FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, May 8, 2009

CONTACT Erikka Knuti (202) 756-4135 eknuti@mediamatters.org Jessica Levin (202) 772-8162 jlevin@mediamatters.org

Washington, D.C. - Today, Media Matters for America responded to conservative radio host Michael Savage's assertion yesterday on CNN that his controversial comment about autism was "an absurd statement that was made in jest." Savage previously claimed his comments were "take[n] out of context," a claim Media Matters rebutted.

"It is unfortunate that Mr. Savage thinks he can explain away his disgraceful comments with yet another excuse," said Eric Burns, President of Media Matters. "Autism is not a joke. The families dealing with the realities of this developmental disorder certainly didn't think so."

Burns continued: "Each week, Savage spews offensive, over-the-top commentary to 8.25 million listeners. It is time he took responsibility for his words. Savage owes these families an apology."

BACKGROUND

On the May 7 edition of CNN's American Morning, co-host Kiran Chetry asked Savage about his July 16, 2008, statement that "I'll tell you what autism is. In 99 percent of the cases, it's a brat who hasn't been told to cut the act out." Savage then said to Chetry: "That's an absurd statement that was said in jest. They understand that."

Media Matters highlighted Savage's original comments and documented his response to the widespread criticism he received:

• Savage on autism: "A fraud, a racket. ... In 99 percent of the cases, it's a brat who hasn't been told to cut the act out." [July 16, 2008]

• Savage on autistic children: "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, idiot.' " [July 16, 2008]

• Savage responds to autism controversy: "[A] group called Media Matters ...would take out of context comments that I made last week directed at the misdiagnosed, the falsely diagnosed, and the outright fakers in the autism field and try to make you, the parents of the truly autistic, attack me." [July 21, 2008]

Media Matters was not the only organization that didn't "understand" that Savage's comments were "said in jest." Several autism awareness organizations and members of Congress spoke out against his offensive comments:

• Autism Speaks: "One important goal of increasing awareness about autism is to foster a greater level of acceptance and understanding of the very real and significant challenges it poses to individuals with the disorder and their families...Unfortunately, there are those who are apparently incapable of feeling compassion. They deserve our pity, not our scorn."

• Autism United: "While Michael Savage has a First Amendment right to express his viewpoints, the belligerence and ignorance of Savage's comments are self-evident."

• Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA), co-chairman for the Coalition for Autism Research and Education: "The medical evidence that autism is a real neurological condition is overwhelming and unequivocal. That's why it's so disturbing that Michael Savage would make such an uninformed statement about autism as he did."

• Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), co-chairman for the Coalition for Autism Research and Education: "After years of inadequate funding, the advocacy of the congressional autism caucus and many non-profits has helped to realize more than a 5 fold jump in autism funding over the past 10 years. We need to continue with this momentum, and these unfortunate comments do nothing to help the lives of those suffering with this often debilitating disorder."

Talk Radio Network, which syndicates Savage's show, claims that Savage is heard on nearly 400 radio stations. The Savage Nation reaches at least 8.25 million listeners each week, according to Talkers Magazine, making it one of the most listened-to talk radio shows in the nation, behind only The Rush Limbaugh Show and The Sean Hannity Show.

For more information on Michael Savage, please visit

http://mediamatters.org/search/tag/michael_savage

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