Denis Leary Does a Michael Savage
From the New York Post:
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.”
I know Leary’s a comedian but some things just aren’t funny.
Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, Comedy, denis leary, disabilities blog, Disability Rights, Education, Health, michael savageRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Stereotypes
39 opinions for Denis Leary Does a Michael Savage
M
Oct 15, 2008 at 9:12 am
Dennis Leary stole most of his shtick (his angry persona) and…this has been documented…many of his jokes from the late comedian Bill Hicks.
So it’s interesting that he’s stealing yet again, (inexplicably) from Savage.
Leary is solidifying his reputation as an unimaginative hack.
ASDmomNC
Oct 15, 2008 at 9:38 am
Lovely. Here we go again.
Chuck
Oct 15, 2008 at 9:52 am
Let him go up in flames!
Autismville
Oct 15, 2008 at 10:41 am
Sigh..
Emily
Oct 15, 2008 at 10:45 am
My son IS competitive academically, and he’s never been to a “shrink.” So much for that.
Ed
Oct 15, 2008 at 11:19 am
The must be a cure for behavior like Leary and Savage display.
We can’t just write off our comedians and radio hosts with a diagnosis of mean, nasty, jerk. This requires funding, research, and above all education into the cause of mean-nasty-jerk disorder so we can effectively prevent this infecting future generations.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Oct 15, 2008 at 11:22 am
MNJ Disorder, hmmm, what’s the right treatment for that……
Ed
Oct 15, 2008 at 11:33 am
It seems like a complex puzzle to me.
Ruth
Oct 15, 2008 at 11:54 am
Must be the taurine in those energy drinks Savage promotes.
Regan
Oct 15, 2008 at 12:43 pm
I didn’t think that anyone could have topped M. Savage for offensiveness on the topic, but I think Denis Leary just hit the jackpot.
For comparison, recall Michael Richard’s rant on a racial group–he was pilloried from coast to coast and had to go on an apology tour with Jerry Seinfeld at his side. Yet when it has to do with disabilities, the thought is “hey, lighten up, get a sense of humor”, which I believe is a reaction based on defending the undefendable. There’s no laughing “with” here, only laughing “at”.
People with disabilities and esp. developmental disabilities, are the current discriminated out group.
Mrs. C
Oct 15, 2008 at 1:08 pm
I’m thinking MNJ syndrome should be included in one of those DSM books. I’m officially diagnosing that guy from my computer chair with absolutely no formal medical training. Go me! :p
Casdok
Oct 15, 2008 at 1:11 pm
I will second that Mrs C!
Regan
Oct 15, 2008 at 1:14 pm
The must be a cure for behavior like Leary and Savage display
Not buying the book, sponsored products or otherwise subsidizing these guys might be a good start.
Natalie
Oct 15, 2008 at 3:09 pm
I’ve been reading about his uninformed, disgusting rant on other (non-Autism) message boards and I can’t believe the replies — while most people think he was “slightly” out of line, they agree with the premise of overdiagnoses and “whining” mothers. (aka Jenny McCarthy)
One comment that I found particularly disturbing was:
“Autism is the new ADD”
Sadly, as more people try their damndest to bring attention to Autism Awareness/Acceptance, I see that most people are backing down with their “concern” over it.
Autism Awareness is slowly becoming Autism Unawareness.
P.S. I support a full boycott of anything Leary has done or ever done. I sincerely hope this “rant” kills his copy-cat, anti-comedic career.
The Butterworth Group · Denis Leary’s an A-Hole
Oct 15, 2008 at 3:32 pm
[…] from the New York Post, via the (terrific) AutismVox blog. In his new book, “Why We Suck: A Feel-Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid,” […]
Samantha
Oct 15, 2008 at 3:43 pm
We’re caught between people like Leary and McCarthy. Neither has a clue what they’re talking about and their ill informed remarks poison (heh) the atmosphere towards autistics and those of us who call for their support and acceptance. People recognise that there’s something not right about what they’re told about autism. Instead of going after woo peddling charlatans they turn on autistics and their families.
Angela
Oct 15, 2008 at 4:21 pm
The book does not go on sale until next month–still time for advocacy!
Ivy
Oct 15, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Yet another has-been wanting to raise controversy to make money. Frankly, I’m a little scared of comedians. They seem to have no life of their own, since usually they just point out their points of view about the lifes of others. Now THAT’s pathetic…
Regan
Oct 15, 2008 at 5:03 pm
From the publisher’s author biography for Leary’s book over at Viking/Penguin,
“hilarious take on the world, to attack…basically everyone who takes themselves too seriously.
“…with a reserve of compassion for the underdog and the overlooked, …Leary’s book will find wide appeal among people…[who want to] find a guide who matches their view of what’s wrong in America…”
Oh, I see, he wasn’t being an insensitive jerk exploiting those with disabilities to sell a book and make himself money, he’s an irreverant social commentator! How could I have missed that compassion?
From the Vanity Fair interview of Leary,
Q: Another chapter is titled “Autism Shamautism.”
Leary: Which is my favorite chapter.
Q: I see vigilante autism woman Jenny McCarthy picketing your book tour.
Leary: Great. That would be really good for me. It will help sell more books.
More irreverent compassion and a snapshot of how well JMc has represented the autism community. Great…just great.
Jason, over at the “Life of Jason blog”, tried an experiment in what’s good for the goose is good for the gander, asking the question–would Denis Leary find this funny?
Denis Leary Tries To Profit From His Ignorance
Angela’s right. Book comes out Nov. 18.
Regan
Oct 15, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Denis Leary Tries To Profit From His Ignorance
Joanna B.
Oct 15, 2008 at 5:36 pm
What a jerk
Kristina Chew, PhD
Oct 15, 2008 at 6:29 pm
So this is getting interesting—–he’ll turn J McCarthy into a saintly autism mom………..
jeff
Oct 15, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Frustrating. I’d like to boycott him, but I have always disliked him. Hard to boycott a store you never shop.
Perhaps I’ll just pretend I used to like him :-)
It would make sense, since I’m apparently so “stupid”
Marla
Oct 15, 2008 at 8:20 pm
I did a mini post on this as well and linked to you. I hate that people profit from this sort of talk and they call it humor. It is just plain cruel.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Oct 15, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Denis Leary tries to do damage control (and get more book sales).
ed
Oct 15, 2008 at 11:57 pm
This guy is a skumbag and a fraud. Anything to make a buck. The funny thing yet to be seen is that Autism receives huge support from many organization, unions, etc. in his home state. Curious to see what The Teamsters feel about this. Have a feeling he won’t be welcomed in Boston anymore. Hope his show goes up in “flames.”
Gail
Oct 16, 2008 at 12:36 am
Ignore him. The flurry of excitement and righteous indignation is exactly what he wants. Publicity, any publicity, is meat and drink to Leary and his ilk.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Oct 16, 2008 at 1:31 am
Another book best digested as excerpts on the web and that’s more than enough.
Regan
Oct 16, 2008 at 3:40 pm
“The bulk of the chapter [autism shmautism] deals with grown men who are either self-diagnosing themselves with low-level offshoots of the disease or wishing they could as a way to explain their failed careers and troublesome progeny.”
That’s an explanation and apology?
Sounds like M. Savage–“I was taken out of context!”. It was meant with good intention.
Buy the book to get the whole story?
I don’t think so.
(Somehow there’s a part of me that suspects that he or the publicist couldn’t find another mitigating quote from the chapter that wouldn’t be putting more gasoline on the fire, otherwise one would have expected them to so in aid of damage control. The attention may be the point.
I like humorous essays–I suggest David Sedaris or Garrison Keillor.
What Gets Forgotten
Oct 16, 2008 at 3:48 pm
[…] this guy making the news about autism somehow I’m not surprised that what we need to talk and do […]
melissa
Oct 17, 2008 at 11:41 am
He has no clue what the hell he is talking about. Screw him he’s just another asshole with an opinion based on nothing. We can only hope he will develop a neurological disease such as parkinson’s or dimensia and we can all laugh at him.
Grace
Oct 17, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Develop? I think that train has sailed!!!!
Left a voicemail at Penguin in NYC. Felt sad for the recipient.I was cordial and empathetic for her,soon-to-be,long,long days at work. While on hold a recorded message”your call may be monitored for quality assurance” came on.They should try that in the editing process.Penguins don’t like the heat!!!Unless it means$$$$$$.
Around the autism blogosphere October 18 2008 | Autism Library
Oct 18, 2008 at 11:04 am
[…] to say about it at DaisyMayFattyPants, with Leery of Leary. Kristina at AutismVox took a look with Denis Leary does a Michael Savage. Marla Baltes chimed in with According to Dennis Leary, I am an inattentive mother and my child is […]
David N. Andrews M. Ed. (Distinction)
Oct 19, 2008 at 7:13 pm
vitun ääliö….
we see him here in finland…
(vitun ääliö = fucking idiot)
Dean
Oct 20, 2008 at 10:34 pm
I agree one hundred and fifteen percent. I have never seen an autistic kid that didn’t have complete bed-wetting lettuces for “pair-rents”
melissa
Oct 21, 2008 at 4:35 pm
well Dean, apparently it must be whom you associate with because if you would just take a good look around, your uneducated mind would soon learn that autism affects every kind of family from all backrounds regardless of what kind of parents they have.
Prenatal Stress and its Effect on Children
Oct 27, 2008 at 5:15 pm
[…] mother” theory and the more recent, and simply inaccurate and offensive, comments by Denis Leary about “laziness” in parents with autistic. (Leary’s been blaming his […]
SoSueHe
Oct 31, 2008 at 12:11 am
One suggestion… wait until Dennis Leary’s book goes out of print (I doubt this will be a best seller) and then sue him for fraud. He claims to be “Dr. Dennis Leary” and is using that to sell advice. Last time I check, that constitutes fraud. Maybe even practising without a license? Anyone out there up on the law? (Note: don’t sue now, you’ll only drive up the sales).
Denis Leary Tries (Tries) to Defend Himself
Nov 17, 2008 at 1:34 pm
[…] to what he said a few weeks ago, Denis Leary doesn’t seem to be so sorry after all about what he said autism in his yet to be published […]
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