Radio talk show host Michael Savage sued an Islamic civil rights group this week for copyright infringement over the organization’s use of a portion of his show in which he called the Quran a “book of hate.”
Savage said the Washington, D.C.-based Council on American-Islamic Relations, (CAIR), violated his rights by wrongfully using a 4-minute segment of his Oct. 29 “The Savage Nation” show in a letter-writing campaign directed against talk radio sponsors.
Audio from the show remained on CAIR’s Web site Monday.
During the broadcast, Savage described the Muslim holy book as “a throwback document” and a “book of hate.”
“What kind of religion is this? What kind of world are you living in when you let them in here with that throwback document in their hand, which is a book of hate,” Savage said during the portion of the broadcast highlighted by CAIR. “Don’t tell me I need re-education. They need deportation.”
In an interview with The Associated Press on Monday, Savage denied he was talking about the religion, saying he was talking about Iran president Ahmadinejad and his dangerous and violent brand of Islamic extremism.
Savage strongly supports freedom of speech, but “it’s another thing to take away a man’s millstone and try to put him out of business.”
A CAIR spokeswoman called the suit, “bizarre, sloppy and baseless.”
“We expect to prevail based on the facts, the law and the Constitution,” Amina Rubin said.
The group’s “repackaging” of Savage’s comments was “deliberately designed to obscure the specific message conveyed by Michael Savage,” according to the suit. “The actual message, while highly provocative and strongly worded, was not intended as an attack on people of faith.”
The suit alleges CAIR is not a civil rights group, but a political organization funded by foreigners with ties to Hamas and other terrorist groups. CAIR denies those claims.
By An American Citizen on Dec 4, 2007 | Reply
Where was CAIR on 9/11? Did CAIR issue any statement against the terrorist attacks of 9/11 that murdered 3,000 Americans? All in the name of allah and the koran?
CAIR, what does it exactly say in the koran, if a muslim comes across a Jew or a Christian? What does it say CAIR?
CAIR won’t answer that because if they do their lawsuit is baseless. Research will prove what Savage stated on air is indeed exactly what is stated in the muslim holy koran.
Sorry CAIR - you are all hypocrites hiding behind an American constitution.
You should seriously re-evaluate your priorities. Because if you were to go to your homelands, better prepare for the burqua, beards, zero women rights, zero tolerance for gays, zero tolerance for Christianity or Judaism. and get your rocks ready for that upcoming stoning…
the Truth is the Truth. (even if you don’t want to hear it)
By norman miller on Jun 24, 2008 | Reply
Obama is 1/2 white & the other 1/2 is 13% black & 87% Arab…. This needs to be made known and talked about a lot more.
By Aaron Smith on Jul 17, 2008 | Reply
Mr. Savage the other you said the people will never hear a voice like this again, and Sir you are so right. I think you are the Man. Hannity, O’Rly, Imus, The Pill Popper, and many other rasist on radio and TV are no why close to you. They could’nt tie your shoes Sir. I believe your the most fair of them all. I’m an Af-Amcn. male and all my friends B/W males listen to everyday the next day we talk about the show. Your show makes great conversation. You say the things us regular people want to say. Whatever regular people are. I don’t know anymore. People really need to get over the color thing, it is so old. White America has killed, stole, raped, lied and still doing these same things today. What’s up with white males killing their wife’s and lovers, even the children and unborn they murder. Why not just leave. Maybe the child going to tell daddy rapes me, male or female. I don’t know, maybe you do. Why won’t America talk about that. They rather talk about how bad of a person Sen. Obama and his wife is. Are they really that bad? We’ll Sir make America talk about this, I know you can. There is alot ladies and children in throuble as we speak, let’s try to help get them safe. These are the things that are important. Saving lives, and making people safe. Not how bad The Obama’s are. Safety, Jobs, Food and Gas prices, Health Care and most of all, respect for all man kind. We’ll Sir, Mr. Savage, please do show soon, you can do it. Please make it happen. Love you Sir, continue the great work. Remember, you stand alone. You should call yourself, The Lone Radio Man. Thank you everynight.
By Alex on Aug 11, 2008 | Reply
cool
By joyce on Sep 25, 2008 | Reply
When i lived in phx you came in loud and clear . Here in michigan , man , every night i search the dial for that amazing voice like no other . Sometimes you come in but fade completly out . Gotta get me a C . Crane radio one of these days ( i wish ) static, fade out . You are the BEST on the radio You should be runnin for the presidency ……….