Hillary and Autism
February 26, 2008 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
Writing about unstoppable Obama in the February 14th Huffington Post, writer Barbara Ehrenreich tries to describe his “mysterious and irrational” appeal: “He’s a ‘rock star,’ all flash and no substance, tending dangerously, according to the New York Times’ Paul Krugman, to a ‘cult of personality.’” If he “supposedly goes for the id,” Hillary Rodham Clinton is the “designated valedictorian” who reaches for the more rational, and controlling, ego and super-ego. “She might as well be promoting choral singing in the face of Beatlemania,” Ehrenreich comments, and (in what the February 26th Globe and Mail considers a “gratuitously nasty swipe”), suggests that Clinton’s platform style puts her on the spectrum:
Someone needs to tell her that there are better ways to signal conviction than by raising one’s voice and drawing out the vowels, as in “I KNOW …” and “I BELIEVE …” The frozen smile has to go too, along with the metronymic nodding, which sometimes goes on long enough to suggest a placement within the autism spectrum.
Certainly there’s a bit more to considering someone autistic than the kind of emotional frigidity that Ehrenreich describes in Clinton. It’s not just autistic kids who need social skills classes to “connect.”……
Personally, my vote is for Obama and this simple message: got hope?
Given the fact that Hillary has allied with Autism Speaks and talked of prevention and cure of anything on the spectrum, the irony here, it is astounding…
” Got hope?” – Nice one. Dh is fairly frothing at the mouth at Hilary’s slide into oblivion – he’s a fan of US elections and no fan of Obama. I must say, having a ringside seat makes the process pretty fascinating. However, the big question – who’s going to win over McCain?
Perhaps Senator Clinton needs work on her style, but the use of the term autism in this article was inaccurate and inappropriate.
Incidentally, this primary vote was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make at the polls. Yes, I voted Democratic.
One of my students was working on Giuliani’s campaign and is now (I hear) possibly going to work for McCain’s—-my student wants Hillary to be the contender…..
I wonder since your vote is for usama obama. I guess you considered voting for dan quayle since he was in the senate longer and produced substantial legislation like the JTPA act with Edward Kennedy. People said he wasnt qualified for *VICE*president. How is this guy qualified umm
He is not. I am not voting for barry.
It isnt enough to hope. Hope is a verb with more than one argument that of subject. What is he hopeing for? is that what we are hopeing for?
It’s funny how some people attribute autism or autism-like characteristics to uncharismatic politicians. I’ve heard similar things about Al Gore. Personally, I doubt that many people diagnosably on the spectrum have much success in politics nowadays. It’s all about personality and charisma.
The use of the analogy to autism in that comment is as apt and useful and appropriate as the use of “usama” in an incredibly pedestrian attempt to mock someone’s name.
I don’t feel secure in teasing out the sincerity regarding the focus on autism, between Clinton and Obama. I do know that Senator Clinton has made ASD a top prioity, given her proposals and promises. Having said that, I am not totally clear on Barack Obama’s address toward autism specifically. Given the muddy levels of diagnoses, autism remains it’s own category, and that it what I am worried about.
Emily
I did not *attempt* to mock his name. I *did* mock his name. I mock his ideas. I mock his judgement. I mock his career. I mock his religion (*which is ok. Christianity is mocked all the time*).
(Oh, and I should, in my initial comment, have mentioned that I thought Ehrenreich’s ‘autism’ comment was rather silly regardless of political stance. But for some reason the Autism Speaks thing popped into my mind first, and being on the spectrum myself, I don’t exactly have the best filter on my thoughts…)
Hill’s a fascist, Obama is an un-American communist, McCain’s a crazy corporate Statist. I’m voting for McCain; that might give me four years in which to buy ammo.
The Republic is dead. It’s over. It’s all direct democracy and Police State, now.
Kristina, you do know why the Mongols forbade the Han from using knives, and made them eat with sticks?
This is not the first time I’ve been offended by something Barbara Ehrenreich has written (though, admittedly, it’s the first time it’s been related to autism). I assume it will also not be the last.
Hey, asman. It was an attempt. It was unsuccessful. It was hackneyed. It was superficial. It was stupid. It was inept, useless, and inappropriate. And it doesn’t work, hence the use of the word “attempt.” But nice try, asman.
You are free, of course, to mock whatever you want. But you render your comments irrelevant when you stoop to such absurdities about a person’s name. If you don’t like his policy or lack thereof, that’s one thing. If you don’t like his religion, whatever. But I actually would have expected more from most people posting here than that idiocy to which you stooped. I’d mock you, but I’m busy.
This is some information on Obama’s plan to empower Americans with disabilities; it refers to some issues–employment and housing—of particular importance to myself and other families whose autistic children are adults and who are approaching adulthood.
Emily
I disagree. I got more where that came from.
Obama was known growing up as Barry, Obama is like
superman.
His mild mannered pot smoking alter ego as Barry then presto he is
Barack Obama wearing his amor suit of ethnicity. Able to leap a black
spiritual in a single bound, faster than a speeding clinton candidacy
for president.
Emily
and it is *THE*asman thank you very much
I’m not touching this one with a ten-foot push-poll…
XD
They all suck. I advise everyone, of whatever political persuasion, to stock up on, ah, “necessities.”
Oh, and Kristina? Obama doesn’t want to “empower” anybody except the State. That’s why he wants to disarm everyone who’s not a government employee.
I’m sorry, he may be good for (some) auties, but he’s very very evilly bad for what’s left of Western Civilization, and Liberty.
Sorry, THE asman. My bad. A thousand pardons.
Got hope? I love it! My vote is most definitely for Obama!
Why, exactly, KC’s? What about what he proposes do you like, and why? And why is it good for the country as a whole, and not just you and your kid?
I absolutely do not trust Hillary or Obama at all.
Well Obama pretty much wants to do sheltering of disabled people in the workplace, rather than encouraging disabled people to work in the mainstream (especially if that disabled person is able to take care of themselves, myself included), so Obama’s plan reeks of segregating the disabled.
I will not deny that Hillary has done some work regarding Autism (she is in fact on the joint Senate/Congressional Autism Caucus which has 2 co-chairpersons 1 Republican and 1 Democrat), but I don’t trust Hillary due to her criminal history.
For instance Whitewater (people were indicted and convicted of this including Jim Guy Tucker who suceeded Bill Clinton and preceded Mike Huckabee as Governor of Arkansas), and let us not forget the McDougals (Jim died in Prison, Bill Clinton pardoned Susan, go figure), and there was also Travelgate which involved Hillary firing staff and files disappearing.
Also when Hillary was campaigning for U.S. Senate in 2000, she accepted campaign money from convicted felon Peter Paul, once the lid was about to be blown on that one, she gave the money back.
Yes I am an individual with Autism, but I wouldn’t trust my life or the life of my fellow Auties to a criminal that obviously thinks she is above the law.
How quickly we forget—-Whitewater…….
Politics tends to be very personal, for me. Maybe not the best way to make decisions, but so it is.
Here’s a link to a YouTube video:
Senator Barack Obama on Autism and Disability
In this speech, Obama is very clear on the importance of ending employment discrimination.
When I was in college I was aksed that “Why I dont for my interest” after hearing about my growing up poor. They were upset and insulted when I truthfully reply that to the effect what kind of person would I be if I only thought of myself. I vote republican and do so proudly.
Academia is in the grips of Greekness. absolutes. I am a son of the judeo-christian heritage. Communism was great by one or two men – lenin, marx. America is great from the multitude excercising faith and freedom.
Marx is outgrowth of Hegel and adherence to the Greek tradition. I think America unwittingly adheres more to the other side of the parentage of Western Civilization. Kierkegaarde’s work in reply to Hegel is brilliant and meaningful.
Jean-Paul Sartre was blind and wrong when it came to Marxism. The
closest ideology to existentialism is in the USA republican
conservatism. The Marxists certain saw the incompatibly and they did
not welcome Sartre with open arms. Marxists celebrate the collective
while devaluing the individual. Only the bourgeoisie has the luxury
for thinking for themselves. A concept I find represensible. In fact
I would say Marxism is a bourgeoisie philosophy in that validates the
notion of being rich is important. It validates the notion the common
man is stupid and common and unimportant in himself by himself. I would say this true for socialism and the socialism lite offered by the Democrats in the last 75 years or so.
No, What is really important is that poor are able to lead meaningful
(to them) lives. Their economic status being irrelevant at worst not
most important at best. While it is nice to be rich it does not by
necessity impart a life worth living. The point of any meaningful as
for example stated by kierkegaarde is live for something regardless if
it makes sense to others. People can have a calling in life that isnt
intelligible nor logical with standards that society at large measures
successful lives with. The common man can have an uncommon calling
with faith. all based on the absurd (kierkegaarde sense not camus nor
sartre). So the obsession , democrats try to infect us with that these rich people are always out to get you steals from you the most important thing. It distracts you. The ability to love and have faith in something that will give everything you want out of life. Not because it follows
logically, but on the basis of faith on the strength of the absurd.
Yeah how quickly a lot of people have forgotten about Whitewater, and yeah I am a Republican myself and my parents vote Democrat although I think my Dad would be an Independent if it weren’t for my Mom pretty much making him vote Democrat.
4 years ago when me and my Mom argued, she tried to use my Autism against me when I told her straight up that I am not voting for a Leftist for President.
My Mom and so many other Democrats tend to think that since I am Autistic, I might as well depend on the Government for everything, ok right now I am without a job because my town is bone dry on jobs (I try and try to get a job in my town, I fill out the applications, I hand them in, I never even tell them I have Autism at all, it’s not like they even ask).
My Mom claims I don’t get hired in because i’m disabled but I know that is not true, cause how would the places I apply at even know? I fill everything out like I am suppose to, I don’t fill the applications out in Spanish or Chinese or Arabic or Tagalog or whatever, I fill them out in English my native tongue.
And one of my goals is to be employed once again at least part time (i’ve aimed for part time the whole time I applied, I never have aimed for full time at all), and I want to work at least 20 hours a week if not longer.
I also want to get off SSI and SSD someday and say “hey Michael Moore, guess what, im disabled and I am working, and im not on Social Security anymore.” im sure that would make him toss bottles of 17th century French Wine against the walls after drinking out of them (ok I dunno if he really drinks out of Wine bottles but he sure makes himself sound like it).
But seriously a lot of Liberal Democrats would be ticked off, if I was to ever end up working and off Government benefits, and I am aiming for this too.
My Mom doesn’t understand why I support the Republicans, and granted i’m not saying I like all Republican officials and there are some Democratic officials I do like (I do like the County Sheriff and County Prosecutor who are Democrats, the County Prosecutor is in fact a Social Conservative).
But my Mom has the mentality that the Republicans do nothing for the disabled (so not true, in fact nearly all Republicans in the U.S. Senate actually voted the increase Special Ed funding, I know this because I checked the voting records it was a 95 – 3 vote with all Republicans except Norm Coleman voting Aye, and all Democrats except Debbie Stabenow, Patrick Leahy and John Kerry voting Aye, in fact Stabenow, Leahy and Jeffords an Independent voted Nay, whereas Coleman and Kerry did not cast votes at all on this one).
Stabenow is from my state and she lied in the Senate debates claiming that illegal aliens do not get Social Security (even one of my Democratic chat buddies who is probably on the spectrum herself knows that illegal aliens are getting Social Security), Michael Bouchard knew in the debates that Stabenow was lying, he saw her voting record, so did I, Stabenow had in fact voted to give Social Security benefits to illegal aliens.
Senator Carl Levin in my state who has been in the Senate for almost 30 years is even worse than Stabenow, i’ve sent letters to Senator Levin regarding a lot of things, and he has his way of explaining away things, for instance I had written to my Congressman and my Senators about the idea of pulling dead U.S. soldiers out of France back when a lot of us were boycotting France (I was boycotting France myself even though I am about 1 8th French in my bloodline, my boycott was cancelled last year with Sarkozy’s victory).
Levin said that next of kin were notified of burials and that all burials were final, whereas Stabenow at least sent the Dept of Defense a letter on my behalf and she sent me a letter back including a copy of a letter the Dept of Defense sent to her.
Yeah it would be nice to be Rich but my goodness it’s not important and it does irk me when one thinks that someone who actually earned their Wealth should be forced to give a chunk of it to those who have not worked at all while being able to work.
Last time I checked the people that Government benefits were intended for were these following people: the disabled, war veterans, widows of war veterans, anyone who has lost the breadwinner (normally widows), children who lost their fathers, and there is probably more in the list.
However there are those who are absolutely able to work that don’t fit into who the benefits were intended for, that manage to live off benefits anyways (that sort of thing does cause those who deserve benefits to get less money in benefits too by the way).
Oh yeah, one thing that irks me about the Democrats is they claim to be for the poor but it is obvious they don’t want the poor to actually get ahead at all (they seem to get mad when a poor person actually upgrades to Middle Class or even Rich Class status).
It’s like ok boom if one who is poor has no wish to rise above it, then that’s fine with me, but one does strive to get ahead, one should be happy if that person suceeds at it.
I’m a Democrat; have never been political (all of my students know this; many are Republicans and we’ve been having some very interesting discussions about politics). I’m also probably too cynical….. thanks for noting those details about Kerry and Coleman (we used to live in Minnesota). If I may ask, what kinds of work have you done?
More dirt on the Hildebeest: Now, I cannot verify this with citations and links, but I do recall reading that when either Hill was running for Senatrix, or helping B.J. run for prez the second time, she had herself vidio’ed with some purported cancerous kids in a hospital, to get sympathy votes. What I recall was that they tried it first with actual kids with cancer, but they looked too sick and sad, so normal healthy kids were substituted. I would not put _anything_ past that woman.
I wouldn’t mind voting for a woman for President, just not _that_ woman. If Condi Rice were running against John McCain, the Naval Angriator, I’d vote for her in a New York microsecond.
As the guy said in the movie, I hate Illinois Nazis
Umm, “videoed.” Maybe.
Hell, Professor, I’d sooner write you in for President than anyone likely to be on the ballot. You do have a classical education, therefore know “what fools these mortals be”, have wrangled an autistic kid, so would know how to handle the generality of the American public.
Unfortunately, I live in Florida, where all write-in votes are dis-allowed unless a petition with lots of signatures has been approved, well in advance.
It is not for nothing that Michael Z. Williamson wants to feed all Florida voters through tree chippers.
As a Florida voter, I am on his List. As a skilled chipper operator, I appealed to him, asking for a job when he achieves world domination. I ask only that I be shredded last.
I haven’t heard back from him yet
I’m beyond flattered! Though should note, my students have said to me more than once, that I’m not political, at all….
Which is exactly why, like George Washington, you are fit for the office.
That is, you don’t want it.
Think of Cincinnatus, and Garibaldi, and Juarez!
I was listening to the radio this evening and one cogent point made is that there is going to big change in the Congress due to the number of races and, significantly, the number of retirements, so it could also make sense to pay attention to who is running closer to home and what their stance is on topics of interest. (There’s never a guarantee, but an aligned administration and congress might cut down on posturing counter-politics.)
The way I see it, the Administration may have power over agency appointments, presented budget and vetos, but Congress is still the body that handles legislation.
(Think I’ll see who’s running in my district and state as well as consider the stance of the Presidential candidates).
Regan has a good point here, I think. It is still a long time until the general election, and every Congresscritter’s seat is up for change, as well as 1/3 of the Senate seats. All should consider their local interests, not forgetting national ones, and vote accordingly.
Every being that endures viviparous birth is necessarily somewhere on the autistic spectrum. I’m afraid Barbara Ehrenreich is typical of the talented writer who doesn’t have much to say.
My favorite thing she wrote was a Time Magazine editorial protesting against some anthropology research that provided some evidence of rape being the prototypical hominid method of procreation.
Ehrenreich didn’t like that at all. According to her, sex is inherently beautiful and wonderful–or at least “flirty and fun.” I think we can paraphrase that as follows:
Sex is patient. Sex is kind. Sex is never having to say your sorry.
Anyway, Time Magazine is not an authority on anything. They act all huffy and snooty and erudite, but it’s almost comical. It’s like watching the Three Stooges starting pie fights at fancy soirees. You just can’t take them seriously, or you will get REALLY PISSED OFF.