Add Denis Leary to the Idiot List

Posted October 18, 2008 at 7:23 pm by Hillary

It’s time for another Hollywood star to be added to the Hall of Shame and Total Ignorance.

Denis Leary, of Rescue Me fame, has a book coming out called “Why We Suck: A Feel-Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid.” In this book he’s decided to call out those parents with autistic children.

“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.”

So, Denis. I’m guessing you have no autism experience whatsover other than it being the punchline of one of your totally unfunny jokes.

Me? I know that of which I write. I have a seven-year-old son with autism and live it Every. Freaking. Day. I’d give my right arm for my little guy to be able to communicate, let alone succeed academically. I’ve spent gazillions of dollars on special diets, speech therapy, medical tests, you name it. If solving his issues were as easy as throwing cash into a shrink’s lap, I would have done that already. 

It’s pathetic Leary had to write such utter crap, hoping the resulting bad publicity would sell a few extra books. Bottom line Denis: I’d take my “junior moron” over you any day of the week.

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Tags: Autism, books, Denis Leary, denis leary autism, denis leary book, Rescue Me, uninformed Hollywood stars, why we suck book

6 Responses to “Add Denis Leary to the Idiot List”

1. 1. Beth said:
   October 18, 2008 @ 8:09 pm

   Oh my God. Seriously? I have to say, calling him an idiot is way too kind. Incredible.

2. 2. Me said:
   October 18, 2008 @ 9:32 pm

   Ya know, my feelings are mixed on this. I do think what he said and how he said was completely uncalled for, and of course there are kids out there that have Autism and thier parents should be seeking identification and support.

   However, I also see what he is saying. I think that LD, PDD and behavior disorders are over-diagnosed these days,and part of the reason is that parents (and teachers) can no longer accept that not all kids are going to be wonderful academics or social superstars or well behaved kids. It seems like every bright but quirky kid these days is getting a PDD diagnosis, and every kid who does not pull As is getting an LD diagnosis, and every kid who deos not follow all directions is getting a Conflict Disorder or ADHD diagnosis. Then of course all these identified kids (and their parents) have an excuse for thier imperfections, and get special programming and attention and expectations and IEPS at school.

   I am NOT talking about kids that cannot function in the classroom or in their families, or cannot communicate, or cannot sit still for a moment or focus on an assignment long enough to read the first line. I am talking about kids that function just fine, but not as well as their parents would like. Kids that are passing all their classes but not getting super grades, or that have a few friends but not enough or the right ones, or that are distractable and chatty and sometimes defiant in class or at home. These kids are all getting diagnosis these days, if their parents or teachers seek them.

   There were kids just like this when I was in school (heck I was one of them-smart but had a solid C average, always in trouble for chatting and being distracted in class, socally awkward)…none of them got tested or diagnosed, they were just NOT the superstars, and that’s that. Most of them (that I know of) did just fine though, and are now educated and successful adults without ever having a diagnosis, excuse or accomidation for being geeky, distractable, solid “C’ students. Me included, and I have no doubt that today, I would have a ADHD dignosis, probably an LD diagnosis, and everyone would be convinced there is no way I could succeed at school without concerta and withdrawal assistance. Really though, all it took was a little finding myself, and the recognition (in grade 11 when it finally came) that if I did not buckle down and get to work and take my classes seriously, I would not be going to college.

3. 3. Ami said:
   October 18, 2008 @ 11:23 pm

   I really think the previous commentator is comparing apples and oranges. Autism and PDD are completely different from what you’re describing (attention deficit disorder, or ADD). The reason autism is diagnosed more frequently is that it’s occurring more frequently, and more research has been done in the past decade, so more can be done for the kids.

   As for the original post, I can see why your blood is boiling, and agree that Dennis Leary is an idiot, to put it mildly! He’s basically falling back on the old “mom isn’t doing her job” mentality that set back autism research for decades in the first place!

4. 4. Fear and Parenting in Las Vegas said:
   October 19, 2008 @ 1:25 am

   I think Dennis Leary pretty much racked himself on the list with Tom Cruise (after Cruise attacked Brooke Shields for taking antidepressants to cope with post-partum depression). Let’s hope that Leary has an epiphany or two and we see him at an AutismSpeaks! benefit podium soon falling on his sword repeatedly.

5. 5. Jessica said:
   October 19, 2008 @ 9:02 am

   Wow, that is just really wrong on so many levels. Dennis Leary is known for being extremely politically incorrect and his humor can be quite offensive.

   Barring his comments, which were out of line, I do think Autism is way over-diagnosed however. It’s not to say that Autism isn’t extremely real for parents whose hearts break for their children with these kinds of challenges, but since there is no blood test or CT scan for these kinds of developmental issues so the diagnoses, especially in high functioning Autistic children, is highly subjective and I do think some children that don’t fit neatly into a “normal” category are often labeled nowadays. In NO WAY however, does this mean that a child is lazy or stupid. That is HORRIBLE!

6. 6. Hillary said:
   October 20, 2008 @ 6:13 pm

   I don’t completely disagree that autism may be overdiagnosed somewhat, especially at the higher-functioning end of the autism spectrum. My oldest had a PDD dx for a while, and in hindsight think part of the reason she got the dx was to help us get her the services she needed to catch up. But then I see the work it takes my little guy to even try to ask me for help. My little guy is a lot of things but lazy is definitely not one!

   Denis - go back to helping firefighters. The autism community doesn’t need your help.

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