On Fox News this morning, host Megyn Kelly offered a full-throated defense of right-wing talker Michael Savage, who is suing the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) after it encouraged a boycott against him over a recent anti-Muslim tirade on his show. Amongst other things, Savage called the Quran a “book of hate.”
Kelly and her guests — attorney Trish Deangelis and defense attorney David Wohl — all spoke in support of Savage, who they said is being “targeted” “intentionally” and “maliciously” in “a brutal battle” with an “organization” that took him “out of context” and “sues just about anybody”:
Deangelis: They “said that he’s a Muslim hater. If you watch Michael Savage, you know that is absolutely, that couldn’t be further from the truth.”
Wohl: “They take a snippet of it, and they take it out of context unlawfully and they use it to interfere with Michael Savage’s prospective business, that is actionable.”
Kelly: “Should these advertisers want to be seen as caving to CAIR? An organization that is very controversial.”
Deangelis: “Putting misrepresentations in a letter. That’s exactly what they were doing, using fear to harm Michael Savage.”
At the close of the segment, Kelly took a moment to give “one quick final word” and attack CAIR, saying that “CAIR does sue just about anyone who says anything derogatory about it, refusing to acknowledge people’s right to their own opinions about CAIR.” Watch it:
It’s not surprising, however, that Fox News would rush to his defense. Just as they did with Rush Limbaugh’s “phony soldiers” comment, Fox almost always circles the wagons around conservative talkers who get into trouble with offensive comments:
- In August, when right-wing rocker Ted Nugent said he wanted Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) to “suck on my machine gun,” Fox’s Sean Hannity refused to “disavow” his “friend and frequent guest.” Other Fox hosts dismissed it as a “joke” from “a man who likes to speak his mind.”
- In September, after Bill O’Reilly made casually racist comments about a Harlem restaurant, Fox defended him, running chyrons on their shows saying: “CNN gets suckered by website” and “Distorting the truth: O’Reilly gets taken out of context.”
- In October, when Rush Limbaugh said troops who opposed the war are “phony soldiers,” phony battle and total mischaracterization of Rush Limbaugh’s comments” and another host saying “the transcript backs [Rush] up.”
Savage has a long record of bigoted attacks on Muslims and the Islamic faith. In April 2006, he even suggested that Americans should “kill 100 million” of “these psychotics in the Muslim world.”

When it comes to bigotry against Muslims, the line that runs from Savage, Malkin, O’Reilly and Coulter to the mainstream of the Republican Party is a short one.
For the details, see:
December 4th, 2007 at 4:04 pm“The Party of Hate.”/a>
Not two posts on this guy in one day? There is nothing more to say.
December 4th, 2007 at 4:05 pmSupportive?
You mean like a mace lined jock strap?
December 4th, 2007 at 4:09 pmToo bad all you’ve got left is a cold hard on. Oh, and the Pope says you should convert to Catholicism, now. Get to it.
December 4th, 2007 at 4:10 pmWhat? This from the network of Bill (My boycott brought France to its knees and I’ll boycott the Mavericks) O’Rielly? Now they’re against boycotts? And why are they supporting a lawsuit against a group they say “sues just about anybodyâ€? Are they running an experiment to see just how short their viewership’s attention span really is? If that’s the case they’re going to have to contridict themselves quicker than that.
December 4th, 2007 at 4:10 pmThose poor persecuted Christians. They have been forced to go underground and worship in catacombs beneath New York, San Francisco and Boston. Mean mean liberals!
December 4th, 2007 at 4:12 pmCHL, that’s your defense of Savage? An attack against some no named group? You can do better than that can’t you?
December 4th, 2007 at 4:13 pmSupportive, all evidence to the contrary.
December 4th, 2007 at 4:13 pmRe #7
no kidding, what other religion gets national celebrations and recognitions of both of it’s messiah’s birthdays?
December 4th, 2007 at 4:14 pmI guess cold_hard_on won’t be happy until we have a national holiday for christ’s bar mitzvah.
December 4th, 2007 at 4:16 pmthis guy is a scumbag and people wholisten to or watch Fox are just as scummy!!!!
December 4th, 2007 at 4:17 pmWhy don’t you get upset when Libs attack Christians or Jews?
Comment by cold_hard_left — December 4, 2007 @ 4:08 pm
If ANYBODY here on TP were to say anything against Christians or Jews that even approaches the hate-filled comments of Savage toward Muslims, I will not hesitate to condemn their post.
But I have NEVER heard anyone here — liberal or conservative — say anything close to “they’re never going to me on my knees braying to the pulpit,” or “they’ll never get me in a yarmulke,” let alone advocate deportation or killing of Christians or Jews merely because of their faith.
December 4th, 2007 at 4:18 pmRE#3-and Christians would never get upset if someone were …say to paint a picture of jebus they didn’t like..now would they?
December 4th, 2007 at 4:20 pm16…No, but Giuliani really really hates it if you make Mary’s boob out of elephant dung. But, to his semi-credit, I don’t think he’d behead the artist over it.
December 4th, 2007 at 4:23 pmuh-oh!!
I’m getting condemned by missmolly, but it won’t change what I have to say - I’m playing by “Savage Rules”!!
December 4th, 2007 at 4:24 pmWhy don’t you get upset when Libs attack Christians or Jews?
Because Liberals do not attack Christians or Jews.
December 4th, 2007 at 4:24 pmSuperstition is the downfall of mankind.
December 4th, 2007 at 4:24 pm19- Matt - I did, and I might again. Please don’t hate me for it.
December 4th, 2007 at 4:25 pmWhy don’t you get upset when Libs attack Christians or Jews? Bigotry against Christians and Jews appears a.o.k. w/ TP. Apparently, it’s only the feelings of Muslims that count, particularly when tens of thousands of them are ready to riot at the appearance of a comic or teddy bear to which they find offense.
Comment by cold_hard_left — December 4, 2007 @ 4:08 pm
ROTFL!! HYSTERICAL!!!!
So you defend Savage position, by attacking Muslims, and then WHINING that you expect others to defend Christians and Jews? ROTFL!!!!
You know, this is what’s called HYPOCRISY, poor little ‘tard!
If you want your religion protected, why would you go around attacking other religions?
December 4th, 2007 at 4:25 pm#15. I don’t think you’d see tens of thousands of Christians in the streets with swords calling for the head of the artist.
Comment by cold_hard_left — December 4, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
They just bomb the streets, and say that it’s our job as Christians to convert them all…
December 4th, 2007 at 4:26 pm18 - no - you’d see tens of thousands of bombs dropping on an Arab country. Oh! wait! - that’s exactly what’s happening!!!
December 4th, 2007 at 4:26 pmFlair and Ballast.
December 4th, 2007 at 4:26 pmRE#3-or call on g*d to send a storm to wipe out Disney Land….now would they?…or assassinate a leader of another country?
December 4th, 2007 at 4:27 pm#15. I don’t think you’d see tens of thousands of Christians in the streets with swords calling for the head of the artist.
Comment by cold_hard_left — December 4, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
Or whine on the ODumbass factor about the ‘war on Christianity’, and call for the head of any school teacher, principal, or shop keeper that doesn’t support Christmas. Aside from the swords, are you really that different little extremist ‘tard? And how many of those people were carrying ’swords’ again? Or were you just being metaphorical?
December 4th, 2007 at 4:27 pm19- Matt - I did, and I might again. Please don’t hate me for it.
Comment by tombaker — December 4, 2007 @ 4:25 pm
No single person is hardly representative of the left, contrary to the perverse and ever so factually handicapped CHL might “think”.
December 4th, 2007 at 4:28 pmWhy is it that every time some fool says something stupid, his apologists claim he was either misquoted or quoted out of context?
Did or did not Michael Savage say, “I’m not gonna put my wife in a hijab. And I’m not gonna put my daughter in a burqa. And I’m not gettin on my all-fours and braying to Mecca. And you could drop dead if you don’t like it. You can shove it up your pipe. I don’t wanna hear anymore about Islam. I don’t wanna hear one more word about Islam. Take your religion and shove it up your behind. I’m sick of you.”??
And, “I think [Muslims] need to be forcibly converted to Christianity…It’s the only thing that can probably turn them into human beings.”
And recommending that it be made illegal to construct mosques in the United States?
Would somebody please explain what possible “context” he could be making these hateful remarks in that would convince me he’s “supportive” of Muslims?
As far as Fox rushing to his defense, that’s no surprise. They love any bigot — as long as they’re good for ratings and Murdoch likes them.
December 4th, 2007 at 4:28 pmBut I have NEVER heard anyone here — liberal or conservative — say anything close to “they’re never going to me on my knees braying to the pulpit,†or “they’ll never get me in a yarmulke,†let alone advocate deportation or killing of Christians or Jews merely because of their faith.
Comment by missmolly — December 4, 2007 @ 4:18 pm
Well, to be fair, I did use the exact phrase “and I’m not gettin on my all-knees and braying to the pulpit†in an earlier post on this topic, but that was an ironic midrash of Savage’s comments.
I can’t speak for all posters, but I think most progressives make the distinction between Jews and Christians and “jews” and “christians.” The former being people of genuine faith who practice what they preach, and the latter being the utter hypocrites who lead the Christian Zionist/neoconservative movements that are hell-bent on destroying the United States.
December 4th, 2007 at 4:31 pmRE#28- and let’s not foreget the need to “perfect the Jews”…that must of been said by a lib..right?
December 4th, 2007 at 4:32 pmOlbermann in his blog a coupla years ago once likened the giant, talking heads in 1984’s jumbotrons to Fox “News.”
“War is peace.”
“Ignorance is knowledge.”
“We are at war with Eastasia. We have always been at war with Eurasia, er, we mean…”
December 4th, 2007 at 4:33 pm#15. I don’t think you’d see tens of thousands of Christians in the streets with swords calling for the head of the artist.
Comment by cold_hard_left
yet…
but you do see “christians” calling for the heads of other people. You have “born again” gwb invading a country and calling it a crusade. You have “christians bombling abortion clinics and gay bars. But that’s all ok, after all, it’s all in the name of Christ.
December 4th, 2007 at 4:37 pmI don’t think you’d see tens of thousands of Christians in the streets with swords calling for the head of the artist.
Comment by cold_hard_left — December 4, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
Ever hear of the Crusades?
December 4th, 2007 at 4:37 pmRE#3- the short of it , some of us may make fun of “phony Christians”. I like Presbyterians they always serve cake and coffee after their church service :)
December 4th, 2007 at 4:37 pmYou have to admit, this is a really fair and balanced “news” show. They got two right wing attorneys–one of them apparently a good friend of Savage’s lawyer–who are convinced that using radio clips broadcast over the public airwaves violates copyright privilege and have them interviewed by a right wing “journalist” who interjects comments delegitimizing CAIR . . . how much more fair and balanced could you want?
According to the clip (which was incredibly painful to sit through since I can’t scream at the computer while I’m at work), Savage has already lost $1 million in advertising revenue. While this is almost certainly a bloated figure, it’s nothing but good news, in my opinion.
December 4th, 2007 at 4:37 pmPlease note:
“They took him out of context!”
AND
“We’re suing him for copyright infringement for showing such a long clip without PERMISSION”
This is too ludicrous for words.
He said it. It was deplorable. He (and his supporters) should be criticized by right-thinking people everywhere, including his sponsors.
December 4th, 2007 at 4:37 pmThe lunatic fringe thinks that not allowing local, state and federal governments to push Christianity is some kind of an outrageous attack.
No, the two are not to be mixed.
Please, worship all you want, just don’t shove it down my throat.
Also, there aren’t Muslims in the US protesting to have teddy bears lynched. Relax.
-GSD
December 4th, 2007 at 4:38 pmComment by cold_hard_left — December 4, 2007 @ 4:08 pm
chl, you seem upset. enhance your calm.
don’t go blowing up a day care center filled with children just because no agrees with your point of view or because you keep losing arguments. learn to live with your frustration. accept losing as your lot in life, ‘k?
other neo-cons have, so can you!
December 4th, 2007 at 4:40 pmSavage also seems to have lots of homo-erotic ideation.
He wanted a gay caller to ‘choke on a sausage’ and then he says ’shove it up your pipe’.
Michael Savage, the toe-tapping Republicans best friend.
-GSD
December 4th, 2007 at 4:41 pmI don’t think you’d see tens of thousands of Christians in the streets with swords calling for the head of the artist.
Comment by cold_hard_left — December 4, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
Swords? Really? Aren’t you just making this up because it sounds good? Thousands of 21st Century Muslims waving swords? Where did they get them, from the sword store?
Are you sure you’re not confusing the protests with some old movie?
December 4th, 2007 at 4:44 pmHow Come when Savage disparages the Muslims on Fox News, that is free speech.
But when CAIR gets offended and encourages people to boycott, that is a litigous situation.
(Especially in the context of the Christian conservative groups who are watching TV shows and organizing boycotts of their sponsors.)
December 4th, 2007 at 4:44 pmWell, to be fair, I did use the exact phrase “and I’m not gettin on my all-knees and braying to the pulpit†in an earlier post on this topic, but that was an ironic midrash of Savage’s comments.
Comment by toasterhead — December 4, 2007 @ 4:31 pm
That was indeed your phrase and I flagrantly plagiarized it (you may now sue me for copyright violation). But I thought your phrase made the point the best, so it’s reallly flattery.
December 4th, 2007 at 4:44 pmComment by Billy Hill — December 4, 2007 @ 4:36 pm
You still talk silly
December 4th, 2007 at 4:45 pmmichael weiner savage is loving this, since he gets a bigger audience to spew his bile.
December 4th, 2007 at 4:47 pmThe guy’s not even original, having borrowed his ranting tirade “schtick” from that 60s bile spewer, Joe Pyne (wikipedia, for those who doubt the similarities).
Comment by Billy Hill — December 4, 2007 @ 4:36 pm
billy!… ya mah boy, billy!
December 4th, 2007 at 4:47 pmThat was indeed your phrase and I flagrantly plagiarized it (you may now sue me for copyright violation). But I thought your phrase made the point the best, so it’s reallly flattery.
Comment by missmolly — December 4, 2007 @ 4:44 pm
Ahh, no worries :)
As I’ve always said, copyright violation is the severest form of flattery…
December 4th, 2007 at 4:48 pmI guess cold_hard_on won’t be happy until we have a national holiday for christ’s bar mitzvah.
#11 by Bobwurst
Hate to break it to you, but the story of Jesus in the temple as a young man would have been about the right age for a Bar Mitzvah.
(family was in town for the feast and as they travelled back home, they noticed that Jesus wasn’t with them; going back to Jerusalem they found him in the temple.)
December 4th, 2007 at 4:48 pmHey cold hard left. It’s perfectly ok to attack the oppressive people who are in power. They are causing the suffering of others.
December 4th, 2007 at 4:49 pmComment by Billy Hill — December 4, 2007 @ 4:36 pm
You still talk silly
Comment by dbadass — December 4, 2007 @ 4:45 pm
It is them darn fumes from his tractor that burns bio-diesel made from McDonalds french fry oil.
December 4th, 2007 at 4:50 pmHate to break it to you, but the story of Jesus in the temple as a young man would have been about the right age for a Bar Mitzvah.
(family was in town for the feast and as they travelled back home, they noticed that Jesus wasn’t with them; going back to Jerusalem they found him in the temple.)
Comment by MapleStreet — December 4, 2007 @ 4:48 pm
Good point. And since it’s a birthday party, on December 25th we’re also technically celebrating His Bar Mitzvah, too. Unless they had to move it a few days before or after so it fell on a weekend.
December 4th, 2007 at 4:51 pmAs I recall, there were a whole buncha Christians frothing at the mouth over the chocolate Jesus in New York…
December 4th, 2007 at 4:51 pmSome quotes from Mr. Savage, showing his support of Muslims and Islam…
December 4th, 2007 at 4:52 pmIt is them darn fumes from his tractor that burns bio-diesel made from McDonalds french fry oil.
Comment by Joefriday — December 4, 2007 @ 4:50 pm
I thought it was the alder leaves he claimed to be using to smoke salmon.
December 4th, 2007 at 4:53 pmCold hard Gun,
There was a day when Christians acted like today’s Muslims.
Yes Christians have come a long way. However, their hate and bigotry is much more veiled and sophisticated now.
December 4th, 2007 at 4:53 pmahhh
the sweet smell of irony. the irony of a Republican hiring a trial attorney to sue for damages.
if only the Republicans had passed “tort reform” and Savage was capped at some measley award.
but then again, I’m sure the suit has no merit and will be thrown out by the judge anyway
December 4th, 2007 at 4:53 pm“Hate to break it to you, but the story of Jesus in the temple as a young man would have been about the right age for a Bar Mitzvah.
MapleStreet”
Right, Jesus was Jewish. So why aren’t the devoute amongst us celebrating his Holiness’ entry into manhood?
December 4th, 2007 at 4:54 pmSavage. What an appropriate name.
December 4th, 2007 at 4:54 pmWhy don’t you get upset when Libs attack Christians or Jews? Bigotry against Christians and Jews appears a.o.k. w/ TP. Apparently, it’s only the feelings of Muslims that count, particularly when tens of thousands of them are ready to riot at the appearance of a comic or teddy bear to which they find offense.
Comment by cold_hard_left —
December 4th, 2007 at 4:57 pmThere have been no aggressive attacks on Christians and Jews from TP… maybe you are confused, as there have been attacks against the immoral direction Christians and Jews want to take us in.
Comment by Billy Hill — December 4, 2007 @ 4:54 pm
“doooozy”?
billy… billy what’s happening to ya?
December 4th, 2007 at 5:01 pmThey should counter-sue for hate-mongering.
December 4th, 2007 at 5:02 pmBy repeating the drivel, it makes it seem as though this is something less than a lie. Would you, TP, consider not reporting the statements, but rather the proof showing the lie as the header?
December 4th, 2007 at 5:03 pmI ask only because I know that this tool isn’t likely to have the same code of ethics that a human would. It it now only a matter of the truth as facts show them. The people of this country are no longer entitled to any of this thing called truth and must find it on their own. Facts are difficult when lies are louder and people become more and more stupid. You have to lead the way in showing people how to read a graph or a pie chart without becoming hungry.
If a way can’t be found to show people of average intelligence how to recognize truth, then Mike Judge’s “Idiocracy” is going to be much closer than 500 years out. If we actually had that much time with greed in charge! That’s a laugh.
As I recall, there were a whole buncha Christians frothing at the mouth over the chocolate Jesus in New York…
Comment by Leftside Annie — December 4, 2007 @ 4:51 pm
sorry, that was me. I was salavating.
December 4th, 2007 at 5:04 pmI honestly don’t think Michael Savage hates Muslims. Republicans generally try to make everyone who is not them into an enemy of some sorts. It is their way of segmenting the market, it has been their strategy for years and it works. If they ran strictly on the issues they would generally lose every time so they have to make each voter believe they they are passionately behind the issue that particular voter believes in most. Usually it ibis done so forcefully that the segmented voter only focuses on that issue and ignores all the others that may or may not generally be harmful to them. Gun Control, Abortion, Death Penalty, Crime, etc… They never pass any meaningful legislation on the issues, if they did that segment would be open for other issues, so it is not in their best interests to do anything about their hot button issues. Heck they managed to pass laws legalizing torture and ending Habeus Corpus, you would think they could pass something banning abortion, wouldn’t you?
Anyhow back to Savage, keeping the above in mind and knowing that Republicans hate everything, I think Muslims are simply Savages assignment for hate. He could have easily been assigned Libruls or Anti-Gun Nuts or flag burners. But no he was assigned Muslims so his segment is the Christian right and placating them by letting them know that Republicans hate Muslims just like they do.
December 4th, 2007 at 5:14 pmJPV, I can see by his rantings that the Fox people were right! Michael Savage revers and respects Muslims!
God almighty, the nation is descending in a feudal pack of Savage idiots.
-GSD
December 4th, 2007 at 5:14 pmThat fella’s nothing but a nappy headed ho!
December 4th, 2007 at 5:15 pmI wonder if FOX has documentation for defending Savage, after all they required it for the pro-constitution ad.
December 4th, 2007 at 5:40 pmUh-oh, 53 - better watch out!!
The SavageWeiner will sue yer ass for posting too many of his quotes in a row!!!!!!
December 4th, 2007 at 5:41 pm60s bile spewer, Joe Pyne (wikipedia, for those who doubt the similarities).
December 4th, 2007 at 5:48 pmWho got it from George Putnam of KTLA Los Angeles in the late 50s.
Islamo-Fascist was taken out of context.
December 4th, 2007 at 5:48 pmIt’s was meant as a term of endearment.
Mr Wohl seems to be unfamiliar with the first amendment as he said “they take it out of context unlawfully.” Since when is it unlawful to quote out of context ? I assume a slip of the tongue but an amazing slip of the tongue. Have Wohl and Fox shown any inclination to correct the impression that they don’t believe in freedom of speech ?
December 4th, 2007 at 5:52 pm…Michael Savage and Rush Limbaugh seem to delight in keeping our world in turmoil as they make concerted efforts to stir hate and fear over and over again….it’s not just Muslims….they create devisiveness for just plain old ordinary Americans no matter what their religions…
Either they are just sociopaths or they are being paid very well to be such s# disturbers…….So who is paying them to create unrest and strife across America?
December 4th, 2007 at 6:17 pmWohl: “They take a snippet of it, and they take it out of context unlawfully and they use it to interfere with Michael Savage’s prospective business, that is actionable.â€
Anyone know what happened to the last lawsuit Michael Wein… — uhhh, “Savage” — filed alleging similar tortious interference with his bidness? Did that one get laughed out of court with Rule 11 sanctions?
Cheers,
December 4th, 2007 at 6:20 pm#3 cold_hard_left:
Why don’t you get upset when Libs attack Christians or Jews?
Oh, we got nothing against Christians and Jews, in fact some of us is ‘em. We just can’t stand eedjits, hypocrites, and “Christian Reconstruction” fundie foamers trying to do bin Laden’s work for him here….
Cheers,
December 4th, 2007 at 6:23 pmSavage supports Muslims???BWAaaaaahahahahahahahaha,hehehehehehehe,ohohohohohohohohohohoho,hahahahahahahahahahaha….aw geeezz..my side hurts…no stop it..NO,NO more please stop…..hahahahahahahahaha….oh geeeezzzz…I’m gonna bust a nut……STOP!
December 4th, 2007 at 8:14 pmI look forward to the moment Weiner is caught in bed w/ a dead woman or a live boy, or perhaps we’ll get extra lucky and it’ll be both, at the same time.
December 4th, 2007 at 10:24 pm#77 that would be the super lotto……..but hey…..you can’t win if you don’t play…………sooner or later..someone will come up w/some dirt on this lowlife.
December 4th, 2007 at 10:41 pm“I honestly don’t think Michael Savage hates Muslims.”
You are absolutely wrong. Weiner hates everybody that isn’t similar to him.
December 5th, 2007 at 2:05 amIsn’t it ironic — not to mention absolutely amazing — how quickly people like Savage, who often condemn other people for claiming victimization, turn around and try to portray themselves as victims when it suits them to do so?
I’ve learned this lesson the hard way…there are very few true victims in this life, but plenty of unwitting or heedless volunteers. The truth is far more often than not somewhere between the two extreme ends of the spectrum for locus of control — between the conservative at one end who loves to pontificate about “taking personal responsibility” (but as often as not changes his tune when it’s his/her turn to do so), and the extreme liberal on the other end who prefers to overlook the fact that people often do play at least some role in their own misfortunes and that there are people in the world who not only don’t want to take responsibility for themselves but who actively resist any attempts to make them do so. Nobody forces Savage to say the sort of things he chooses to say on the air. He’s free to his opinions with regard to Muslims, of course, and even to voice them — but to say the least, there is room for debate concerning whether he should be allowed to use the airwaves to do so. He’s entitled to free speech just like anyone else — but nothing in life comes without a price tag of some sort attached, and freedom of speech is no exception. Freedom of speech either applies to everyone or it does not apply to anyone — and if Savage would consider himself at liberty to criticize or boycott someone for saying something he finds offensive, then other people are fully entitled to do the same to him.
December 5th, 2007 at 5:39 amDear Cold Hard Stool,
“Apparently, it’s only the feelings of Muslims that count, particularly when tens of thousands of them are ready to riot at the appearance of a comic or teddy bear to which they find offense.”
I invite you to walk to a busy streetcorner in middle America, take a dump, and wipe with the American flag. Then stand back and feel the love.
Did you run out of comics to read? If you are nice Mom might buy you some more.
December 5th, 2007 at 10:31 am