Denis Leary & Autism

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/10152008/gossip/pagesix/learys_brain_vs__the_autistics_133648.htm

DENIS Leary should brace himself for hate mail from the parents of kids diagnosed with autism.

In his new book, "Why We Suck: A Feel-Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid," the joke-slinging "Rescue Me" star writes about the brain disorder:

"There is a huge boom in autism right now because inattentive mothers and competitive dads want an explanation for why their dumb-ass kids can't compete academically, so they throw money into the happy laps of shrinks . . . to get back diagnoses that help explain away the deficiencies of their junior morons. I don't give a [bleep] what these crackerjack whack jobs tell you - yer kid is NOT autistic. He's just stupid. Or lazy. Or both."

The Autism Society of America responded: "For Mr. Leary to suggest that families or doctors conspire to falsely diagnose autism is ridiculous . . . [His] remarks reflect the same misconceptions of autism being caused by bad or unemotional parenting that were held over 50 years ago."

Leary also rips:

* Dr. Phil - "[He says] such thick and exasperating things as, 'Everybody has their own personal Ground Zero.' Oh, really? Does that mean someday two large speeding planes will crash into the side of your insipid hairless head? Let's hope so."

* Paul McCartney and Heather Mills - "She must have given great [bleep] . . Plus, he's a big pothead so he probably figured the fake leg would come in handy for smuggling marijuana."

* Hillary Clinton - "If she had changed her campaign motto from 'Blah Blah Something Change' to 'Vote for Me or Your Wife Won't [Bleep] You,' she would have had the election wrapped up at sunset on Super Tuesday. As Tip O'Neill once said - all politics is local. And for men, it doesn't get much more local than your crotch."

Kinda wants to make me buy the book....

 

[Minstrel]

Standard marketing. Say "outrageous" things so that your book will be talked about. It's not a terribly clever joke (a bit generic frat boy humour to suggest that autistic people are just stupid, lazy people), but it got the job done to some extent in getting some media attention.

The Autism Society of America should have just ignored him. Denis Leary has been irrelevant for at least a decade and a half.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

but he smokes! edgy!

 

[Minstrel]

but he smokes! edgy!

I forgot!

 

[Chutney]

All hate mail will be forwarded to Bill Hicks' grave.

 

[Jurassic]

All those excerpts from his book aren't even funny. It the new cool thing for comedians to do, be mostly controversial and throw in some comedy, rather than just being funny. Then complaining that it was "just a joke" when they catch beef from the press.

 

[MARIS61]

Standard marketing. Say "outrageous" things so that your book will be talked about. It's not a terribly clever joke (a bit generic frat boy humour to suggest that autistic people are just stupid, lazy people), but it got the job done to some extent in getting some media attention.

The Autism Society of America should have just ignored him. Denis Leary has been irrelevant for at least a decade and a half.

John McCain is irrelevant.

I believe the term you meant to use for Leary was "irreverant".

 

[Dumpy]

In his defense, the definition of "autism" has been expanded to include behaviors that used to be considered normal, but a little eccentric. However, studies suggest that there has also been an increase in "profound" autism, and of course some people think that it is related to the use of mercury in childhood innoculations. The important thing is not what it is called, but that everyone gets treatment to improve their ability to interact in society within normally-defined bounds. Mildly autistic kids can of course grow up to be very productive--and in many cases are brilliant scientists and researchers--but they need guidance and love as kids to develop.

 

[maxiep]

The buzz in the medical community--at least according to our family pediatrician--is that the finishing touches are being done on a study that for the first time shows a hereditary link to autism.