Leo is autistic...allegedly

eviltwin

So what if he is autistic, wouldn't it be great to show the world that a person on the spectrum can achieve a high position in government? I don't particularly care either way but autism is a cause close to my heart because of my kids and the ignorance displayed by Noone is astounding. She also had no right to disclose it if true.

Naggdefy

I think it's a first for me. A high profile TD saying her party leader is socially inept and lacks empathy!

With friends like that...

Naggdefy

I'm not FG or a Leo fan but I feel he and his government have handled Brexit well.

They've been satisfactory for me on most issues.

Unfortunately housing and health have been problems since the foundation of the state.

I always wonder why they can't implement a successful health system from another country even if it took 10 years.

JP Liz V1

Will Leo get the sympathy votes now

Is Aspergers the term more than Autism?

AllGunsBlazing

Maybe she could double down and claim she suffers from tourette's?

Marhay70

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

How do you know that he's not on the spectrum?

True, I suppose. His tendency to continually lie through his teeth every time he opens his mouth might be a form of OCD.

Water John

Just to point out that the term Aspergers is no longer used. This is mainly because of its association with a German Nazi doctor.

GreenandRed

Her mam was a psychiatrist. Though that doesn't mean she knows anything about mental health. She should have to cop on not to be sharing her inner thoughts with journalists. I think she's naive, not malicious.

Agricola

Leo will be delighted with this. First ethnicity, then sexuality and now he can add autism to his portfolio. Truly a Taoiseach for 21st century Ireland!

givyjoe

GreenandRed wrote: »

Her mam was a psychiatrist. Though that doesn't mean she knows anything about mental health. She should have to cop on not to be sharing her inner thoughts with journalists. I think she's naive, not malicious.

Yes, I'm sure she wouldn't want the public knowing what an utter gobsh1te she is.

GreenandRed

givyjoe wrote: »

Yes, I'm sure she wouldn't want the public knowing what an utter gobsh1te she is.

That's been common knowledge for years.

Bobblehats

No she didn’t say that she just said leo is artistic most eloquently. Indeed it was a compliment of thee utmost regard ~

GreenandRed

Bobblehats wrote: »

No she didn’t say that she just said leo is artistic most eloquently. Indeed it was a compliment of thee utmost regard ~

He'll have plenty of time on his hands for a bit of painting after the next government is formed.

Varta

Water John wrote: »

Just to point out that the term Aspergers is no longer used. This is mainly because of its association with a German Nazi doctor.

Did you just make that up? Or are you living in a world of one?

GreenandRed

Agricola wrote: »

Leo will be delighted with this. First ethnicity, then sexuality and now he can add autism to his portfolio. Truly a Taoiseach for 21st century Ireland!

You're not suggesting Liberal Leo is a cooler fit for the FG Twitter voters than Simon the pieman?

intellectual dosser

Its the initial denial that bothers me most.

Politicians say stupid things, but at least have some integrity while pursuing office and stand over what you've said and address it without having to be forced.

She should drop out.

GreenandRed

Varta wrote: »

Did you just make that up? Or are you living in a world of one?

https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/new-evidence-ties-hans-asperger-nazi-eugenics-program/

wakka12

I cant stop laughing at the thought of her saying the N word out of context

Varta

GreenandRed wrote: »

https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/new-evidence-ties-hans-asperger-nazi-eugenics-program/

I'm well aware of Asperger's nazism. As it states in the article, however, "Yet the term is still widely used to refer to someone on the milder end of the autism spectrum."

Google the term and then tell me that it is no longer used. Erasing words and terms from the lexicon is never a good idea.

GreenandRed

Varta wrote: »

I'm well aware of Asperger's nazism. As it states in the article, however, "Yet the term is still widely used to refer to someone on the milder end of the autism spectrum."

Google the term and then tell me that it is no longer used. Erasing words and terms from the lexicon is never a good idea.

I didn't say it was no longer used.

Varta

intellectual dosser wrote: »

Its the initial denial that bothers me most.

Politicians say stupid things, but at least have some integrity while pursuing office and stand over what you've said and address it without having to be forced.

She should drop out.

She should have been dropped out. It was a stain on her, if FG do nothing about it then it will be a stain on FG.

Varta

GreenandRed wrote: »

I didn't say it was no longer used.

I beg your pardon, I mistakenly thought you were supporting the statement that it was no longer being used.

Cork Boy 53

Varta wrote: »

She should have been dropped out. It was a stain on her, if FG do nothing about it then it will be a stain on FG.

Do you seriously think that FG are going to drop a candidate less than 2 weeks before the election? Not a chance of that happening.

Omackeral

Always Tired wrote: »

Been trying to think how can the n word be used out of context.

"Which n***er took the last biscuit?"

I'm gonna start saying this.

Varta

Cork Boy 53 wrote: »

Do you seriously think that FG are going to drop a candidate less than 2 weeks before the election? Not a chance of that happening.

Of course not, but that doesn't mean that they shouldn't.

Junkyard Tom

So should people wear a mask around Leo in case he coughs on you and you catch autism?

Marhay70

Marhay70 wrote: »

That's just offensive to people with autism, autistic people can't help how they are. Varadkar, on the other hand works hard at being an 18 karat prick.

But what if he is actually on the spectrum? Just not diagnosed.
She's not the first person I have heard of saying this about him.

Yurt!

Yurt! wrote: »

What was she on about with the N-word stuff?

As someone else alluded to, she built up enough political capital with the 'amazing brave hun' crowd via a few set-piece performances in the Seanad around the time of the 8th referendum.

She also has the classic Fine Gael smugglepuff 'to the manor born' air that a lot of their TDs have.

Who votes for people like her?

Varta

Varta wrote: »

I'm well aware of Asperger's nazism. As it states in the article, however, "Yet the term is still widely used to refer to someone on the milder end of the autism spectrum."

Google the term and then tell me that it is no longer used. Erasing words and terms from the lexicon is never a good idea.

They don't diagnose anyone with aspergers anymore, people are just 'on the spectrum '
My godson was diagnosed about 7 years ago & they told his mother that then.

NSAman

Deleted User wrote: »

Who votes for people like her?

Other people who secretly use the "N" word and then apologise for being found out.. seriously.. you couldn't make this stuff up about a public representative.

Any other country and she would be OUT!

GreenandRed

Varta wrote: »

I beg your pardon, I mistakenly thought you were supporting the statement that it was no longer being used.

I wouldn't know much about it. My sister is a national teacher and sometimes talks about kids with autism and asbergers. Just found that URL there. Interesting but disturbing.

ThewhiteJesus

golfball37 wrote: »

Ah ffs. I am no FG fan but I get what she was trying to say here. Its not meant to be disrespectful to anyone who has austism, rather Leo shows the traits of someone with same.

and you don't think comparing him to symptoms of a mental disorder is wrong ?

Xertz

Fine Gael seem to suffer a lot from foot-in-mouth issues.

I know plenty of people who use the term 'autistic' to describe someone who is simply a little cool with them, or geeky or academic and it is totally inappropriate both because it's completely inaccurate and it's also rather demeaning the seriousness of a genuine developmental issue that can be a real challenge for a those who have it and turning the description into a basically a word to attack a political 'opponent' with.

I mean would it be any more acceptable to throw any other issue e.g. I donno being a deaf or having coeliac disease or wearing glasses at someone at a term of abuse?

However, if you're a politician you should have a lot more sensitivity to use of language and also if you're in a political party it's generally not advisable to throw insults at the party leader.

Scoring own goals during an election is quite impressive!

ThewhiteJesus

ThewhiteJesus wrote: »

and you don't think comparing him to symptoms of a mental disorder is wrong ?

Autism is not a mental disorder. Jesus.

KaneToad

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Joe's program has been sorted for today.

A Fine Gael senator and election candidate Catherine Noone called Leo Varadkar autistic yesterday.



A bit of anger about this from people who have experience with this.

Should she step down?

No she shouldn't. Politicians make these stupid mistakes all the time.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VXlbeuwFgwI

GreenandRed

Cork Boy 53 wrote: »

Do you seriously think that FG are going to drop a candidate less than 2 weeks before the election? Not a chance of that happening.

If their director of elections thinks that she had no chance even before this revelation and that Richard Bruton will win the only FG seat in Dublin Bay North, they'll probably withdraw her or get her to withdraw. It wasn't looking good for two seats for FG in Dublin North last week. Keeping her could impact Bruton's vote, though he looks very safe for a seat.

James Brown

The height of ignorance. Regardless of folks feelings on Varadkar, she's not fit for office.
FYI: everyone is on the spectrum...that's why they call it a spectrum.

Mango Joe

It is such a tragedy that we missed our opportunity to abolish the Seanad that time.

It really is just a Nursery for stupid, failed, useless politicians with nothing going for them to thrive and claim huge salaries, expenses and pensions.

Catherine Noones Wikipedia Page wrote:

Noone stood for the Dáil in the 2016 general election in the four seater Dublin West constituency but was eliminated after the second count with 1,074 first preference votes.[9] She was later nominated for the Seanad and was elected on the 26th count. After being elected to her second term in Seanad Éireann, she was appointed by the Taoiseach as Deputy Leader of Seanad Éireann in July 2016.

She's literally a perpetual drain on the States financial resources, offering nothing and that next to nobody wanted in the first place.

Xertz

A reformed Seanad would be a useful institution, but as it is it's a mess.

It actually has tried to reform itself about 13 times, producing extremely progressive and useful reports which various governments seem to have used perhaps as door stops or for propping up bookshelves over in Merrion Street.

Despite umpteen attempts by the Seanad itself to reform, it just seems to keep falling off the agenda.

IAMAMORON

Everyone is on there somewhere. The more " exposure" ( get it ) around election time the better I suppose. All leaders have their quirks and ways.

GreenandRed

Mango Joe wrote: »

It is such a tragedy that we missed our opportunity to abolish the Seanad that time.

It really is just a Nursery for stupid, failed, useless politicians with nothing going for them to thrive and claim huge salaries, expenses and pensions.



She's literally a perpetual drain on the States financial resources, offering nothing and that next to nobody wanted in the first place.

She's not the only one.

Xertz

All I know is that diagram above set off my migraines! Clashing colours, chaotic design, comic sans.. it has it all!

eviltwin

ThewhiteJesus wrote: »

and you don't think comparing him to symptoms of a mental disorder is wrong ?

Autism isn't a mental disorder. Why would it be an issue anyway? It's not a barrier to a job in politics.

Tony EH

Agricola wrote: »

Leo will be delighted with this. First ethnicity, then sexuality and now he can add autism to his portfolio. Truly a Taoiseach for 21st century Ireland!

LOL, a gay, autistic, Indian.

Eoin O'Duffy will be roiling in his grave like the hadron collider.

Tony EH

Xertz wrote: »

Fine Gael seem to suffer a lot from foot-in-mouth issues.

A consequence of continually talking down to people.

Tony EH

Matt Barrett wrote: »

The height of ignorance. Regardless of folks feelings on Varadkar, she's not fit for office.
FYI: everyone is on the spectrum...that's why they call it a spectrum.

Autism UK says there there are around 700,000 people on the Autism spectrum in Britain.

"Spectrum" is a bit of a misnomer in this regard. It really should just be called an autism "range".

just coming in late here but I heard some politician saying after the dust settles, the party will request autism training for all. So that's to her stupidity, we have to pay for some training seminar so these ****wits can learn not t speak about subject they have limited or absolutely no knowledge of! IM sure it was Harris who was saying on the news.

they fact they have to be told this is a riot!

Tony EH

eviltwin wrote: »

Autism isn't a mental disorder. Why would it be an issue anyway? It's not a barrier to a job in politics.

It is, however, a developmental disorder and depending on the severity and how it manifests itself, it could be an issue.

Some people with autism can operate relatively fine. Others cannot even form a sentence if there are more than three people in the conversation.

Venom

A collection of some of Catherine Noone's "special moments".


https://twitter.com/diarmuidhayes/status/1222126983636758528?s=09

Edgware

Agricola wrote: »

Leo will be delighted with this. First ethnicity, then sexuality and now he can add autism to his portfolio. Truly a Taoiseach for 21st century Ireland!

Do we want this man with his finger on the button?