Is this Weiner's idea of an apology?

Update: Savage has responded to Media Matters' inquiries by saying, "I stand by my words." Fine - I stand by my objections and resolve to contact all of his advertisers, with your help.

If this is Michael "Savage" Weiner's idea of an apology, he'd better go back to the drawing board. Wiener (right) made some highly offensive, insensitive remarks about autism last week, and now it appears he's backtracking. Last week, autism was "a fraud, a racket," and now, it's "overdiagnosed" by doctors. Hmm - that's not what he said last week, and the clarification that he's posted on his Website (see below) is simply not good enough. I was getting ready to write more letters to the advertisers of Talk Radio Network (TNR), the company that employs him, when I thought I would check his Website first. Below is what I found - a half-baked attempt to quiet a controversy, with no sign of an apology.

The Autism Controversy

My comments about autism were meant to boldly awaken parents and children to the medical community's attempt to label too many children or adults as "autistic."

Just as some drug companies have overdiagnosed "ADD" and "ADHD" to peddle dangerous speed-like drugs to children as young as 4 years of age, this cartel of doctors and drug companies is now creating a national panic by overdiagnosing autism, for which there is no definitive medical diagnosis!

Many children are being victimized by being diagnosed with an "illness" which may not exist, in all cases. Just a few weeks ago doctors recommended dangerous anti-cholesterol drugs for children as young as 2 years of age! Without any scientific studies on the possible dangers of such drugs on children, corrupt doctors made this controversial, unscientific recommendation.

Increasingly, our children are being used as profit centers by a greedy, corrupt medical/pharmaceutical establishment. As the brother of a severely disabled person who suffered and died in a New York "snake-pit" of a "mental hospital," I know first-hand what true disability is.

To permit greedy doctors to include children in medical categories which may not be appropriate is a crime against that child and their family. Let the truly autistic be treated. Let the falsely diagnosed be free.

Michael Savage

In other words, now Wiener is doing a full retreat from what he said last week by attempting to curry favor with the public by making an "it's us against the pharmaceuticals" argument. I'm not buying it. This guy owes the autism community an unqualified apology, period.

And what's more, his pseudo-apologies aren't enough anymore. I'm sick to death of people like Wiener saying whatever it is they want to say, and when a controversy ensues, they apologize to get themselves out of trouble. In other words, they aren't really sorry, they are just sorry that their career and livelihood might be threatened, thanks to their big mouths. (The late Jerry Falwell comes to mind here - how can you say one day that 9-11 happened because of gays and abortions, and the next day you say, "Whoops! Sorry" and have people really believe it to be real?)

My prediction is that eventually Wiener will probably be forced to apologize. But, if it does happen, it will only be because his bosses and/or his advertisers have forced it on him. Again, not good enough - this guy needs to be put in the street. Let him hawk his books to the hate mongers of America, but no radio station is under any obligation to provide him with a forum to spew his venom.

To reiterate, this is not a free speech issue. There's no question that Wiener has the right to express his opinions, however repulsive they may be (and they certainly are). It's about advertisers making his hateful program possible. As I wrote this past weekend, with our corporate media, our purchasing power is about the only thing we have left, and I'm making it abundantly clear to the organizations that advertise on his show that my money's going elsewhere.

Let the letter writing continue. ...

Subway Franchise Headquarters
Attn: Mr. Fred De Luca, President
325 Bic Drive
Milford, CT 06461-3059

Dear Mr. De Luca:
I have been a customer of Subway for many, many years. I flat-out love your food and I've rarely had a bad experience in your restaurants, and I've been in dozens of them in many different parts of the United States.

However, recently I noticed that you advertise on Talk Radio Network, including the program of Michael Savage, who is nothing short of a hate-mongering disgrace. In the past few years, he's made intolerant remarks about Muslims, African-Americans and now people suffering from autism, a disease that Savage last week called "a fraud, a racket." Since your advertising dollars partially make his show possible, I will no longer frequent any Subway Restaurants until your support of his show stops entirely. As much as I love your sandwiches and your restaurants, fortunately I have many fast food choices these days.

I strongly urge you to consider the social implications of where you send your advertising dollars. Savage might have a sizable audience with a great deal of reach, but companies should stand for something. What does Subway stand for? Calling autism a "fraud"? Your regular and potential customers deserve better.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours in democracy,
RJ
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Again, I openly encourage all of you to get involved in writing letters to Talk Radio Network's advertisers. A partial list is Here. As I mentioned over the weekend, I certainly don't mind if you use my letter above as a template, but I strongly recommend that you alter the letter somewhat - companies and organizations tend to ignore chain letters. The more you can personalize your letter, the better.

Michael Wiener: disgrace to humanity

In the political atmosphere & culture we live in today, it wasn't difficult to predict that some extremist imbecile on the right would make fun of the fact that Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor that will almost certainly kill him within the next few years, or sooner.

Seriously, just what in the world is wrong with some people? Right-wing hate monger Michael "Savage" Wiener went way over the line when making fun of Sen. Ted Kennedy the other day. Listen to the above audio, and you'll quickly see that this man is reveling in the fact that Kennedy is dying. Words almost fail me - it's equal parts sad, outrageous and incomprehensible. The man is clearly rejoicing and poking fun at Kennedy, while playing a Dead Kennedys song. Classy!

First of all, anyone who renames himself Savage should already have his mental stability questioned. Then again, I guess when your given surname is Wiener, and you hope to become some sort of media personality, prudence demands action. Hence, Michael Wiener became Michael Savage.

I'm not stupid enough to believe that there aren't people out there who hate Ted Kennedy, and it's obvious that Wiener is one of them. Fine. But, do you really need to make fun of someone dying? There really is a special place in hell for people like Wiener.

Of course, there isn't a news story that's been written in the past week that hasn't mentioned the Chappaquiddick incident, when a car Kennedy was driving went over a bridge, killing Mary Jo Kopechne, in July 1969. There isn't a doubt in my mind that Kennedy used his influence to avoid an almost certain jail sentence. The truth is, the truth will probably never be known, but that hasn't stopped many on the right from claiming a host of conspiracy theories. Fine, but that was over 40 years ago, people.

One of my favorite bumper stickers that I see from time to time about Kennedy & Chappaquiddick goes something like this:

Ted Kennedy's car has killed more people than my guns.

Witty! However, I think that one should be updated by those on the left. Just off the top of my head, how about:

George W. Bush has killed tens of thousands more people than Ted Kennedy's car.

I don't believe that Kennedy intentionally killed Kopechne, despite what disgraces to humanity like Wiener would have you believe. But, he certainly acted improperly (to say the least). However, since that time, Kennedy has done a great deal of good for both his constituents and for those less fortunate than him around the country, and for that he should be applauded. After all, many on the right acknowledge Kennedy's work, so maybe it's time the rest of his opponents should as well. I'm not holding my breath.

The guy has had two of his brothers murdered in a very public way - RFK just over a year prior to Chappaquiddick. I'm completely guessing here, but he was probably petrified over public reaction and pretty damn traumatized. Maybe it's time people on the right give the guy a break. After all, the Kopechne family has. I know, I know - fat chance that's ever going to happen, just like there's a fat chance I'll ever not think that President Bush should be tried for war crimes. So be it - that's the political world we live in today.

But, as much as I disagree with almost everything that President Bush does, I would not publicly or privately rejoice were he to be stricken in some way with a fatal illness, or worse. I guess that's the difference between the so-called extremists on the left and the right - most of the ones on the right seemingly have no line they will not cross to score a cheap political point (or radio ratings). Every time I hear about hate speech, it seems like it comes from the right, be it Wiener, Rush Limbaugh, Michelle Malkin, Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, Glenn Beck, etc. I would hope that indicates something to rational, educated people .

For instance, as much as I despised Rev. Jerry Falwell, I didn't rejoice in his death, publicly or privately. I didn't necessarily mourn him, either, but there are lines I don't cross - rejoicing in someone's death (or imminent death) is goes beyond the pale, but that's what Wiener is all about - being totally outrageous to get ratings for his miserable radio show. I'd say the man is fringe, but he clearly is not. Most stories I read about him have him ranked as the third most popular radio listener in terms of audience on terrestrial radio, behind Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. That should also tell us all something about the dominance of right-wing radio, as well as how many people filled with hate there are out there, all because they disagree with someone politically. Pathetic and sad.

The good news is that I went to Savage's Website to see which advertisers could kiss my business goodbye, and there really aren't any. (I wonder why?) The only ads I could find were pleas to send money for Wiener's "legal defense fund" and ads hawking his stupid t-shirts, mugs and hate-filled screeds that pass for books. So, it appears that most sponsors won't touch him, and it's little wonder he was fired from MSNBC for responding so virulently to a caller he disagreed with (I believe he wished AIDS on the caller, if memory serves me correctly). I don't think the man should be fired - after all, we do have the First Amendment in this country. But, any company or organization who advertises on his show should be punished for supporting such a hate-filled, churlish simpleton.

When I find out more about his advertisers, I'll share it with you.

Special hat tip (h/t) to Media Matters, an organization devoted to exposing and publicizing such hateful claptrap in the media. Of course, the likes of Savage and O'Reilly HATE Media Matters for all of their work, which is all the more reason we should admire, support and spread the word about this important organization and its work.

If you want to send your own message to Michael "Savage" Wiener, his e-mail address is: michaelsavage@paulreveresociety.com. Please, keep it polite and professional, or as much as you can.

I'm e-mailing him later today, and I'll share it with you when I send it.

The Freeway Blogger rocks on

Here is another example of all the great work the Freeway Blogger is doing out west - protesting what this administration is doing at home and abroad. I can never get enough of watching this stuff.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - I really want to get started on doing a little bit of this stuff where I live. Now that I have some time this summer, I plan on doing it soon. I've been saving up cardboard for some time - I just need to get started. Soon enough~ and I'll share it with you when I do.

Bravo to the Freeway Blogger - visit his site for some great examples of his work, as well as some work from people who have sent him pictures of their own efforts.

This Wiener has no taste

This is the first and probably the only time I will ever post something from Dr. Michael Wiener (née Savage), but this one was too good to pass up. I dare you to get through the entire length of this audio clip without clicking off of it.

Notice about halfway through this audio, Wiener's brain simply morphs Rev. Wright's comments into those that have been said by Obama himself. That's a deliberate, intentional lie.

What's with the Third Reich fetish by those on the far right? Can this guy go longer than five minutes without saying the word Nazi? He even goes so far as to mention "Japanese Nazis" from World War II. The Japanese were Nazis? That's certainly news to me. I know that Japan and Germany had a loose alliance during the war, but that's about as far as it went. The Japanese certainly didn't describe themselves as Nazis.

I guess "Nazi" is the new "Communist," the name that right wingers would always call Democrats and opponents in political debates during the Cold War. The word Nazi is becoming as trite as Wiener's stereotypes about liberals.

And for those of you who think that Wiener is totally fringe, think again. From his Wikipedia entry:

As Michael Savage, he has written four New York Times best sellers. His nationally syndicated radio show, The Savage Nation, reaches more than 10 million listeners on 410 stations throughout the United States, ranking third in number of stations syndicated nationwide and third in nationwide audience behind Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity.

Ten million listeners? That's not exactly fringe. Quite frankly, it frightens me that this many people listen to him.

Lots of other things to comment on, but why bother?

A quick footnote, though...

I went to Wiener's Website, fully prepared to share with you which companies you should avoid giving your business to, but there was just one problem. I couldn't find any advertisers. About all I did find was endless advertisements for his bullshit books, as well as multiple links per page asking for advertisers and even several spots where you could donate "to protect free speech." This guy pimps his doorstops books, mugs, hats and t-shirts more than Limbaugh or O'Lielly. And that's saying something.

However, I can guarantee you that I will never, ever buy a Rockstar, an energy drink founded by the company where his son Russell Wiener serves as CEO. I've tried Rockstar and it sucks anyway, but I just thought I'd share the news with you. By drinking it, you really are supporting boobs like Wiener and his son, who both founded The Paul Revere Society in 1996, an organization whose mission, according to Wiener, is to "bring together Americans who actively seek to take back our borders, our language, and our traditional culture from the liberal left corroding our great nation."

To be clear, I'm NOT supporting his being thrown off the air for what he says. This is America, and free speech should always be protected. But, hate speech must be appropriately scorned, and that's exactly what Wiener's sewer is - hate speech that fouls America's airwaves.

Time to give the Freeway Blogger some love

It's been a while since I've written about the Freeway Blogger, so today I wanted to give his name, activities and his cause another mention.

This guy is awesome - what a way to promote free speech - as we all sit in our cars on our way to work.

Here are a few of his better signs...

Awesome - one of the best ones I've seen on his site in a very long time.

This one is right up there, too. Dubya ran how many businesses into the ground before becoming governor of Texas? I mean, like it's a shock that our economy is quickly going down the toilet. In many ways, maybe our astronomical debt is coming home to roost - the result of a tragically inept eight years of "stewardship" of our economy.

By the way, in addition to his Website, his blog is Here. Take a minute and check him out - you'll be glad you did. Better yet, take a minute or two to make a sign, and hang it. Here are some signs that people have sent in to him that he posted on his blog...

Reminding people of how judas John McSame is pandering to voters and saying anything to get elected is never, ever a bad thing.

I'd love to hear Bill O'Leilly or drug addict Limbaugh try to call the painter of this sign unpatriotic.

This is just a great collage of signs before they all found a home on freeways for hundreds of thousands of drivers to see. Not a bad one in the bunch.

When I have some time this summer, I want to do some freeway blogging in the Philly area; the biggest expense is time - the materials cost next to nothing, and best of all, it's provocative as hell.

Some day when we move to California, I've got to meet this guy.

Land of the Free, sort of...

Just about on a daily basis, I see a story in the media that makes me wonder just how "free" we as Americans really are. From President Bush only allowing Republicans at his campaign events in 2004, to designated "protest zones" when people who are displeased with the president want to let him know, this government goes out of its way to stifle dissent and freedom. Here's one of the latest examples...

A 74-year old man has been arrested for selling "Impeach Him" buttons in Kensington, Maryland. Alan McConnell (left), a retired math teacher, has been selling anti-Bush buttons at a farmer's market for months when officials began harassing him for not having a permit to sell the buttons.

But really, is that what's at work here? A permit to sell freaking buttons? I highly doubt it. What's really at work here is silencing a voice who some smackdass in government views as Not Supporting the Troops.

After town officials warned McConnell about not having a permit, he was also warned that he would be arrested if he returned to the market, even though it is public property.

After defiantly showing up last weekend despite threats from town officials, McConnell was arrested and charged with trespassing. He faces 90 days in jail and a $500 fine, in addition to the $500 fine he received three weeks ago.

Officials said kicking him out has nothing to do with politics but with
fears that the atmosphere fostered by McConnell and his supporters would create a safety hazard. (Mayor Peter Fosselman even cancelled last Saturday's market.)

Phew! Thank GOD we are removing 74-year old men from the streets - their presence and their opinions are safety hazards and a threat to law and order.

Photo from The Washington Post

Huffington & Ham discuss blog hate speech

I've got so much to try to get to tonight, but I had to quickly share this piece of footage. I love Arianna Huffington, and I even liked her when she was a conservative. Her sketches with Al Franken on Bill Maher's Politically Incorrect during the 1996 election were very funny and cool.

Her Website, The Huffington Post, (or HuffPo, as I refer to it) is a click I make every day when catching up on the latest political news.

Huffington recently appeared on Howard Kutz's CNN show Reliable Sources to talk about free speech and hate speech in the blogosphere, and conservative Mary Katherine Ham was also on the show.

It's amazing to me how Ham tries to politicize hate speech on blogs. Her Ham-handed attempt to paint Huffington with the well-worn brush from the conservative arsenal - being a purveyor of hate speech against this administration - falls flat. I guess when it comes to hate speech, familiarity breeds contempt, especially considering Ham's history with Michelle Malkin. Anyone doubting Malkin's intolerance credentials, click Here.

Ham tried to call out Arianna for some comments that were left on her site following Vice President Cheney's close call over in Afghanistan, when the front gate of a Marine compound he was staying at was attacked by a suicide bomber. A few morons on Huffington's site posted some ridiculous comments, expressing regret that Cheney was unharmed in the incident.

Of course, right-wingers went nuts, claiming that Huffington waited too long to take the comments down, etc. In the video above, Ham tries to make hay of it again.

Arianna was right to come right back over the top of Ham, who insinuates here that Huffington supported such speech, or the idea behind it. Lots of morons leave absurd messages on both sides of the political spectrum - no ideology or political viewpoint is exempt. Ham's whining about Malkin is also a kick - maybe if Malkin weren't so insanely intolerant, she wouldn't be such a lightning rod for nasty comments. I'm not defending people who call her the "C-word," but she brings a lot of detractors on herself. If you don't believe me, cruise on over to her Website and see for yourself. I think Malkin and Ann Coulter were separated at birth.

Where Huffington really makes sense here is when she refers to Websites' content; it IS absurd for people like Ham to try and paint liberals or people who read liberal blogs as "monkeys hanging from the rafters" when she's in the corner of the likes of Malkin and Coulter.

If you go by content, people like Malkin and Coulter lead the way in hate speech. When Huffington mentions this, Ham predictably swallows her tongue.

Freeway Blogger - a true American patriot

I believe it's been a while since I've talked about The Freeway Blogger, but he's worth reminding you about every so often.

In short, this guy is amazing. He's made it nearly his profession (and at the very least, his obsession) to spread the word about this administration, the War in Iraq, and its perpetrators to the American people. And he's doing it the hard way. Hard in that its pretty labor intensive, and I can't imagine how much gas this guy's burning driving all over Southern California. However much time and money he's spending though, it's all worth it, in my humble opinion.

The picture above is just one of the hundreds you will find on the Freeway Blogger's Website, as well as his blog, Tales of the Freeway Blogger.

Some would say its obnoxious, but it won't surprise you to think that I don't share that view. (After all, the back of my car looks like a rolling billboard with all its bumper stickers.)

Why does the Freeway Blogger do it, you ask? According to him:

Why do I do this?

1) It's my right. Free Speech by individuals, particularly of a political nature, is what keeps democracy alive. I have just as much a right to put my signs on the freeway as Clear Channel does to build billboards. It's not Free Speech if you have to pay for it.

2) It's my responsibility. As a citizen of the United States of America, it's my duty to defend my country against all enemies, foreign and domestic. I do this because I love my country and the principles of freedom, fairness and equality it was founded on. I do this because I support our troops and do not want to see their lives wasted in a war built on lies. I do this, simply put, because I am all those things that the Limbaughs, Coulters, Hannitys and O'Reillys in this world say that I'm not: a Patriotic American.

3) It's my pleasure. Don't let the simplicity of the concept fool you: Freewayblogging is a lot more than just randomly sticking signs on the freeway. Pursued to its maximum effect, freewayblogging combines the arts and sciences of rhetoric, painting, engineering, psychology, physics and sneakiness. I encourage everyone, whatever their political bent, to try it. Unless, of course, you have nothing to say.

##

Pretty well said.

I would also assume that he does it for the same reason that I put bumper stickers on my car (and also why I have a blog), and that's to stimulate thought, provoke conversation and make people think.

Nothing give me more pleasure than when someone drives by me with a smile and a thumbs up after reading my provocative bumper. I have to confess though, that I get just as big of a kick out of the random conservative ne'er-do-well who drives by with a middle finger in the air.

Anyway, the Freeway Blogger's two Websites not only contain his freeway work, but pictures of submissions as well. Here's a sample of some of my favorites from his sites...

I'm sure this one angered more than a few right wingers. Too bad.

Talk about saying a lot in one sentence.

Keep on keepin' on, Freeway Blogger. When we move to California, I've got to meet this guy.