Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) wants Savage off the air over autism rant

[babylonsister]

Doyle wants Savage off the air over autism rant
By Joey Michalakes
Posted: 07/23/08 04:00 PM


Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) is calling on radio stations and potential sponsors to "reconsider their association" with Michael Savage after the radio host called autism a "racket."

"I understand that shock jocks get the big bucks for being as obnoxious and controversial as possible — but there's no reason we have to stand idly by and let Mr. Savage boost his market share at the expense of families who are dealing with a heartbreaking and financially draining health issue," Doyle wrote in a post on The Hill's Congress Blog .

"If I were a radio station that broadcast his show or a company that sponsored it, I'd certainly reconsider my association with it, and if I were a parent of an autistic child, I'd certainly demand that."

Doyle, along with Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), co-chairs the Congressional Coalition for Autism Research and Education, whose membership includes 180 members drawn from both the House and Senate. The two congressmen issued a joint statement condemning Savage's words soon after they were aired.

more...

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/doyle-wants-savage-off-the-air-over-autism-rant-2008-07-23.html

[Prefer]

1. It was beyond reproach what he said

as someone whose close friend had a severly austic child, this was inexcusable. You can't image what the parents suffer through.

[JDPriestly]

2. Inexcusable, maybe, but also his right to speak as he wishes.

I don't know what was said, but hurt feelings weighed against freedom of speech is an obvious win for free speech.

[KamaAina]

3. The First Amendment gives Savage Weiner the right to rant about autism from on top of a soapbox

it does not, however, guarantee him the right to a national radio show.

Did you know he once had a show on MSNBC? You could be forgiven for forgetting, since it lasted one episode. A gay activist in the studio audience heckled him, and he replied, in his inimitable fashion, "People like you should only get AIDS and die." And that was the end of Savage Weiner on cable.

[JDPriestly]

8. True, but what MSNBC shows should not be legislated.

[PA Democrat]

4. No one is trying to take away his free speech.

Instead those of us who find Savage's remarks offensive are exercising our own free speech by telling Savage's sponsors that we will not buy their products as long as they choose to provide financial support to Savage.

Sponsors are free to continue to advertise, stations are free to continue to carry his show, and those of us living with autism every day are free to expose Savage for the despicable hate monger that he is; and we are free to speak with our pocketbooks as well, by not patronizing businesses who sponsor him.

Free speech does NOT mean that everyone should just shut up and take it when this sort of garbage is spewed over the public airwaves.

[izquierdista]

6. Everyone in the nuthouse has free speech too

But fortunately, their rantings are only heard by nurses and orderlies.

[kestrel91316]

5. I know what I want for Savage. It's considered obscene so

I won't post it here.

[RamboLiberal]

7. Doyle is my represenative

I agree with him that radio stations should look if they really want to carry Savage. I'd love to see this put him out of business.

But I do defend the Wiener's right to free speech. But advertisers and stations don't have to pay to give him that right.

[Hawkeye-X]

9. One of my childhood friends was autistic.

I know he has since moved to Illinois, and I never knew what has happened to him.

His name was Keith, and for the life of me, I cannot remember his last name.

P.S., Fuck Weiner and his ilk. Remember to boycott Rock Star Energy drinks - his son owns that.

Hawkeye-X