http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030707/en_nm/television_msnbc_dc


MSNBC Fires Michael Savage. Who Ever Hired Him Should be Fired Too.


MSNBC Fires Host Savage for Wishing AIDS on Caller



By Ben Berkowitz

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Cable news channel MSNBC on Monday fired Michael
Savage after the controversial talk show host wished AIDS on a caller whom
he dismissed as "one of the sodomites."

Savage had been under fire from gay rights groups since February when the
network announced it had hired the conservative commentator to host a TV
version of his popular talk radio show.

Saturday's episode of "The Savage Nation," his 15th since the program's
debut in March, featured Savage discussing air travel with callers.


One caller began discussing his experiences, and after an unintelligible
part of the call, Savage asked him "So are you one of those sodomists?"


When the caller said, "Yes I am," Savage, reclining in a chair with his
arms folded and wearing dark sunglasses, responded, "Oh, you're one of the
sodomites! You should only get AIDS and die, you pig!" in a clip of the
show hosted on the Web site of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against
Defamation.


An MSNBC representative was not immediately available to comment, but a
source familiar with the matter confirmed that the show had been canceled.