Gov. Palin's big sister, Heather Bruce, spoke with Autism One Radio, about raising her 13-year-old son with autism. What she said doesn't reassure me about her sister's understanding or commitment to autism. Here's what she had to say:
"She [Sarah] wants to help. She wants to help so badly, but she has a lot to learn, and she knows it. She’s fresh into this, being an advocate for autism, for Down syndrome. People expect her to know everything about everything. [She has said] We need to sit down Heather, tell me what your needs are, what do you wish you could see, what do you think would help the state. And that was just the time she was the governor."
So after Sarah has been an aunt to a child with autism for 13 years and governor for nearly two, the best endorsement her sister can give her is "she has a lot to learn, and she knows it"? Interestingly, she also gives credit to the Democratic candidates for also raising the issue of autism during the campaign. How strongly does she support her sister's candidacy? I can't tell after listening to this nearly hour-long interview.
Read other highlights or listen to her interview.
12 comments:
All I can say is--wow--this, along with what you posted Monday, just proves Palin has no intention of helping families with special needs kids.
When Palin said she would be an advocate for special needs, everyone bashed her, saying how could she know anything yet, as her son was only 4 months old.
Now when she says she has a lot to learn and knows it, you're going to jump on her because she's not all knowing.
The thing that strikes me is that few are willing to give her a chance.
Joe
Tokenism is not enough! Special Education as been federal law since 1978 (30 YEARS!) and she wants to claim to be an expert because once upon a time she talked to one person one time a few years ago and never went further? Oh, sorry, I guess she did CUT special olympics funding!
In response to Joe,
The problem with McCain-Palin is not that they are willing to learn ---the problem is their claim that Sarah Palin "knows more about special needs than any other American I know" NOW...before learning anything.
53 MILLION AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES have been calling for the GOP to discuss disabilities issues for the entire campaign and the best we've received in return is an LAST MINUTE E-MAIL to the National Disability Debate in Ohio, July 4th, saying they're not sending a representative after-all (after promising to do so), and By The Way: they haven't bothered to even develop any DISABILITY posiitions.........and until today, as a last pander for votes, they still haven't!
Lord help us. Is the woman wearing a CROWN in that picture? Did she sleep in that thing?
Not to be sassy, Joe, but I'm not willing to give her a chance. She's had 13 years of a chance, and it doesn't look like she took it. I'm an aunt, many times over, and I know what I would have been doing in that situation.
I am not happy with the way Mrs. Palin uses her Down Syndrome baby as a mascot for her campaign. Her record thus far is dismal. She cut funding for Alaska's Special Olympics in half, and she doesn't care enough for her own child to spend time with him. According to Palin herself, she brought him to her office at 3 days old and kept him under her desk in a basket. Now, she rarely even holds him...unless of course it's for a photo op.
The Autism One interview was Great!! Everyone should listen before you vote!!! Sarah Palin knows what parents who have a child with autism needs. Everyone needs to reconsider their vote. Remember Illinois(Senator Obama State) is "DEAD LAST" for helping children with AUTISM!! Pretty sad for the "Lord of CHANGE"!! On the other hand Alaska is 4th in the nation. They take care of kids with AUTISM in Alaska!!! Remember the title of Jenny McCarthy bogus book so she could pocket more $$$$ in the name of AUTI$M "ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS"
The Autism One interview was Great!! Everyone should listen before you vote!!! Sarah Palin knows what parents who have a child with autism needs. Everyone needs to reconsider their vote. Remember Illinois(Senator Obama State) is "DEAD LAST" for helping children with AUTISM!! Pretty sad for the "Lord of CHANGE"!! On the other hand Alaska is 4th in the nation. They take care of kids with AUTISM in Alaska!!! Remember the title of Jenny McCarthy bogus book so she could pocket more $$$$ in the name of AUTI$M "ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS"
I just listened to the interview with Heather Bruce , come on, you obviously just want to slam the governor. Nowhere in the interview did Heather convey that Sarah had a lot to learn. I think it is pathetic that you try to twist the truth. I will vote for McCain, because we need someone in the White House who will address the IDEA through full funding. I also listened to Obama statement posted on Special needs truth...there is no truth, Obama is talking about the ADA, that has nothing to do with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA.) Obama is lumping kids & adults in one big pot. What a laugh, IDEA is about individual educational plans for kids. The ADA with become engaged when they become adults.
Thanks for posting, Sullivan. In several places on this site, I have linked to Obama's plan for disabilities, which was developed and released more than a year ago. The first -- very first -- recommendation is to fully fund IDEA. That's the truth. Support the candidate of your choice, but you can't say Obama hasn't expressed his support for funding IDEA.
I understand Mark Miller, you say that Obama has indicated he will fully fund IDEA, over a year ago. Having said that, one must also know that just because Obama promised this over a year ago, doesn't mean the other candidate, John McCain can't promises this now. McCain will fully fund IDEA, yes, this seems late, but the race is not over. This should compel your vote too. I feel if a presidential candidate comes out in defense of students with disabilities, that is great! But, I will assert that Senator Obama doesn't appear to be telling the truth, by claiming to defend the disabled, those in our society most in need of protection. Let me explain my point. When a person runs for political office, they do so with the promise to protect the people. How can Barack Obama make a claim that he will fully fund IDEA based, on the premise, he wants to help students with disabilities, those needing protection. Lets examine his voting record for those needing protection the most, the unborn. On H. R. 2175, Obama voted three time to removed the rights of countless individuals. These basic unalienable Rights, can not be taken away, but Barack Obama voted three times to remove these rights. How can you trust him? Our country was founded on this basic foundation it says "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes;" You recognize this, Drafted by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28, 1776, the Declaration of Independence. Why would anyone go along with the notion that these unalienable (means can't be taken away) consider a candidate who in plan language is supporting to removing these rights from some, sounds a bit like slavery.
I get it, that many think it is their choice, let me elaborate on the law folks base their right to take another life on. It was made law over 35 years ago, when we didn't have the technology to know exactly how a human develops at conception. The proponents who fought for the law to pass, one key player, Dr. Bernard Nathanson, has become pro life. Nathanson has come forward explaining how they lied about the number of women who were died from back alley abortions. Nathanson fights for life today. If anyone on this blog in their heart truthfully cares enough to reach out, to the ones in our society who are, disabled, or in need of support, because they can't speak for themselves, because of their disability, they would know these persons must be protected. I say you must carefully examine the candidates. The difficulty is now that both candidates are promising to fully fund IDEA, we need IDEA to be fully funded. Ask yourself, which candidate can I trust? Who is the one that has fought for our country & our Rights? Look at who was the only one who voted against protections for Americans who were born alive, after a botched abortion. There is only one, Barack Obama, he is the only one who refused three times, to give those persons rights to medical care. I rest my case.
Mary
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