Aspies in Office?

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The mayor of Taipei. He's known for bluntly saying what he thinks and not playing the usual political games. Before this he was an ER doctor.

Asperger syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder characterized by difficulties in social interaction and communication, has been thrown into the media spotlight since fiery Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲), a self-proclaimed sufferer of the syndrome, took office and vowed to usher in drastic changes.

Heated discussion has surrounded the developmental disorder, particularly after a diplomatic faux pas in late January, in which Ko, after receiving a pocket watch from British Minister of State for Transport Susan Kramer at a public event in Taipei, told reporters that he might give the watch to someone else or “sell it to a scrap metal dealer for some money, because it would be useless to me.”

Supporters of the surgeon-turned-mayor, who is known for often making off-the-cuff remarks, are quick to cite Asperger syndrome to justify Ko’s comments, while others accuse the mayor of using the disorder as a pretext for deliberate rudeness.