Savage Lies

2003-07-18T11:05:00.000-07:00

More Good News!

Boston's WRKO was the first radio station to take Savage Nation off the air following MSNBC's firing of Michael Savage.

Salem Communications shelved the show at three of its stations, in a move that surprised some because of Salem's Christian orientation.

And Michael Savage Sucks.com won over Talk Radio Network in the domain-name litigation, with arbitration ruling in the website's favor.

2003-07-08T14:38:00.000-07:00

Victory!

It's all over between Michael Savage and MSNBC. The network announced that it had fired Savage for the vicious homophobic statements he made on his July 5 show. You can read the transcript of his comments here. Sample: "Oh, you're one of the sodomites! You should only get AIDS and die, you pig!"

MSNBC spokesman Jeremy Gaines said that Weiner's comments were "extremely inappropriate" and said the decision to fire Savage was "an easy one."

Savage blames the telephone call from the "sodomite" on someone from a competing talk show who "personally attacked" Savage, if you can believe that. Sheesh. But he actually did apologize to his "many gay listeners."

Funny, isn't it, how a guy who attacks just about every non-male, non-white, non-straight, non-U.S.-citizen out there can be so hurt . Pardon me while I get my gag reflex under control.

2003-06-10T10:04:00.000-07:00

Michael Savage's Letters to Allen Ginsberg

I am not kidding, folks, there was a time when outspoken gay-basher Michael "Savage" Weiner was a fan of the very openly gay Allen Ginsberg. Radar has the letters--a must-read! I'd love it if the photo of Ginsberg and Weiner swimming together in the nude came to light as these letters have.

Predictably, Weiner calls the story a "smear campaign" directed by "gay fascists." (Scroll down to "A Savage letter?")

2003-06-10T09:46:00.000-07:00

Update on the Lawsuit

Savage Stupidity.com has issued a press release announcing that Public Citizen, a non-profit public interest law firm, has agreed to defend them from the lawsuit filed by Talk Radio Network, Inc.

Michael Savage Sucks.com (as well as Savage Stupidity.com) has also been hit with a domain-name dispute. Go here for links to TRN's complaints and the website's responses.

Take Back the Media can use some donations to its legal fund. You can donate through Paypal.

Kari Lydersen writes about the case on Alternet, and Buzzflash features an interview with Michael Stinson, whose wife, Julie Sigwart, was served with papers in the lawsuit (Stinson and Sigwart are with Take Back the Media).

It's obvious that Weiner/Savage is trying to bludgeon into submission anyone who dares to expose him for what he is. Notice that he doesn't go after the big, more powerful organizations like GLAAD, but rather after small websites without the resources to defend themselves. What a bully--but then, we knew that ... He's hoping to make all of us afraid to tell the truth. Well, it ain't gonna happen.

I have to think the man is getting desperate--that perhaps his ratings aren't as sky-high as he likes us all to think, and that the adverse publicity is getting to him. The man is vicious. We don't need the likes of him spewing hate over the airwaves.

2003-06-03T05:00:00.000-07:00

Poor MSNBC

Thanks to Atrios for this bit of news: MSNBC, despite trying to out-Fox Fox, isn't doing so well. For the week of May 19-25 it came in dead last among news channels at 8.1% of the viewing audience during prime time, after Fox, CNN, and Headline News, in that order. It did slightly better during the day, in third place at 11.8%, a tad over Headline News with 10.8%. Still, that didn't represent an increase, while daytime Headline News actually did increase in viewers over the previous week's audience.

I guess Michael Savage just isn't pulling his weight. Maybe MSNBC will get the hint and get rid of him. Doesn't look like Joe Scarborough in prime time is doing them any good, either. Hah!

2003-06-02T08:22:00.000-07:00

Talk Radio Network Sues Anti-Savage Sites!

Talk Radio Network is suing Michael Savage Sucks, Savage Stupidity, and Take Back the Media, web sites urging the boycott of Savage's sponsors. The lawsuits allege that the sites unlawfully allow users to play copyrighted clips of the radio broadcasts. In addition, the lawsuit accuses the site owners of making "false and malicious statements" in a campaign to induce sponsors to end their commercial relationship with Savage Nation. The lawsuit specifically mentions Culligan, the water-softener people. Culligan ended plans to sponsor Savage's show after "e-mail and letter campaigns." TRN is asking for not less than $500,000 in "compensatory damages."

In a hilarious commentary on the intelligence level of Savage's fans, another suit against Savage Stupidity claims that the site's name is confusingly close to Savage's site, Michael Savage.com.

Obviously, Michael Savage can dish it out, but he can't take it. He's whined before that those who object to his being on the air are trying to deprive him of a livelihood. The lawsuits also prove that the boycott is having an effect.

Bartcop predicts that the lawsuit will be dropped. Let's hope so. I'm still trying to figure out which of the comments on these sites could be called "false." It's Savage himself who says things so objectionable that any decent advertiser made aware of the statements would have to wonder if the company should align itself with such a person.

2003-05-21T09:50:00.000-07:00

We're Back

First it was the war, which pre-empted Savage's MSNBC show, and then real life that suspended posts to this blog. However, we're back with news and ways you can fight the savage Mr. Savage.

Write to Savage's MSNBC sponsors.

Visit GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) to e-mail three of Savage's MSNBC sponsors. The others must be contacted via phone or snail mail, but the addresses are given on the GLAAD site. Read the sample e-mail letter to get some hints on what you might say to the sponsors.

Visit Michael Savage Sucks for a list of sponsors and an e-mail form you can use to write to these sponsors. Because Savage is often shown on other programs, this site is calling for a boycott of all MSNBC advertisers. The site has some interesting articles and info on Savage; check it out.

Savage Ridicules the Autistic

Not content with his racist, sexist, and homophobic comments; not content with calling Elizabeth Smart (and other teen girls who were kidnapped and raped) a slut; Michael Savage has now taken to mocking the autistic. According to Atrios, Savage discussed the new report out of California showing a dramatic increase in cases of autism. Savage dismissed the report and, according to an e-mail from Rick Rollens, quoted by Atrios, mocked the autistic community by reading symptoms of autism and saying flippantly, '"I have that, I have that, I have that," ridiculing the seriousness of autism.

How evil is this? Go and read this (scroll down to May 16), the words of the father of an autistic child, and you'll see. Michael Savage has no shame. But then, we've said that before.

Please e-mail Michael Savage (if you have the stomach) at Michael Savage and ask him where the "compassion" of his self-styled "compassionate conservatism" is.

Also, e-mail world@MSNBC.com and viewerservices@MSNBC.com and, as Atrios says, "ask them if a man who openly mocks and scorns the disabled is someone they think should be representing their news channel."

2003-03-21T10:33:00.000-08:00

GOOD NEWS!

More advertisers have pulled their spots from Savage's show: Biologic Solutions (which advertised Skintight), NBTY (maker of Puritan's Pride), Hotels.com, and Nautilus (maker of Bowflex). Still advertising are Video Professor and Cancer Treatment Centers of America. You can e-mail these holdouts at the GLAAD site--just use the link and click on "Take Action."

Even a right-winger calls on Michael Savage to apologize after Savage implied that Elizabeth Smart is a slut. Now we really know the kind of person Savage is. As I've pointed out before, though, Savage seems to be obsessed with the sexuality of young women: see this link.

2003-03-19T06:56:00.000-08:00

Through GLAAD you can now send e-mails to all the advertisers on last Saturday's Savage Nation. Simply click on the "Take Action" link.

The United Church of Christ, with about a million and a half members, has joined the fight to have Michael Savage removed from MSNBC's lineup. They rightfully argue that Savage's messages of hate and intolerance are inconsistent with Christian values.

The Register has a biting piece satirizing the prospect of GE and Microsoft selling America's "core values" abroad using Michael Savage as a cultural ambassador. Many thanks to that great site, Michael Savage Sucks, for linking to this.

2003-03-17T03:39:00.000-08:00

MSNBC Ignores Protests, Advertiser Withdrawals; Gives Savage More Time

Unbelievably, MSNBC, in a move showing its contempt for ordinary decency, is now scheduling Michael Savage for regular appearances on Buchanan and Press, 2 to 4 p.m. (ET) on Wednesdays, and on MSNBC Reports with Joe Scarborough every Friday at 10 p.m.

Please write immediately to MSNBC, Erik Sorenson, and Neal Shapiro and tell them what you think of this. (All you pro-Savage types, don't bother to write thanking me for providing the address. I'm tired of semi-literate e-mail.)

MSNBC Feedback
feedback@msnbc.com

Erik Sorenson, MSNBC President
Erik Sorenson@msnbc.com

Neil Shapiro
Neil Shapiro@nbc.com

Politeness is always more effective, although after you read up on Savage, it may be hard to keep up a veneer of civility.

"A Sad Day in Television History"

So reads the title of the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council's press release criticizing MSNBC for its "unprecedented decision to become the first national television channel to give a white supremacist a regularly scheduled program."

This is the first time in its 17-year history that MMTC has taken a stand against a particular program, after being asked by some of the 51 groups it comprises to do so. MMTC expresses "astonishment" at MSNBC's decision, stating that MMTC "has always admired NBC's well known policies of equal opportunity and NBC's generous and unwavering support of minority advancement in education and in the media industries."

It is indeed a sad day when the channel that broadcast Marian Anderson's 1939 Lincoln Memorial Concert--after the DAR Constitution Hall refused to integrate its stage--now chooses to give air time to the likes of Michael Savage.

The Savage Nation, March 15 edition

Three of the big advertisers on the show were Bowflex, Earthlink, and hotels.com. (Clicking on the links will pop up an e-mail address). I have an Earthlink account and will have to find out whether I can connect in some other way to the Internet. We've been thinking of a satellite link, and now I have an excellent reason to explore that.

Yes, I forced myself to watch it. Ho-hum. Why Savage even bothers with the pretext of callers I have no idea. He lets them make some lame statement like, "Yeah, yeah, these people who don't want us to attack Iraq, what's up with them?" just so he can then go off on the antiwar movement in what is, alas, a very predictable manner. Over and over again he showed footage of the WTC being flown into and then crumbling, obviously with the purpose of reinforcing in viewers' minds the false idea that the hijackers were linked to Iraq and Saddam Hussein. Since roughly half the populace already believes this thanks to the encouragement of George W. Bush, Savage's task is not too difficult.

News of the dangerously contagious and mysterious pneumonia that has recently surfaced prompted a diatribe against immigrants, who, he said, have "gang-banged" America. Oh, really? Who does he think we all are, save for the Native Americans?

2003-03-13T04:24:00.000-08:00

GOOD NEWS!

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has announced that all national sponsors of MSNBC's "Savage Nation" debut have publicly withdrawn from the program. The companies are Procter & Gamble, Dell Computer Corporation, Casual Male, Idea Village, Cole Media Group, The Sharper Image, General Mills, and Kraft.

Savage's response was predictable. He called GLAAD's actions "a restraint of trade issue" and said they were violating federal law. He also threatened litigation.

Talks between NBC news and GLAAD were broken off when NBC insisted on confidentiality regarding both content and outcome of the talks.

In other news, GLAAD, NOW, and Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) have been joined by the Human Rights Campaign in calling for MSNBC to reconsider their hiring of Savage. HRC is calling on the Justice Department to repudiate Savage's threat to use the department to pursue the opposing groups under terrorism legislation, saying that the groups' actions constitute "economic terrorism."

2003-03-11T13:19:00.000-08:00

More on Savage's foray into TV land:

Although a Swiffer ad ran on Savage's show last Saturday, Procter & Gamble has stated that it will not advertise on the show and that the airing of the commercial was a mistake. The company says that Savage's show violates their content guidelines.

Kraft also mistakenly ran an ad on the show, for Gevalia. Kraft says it will not happen again.

The bad reviews of Savage's TV debut continue to pour in. "MSNBC, Savage Look Foolish" says one headline. "'Savage Nation's' audible splat is a good example of what's wrong with MSNBC," wrote another reviewer. "Don't give up your day job," advised another.

Hey--do you think it's just coincidence that I haven't received any pro-Savage e-mail since his maiden flight??

2003-03-10T09:09:00.000-08:00

Protest MSNBC's hiring of hate-radio jock Michael Savage!

On the other hand, Savage may yet bring about his own departure.

Apparently, Savage's first show was "excruciatingly dull" (Salon), "a yawner" (Arizona Republic). Only Savage's most rabid fans were allowed to get past the screener, except for Steve Pellegrino, whose hobby seems to be sneaking past those protectors of TV-talk-show decorum in order to disconcert the host. The minute he said, "my girlfriend is from .... a Turd World Nation," he was cut off. No, MSNBC isn't going to get anyone to forget that they've hired a racist. With no one to debate on the air, Savage set up his usual straw men to attack.

In considering Savage's viewers, Salon asks, "How dumb are they?" and goes on to detail an exchange with "Todd." Believe me, these are people who think professional wrestling is real.

Entertainment Weekly called Savage a "nasty, stupid piece of work -- a puffed-up hate-monger, pure and simple-minded."

But just in case he doesn't ....

GLAAD reports that both Procter & Gamble and Kraft Foods pulled their ads after receiving transcripts of Savage's radio show. MSNBC received 3,000 anti-Savage e-mails in the days leading up to his television premiere. The only two major corporations to advertise on the show were Dell and Sharper Image. (That's two too many--get those letters out!) Hop on over to MichaelSavageSucks for a list of advertisers; the site is organizing a boycott.
GLAAD has scheduled a meeting with the network to discuss its concerns about the show. But gays and lesbians are far from the only, or even the most-attacked groups on Savage's shows. The bigotry and hatred Savage so proudly parades cover a lot of bases, indeed: women, immigrants, Muslims, African-Americans, liberals and leftists, peace advocates--the list goes on.

This is the man whom Erik Sorenson says he hired to discuss national security. Hmmm. I guess closing the borders to all immigration and deploying troops on the border with Mexico (even while waging war against Iraq) to make sure no Hispanics get in (they "breed like rabbits," you know, according to Savage) are the national-security measures Sorenson has in mind.

Sorenson has said that "those statements as quoted by GLAAD and FAIR are not appropriate for MSNBC. ...Those kinds of statements will not be permitted. And if they do happen, they won't happen more than once." Wonder how many of Savage's listeners will stay loyal without the opportunity to hear slurs against anyone who isn't a white male.

2003-03-06T13:34:00.000-08:00

No, we still don't have those sample letters up! Argghh. I hope you've taken the time to e-mail MSNBC, Sorenson, and Shapiro, though. If not, please scroll down.

Salon has a story on Savage that's worth reading, even if you do have to sit through the ad. Michael Savage swimming in the nude with ... Allen Ginsberg?? Well, that makes you think, doesn't it, about the source of those homophobic rants.

MichaelSavageSucks.com announces that its boycott of all MSNBC sponsors is to begin March 9. I've sent them an e-mail asking for more on this.

We received the following e-mail from Lain Kay, who gave us permission to reprint it:

I live in Bozeman, MT and when I ran into a person who believed Savage's vicious statements about everything and everybody, I had to pay more attention to this guy. I have written a letter to MSNBC and am attempting to mobilize more people to do so. I heard his statements about Mr. Fred Rogers last Thursday, Feb. 27, and was so amazed at Savage's calling him a Wuss and a Sissy and [saying Rogers] was too kind. He added that we need more kiddie shows with someone like General Patton as host. I hope he lost the caller who wanted to honor Fred Rogers at that point. I am also contacting our local radio station about carrying Savage's program which is on at 5:00 pm and gives him an edge with people driving home from work. Keep up the good work.

Thanks, Lain! Just pass our URL on to as many people as you can.

Lain's letter makes a nice change from the pro-Savage people. I admit I look forward every morning to reading their feeble attempts at witty repartee, but after awhile one does begin to realize just who it is who listens to Savage. It saddens me to think that so many people exploit the worst tendencies of human beings, and all to make a buck.

2003-03-03T05:43:00.000-08:00

New Actions

Addresses of advertisers on MSNBC--more on the way. Write and let them know how you feel about Michael Savage and his corporate sponsors.

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has put out an alert about Michael Savage. You can click on their "Take Action" button to send e-mails to MSNBC president and general manager Erik Sorenson and NBC News president Neil Shapiro. GLAAD reports on the threats Savage made to organizations protesting MSNBC's hiring of the hate-radio jock. Among other things, Savage said he would use the Justice Department to shut down his enemies, threatening, "We're going to go after your funding sources. And we will do everything we can within the legal realm to cut off that funding! We are also going to go to the U.S. Justice Department under John Ashcroft! What you are doing is illegal! You think it's 1965 and I'm South Africa? I've got news for you: it's not 1965 and it ain't South Africa! I'll cut your funding off, and if you break the law any further, I'll put you in jail!" Whoa, does this guy have a delusion of grandeur or what??

I've added Shapiro's snail-mail and e-mail addresses to the addresses in this blog's first entry--scroll down.

ProIslam.com is mounting a letter-writing campaign to the sponsors of Savage's radio show.

Links here.

2003-03-02T05:16:00.000-08:00

I have to tell you, if the mail I've gotten from them so far is any indication, those pro-Savage folk aren't terribly bright. It's mildly amusing to see these people claim the moral high ground and accuse us of censoring free speech and attempting to deprive someone of his livelihood. I've been told it's too bad I can't "take a joke." Then, in what's clearly meant to shrivel me, I've been told, "Thanks for giving me the address, now I can tell MSNBC how much I like Michael." Ooooh, what a blow! Of course, there's no way to actually defend Savage's ideas, because he doesn't have any; he merely repeats stereotypes and spews vitriol.

Has anyone ever done a profile of people who listen to hate radio? I'd be interested to read it. Wouldn't want to go bowling with them, that's for sure.

2003-02-26T10:44:00.000-08:00

Protest MSNBC's hiring of hate-radio jock Michael Savage!

Many of us have been shocked to learn that radio shock jock Michael Savage (real name Michael Weiner) has been hired by MSNBC and given a weekly hour-long slot in which to showcase what president Erik Sorensen calls his "compelling opinion and analysis with an edge."

Do the following quotes, taken from Savage's radio show, represent "compelling opinion" or "analysis with an edge," I wonder?

"I'm beginning to think that women should be denied the vote. Their hormones rage; they are too emotional."

"You open the door to [third world immigrants], and the next thing you know, they are defecating on your country and breeding out of control."

"With the [Latino] population that has emerged, since they breed like rabbits, in many cases the whites will become a minority in their own nation... The white people don't breed as often for whatever reason. I guess many homosexuals are involved. That is also part of the grand plan, to push homosexuality to cut down on the white race."

Savage also routinely refers to non-white countries as the "turd world" (it's embarrassing even to write it).

It's time we refused to pretend that these kinds of comments have anything to do with thoughtful analysis or defensible opinion.

How can you debate with a man who uses phrases like "turd world," calls the Chinese "devils" and calls for Chinese-Americans to be put into internment camps, and says that children killed by guns aren't kids, "they're ghetto slime"? This stuff is out-and-out racism, sexism, homophobia, and xenophobia, the kind of commentary one would not have seen anywhere on television a few years ago, let alone on a purported news channel. Obviously, this is a move on the part of MSNBC to lure some of FOX's viewers. What a low, pathetic maneuver it is, and we shouldn't let them get away with it.

What can you do about it?

First of all, tell MSNBC and Erik Sorenson what you think of the decision to hire Savage:

MSNBC Feedback
feedback@msnbc.com

Erik Sorenson, MSNBC President
Erik Sorenson@MSNBC.com

Neal Shapiro, NBC News President
Neal Shapiro@nbc.com

Snail mail:

Neal Shapiro
President, NBC News
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112-0002

Erik Sorenson
President and General Manager, MSNBC
1 MSNBC Plaza
Secaucus, NJ 07094-3500

Politeness is always more effective, although after you read up on Savage, it may be hard to keep up a veneer of civility (links below).

Also in the works is a boycott of MSNBC advertisers. Sign the petition! (This petition originated with Savage's syndicated radio show; I expect it to be expanded at this time to include MSNBC sponsors, but to date have not seen a list.)

Daughter Hannah, who enlisted my help when she got mad enough to do something about this situation, has been trying to find addresses of MSNBC sponsors and has written a sample letter. She's also written to Mr. Sorenson. We'll be putting up some sample letters in the next day or so. We want to make it easy for you to let MSNBC know what you think of Michael Savage and of MSNBC for hiring him. Meanwhile, go here to get the addresses we have to date.

Check back often for news on what's happening!

Links

All links have been moved here.

Stay tuned!