Matt Lauer: Dumb AND Dumber. (WAAD’s up with Matt Lauer?)

[HuckleB]

http://autism-news-beat.com/archives/915

"...

“We’ve done a lot of segments on autism,” said Lauer, “and the thing that always strikes me is (your son) was doing fine. All the milestones (were met). You were bonding, you were talking, then it changes suddenly.”

Lauer is trying to say that he has interviewed other parents who claimed their children suddenly regressed into autism. The narrative dovetails nicely with the urban legend that vaccines cause autism. Lauer promptly segues into two more anti-vaccine talking points: that it costs $150,000 a year to treat children with autism, and that couples with an autistic child divorce at higher rates than the rest of us. Holly Peete, who can currently be seen board-rooming with anti-vaxer Donald Trump on The Apprentice, ran with it.

“It’s completely unaffordable,” she said after her husband cops to trying “alternative therapies”. “You mention 650,000 kids (with autism). They’re going to become adults.” Ah yes, the autism tsunami, bearing down on a global village near you. If Lauer was of a mind to practice journalism, he might have pressed the Peetes about their evidence for an autism epidemic, or asked how much those unproven and likely ineffective alternative treatments were costing them.

Lauer moved on. “I heard a cra-a-zy statistic,” he said, as he turned “crazy” into a three-syllable word. “The divorce rate among parents with autistic children is ridiculously high.” That statistic is so crazy, it doesn’t even need a number to go with it! It’s also not supported by fact.

..."


------------------------------


What's to say about such idiocy? I know I shouldn't be surprised, and yet...

:argh: :banghead:

[trotsky]

1. Does Lauer post here?

All the hallmarks are present: fearmongering, uncited claims, etc.

[HuckleB]

2. That would explain a great deal.

[Odin2005]

3. Wow. Lauer is go screw himself.

[Orrex]

4. Matt Lauer has never been anything resembling a journalist

If it weren't for his Right-friendly puff pieces, his anti-vax screeds, and his cushy, gentle interviews with female sex predators, he wouldn't have any airtime at all.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

5. It wouldn't be allowed if so many gullible consumers didn't eat it up

These idiots watch the boob tube, eat the shit up, drool over Lauer, and drive up ratings points. It doesn't matter if it's vaguely dishonest, unscientific, or a flat out lie - if it sells, they'll peddle it.