Popular conservative radio host says autism patients are faking it

Michael Savage is a conservative hero. They own this man. I have a nephew with autism. He's now a young adult now. I'd noticed something wrong when he was around 2. Since then, he's never been "normal." He's not some spoiled brat, he can barely communicate in English, and he's in his 20s. If he's faking it, he's been faking it for 25 or so years now. This man is disgusting. But more disgusting is that he's one of the top conservative radio show hosts. Savage is conservatism, with all its hatred and intolerance laid bare.

On July 16, the No. 3 syndicated radio talk show host in the country, Michael Savage, made the following statement on autism:

"Now, you want me to tell you my opinion on autism? ... A fraud, a racket."

Savage went on to say:

"Now, the illness du jour is autism. You know what autism is? 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. That's what autism is.

What do you mean they scream and they're silent? 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.'"

More from Media Matters, including how to take action.