Politics

Savaging Sick Children?

By Anne Landman

Michael SavageOn his July 16, nationally-syndicated, conservative radio talk show, "The Savage Nation," host Michael Savage blamed the increase in children's autism diagnoses on parental failures. Savage said, "They [autistic children] 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's comments drew protests and calls for his ouster from politicians, parents of autistic children and organizations that fight autism. In response, Savage's employer, Talk Radio Network, said in a statement it would not fire or suspend Savage and was satisfied that he "did not mean any disrespect to autistic children or their families" but instead was, "reiterating his long-standing concerns on public health issues."

Full post as published by PR Watch on July 28, 2008 (boomark / email).