On the January 11 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, Michael Savage referred to Media Matters for America as “a homosexual, fascist website.” He continued: “Let me explain who Media Matters is. ... It's run by a bunch of fascist homosexuals. They're the brownshirts of our time.” The brownshirts were Nazi storm troopers who aided Adolf Hitler's rise to power. Savage made his comments while discussing a lawsuit he has filed against the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

Savage also claimed that Media Matters was “founded by [Sen.] Hillary Clinton [D-NY].” As it has repeatedly noted, Media Matters is a progressive nonprofit organization unaffiliated with any candidate or political party.

Savage has attacked Media Matters on several occasions, calling the organization a "hate group"; a "group of gay Mafioso"; "the homosexual Mafia"; and "a gay smear sheet." Additionally, on the June 12, 2007, broadcast of his radio show, Savage compared the “progressive movement” to the Nazi storm troopers, saying, "[T]hey are the brownshirts of today."

Talk Radio Network, which syndicates Savage's show, says that Savage is heard on more than 350 radio stations. And according to Talkers Magazine, The Savage Nation reaches more than 8 million listeners each week, 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.

From the January 11 edition of Talk Radio Network's The Savage Nation:

SAVAGE: It fell in my hands. I didn't choose this fight. I never liked CAIR, but I never figured they were going to be my enemy, but, like everyone else, it's not my problem. Well, then, they made themselves my problem. They attacked me. They went after all my advertisers. They learned good from their friends at Media Matters, that rat-bum -- it's a homosexual, fascist website. Let me explain who Media Matters is. It was founded by Hillary Clinton. It's run by a bunch of fascist homosexuals. They're the brownshirts of our time.

When are you gonna wake up to the fact that liberals are not liberal? When are you gonna wake up to the fact that the liberals are the new fascists. They are the brownshirts! And they're gonna take this country over the cliff if you don't stand up to them and stop them. That's why I'm putting myself on the line. And if you think it's a joke, it's not a joke.

I walk with my head swiveling. I look over my shoulder. I live as though I am the hunted one. And that's because you are not the hunted one. That's because you are a coward. And that's because your government doesn't protect its citizens.

Trevor Zimmer is an intern at Media Matters for America.