Video: Rethinking Autism

HealthJune 2009 • Views: 2,920

Here’s a very cool video promo for a cause you may not expect:

The link comes from a friend of Bill Whittle’s, Dana Commandatore, with a note about the motivation of the clip:

I’m the mother of a 6 year old autistic boy who has had enough of the pseudo-science quackery that Jenny McCarthy and Oprah are pitching to parents of kids with autism. It is impossible for someone of my status to deliver a counter-message, but I may have found a way. I used what Jenny used to get her attention, sex. A model and family friend Leeann Tweedeen immediately saw the tongue-in-cheek nature of my idea and ran with it. The result is http://www.rethinkingautism.com.

If you read the first page and then click on the video link you’ll see what it’s all about.

(There are more videos at the link in that quote.)

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84 comments

screaming_eagle Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:13:09pm

Sex sells.

wiffersnapper Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:14:28pm

I'm sold.

Racer X Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:14:38pm

Nice.

freetoken Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:14:51pm

re: #1 screaming_eagle

Sex sells.

In this instance, to keep attention. Starting a conversation with "Scientific studies have shown ..." is a turn-off for many people, I suspect.

callahan23 Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:15:02pm

Superb, turning the argument by using the same methods the creeps use.
A beautifully shot and produced clip by the way.

Dark_Falcon Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:16:03pm

re: #1 screaming_eagle

Sex sells.

Best way to counter T&A is with better T&A.

legalpad Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:16:04pm

JOhn Edwards would have mixed feelings about this.

experiencedtraveller Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:16:13pm

Good luck on this Charles. You champion a just cause. Autism is such a confounding condition. Until the scientists have it understood there will be lots of quackery.

screaming_eagle Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:17:37pm

re: #4 freetoken

In this instance, to keep attention. Starting a conversation with "Scientific studies have shown ..." is a turn-off for many people, I suspect.

Actually in this instance Leeann would get attention talking about toe-jam

Noam Sayin' Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:17:44pm

Nice work, ma'am.

Crimsonfisted Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:18:07pm

Lizardlanche on the videos. Cool!

Crimsonfisted Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:19:25pm

In my head I look like her. In reality, not so much.

IslandLibertarian Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:20:26pm

vaccinations don't cause autism.........but what about silicone?

/worth examining.

Truck Monkey Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:21:26pm

She is smokin' hot! More please.

Sharmuta Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:21:28pm

It will certainly be effective with some.

Truck Monkey Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:21:54pm

re: #13 IslandLibertarian

vaccinations don't cause autism.........but what about silicone?

/worth examining.

I'll examine them!
/really

Sambo Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:23:35pm

re: #10 Noam Sayin'

Could you please call me Senator? Thank you.

iLikeCandy Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:24:19pm

Most of the myth-huggers on autism seem to be women. Maybe lingering shots of a Prada bag and Jimmy Choos?

IslandLibertarian Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:25:20pm

re: #18 iLikeCandy

Most of the myth-huggers on autism seem to be women. Maybe lingering shots of a Prada bag and Jimmy Choos?

swap out the babe with a beef-cake...voile!

Dark_Falcon Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:25:45pm

re: #17 Sambo

Could you please call me Senator? Thank you.

Not a chance, Barbara, you vile bitch. The best you'd get from me is Ms. Moonbat.

Last Mohican Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:28:59pm

If you read the first page and then click on the video link you’ll see what it’s all about.

Would everyone think less of me if I admitted that I clicked the video link before I read the first page?

legalpad Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:29:42pm

re: #21 Last Mohican

Would everyone think less of me if I admitted that I clicked the video link before I read the first page?

What page? There was a page?

screaming_eagle Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:30:12pm

re: #20 Dark_Falcon

Not a chance, Barbara, you vile bitch. The best you'd get from me is Ms. Moonbat.

Now,now. Ms Moonbat ~~worked hard~~ conned alot of people to get were she is.

DEZes Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:31:09pm

She has my full attention.

albusteve Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:32:21pm

I'm gonna need more persuasion...maybe a two hour special

nyc redneck Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:32:31pm

re: #20 Dark_Falcon

Not a chance, Barbara, you vile bitch. The best you'd get from me is Ms. Moonbat.

she is vile direspectful bitch. that rudeness was for her constituents.
that is how diabolical she is.

garden18 Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:33:35pm

Off topic, but definitely worth reading.

Truck Monkey Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:33:38pm

What are these Videos about anyway......

screaming_eagle Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:34:11pm

re: #28 Truck Monkey

What are these Videos about anyway......

I think she is selling couches.

albusteve Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:34:31pm

top right vid has a very cool riff...I want more of that

Dark_Falcon Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:35:05pm

re: #26 nyc redneck

she is vile direspectful bitch. that rudeness was for her constituents.
that is how diabolical she is.

She's up for reelection in 2010, I think. With the right candidate to oppose her, it might be possible for the GOP to remove that carbuncle on the ass of the Senate.

IslandLibertarian Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:35:17pm

re: #26 nyc redneck

"let them eat foie gras"

Lee Coller Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:35:40pm

re: #31 Dark_Falcon

She's up for reelection in 2010, I think. With the right candidate to oppose her, it might be possible for the GOP to remove that carbuncle on the ass of the Senate.

But the CA GOP seems to come up with the wrong candidate every time she comes up.

Truck Monkey Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:36:10pm

re: #31 Dark_Falcon

She's up for reelection in 2010, I think. With the right candidate to oppose her, it might be possible for the GOP to remove that carbuncle on the ass of the Senate.

Which one?

Dark_Falcon Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:38:40pm

re: #34 Truck Monkey

Which one?

Barbara Boxer.re: #33 Lee Coller

But the CA GOP seems to come up with the wrong candidate every time she comes up.

Hopefully, this time we get things right. (Says the Cubs fan.)

albusteve Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:39:48pm

re: #33 Lee Coller

But the CA GOP seems to come up with the wrong candidate every time she comes up.

she should be publicly scorned...just look at what her vision of America is...someone should ask her simply, how did CA arrive at it's present condition and why are 3000 people a day fleeing your state?

callahan23 Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:40:25pm

Phew, that was a long and stressful week.
Tomorrow, gals 'n guys, I promise I'll be online 'long time'.
I love you (Lizardim} - mostly.
Harry C.23

albusteve Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:42:09pm

voters must condemn the fools that are bringing us to our knees...it's the right and patriotic thing to do...pull them down off their ivory towers and make them answer for their motive....not

freetoken Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:44:07pm

re: #38 albusteve

Leeann was in a tower, it appears, but I doubt it was made of ivory.

hazzyday Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:46:02pm

The logic there is impeccable.

shiplord kirel Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:47:36pm

Note that this is heavily outnumbered by conspira-loon videos at You Tube. There is a lot of money in quackery.

Dar ul Harb Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:49:02pm

I was interested to read that there is a theory that links autism with fetal testosterone. I suspect that there is some malfunction of the normal masculinization of the brain that results in autism.

In a much attenuated form, I suspect that the reason why men are generally so much less apt to remember birthdays and anniversaries is related to the biological differences that in the extreme condition produce autism.

(Yes, I am aware that there are females with autism.)

Truck Monkey Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:49:59pm

re: #35 Dark_Falcon

Hopefully, this time we get things right. (Says the Cubs fan.)

No. I meant which Carbunkle? Boxer or Feinstein. There are many others.

screaming_eagle Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:50:05pm

re: #41 shiplord kirel

Note that this is heavily outnumbered by conspira-loon videos at You Tube. There is a lot of money in quackery.

The Democrat party?

Dark_Falcon Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:50:07pm

re: #41 shiplord kirel

Note that this is heavily outnumbered by conspira-loon videos at You Tube. There is a lot of money in quackery.

Crazies are generally better motivated than most people. That can make them hard to fight.

snowcrash Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:51:02pm

Watched Dave Ramsey, TV money adviser on Fox business last night. A female caller distraught over credit card debt, attributed it to following Jenny McCarthy s advice with special diet and vitamin supplements for her newly diagnosed Autistic son. Makes me sad to realize how pervasive this is in the Autism community. All the money spent on supplements that could be spent on early behavioral interventions is criminal. Ms McCarthy need to be publicly ridiculed and her miracle claims debunked.

Dark_Falcon Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:53:53pm

re: #43 Truck Monkey

No. I meant which Carbunkle? Boxer or Feinstein. There are many others.

Boxer. I don't view Feinstein as a carbuncle. She's liberal but not crazy or mean.

quickjustice Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:54:23pm

McCarthy has quite a cottage industry going on this topic. Is she married to Carrey? Same thing with Don Imus, who's a hoaxer himself on this issue.

Idle Drifter Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:54:27pm

I wish them all the luck in the world. It's going to be a hard fought uphill battle (Pauses for the video) against an entrenched group of nutjobs. With the millions of Opera viewers (Pauses for the video) mindless devotion, youtube, and desperate parents being taken advantaged of by kooks disinformation is everywhere and has deep roots. Fighting these bastards will take every information shell and clue bomb in arsenal.

freetoken Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:55:40pm

re: #44 screaming_eagle

The Democrat party?

Ummm... wasn't it John McCain who stated that he thought there might be a connection between vaccines and autism?

/perhaps someone can refresh my memory?

Dark_Falcon Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:56:03pm

re: #46 snowcrash

Watched Dave Ramsey, TV money adviser on Fox business last night. A female caller distraught over credit card debt, attributed it to following Jenny McCarthy s advice with special diet and vitamin supplements for her newly diagnosed Autistic son. Makes me sad to realize how pervasive this is in the Autism community. All the money spent on supplements that could be spent on early behavioral interventions is criminal. Ms McCarthy need to be publicly ridiculed and her miracle claims debunked.

That's tough to do. Jenny McCarthy still gets a fair bit of press from just her looks. And her talk show will probably do quite well; She has an energetic and engaging personality that will work very well in that format. The best counter is something with good marketing like that shown above.

NelsFree Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:56:08pm

ArmyWife, was that...were you...never mind.
/h

SlartyBartfast Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:59:02pm

re: #1 screaming_eagle

Sex sells.

Screaming Eagle: you are the master of the obvious!

OT, but I just emailed one of my senators:

The second weekly newsletter with nothing about the "Obama Justice Department Decision [that] Will Allow Non-Citizens to Register to Vote in Georgia--Decision Bars Georgia From Continuing Voter Verification Process." (See GA Secretary of State Karen Handel's June 1st Press Release.) At least Saxby Chambliss had an automated response to my email about this, but I received nothing from your office. Either you're ignorant of the issue (bad) or you're aware and don't care (worse).

My Civil Rights (my voting rights) are at risk. I take this very seriously. If my vote is "canceled" by someone who's not fit to vote in GA, I've been effectively disenfranchised. That's a serious matter.

My Representative has been taking the lead on this issue. He's doing a good job. But Mr. Isakson? Not so much.

Idle Drifter Fri, Jun 19, 2009 5:59:46pm

re: #50 freetoken

Ummm... wasn't it John McCain who stated that he thought there might be a connection between vaccines and autism?

/perhaps someone can refresh my memory?

I found this on ABC's site.

snowcrash Fri, Jun 19, 2009 6:00:30pm

The President is making funny at the Radio and TV Correspondents dinner. Some good zingers.

A Man for all Seasons Fri, Jun 19, 2009 6:02:43pm

re: #47 Dark_Falcon

Boxer. I don't view Feinstein as a carbuncle. She's liberal but not crazy or mean.

I grew up in California...Diana is a very highly respected Figure...
We all remember her grace and leadership from the Milk assassination and everybody wanted her in the Senate after being the Mayor of the City.
People have no idea of the goodwill Californians have of her... She will always be a Senator or whatever in the Golden State she wants to be...
I like her...period....

Dark_Falcon Fri, Jun 19, 2009 6:06:38pm

re: #56 HoosierHoops

I grew up in California...Diana is a very highly respected Figure...
We all remember her grace and leadership from the Milk assassination and everybody wanted her in the Senate after being the Mayor of the City.
People have no idea of the goodwill Californians have of her... She will always be a Senator or whatever in the Golden State she wants to be...
I like her...period....

I respect her too. I disagree with her, but she is a good person.

ShanghaiEd Fri, Jun 19, 2009 6:09:48pm

There's a simple answer for the vaccine problem, that all sides should agree with.

Why not just teach the controversy?

IslandLibertarian Fri, Jun 19, 2009 6:15:05pm

re: #33 Lee Coller

But the CA GOP seems to come up with the wrong candidate every time she comes up.

It shouldn't be so hard to beat Senator Barbara Box-of-hamm-er.

A Man for all Seasons Fri, Jun 19, 2009 6:15:49pm

re: #57 Dark_Falcon

I respect her too. I disagree with her, but she is a good person.

Way back in the old days...I think she had just been in the Senate a few weeks and she was the only Women and they were debating a gun bill and they showed this clip on KRON where this old white guy Senator called her out and said she had no expense in the Senate to talk about about a gun bill... She just trashed him.
I think her first line was..Sir I'm her because of an assansination..Don't you ever lecture me about guns..She trashed that old dude..We were falling out laughing at the 11pm news..They had no idea that this was a woman that is a strong leader from California...Yes..She is a Democrat.. But you better bring something to the party when you tangle with her...
California Loves her....I do to...

Dark_Falcon Fri, Jun 19, 2009 6:17:23pm

re: #60 HoosierHoops

Way back in the old days...I think she had just been in the Senate a few weeks and she was the only Women and they were debating a gun bill and they showed this clip on KRON where this old white guy Senator called her out and said she had no expense in the Senate to talk about about a gun bill... She just trashed him.
I think her first line was..Sir I'm her because of an assansination..Don't you ever lecture me about guns..She trashed that old dude..We were falling out laughing at the 11pm news..They had no idea that this was a woman that is a strong leader from California...Yes..She is a Democrat.. But you better bring something to the party when you tangle with her...
California Loves her....I do to...

But she is wrong on guns, don't forget that.

A Man for all Seasons Fri, Jun 19, 2009 6:21:38pm

re: #61 Dark_Falcon

But she is wrong on guns, don't forget that.

Oh I agree....But my point is she is loved in California....
Regards Dark

Dark_Falcon Fri, Jun 19, 2009 6:23:46pm

re: #62 HoosierHoops

Oh I agree....But my point is she is loved in California....
Regards Dark

Regards returned, Hoops.

Jim in Virginia Fri, Jun 19, 2009 6:26:34pm

re: #55 snowcrash

The President is making funny at the Radio and TV Correspondents dinner. Some good zingers.

You're watching Fox too? His coyness on how much the media love him is as annoying as everything else about his Presidency.

kansas Fri, Jun 19, 2009 6:40:43pm

I definitely need more research into this.

Slumbering Behemoth Stinks Fri, Jun 19, 2009 6:41:44pm

On Topic: I wholeheartedly approve of these autism commercials.
/I know, big surprise eh?

Off Topic: Since folks are giving Sen. Feinstein props, I'd like to add that over the last number of years she has worked closely with a local mayor (now ex-mayor due to term limits) in my area to crack down HARD on street gangs.

One of the many things they worked together on was making it a felony to induct/initiate a minor into a gang. She definitely gets props from me for that.

pat Fri, Jun 19, 2009 6:53:39pm

I love it.

daledog Fri, Jun 19, 2009 6:58:08pm

'When I'm alone.'
- not bloody likely

lostlakehiker Fri, Jun 19, 2009 7:03:17pm

re: #42 Dar ul Harb

I was interested to read that there is a theory that links autism with fetal testosterone. I suspect that there is some malfunction of the normal masculinization of the brain that results in autism.

In a much attenuated form, I suspect that the reason why men are generally so much less apt to remember birthdays and anniversaries is related to the biological differences that in the extreme condition produce autism.

(Yes, I am aware that there are females with autism.)

Trouble is, pretty well every kind of trait exhibits more variation among men than among women. When that variation goes to an extreme, it can be helpful [facility with numbers and shapes, ability to focus and concentrate intensely upon one thing] or harmful [same list, but overdone and to the exclusion of necessary "interrupt" circuits.] Nature's shotgun opens the choke and shoots a wider pattern with males than with females. This makes evolutionary sense of a sort; a man who is way out at the end of the bell curve can sire a nation {Ghenghis Khan, for an example}, while a woman is limited to about 20 children at the outside. There's just no big prize at the end of the rainbow for taking big chances.

Conversely, a woman who's a little below average can probably find a mate and raise a family. Especially in a polygamous society, (and over the long haul of human evolution, that's been the style off and on), a man had better be a winner if he wants a family. Nature has reason to play a conservative poker game when holding a female "hand".

Autism, I'm guessing, is to quantitative intelligence what sickle cell anemia is to malaria resistance: a price the human species pays for a trait it needs, and needs in a degree of moderation that the laws of nature make it impossible to hit exactly except in a statistical sense. Our autistic brethren are casualties in this statistical struggle for existence. Anything we do to try to breed their type out of the species will be done at the price of breeding their type of intelligence out too.

Cato the Elder Fri, Jun 19, 2009 7:30:53pm

Incoming!

Cato the Elder Fri, Jun 19, 2009 7:33:44pm

Never mind - I just noticed the thread is dead already.

el polacko Fri, Jun 19, 2009 8:03:56pm

if your kid is hyperactive: he has autism .. if your kid is docile: he has autism... if your kid is bright: he has autism... if your kid is a dumbass: he has autism.
if everything is autism, then nothing is. it's a totally made-up, blanket, trendy 'disease' du jour that sounds better than saying my kid is a jerk.

firepilot Fri, Jun 19, 2009 8:04:39pm

Its the "Oprahfication" of medicine and science. Where emotions and a human face are used, in lieu of facts, science and knowledge.

All it takes is one celeb like Jenny McCarthy, promoted by Oprah, to overcome any factual information that could have been put out. Jenny and Oprah are doing damage through her total pseudoscience and emotional appeals.

Oprah should be ashamed of herself. And then Jenny is just not terribly bright, and she actually thinks diseases should come back, to show us how bad our immunizations are.

I am sure all that makes for better ratings than putting on real physicians and researchers, and probably people will try and forgo immunizations for their kids, all because of Jenny and Oprah.

Maybe next, she will put on Prince who can tell us about Chemtrails, or some other inane celeb conspiracy. At least people believing in chemtrails wont result in childrens illnesses and deaths, like Jenny telling people immunizations cause autism.

jaunte Fri, Jun 19, 2009 8:13:03pm

re: #72 el polacko

Are you seriously claiming that an autism diagnosis may be the result of 'trendiness?'

leereyno Fri, Jun 19, 2009 9:55:26pm

re: #74 jaunte

Are you seriously claiming that an autism diagnosis may be the result of 'trendiness?'

Hey, it worked for ADHD.

Excuse me while I go snort some ritalin.

methuseleh Fri, Jun 19, 2009 11:23:05pm

re: #72 el polacko

if your kid is hyperactive: he has autism .. if your kid is docile: he has autism... if your kid is bright: he has autism... if your kid is a dumbass: he has autism.
if everything is autism, then nothing is. it's a totally made-up, blanket, trendy 'disease' du jour that sounds better than saying my kid is a jerk.

Sorry, you're wrong. I've known several autistic people in my life, and it's not like ADD where simple variances in temperament are given a trendy label (that's not to say ADD doesn't exist; it's just over-diagnosed IMO). Autism is a real disorder with a profound repercussions on a person's life, and that of their families.

wahabicorridor Sat, Jun 20, 2009 4:59:07am

This is child pron.

Sabnen Sat, Jun 20, 2009 5:08:21am

re: #76 methuseleh

Nice response to el polacko. The is no comparison between ADD and Autism.

elclynn Sat, Jun 20, 2009 7:12:50am

Personal observation on autism. An 8 year old in my commuity has autism caused by a broken chromosome in her DNA. Her family kept her isolated from others over fear of ridicule and possibility of her being hurt. Since my company puts on a Bike Rodeo for underprivileged kids, I felt it would be a good way to convince them to let her integrate more. Convincing them she should be allowed to learn to ride a bike wasn't easy, but they finally got her one with training wheels. I promised her when she learned the rules for bike safety and learned to ride I would go riding with her. That child was the most determined kid and she finally got it. We went riding and it was one of the best days I have ever spent with anyone. I spoke with her family about mainstreaming her and letting her go to play at neighboring houses. We, in the neighborhood, treated her just like any other kid. She rode her bike in the parade, hangs with kids her age (they are the best teachers), and her family and Rachel are a lot happier now. Anyone who gives Jenny McCarthy airtime is as big a jackass as she is, including Oprah. I'm old enough to have had a childhood friend who contracted polio, it was devastating. Thanks for listening to my rant.

Pooncakes, Hero of Zion Sat, Jun 20, 2009 8:21:07am

When I was in the Army, they used to ask my buddy what it would take to get him to re-enlist. He'd always say "Leeann Tweeden."

DisturbedEma Sat, Jun 20, 2009 11:55:44am

re: #72 el polacko

if your kid is hyperactive: he has autism .. if your kid is docile: he has autism... if your kid is bright: he has autism... if your kid is a dumbass: he has autism.
if everything is autism, then nothing is. it's a totally made-up, blanket, trendy 'disease' du jour that sounds better than saying my kid is a jerk.

You are an ignorant fucker

Pupdawg Sat, Jun 20, 2009 2:22:14pm

Watched it a dozen times before I saw the text...

...and still haven't read it all!

Zimriel Sat, Jun 20, 2009 2:32:17pm

re: #72 el polacko

if everything is autism, then nothing is. it's a totally made-up, blanket, trendy 'disease' du jour that sounds better than saying my kid is a jerk.

It's certainly possible to be a jerk without having autism.

Your post proves that.

smoot Sun, Jun 21, 2009 12:39:08pm

Yes! Terrific! I too have had enough of this BS about vaccines being linked to autism. Can you believe it--a scientist who testified against it and said that his own children received the vaccines received death threats.

Valuable life advice: Stick to what you know. Respect the experts' opinions.

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