Osborne in autism jibe

sir_drinks_alot · 02-10-2006, 17:11

This makes me sick

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5399072.stm

LemonyBrainAid · 02-10-2006, 17:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by sir_drinks_alot

This makes me sick

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5399072.stm

"George Osborne doesn't seem to have noticed that most people over the age of eight no longer use serious and distressing disabilities as a way of taunting people"

Now that's funny.

etccarmageddon · 02-10-2006, 17:17

I think his boss wont be happy as Cameron has a disabled child.

**Chris** · 02-10-2006, 17:30

Once again, the professional offence takers are out in force ....

I notice nobody is criticising the journalist who brought autism into the discussion in the first place. That comment, levelled at Osborne, looks to me like a landmine, tossed into the conversation to see if he'd step on it.

Of course he did, and he was stupid - but if we could all stop the chest-beating for a few seconds, I think we'd see that at worst Ozzy has been a little ignorant. To suggest this was outright offensive is just playing to the gallery. I think the real criticism should be reserved for the un-named journalist, who IMO cynically used disability as a tool to try to get a little scandal for his next report.

etccarmageddon · 02-10-2006, 17:44

I agree, I think it's been over-exaggerated.

02-10-2006, 18:04

Quote:

Mr Osborne had been recalling his ability to retain odd facts, when the journalist hosting the event joked he might have been "faintly autistic".

In reply, Mr Osborne said: "We're not getting on to Gordon Brown yet."

So why is only one person getting critiscised, the joke about autism was made by the journalist not the MP. FFS people really need to get a ****ing life.

Cobbydaler · 02-10-2006, 18:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris T

Once again, the professional offence takers are out in force ....

I notice nobody is criticising the journalist who brought autism into the discussion in the first place. That comment, levelled at Osborne, looks to me like a landmine, tossed into the conversation to see if he'd step on it.

Of course he did, and he was stupid - but if we could all stop the chest-beating for a few seconds, I think we'd see that at worst Ozzy has been a little ignorant. To suggest this was outright offensive is just playing to the gallery. I think the real criticism should be reserved for the un-named journalist, who IMO cynically used disability as a tool to try to get a little scandal for his next report.

I actually think the journalist was bringing a positive aspect of autism into the discussion...

Quote:

Mr Osborne had been recalling his ability to retain odd facts, when the journalist hosting the event joked he might have been "faintly autistic".

Autistic people can have very good memories, see here...

On the other hand David Cameron was probably referring to the Chancellor's social skills...

**Chris** · 02-10-2006, 18:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cobbydaler

I actually think the journalist was bringing a positive aspect of autism into the discussion...

On the face of it, yes. However, never forget, the journalists are not there for discussion or banter. They are there to get stories, no more no less. I am quite sure that no matter how positive he sounded about autism, the reason he threw it into the discussion was to see if he could get Osborne to trip over it. That, IMO, is what is sick here. Of course the hack in question will now be content to hide behind the facade of simply trying to get at the facts.

**Hugh** · 02-10-2006, 18:32

Isn't it great when people respond to the headline, not the story.

Osborne's autism jibe criticised
"Mr Osborne had been recalling his ability to retain odd facts, when the journalist hosting the event joked he might have been "faintly autistic".
In reply, Mr Osborne said: "We're not getting on to Gordon Brown yet."
So the journalist said it,not George Osbourne

"On Monday, Mr Osborne rejected, on Sky News, claims that he had suggested Mr Brown was autistic.

The Tatton MP said: "I didn't say that actually. I was asked if I was slightly autistic."
His response referring to Mr Brown had been "merely" moving the conversation on, he said. Pressed to say if he thought the chancellor was slightly autistic, Mr Osborne said: "No absolutely not. Autism is a very serious condition."

Why aren't people slamming the journalist?

**Chris** · 02-10-2006, 18:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by foreverwar

Why aren't people slamming the journalist?

Because slamming a Tory makes better headlines. That's all this is about - making headlines.

hatedbythemail · 02-10-2006, 20:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris T

Because slamming a Tory makes better headlines. That's all this is about - making headlines.

cant we slam the both? please!

SlackDad · 03-10-2006, 14:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris T

On the face of it, yes. However, never forget, the journalists are not there for discussion or banter. They are there to get stories, no more no less. I am quite sure that no matter how positive he sounded about autism, the reason he threw it into the discussion was to see if he could get Osborne to trip over it. That, IMO, is what is sick here. Of course the hack in question will now be content to hide behind the facade of simply trying to get at the facts.

A bit generous there Chris. The journalist's comment was quite blatant and Osborne being a politician should have had the sense to see it for what it was. He could have just as easily suggested that he wasn't going to make jokes about autism or ignored the comment completely, but instead used it to make a cheap jibe at Brown. Both are to blame but the difference is you would expect it from the journalist, not the politician.

AntiSilence · 03-10-2006, 16:54

Yet another total over-reaction from the this-and-that campaigners. I bet if the jibe was about him being overweight no-one would have raised an eyebrow.

SlackDad · 03-10-2006, 17:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by AntiSilence

Yet another total over-reaction from the this-and-that campaigners. I bet if the jibe was about him being overweight no-one would have raised an eyebrow.

Autism, much like schizophrenia (esp. when describing something or someone as schizophrenic for example), is very much misunderstood and comments like these from prominent politicians do not help.

AntiSilence · 03-10-2006, 17:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlackDad

Autism, much like schizophrenia (esp. when describing something or someone as schizophrenic for example), is very much misunderstood and comments like these from prominent politicians do not help.

They may well be misunderstood, but that doesn't mean that everyone should get offended about it.