Only in America: The 'adult baby' who collects Social Security

Stanley Thornton Jr. plays with Lego in his customized playpen: The 30-year-old's disability classification is being reviewed and his Social Security could be cut.

(Image credit: YouTube)

last updated 8 January 2015

The story: Stanley Thornton Jr., 30, is a self-described "adult baby," who sleeps in a huge crib, drinks from a bottle, wears diapers, lives with a former nurse who acts as his "mom"... and subsists on Social Security disability benefits. This last part caught the attention of Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), who requested that the Social Security inspector general review Thornton's disability classification — especially since Thornton appears to be running a design business specializing in "adult baby" furniture. Thornton, who was featured on the National Geographic TV show Taboo (see video below), says he has mental problems that prevent him from holding a job, and threatened to kill himself if his Social Security check is taken away.

The reaction: The only thing standing between Thornton and a job is his fantasies, so kick this 350-pound "diaper wearing freeloader" off the dole, says Christian Adams in Pajamas Media. Seriously, could there be "a better symbol of what a fiscal mess we are in"? Well, yes and no, says Allahpundit in Hot Air. I mean, watch the video. "If this guy’s not 'disabled,' who is?" And it's not like he's the only American putting his needs before our "crushing debt burden." The saddest thing about this story, says Dan Amira in New York, is who would've thought "a fight between a United States Senator and a 30-year-old adult baby could be unfunny"?