A Savage Fool "Speaks Out" On Autism

Hope you are sitting down for this one! Michael Savage, a right-wing radio host has determined that: weak, feminized fathers who do not berate and humiliate their children are the cause of autism. Alternatively, according to this paragon of wisdom, autism is just a "fraud." Wow! You have to read and hear his words to believe that I am not exaggerating.

Apparently, following his undeniable "logic," if at the first signs of autism, at say 6-18 months when most children, I mean,  infants/toddlers are diagnosed, we as a country should scrap EI services in favor of a new military model of working with young children. Remove those children from sorry sensitive men, and give them over to institutions that will not put up with wining, crying and cringing. I can hear the future "teachers" of these children now: "Alright lets all crawl in formation, if  you wet that diaper one more time, I want 10 push ups, and do not even think of asking for your mother (that is assuming your verbal skill permit making such a request.)

He repeatedly refers to his father as a model of parenting.  Use of the word "fool" applied to the little savage seemed to a prominent part of his upbringing. Well his Daddy would be so proud to see he succeeded in raising a total savage fool. The only silver lining is that he makes Nanette Asimov look thoughtful and balanced.

By the way, it appears that Savage's rant about autism is not even current. He simply recycled and recast criticisms of autism he made in 2003.

This blog comes to me from my cousin Mark Mlawer, who is a national special education consultant and monitor, who is  an inspiration for all I do as an attorney. Education Week has also blogged on this topic.

Comments

[Liz Ditz]

Michael Savage is one of the most popular (well, most-listened to) radio talk-show hosts in the country.

I cannot put into words how enraged I am by his latest spew.

Let's see. Your child has epilepsy? Dad, your duty is to slap the shaking and absence out of the kid.

Do I remember that Don Imus lost his job over the "nappy headed hos" comment? Surely Michael Weiner Savage should lose his over this -- in my book, far more offensive.

I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. Here, he's carred by

KNEW
http://www.910knew.com/

[website keeps timing out....]

In the Los Angeles area, he is carried by

KFWB (980AM)
http://www.kfwb.com/

VP/General Manager: Dan Weiner
email:
[email protected]

Snail Mail:

KFWB NEWS 980
5670 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 200
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323-525-0980

From Wikipedia (ok, grain of salt here)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Savage_(commentator)

Michael Alan Weiner, better known by his pseudonym Michael Savage, is an American radio host, author, and conservative political commentator. His nationally-syndicated talk show, The Savage Nation, airs throughout the United States on Talk Radio Network. He holds master's degrees in medical botany and medical anthropology and earned a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, in nutritional ethnomedicine. As Michael Weiner, he has written a number of books on herbal medicine and homeopathy. As Michael Savage, he has written four New York Times bestsellers. His radio show reaches more than 10 million listeners on 410 stations throughout the United States, ranking third in number of stations syndicated nationwide and third in nationwide audience behind Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity.

[Liz Ditz]

KNEW contact info

Programming email:
[email protected]

snail mail
Talk910 KNEW
340 Townsend Street
San Francisco, CA 94107

Business Line: 415.975.5555
Fax Line: 415.975.5471
Feedback Phone - 415.273.1191 (24/7)

To call into Savage's show:

Michael Savage - 800.449.8255 (3p-6p, Pacific Daylight Savings Time)

Savage's self-written blurb at 910 KNEW

Author of the Best selling books "The Savage Nation" (30 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller List), "The Enemy Within" and "Liberalism Is A Mental Disorder," Michael Savage is the number one drive time talk show host in the San Francisco and in many other cities around America. The Michael Savage Show is syndicated by Talk Radio Network.

Trained as a scientist, he holds Masters degrees in medical botany and medical anthropology, and earned his Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley in Epidemiology and Nutritional Science. He spent decades searching and saving tropical rainforests.

"I guess people love my show because of my hard edge combined with humor and education," he says. "Those who listen to me say they hear a bit of Plato, Henry Miller, Jack Kerouac, Moses, Jesus, and Frankenstein. I pull many of my life experiences, including that of father, son, husband, brother, ice cream factory worker, busboy, lifeguard, writer, scientist, and my huge library of books." Listeners also hear top-flight guests and, in keeping with the fact that talk hosts attract the audience they deserve, listeners hear literate callers with intelligence, wit, and energy.

[gina]

I am in my 6 year teaching students with autism or now Autism Spectrum Disorder. Yes, some of these kids are spoiled. These kids are smart. They learn through behavior and consequences. Wow, if I hit and kick and scream, my mom or dad or teacher will give in and I get what I want. I have seen that over and over again. Stop babying these kids. Make clear and immediate consequences for their behavior. And I will NEVER give my students candy for sitting in a chair quietly. There is no reason why they cant do this. Again, we teach them how to use their behavior to get what they want. They need discipline and rules like every other child. Every year I work with aggressive students, get them on track, only to be all undone when they go to the next teacher or go home for the weekend and the kids walk over their parents. Tough love is what they need, not excuses.

[Margo/Mom]

No way around it--this is a hostile and damaging bit of garbage for Savage to be airing. But your boot camp suggestion reminded me that it hasn't been too long ago that such children were thought to be the offspring of cold and distant mothers, and "treatment" involved institutionalization to get them away from that unhealthy influence.

[chris]

To Gina in regards to her comment: Quit your job. Get out of the world of these students with autism. Go do any other work. Every family functions differently to get by and they do not need someone like you judging them. You're actually worse than Michael Savage because you have had 6 years of study professional exposure to data, studies and personal experience. You are worse because you have access to these families' confidential information as they trust you to help them. Sincerely, a special education teacher who suggests you are burnt out and doing more harm than good.

Ed. Amen, and glad this is posted from a fellow teacher.