Michael Savage, Hate Speech, and Political Violence
73On July 27, 2008, Jim David Atkisson entered the Unitarian Universalist church in Knoxville, Tennessee.
He had with him a shotgun and the intention of killing as many "liberals" as possible before he was himself killed. He killed 2 people and wounded 7 before he was wrestled to the ground.
He was influenced, if not driven, by the hate speech and violent rhetoric of right wing radio host Michael Savage.
The shooter left behind a suicide note, which says, among other things:
Lately I've been feeling helpless in our war on Terrorizm (sic). But I realized I could engage the terrorists allies here in America. The best allies they've got. The Democrats! The democrats have done everything they can do to tie our hands in this war on terror. They're all a bunch of traitors...
The worst problem America faces today is Liberalism... the Major News outlets have become the propaganda arm of the Democrat Party. Liberals are evil, they embrace the tenets of Karl Marx, they're Marxist, socialist, communists...
He goes on but the rest is not really worth repeating. Basically he was a deranged loser, feeling suicidal, and decided to take his "enemies" out with him. A particular reason he targeted Unitarians? Both for their political views, and the fact that his ex-wife had been a Unitarian.
I'll give you some Michael Savage quotes. I trust you will be able to see the similarities between Savage's rhetoric and Adkisson's note.
First off, a video. Words on a page can't convey the hatred that he spews in this clip:
Don't you understand what's a stake? ...Don't you understand the sick perverts [homosexuals] are killing all of us? ...unless this is stopped, unless the gay agenda is curtailed... you're not gonna have your own children eventually... your father would have taken a day off from pipe fitting and he would have gone in there with blood in his eyes... he would have gone crazy! ...That's how deballed you are, you're like a department store dummy most of you.
He also attacks liberal "jewish lawyers" from the ACLU for defending free speech laws which allowed Nazis to march in Illinois. Go figure, as Savage is himself jewish and his hate speech is protected by free speech laws.
In the next video, he claims that Islamists are attacking the West through terrorism, immigration, the liberal media, and liberal courts.
Only... an outright ban on Muslim immigration, laws making the dissemination of enemy propaganda illegal, and the uncoupling of the liberal ACLU can save the United States. I would also make the construction of Mosques illegal in America, and the speaking of English only in the streets of the United States.... I truly believe that is a prescription for survival..." Immigrants are "not assimilating. They're not going on to become Americans... they're going on the hate this country. They're going on to hate the language. They're going on to spit on the culture. That's a reality.
For a further taste of the hatred behind Savage's tirades, check out this video. What he's saying here isn't particualarly shocking, for him, but it's a good example of the hatred he pours out:
You might be tired of this hate by now, but just so we are clear, here are a few more quotes.
Liberalism is, in essence, the HIV virus, and it weakens the defense cells of a nation. What are the defense cells of a nation? Well, the church. They've attacked particularly the Catholic Church for 30 straight years. The police, attacked for the last 50 straight years by the ACLU viruses. And the military, attacked for the last 50 years by the Barbara Boxer viruses on our planet.
From Mediamatters.
Our racist terrorist friends over at Stormfront.org certainly would agree with these two statements (indeed, that is where I found the second quote:
“The White Race is being snuffed off the planet through immigration.”
******
Multiculturalism has completely failed America. It is a disaster, an unmitigated disaster. Multiculturalism -- as a premise that all cultures are equal and all cultures have an equal amount to contribute to the world -- that's utter hogwash! The reason my ancestors came to this country as immigrants, and the reason your immigrants -- ancestors came to this country as immigrants is because of the great enterprise created by White, Anglo-Saxon Protestants. It is the greatest country ever created in the world. It is built upon the best -- the best of the White, Anglo-Saxon world.
…these big-mouthed, phony scum of the ACLU, who should be rounded up, arrested for sedition. Their property seized, and they should be put into Abu Ghraib prison as far as I’m concerned. That wouldn’t be enough of what I’d like to see done to the ACLU. They’re the worst vermin America has ever tolerated. The worst vermin in the history of America are the vermin in the ACLU.
******
“To
fight only the al-Qaida scum is to miss the terrorist network operating
within our own borders … Who are these traitors? Every rotten radical
left-winger in this country, that’s who.”
******
“Christianity has
been one of the great salvations on planet Earth. It’s what’s necessary
in the Middle East. I think these people need to be forcibly converted
to Christianity.”
******
Wait, I though that was what was wrong with Al Qaeda, that they wanted to forcibly convert everyone to Islam. Hmm.
Those quotes were found here.
Savage has said that the civil rights movement is a racket.. used to steal the birthright of white males. Audio here.
The following quotes are attributed to Savage but I didn't find an original source:
“I say round liberals up and hang em’ high.”
******
“When I hear someone’s in the civil rights business, I oil up my AR-25.”
******
You can find a few more quotes here.
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Some of Savage's books:
The Savage Nation: Saving America from the Liberal Assault on Our Borders, Language and Culture
The Enemy Within: Saving America from the Liberal Assault on Our Churches, Schools, and Military
And, found in the shooter's collection of right wing propaganda books:
Liberalism Is a Mental Disorder: Savage Solutions
Is it any wonder that David Atkisson, already filled with rage and bitterness, would become violent with all of this rhetoric in his ears?
- Bill Moyers Journal . Watch & Listen | PBS
- nosavage.org
- Stop Hate Radio
Stop Right wing hate mongers monopolizing YOUR airwaves
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Here's an item in the same vein from today's Huffington Post--"A Republican member of the House of Representatives accused President Barack Obama of being 'an enemy of humanity' during a conservative values forum this past weekend.
"In a speech Saturday before the How to Take Back America conference, Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) made comments that went far beyond the limits of traditional White House criticism. At one point, Franks demanded that Obama release his birth certificate to prove his constitutionally eligibility to hold office. The bluntest charge, however, centered on the president's position on abortion, which the congressman derided as 'insane and godless'."
Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/29/gop-rep-t
Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/29/gop-rep-t
I still feel a sense of shock when I read this stuff - this rhetoric is so ugly and so full of misinformation, devoid of fact, and such a call to violence it chills me to the bone!
And this group seems to be getting more and more armed and dangerous and ginned up by the right wing extremists in government!
Michael Savage was interviewed on NPR not too long ago--I can't remember who interviewed him--and after the first question he got that he didn't like (which didn't take long to be asked) he stormed out of the interview and that was that. I thought, geez, what a baby.
But as you point out, it's really much more serious than that. Political and corporate interests are ratcheting up the hate speech in the U.S. and giving it a legitimacy and a mainstream feel it in no way deserves. They are doing this for a purpose--and it's working. Historically, corporations have always hired goons to bust up organizing activities by unions--to intimidate through violence and even killing--and now that tactic is being taken to the level of electronic media. The latent message is, "Don't speak. Having an intelligent opinion could be dangerous to your health."
So really, Savage and his ilk ARE domestic terrorists, but they wouldn't be succeeding without corporate and political sponsorship. At the core of all this hate is fear--fear that without entrenched social privilege based on race alone these people will not be able to compete for the scraps that are left--and they probably won't. The fear is somewhat legitimate because most of them are on the margins already, and we are seeing a shrinking little slice of pie that we have to share out amongst lots of smart, displaced people. So the redneck idiot will certainly be at a disadvantage, but the solution is not to make him King. The solution is to get us all a bigger slice of pie.
Pgrungy!
As you said, it's pure distraction from what's important. I found a person right here on HupPages. She wants to start a war with the Nation of Israel, just to distract us from the health care bill...Yea, For Real. These people are bought and paid for puppets that have no allegiance to any Country or cause, just a dollar. So even their flag waving and Bible thumpping is a distraction to keep us from seeing what they really are. Paid Goons!
Thanks for the comments all. I found this editorial in the New York Times today, along the same lines.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/30/opinion/30friedm
As someone said over on Pam's hub, we should all hang together or we will all hang separately.
Religion used to control the masses. That's all it really is.
i was not familiar with this individual. thank you for bringing him to my attention. i have heard a lot of dangerous talk flying around out there, especially since the election. i would like to dismiss this guy as just another fringe dweller and a crank, but i think people like him influence people who should otherwise know better.
Oldenuf: sorry I had to be the one to introduce you!
I listen to Mike quite a lot. The one thing I found out about his "information" is when you research it, its not as big a deal as he makes it to be.
The guy says over and over, he is an entertainer, nothing more. While I am not out to defend Mike Savage, not everything he says is bad. He does have some good health, cooking, food, and news commentary. I agree with him on many issues and disagree on many too.
Sometimes I just gotta shut him off.
And while he does promote the idea that liberalism is a mental disorder, he is just as "mean" to the so called conservatives.
Remember however, liberalism created him. He was a Berkely liberal, until liberalism - in this case - affirmative action - cost him a professorship at Berkely. What created Michael Savage was throwing away all his years and years of hard work to be a professor, and giving it to a lesser qualified candidate to fill an affirmative action quota.
If that had not of happened you would have Mike on the radio spewing liberal points of view like all the other talking suits and skirts on TV, and this hub might be on how much you love him.
Liberalism created him - now liberalism can live with him.
If you can't stand the heat....
Don't sell Mike short until you have listened to him a great deal. He has a lot to say that may suprise you.
As for the simliar note on this killer... don't all these terrorist suicide bombers have some kind of note spouting similar beliefs about Allah and infidels? Is not Islam influencing them to kill people? I don't see you taking issue with that.
What about that army captian who shot up a bunch of people recently? He was yelling about Allah too.
When you are ready to ban Islam, I will support the ban of Mike Savage.
And I know you are not promoting the ban of anything... I am just saying...
I don't completely agree William but I'd still take ya fishing and share my dinner with ya!
Be well my friend.
- Harlan
It is really coming to bear how much all of this (just below the radar) hate had seeped into the minds of those who were susceptable to it taking!!
BTW thanks for the first following, Ill make you proud!!
Mr. Wilson: That was a great hub 16 months ago and equally great tonight. You do all you can, you are a servant, consistantly. Stay strong.
you're an idiot. liberalism is the downfall of the US
Ha. Thanks for helping prove my point.
Michael Savage speaks the truth and you capitalist hating liberal pukes can't stand it.
As a social and economical Conservative, Savage pisses me off. However, many things he says are true. Look at it with an open mind. Don't be open minded to everything but the ideas that are close minded.
William, you are correct. and the posts from the right wing here, do prove your point. Self hate turned outward is what is happening here. Savage is a coward to walk out of an interview. I can't defend someone who cannot tolerate anyone else having opinions. that intolerance is actually a repugnance of their own being. Also the right wing posts seem to promote killing with silence about it. The bumper sticker reactions (i.e. liberal media when the media is corporate owned) show that low information voters do not listen to anyone who does not agree with them. It is ultimately a psychological issue but the inflexibility of the right will never admit it. Its sad to see the hate and the excuses from the likes of Savage. Blaming others for their own shortcomings sounds familiar. It is a way for people in power to control the masses while they have contempt for them. I am sure I will get a knee jerk response from the right bit, as I said, it proves my point too.
Thank you Mary!
Ralph Deeds Level 6 Commenter 2 years ago
William, nice job. Some of the stuff from Atkisson's suicide note somehow sounds familiar to me--
"But I realized I could engage the terrorists allies here in America. The best allies they've got. The Democrats! The democrats have done everything they can do to tie our hands in this war on terror. They're all a bunch of traitors...The worst problem America faces today is Liberalism."
And Savage's stuff is even worse.