and emotionally devastating! I stayed home 24/7 to try to cure him. It cost me dearly and it has been worth it.

[nobratz]

I fully agree with Mr. Savage. Most kids being diagnosed with this so called Autism are nothing but brats! Their parents do not want to except the fact that they need some parenting skills and need to stop blaming everything else on their childrens bad and disruptive behavior. Everyone nowadays wants a quick fix. Our society is doing nothing but producing bratty kids that are becoming addicted to these drugs that so many doctors are prescribing. Parents need to take responsibility for discipling their own children. Stop blaming everyone else that your kid is a brat!

[4marlene]

I raised 2 brats, a good kid now my 4th son is autistic after getting his shots, which were about triple then number his brothers got. Believe me I know the difference between brat and this acquired autism. Once a bright eyed baby full of promise like his now successful brothers are, to disappearing into outerspace, seemingly deaf to everything. I thought he''d totally lost his hearing and got some brain rot. His first 3 doctor visits yielded no diagnoses, just puzzled doctors. Now as a young teen, after years of metal detox, and a load of dietary supplements and interventions and special education, he is alert, articulate, smart even though he lost a few years while he was in a fog. And he hates himself. Where''s his father?? Dead. He couldn''t take it the fact his son had autism so he killed himself 6 years ago. Mr Weiner Savage, you are ignorant and heartless and should keep your destructive comments to yourself because you have no idea what you are talking about, except the big pharma greed, and doctor greed, I do believe that. And it started with the the garbage they put in vaccines, overload newborns and damage them so they can profit from the ensuing illnesses which also include ADHD, asthma and other autoimmune diseases. So please direct your energy to the CDC, AAP and Big Pharma. Do not attack their young helpless victims!

[andys_mom6]

These comments have me so sad. I did not wish this for my son and or me and my family. To read the ignorant things some *** says on CBS (again) *also there were things said on a Big Brother episode--makes me wonder what your problem is and why you keep broadcasting these loser comments. Oh yeah.. freedom of speech. Pshhhh ****

[nixglen]

I rarely post comments, but could not let this one go without a comment. cmp217, how dare you? and savage, how dare you? Thank God all of my children were healthy, but who are either one of you to say such hurtful, hateful things about any child, or any person for that matter. Yes, we have free speech in this country. But we, as citizens, also have the right to say that we will not listen to any show on talk radio network as long as people who work for them are allowed to say ignorant, hateful things like this on the air!!

[tincoral]

Hey cmp271, you''re wrong! My son DOES have the right to an education, up to the age 26 paid for by the state that I live in. See, his education is going to make it so that he is going to eventually going to be able to get a job, and pay taxes himself. Probably going to be helping pay for your retirement!!! My son is in a "typical" classroom part of the day, and in an inclusion class for the other part. His peers FIGHT to be able to work WITH him, and they love that he is in their classroom. He may not be able to do the math that they are working on, or read the books they are reading BUT he is a very important part of their class. He teaches the other kids compassion, patience, that even tho we are all different that is OK!! They teach him all the the things that "typical" kids pick up on in the sandbox, how to take turns, how to build a sand castle, how to talk back :) I love the mess out of my son with autism, if I could "Cure" him I would in a hot second, just so HIS world would be easier , but I love the fact that even tho he is not what I expected, he is EXACTLY what I needed!!

[yellow651]

So, in the United States proposed by Ms Ain, who exactly gets to exercise freedom of speech and who doesn''t? I just want to make sure if I can or can''t have an opinion. It''s confusing if I have to make sure there is absolutely no one who may be offended if I decide to take a position on something. This is really difficult. Perhaps if I just stop thinking....

[jerriemc23]

it''s your 1st amendment right to say what you want. it doesn''t mean we want to hear it.