The Enemy Within

December 22, 2003
According to the conservative shock jock, host of the syndicated radio show Savage Nation
(and author of the bestselling book of the same title), America's greatest threat comes not from terrorists or foreign nations, but from liberals. In the outrageous, controversial style that made him a hit on syndicated radio—and cost him his short-lived TV show on MSNBC—this wide-ranging screed covers Savage's strident views on everything from the courts to the military, the media, universal health care, religion, public education and what Savage sees as the decline of American morality. In sweeping, purposely dramatic prose, he accuses "mad dog" leftists of a conspiracy "to undermine God, country, family, and the military." Select examples are given of what he sees as democracy run amok, such as one teacher who reportedly gave extra credit to her class for writing antiwar letters to the White House and refused extra credit to a student who wrote a letter supporting the war. Heavy on bluster and light on facts, however, Savage's attempts to stretch such anecdotes into a portrait of national decay appear specious at best, as do many other colorful claims, such as that the Democratic Party views "the Judeo-Christian faith as public enemy number one." On the radio, Savage's tough talk is designed to jolt listeners. Fixed in print, his words are even more startling, resonating with hate and intolerance. As for his now infamous firing from MSNBC for telling a gay caller to "get AIDS and die," Savage offers a weak defense, suggesting that he was the victim of a conspiracy.