We have been following the ban imposed on conservative radio host Michael Savage by England — barring him from entry into the country. England now appears to have reaffirmed the decision and accuses Savage of promising to retract some of his statements and failing to do so. While I strongly disagree with many of Savage’s statements, I view the ban as part of a disturbing trend limiting free speech in the West and particularly in England.
In the communication below, Treasury Solicitor Michael Atkins tells counsel for Savage that he previously assured the government that Savage would repudiate some of his comments on his website. It also says that Savage promised to appeal the earlier decision and failed to do so.
Savage was informed last July that the Cameron administration would continue the prior ban on his entry into the country unless he repudiated statements made on his broadcasts that were considered a threat to public security. The very notion of ideas being a threat to public safety is the hallmark of censorship and governmental abuse. While then–British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith insisted that it is “important that people understand the sorts of values and sorts of standards that we have here,” he omitted free speech.
The most recent letter is equally disturbing. It puts the burden on Savage to show that his ideas are not a threat to public security — a ridiculous burden when the only way to do so appears to be the repudiation of his beliefs and ideas. England has moved rapidly against free speech guarantees with comparably little protest. There does not even to be much of a national debate despite the fundamental shift on individual rights. We need to support those civil libertarians in England who are fighting this lonely battle — often on behalf of unpopular individuals like Savage.
Here is the letter: Savage letter
Jonathan Turley
Buddha is Laughing:
Still insulting! It says it all about you. But this thread is not about you.
Savage supporters are on this site because the host had the courage to defend Savage. The real crime here is not what England did; they are past saving. The real issue is why the media, Democrats, and Republicans will not defend him. It is because at one time or another he has been critical of all three of them.
Turley does not agree with much that Savage does, and many of us would not agree with Turley. But at least he stands for the protection of free speech! God bless, him for his courage.
I found absolutely nothing wrong with the quotes Buddha supplied from Savage.
Of course, I’m a listener, so I know the context of all the quotes. Even then, what’s wrong with enforcing our immigration laws, trying to maintain American language and culture and scrutinizing public officials (including the president)?
I enjoy listening to America’s crazy grandfather Michael Savage, but i just wish he would stop taking so many calls that kiss his ass. His call screaners hang up on opposing views, and mostly take callers who praise him. I get enough of that from the self worshiping republican Rush Limbaugh.
Double Shot In the Foot,
What is there to dispute?
The manifest stupidity of his statements speaks for itself. Just like your assertion that quoting somebody is the equivalent of agreeing with them speaks for itself as being manifestly stupid. Context! You should get some.
As to debate?
You learn to bring some, sunshine sugarpants. I’ll stop back by later and finish the job you’ve already started of making you look like an idiot.
Really.
It’s no trouble at all.
Buddha Laughing:
Typical, you use the “hate” description to discount anything that someone says that you disagree with. And then you display YOUR OWN HATRED by insulting those with different views than yours on this site. Go look in the mirror you hypocrit!
Michael Savage just quoted this blog post extensively.
Want some proof that Weiner is a nut? Here it is, but if you are a Weiner stooge, or one of the people who works for Michael Weiner’s son Russell Goldenshower Weiner who often posts favorable posts about Weiner, you may not want to watch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQV73nlCKbU
Augie:
Your position appears to be that anyone who thinks Mr. Savage is one creamy filling short of a Ding Dong is some sort of troglodyte.
I’ll have you know that I clean toilets, mow my own yard, paint my own house, do minor plumbing and electrical repairs and dress myself each morning. After all, if you can’t take care of your own stuff, you’ve got too much stuff.
I also go to work each day and I’ve cleaned a few clocks in my lifetime. So what is your point?
Mr. Appleton, you are wrong. Name me another example of your “steady erosion” of basic rights in England. This is a political attack and thus, Dr. Savage’s views must be stated as example. Its about his VIEWS, not basic rights, doofus.
As for you Buddha, you called him a whack job hate monger and then proceed to state His quotes from Playboy. But you don’t even try to dispute his views. Likely you are too, shall I say, sensitive, to debate the facts.
All of those of who insult Savage are essentially ideologues that no longer think for themselves, following the leftist clap trap…no longer is free speech allowed….interesting how vicious some of you get…don’t have a life, do you, and while you write your email, you masaage your brush hand with which you clean toilet bowls for a living. My apologies to those who really clean toilets….sorry.
Yep.
“Shame on Great Britain!” does not equate to “Hooray for Michael the Savage!”, Mike A.
As for my personal views of Mr. Savage, I’m happy to countersign Buddha’s comments.
This thread has been hijacked by Savage defenders. That misses the point. It’s not about Mr. Savage. It’s about the steady erosion of basic rights in the birthplace of Magna Charta.
Yes.
A lovely cross-section of his audience trolling here today.
Do I think the UK is wrong to ban someone solely for speech?
Yes I do.
That being said, Michael Savage is a hate mongering extremist whack job somewhere to the right of Rush Limbaugh. He is NOT a civil libertarian. Here are some fine excerpts from Michael Savage’s Playboy interview:
Savage on Obama:
[H]e’s leading the country down the road of socialism and left-wing morass.
Do you realize Obama couldn’t have been cleared to be his own Secret Service agent? As you know, to become an FBI or a Secret Service agent there’s a very strict set of rules, one of which is based on your past associations. Let’s forget the birthing issue. I won’t go there. His association with Bill Ayers alone would have disqualified him. His association for 20 years in Reverend Wright’s church, the Reverend Wright who said the government gave AIDS to the black man?
Savage on immigration and health care:
Let’s take California. Put a highway patrol officer in every hospital. And I’m sorry, no tickee, no washee. You’re not a citizen, you can’t get care. Of course, if it’s catastrophic, such as an auto accident, you give them what they need. But you can’t get care if you’re not a citizen. I’m sorry; we can’t do it anymore.
Savage on Islam:
I’m very worried about the number of mosques being built, where they’re being built, why they have to be so dominant. I’m also worried about what type of Islam is being promulgated in America today.
Savage on autism:
Every goddamn thing a child does is now thrown into the autism spectrum. How is that possible? Where did this illness come from? There are children who are genuinely autistic but not to the extent the medical establishment has claimed. The same with ADD and ADHD. A kid whines and the medical-pharmaceutical establishment says, “Medicate, medicate. Treat, treat. Your child is sick, poor baby.” These kids aren’t sick! It’s the system that’s sick.
Savage on gay marriage:
[T]he children are being proselytized. If gay marriage becomes legal, the children see this and they get a false sense of what marriage is.
The Savage has a right to say what he wants.
He has a right to ridiculed for it as well.
He also has the right to suffer unintended consequences of his bigotry and stupidity.
Being a douche bag isn’t against the law.
http://mediamatters.org/search/tag/michael_savage
Being part English and part Irish, I have always wanted to travel to Great Britain and Ireland. As long as Michael is banned in Britain, so am I. I am so embarrassed and disgusted at what these communist pigs have done to my mother country, I no longer acknowledge the fact that I’m English. It’s also disturbing to me that both Ireland and England would roll out the red carpet to the communist pig Barry Hussein Obama. At this point in time though, I would still visit my Irish roots.
Uk lets the muzzies trample their rights,, while banning Doctor Savage, who stands up to the followers of Moe-ham-head.
England is toast unless things change very soon.
I enjoy listening to The Weiner Nation. Michael Savage’s radio persona is that of a crazed uncle that everyone has in there family. He is very intelligent and informative, but at time goes off the deep end with his psychotic rants. This does not give Britain the right to ban him from there country.
If only Michael would convert to Islam, he would be allowed into England to help plan the overthrow of the British Empire.
Let’s not forget that they chose him so they would have a jew to balance out the actual terrorists of the Islamic variety on thelist. Of course, England has a strong and continuing streak of jew hatred.
Anyone under the age of 25 years old will live to see Britain become a Muslim nation. Thousands will take to the streets to see a Royal funeral or wedding but not to protest the Muslimization of their country by a government too politically correct to save the country.