Savage attacked by officials pushing immigrant bailout

Savage attacked by officials pushing immigrant bailout
San Francisco leaders want taxpayers to pay for green cards, citizenship

San Francisco city officials are trying to force taxpayers to pay for immigrants' green cards and citizenship – and to bolster their case for the new tax, they've introduced a resolution condemning national radio talk-show host Michael Savage for what they call his "defamatory language ... against immigrants."

Supervisor Chris Daly, reacting to the new and significantly higher federal fee structure for immigrants seeking citizenship, imposed last week by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, complained that the fee hikes raise concerns that immigrants "cannot obtain safe pathways to legal immigrant status and citizenship" and "further exacerbates pressures on families, increasing stress," according to the San Francisco Examiner.

Under the new fee structure, the cost to apply for a green card is now $930, up $605 from the old fee. Citizenship applications when from $330 to $595. On Tuesday, Daly asked the city attorney to draw up legislation that would subsidize immigrants applying for citizenship, green cards and petitions for relatives and workers.

On the same day, apparently to further generate sympathy for immigrants and bolster Daly's bailout effort, Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval introduced a resolution condemning popular radio talk-show host Michael Savage, a mainstay of the San Francisco airways for years. Since he was syndicated nationally by Talk Radio Network, Savage has become one of the nation's most-listened-to radio talkers.

Condemning the "defamatory language used by radio personality Michael Savage against immigrants," Sandoval's resolution is apparently in response to Savage's July 5 broadcast, when the talker commented on a group of students who had announced they were fasting in support of changes in immigration policy.

"I would say, let them fast until they starve to death," quipped Savage, "then that solves the problem."

Sandoval's resolution calls Savage's comments "symbolic of hatred and racism," according to the Examiner.

"I really for the life of me cannot understand why there is not more media outrage to what Michael Savage said," Sandoval said in the Examiner report, which added that Sandoval plans to hold a press conference on the steps of City Hall Tuesday just before the entire Board of Supervisors votes on his resolution against Savage.

"The intolerant and racist comments of Michael Savage demand a strong condemnation," Sandoval insisted.

However, almost all of the Examiner's readers who posted comments on the newspaper's website after the story sided with Savage.

Representative responses included these:

* "Hey Sandoval, we are not outraged at Michael Savage because we agree with him ... check the polls on immigration, lame-o."

* "If we had more Michael Savages and less milk toast leaders we wouldn't be in this situation. They are taking over and bringing our country down to a 3rd world level. Thank God for the Michael Savages and the other true AMERICANS."

* "Screw Sandoval and the illegal alien criminals who continue to invade this country. It's people like him who are causing the downfall of the west. Savage is 100% right on! My mom came here LEGALLY – FROM MEXICO ... I have every right to be totally nuclear about these illegal aliens bringing their bankrupt culture from Southern Mexico."

* "The Mexican illegal immigrants think they don't have to obey our laws and are taking advantage of our health care system and robbing our Medicare, emergency rooms at hospitals and then have the gall to mail there American dollars back to Mexico!!! I listen to your talk show every night Mr. Savage and can't wait to listen to you tell it like it is ..."

* "God Bless M. Savage. Down with La Raza "The Race."

* "Making me learn your language (Spanish) to even get a job isn't racist? C'mon, we the legal citizens are tired of the catering to the illegals. Come here legally and follow our laws, that is all we ask. Michael Savage is the voice of the true Americans, not the scum (politicians) who get bought off to cater to lawbreakers."

* "Savage is a true man of the people of this country. That is, the people of this country who live here legally. The rest can go to hell – or starve to death."