On the November 29 edition of his nationally syndicated radio show, Michael Savage called Media Matters for America a “group of swine ... who take me out of context,” during a segment in which he smeared former President Jimmy Carter. Savage cited no example in which Media Matters took his statements out of context.

Media Matters has, in fact, taken note of the statements of Savage and others on many occasions, but provides the full context of the statements with a transcript and audio. (Recent examples are here, here, and here). Indeed, Savage himself has credited Media Matters specifically for not misrepresenting him. On the October 11 edition of his show, he stated:

They have an obsession with me, they have a real jones on with me. But at least they quote me correctly. ... And one thing for Media Matters, whether they're liberal or conservative, at least they got the quote right. I have no qualms with it, because when I read it this morning, I said, “You know what? I'm not ashamed of anything I said. I believe in every word I said.”

Savage's comments on Media Matters followed his criticism of Carter's appearance on the November 27 edition of ABC's Good Morning America in which Carter promoted his recently published book, Palestine Peace Not Apartheid (Simon & Schuster, November 2006). On Good Morning America, Carter said that “what is being done to the Palestinians under Israeli domination is really atrocious. It's a terrible affliction on these people.” Savage said that Carter has been “fomenting anti-Semitism” with his recent remarks and that “the entire world will be turned against the Jews, because Jimmy Carter is a lying, anti-Semitic pig.” Savage then added that Media Matters should “write that down. Make sure that Media Matters gets that correctly. That group of swine at Media Matters, who take me out of context. Make sure you don't take this one out of context: Jimmy Carter is an anti-American, anti-Semitic swine.”

From the November 29 edition of Talk Radio Network's The Savage Nation:

SAVAGE: By what Jimmy Carter has been doing, he has basically [been] fomenting anti-Semitism. He is gonna turn the world against the Jews. The entire world will be turned against the Jews, because Jimmy Carter is a lying, anti-Semitic pig. Now, write that down. Make sure that Media Matters gets that correctly. That group of swine at Media Matters, who take me out of context. Make sure you don't take this one out of context: Jimmy Carter is an anti-American, anti-Semitic swine.

Samantha Marks is an intern at Media Matters for America.