MSNBC fires Savage for anti-gay remarks directed at caller

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NEW YORK (AP) -- MSNBC yesterday fired Michael Savage for making anti-homosexual comments.

The popular radio talk-show host, who did a weekend TV show for the cable channel, referred to an unidentified caller to his show Saturday as a "sodomite" and said he should "get AIDS and die."

"His comments were extremely inappropriate, and the decision was an easy one," MSNBC spokesman Jeremy Gaines said.

There was no immediate comment from Mr. Savage, according to a spokesman at his office in California.

The brash, tough-talking Mr. Savage is the No. 4 talk-show host in America. His Paul Revere Society advocates closing borders, deporting illegal immigrants, mandating health tests for immigrants and eliminating entitlement programs.

The Saturday afternoon TV version of "The Savage Nation" began March 8 despite the protests of such groups as the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).

The incident that resulted in his firing began when Mr. Savage was taking viewer phone calls about airline horror stories. A male caller began talking about smoking in the bathroom.

"Half an hour into the flight, I need to suggest that Don and Mike take your ..." the caller said, before he was cut off and his words became unintelligible.

"So you're one of those sodomists. Are you a sodomite?" Mr. Savage asked.

The caller replied: "Yes, I am."

"Oh, you're one of the sodomites," Mr. Savage said. "You should only get AIDS and die, you pig. How's that? Why don't you see if you can sue me, you pig. You got nothing better than to put me down, you piece of garbage. You have got nothing to do today. Go eat a sausage and choke on it."

He asked for another phone caller who "didn't have a nice night in the bathhouse who's angry at me today."

These "bums mean nothing to me," he said.