It's been a very long time since I (Connie) have done any blogging but tonight I stumbled on something and as a result, I just couldn't resist…
Honestly, I never watch American Idol. Dancing with the Stars? I love it! It appeals to the aerobic instructor I once was…the music, the movement, the exercise…when I watch Dancing with the Stars it makes me want to get off the sofa and MOVE! But I digress…
So it wasn't through American Idol that I happened to discover Scott MacIntyre. I learned about Scott, and his family, by accident while researching an inherited eye condition called Leber congenital amaurosis. It just so happens I work at the John and Marcia Carver Nonprofit Genetic Testing Laboratory at the University of Iowa where, with the help of baseball great Derrek Lee, and basketball great, Wyc Grousbeck, Project 3000 was launched. One of the main objectives of Project 3000 is to find the estimated 3000 people in the United States who live with this form of inherited blindness and offer genetic screening as a means of learning as much as possible about this potentially treatable condition. This evening I decided to do a little surfing in the blogosphere to see what information I might find about LCA. Until this evening I had never heard of Scott MacIntyre. I've since learned he sure can play piano. Oh, and he can sing. Randy and Paula and the new lady and whats-his-name – Simon – they all say so. Scott is now a contestant on American Idol.
Congratulations, Scott!
I must confess, curiosity got the best of me and I did a little more "surfing". I found a video of Scott's audition. Where did I find it, you ask? Would you believe I found it on a site called "Worst American Idols"? I kid you not, there is a site devoted to this topic. It's where I found this appalling statement:
"Scott Macintyre — the blind singer — auditions in Phoenix for American
Idol 8. This is a bit dangerous — if he makes it to the Top 36, he will
get the sympathy vote for sure. In fairness, he is a very technical
singer! His notes were very precise."
So let's see. He is a major musical talent. "He is a very technical singer! His notes were very precise."
Scott has got so much going for him and yet people are going to vote for him out of sympathy? And that would be because….?
Oh, wait until Steve hears about this.
UPDATE: read Steve's most excellent response: Sympathy Vote Department
Planet of the Blind 
scott is the worst contestant still in the show and if it weren’t for the sympathy vote he would have went home 3 weeks ago.
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Listen, I am a vocalist and I have to say in my most honest opinion Scott does not have a worthy enough voice to be in the top group.
I was personally insulted that other better singers lost thier chance to continue because America needs to see a struggle.
If you simply listen to the vocals you can easily tell he is NOT good enough. Which means one thing. If someone was put through who was not good enough, why were they put through? The answer people feel pity and want him to succeed not on his own accord but with a helping hand.
I saw him as a hero for doing it on his own not with a sympothy vote. That cheapens his accomplishments. Shame on you America why is there a double standard. Maybe next season the entire top group should be differently abled and than it might be fair and unbiased.
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dear fridawrites, I’m sorry if I offended you with the word “despite.” I’m suffering from scoliosis so I’m no different from Scott too. But I love to dance hiphop. Sorry again.
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Dear Connie, it’s okay to remove the website. I am disappointed with AI now that they aren’t giving Scott his well deserved airtime. I’ve seen little of his hollywood week auditions and dance with the group. That sucks. Do you know the reason why they wouldn’t give Scott more airtime? They surely gave Danny Gokey (the one who lost his wife last month) a lot of airtime. Why not Scott?
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The word “despite” is kind of throwing me off here, maxxime. Our disabilities are part of us. I’m sorry I don’t know how to explain this better–it’s just a common trope that comes up. I guess I do what I do with my spine problems, not despite them.
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Maxxime, forgive me but I removed your reference to the site that made the “sympathy vote” comment. I purposely avoided linking to it. I think it’s an appalling statement and I’m not supporting it, not even with a link.
I’m wondering if you misunderstood my post. While I know little about Scott MacIntyre, it’s clear he’s a major talent. I was trying to make the point that the idea of a sympathy vote is just plain nonsense – not to mention insulting.
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oh and don’t forget – he hit his notes pretty well – no flat notes, he hit them well. Without his piano I think he nailed it, with his piano, I think he will nail it more.
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The site you say who posted that Scott will get sympathy votes for sure is at …
I know that because I read his blog for AI. But I strongly disagree that Scott will enter because of sympathy votes. I dont know Scott but when I heard him audition and how awesome he has become, I’m a fan. I think it took all his courage and determination to learn piano and compose music despite his handicap. That alone deserves all the greatness in this world. How many of us can see yet can’t play the piano? How many of us can see and yet can’t read the notes on the music sheet?
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