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Banned US shock-jock demands Clinton intervention
Savage goes cap in hand to 'fraudulent huckster' over Blighty snub
US shock-jock Michael Savage has asked Hillary Clinton to intervene on his behalf following UK home secretary Jacqui Smith's decision to name him on a list of 16 identified individuals she'd rather not see pass Blighty's immigration controls.
Wacky Jacqui recently "named and shamed" Savage along with a couple of unpleasant Russian skinheads, ex-Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard Stephen 'Don' Black, neo-Nazi Erich Gliebe, Hamas MP Yunis Al-Astal and Jewish extremist Mike Guzovsky.
Savage retaliated by threatening to sue, but has now upped the ante by citing international law which he claims defends his right to gob off whenever, and wherever, he sees fit.
His attorney Richard Thompson insisted to the San Francisco Chronicle that Clinton should act to protect "the rights of an American citizen" who's "done nothing illegal" and is merely "exercising his right to free speech".
Thompson said: "It's ironic that the person Michael Savage is appealing to is someone who does not agree with him on 99 per cent. But I think this is a case of the US government protecting a US citizen, regardless of what he said."
Specifically, Thompson cited Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights which protects the right to "freedom of expression," which states "this right shall include the freedom to hold opinions... and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers".
Thompson added that Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which both the US Britain adhere, "protects the right to freedom of expression".
Sadly for the "conservative" radio mouthpiece, an anonymous US State Department official appeared to back Smith's "arbitrary" and "suspicious" ban. He said: "We recognize that countries have the right to determine who is eligible to enter."
The offical couldn't comment on whether Clinton would take up Savage's cause, but the San Francisco Chronicle notes that he has in the past described her as a "dangerous human being" and a "fraudulent huckster".
And even if she does, her appeals on Savage's behalf are likely to fall on deaf ears. Robin Newmann, spokesman for the British Consulate in San Francisco, said: "His exclusion from the UK is both lawful and justified."
He clarified: "The UK has been able to ban people who promote hatred, terrorist activities and serious violence since 2005. During this time, 101 people have been excluded for unacceptable behavior, including animal rights extremists, right-to-life, homophobe and far-right extremists, as well as those who advocate hatred and violence in support of their religious beliefs."
Savage said yesterday that "his representatives will appeal to the White House if necessary to seek redress", and that he's planning a defamation of character lawsuit against Smith. ®