Autism Group Calls for Ban of Denis Leary Book

A spelling-challenged advocacy group representing parents of children with autism is calling on Barnes & Noble, Amazon and other booksellers to banish a new book by comic actor Denis Leary from their stores. The group, Autism United, says it will protest outside a benefit comedy show in Boston on Nov. 15 where Leary is set to appear.

In his book Why We Suck, Leary writes that most children diagnosed with autism are simply "stupid. Or lazy. Or both." He also asserts, "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."

Evelyn Ain, the president of Autism United, responded in a terribly copy-edited statement, saying, "If Dennis [sic] Leary feels by putting these shockley [sic] comments in book [sic] is going to create hype, were [sic] going to have autism families from coast to coast protesting his appearances, showing the joke is really on him." (The statement also mistakenly refers to the book merely as We Suck.)

At last check, both Amazon and Barnes & Noble are still selling the book.

Earlier this year, shock-radio host Michael Savage brought the wrath of autism advocates down on his head by voicing similar sentiments, including a belief that the condition could be cured by a parent prepared to say "Don't sit there crying and screaming, idiot."