AGE OF AUTISM

SENATOR DODD ANNOUNCES DISABILITY SAVINGS ACT OF 2008

Dodd Announces The Disability Savings Act Of 2008

By JESSE A. HAMILTON
Washington Bureau Chief
2:06 PM EDT, March 11, 2008
WASHINGTON

From The Hartford Courant: Sen. Christopher Dodd announced significant new legislation today that would allow families of people with disabilities to save money in tax-advantaged accounts. The Disability Savings Act of 2008 would allow savings similar to college 529 plans, so families could put aside money for care without jeopardizing their access to existing government assistance.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA'S BLOG: THE VACCINE DEBATE

Check out the comments about vaccines and autism at Dr. Sanjay Gupta's blog HERE. There's a good conversation taking place. Thank you to an Environment of Harm Yahoo list member for the heads up.

THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION

By Kent Heckenlively, Esq.

When I was a young attorney I received a piece of advice from an older attorney which I’ve always remembered.

The attorney said, “Whenever you get a new case, begin by asking yourself, what information would I like to have which would convince a court to rule in my favor?”

As the conflict continues about vaccines and autism I think it’s worth considering what information has come to light in the past few weeks and how that information will play in the court of public opinion.

ABOUT.COM:AUTISM RESPONDS TO J.B. HANDLEY

We thought you'd like to drop in on this conversation between Generation Rescue Co-Founder and Age of Autism's Editor at Large J.B. Handley and Lisa Jo Rudy, Autism Guide on About.com.

Vaccines and Autism: My Response to J.B. Handley of Generation Rescue

"I was honored to receive a comment on yesterday's blog from J.B. Handley, co-founder of Generation Rescue -- the organization most active in the fight to "green" vaccines (by which I understand "make vaccines safer"). I'd like to respond to Mr. Handley, so am citing his comment in full HERE. 

Please come back to comment on Age of Autism.

About.com is part of the New York Times family. From their site:

About.com is the Web's leading provider of practical solutions to everyday problems. Our expert Guides offer advice and tutorials on hundreds of topics, ranging from asthma to action movies, from home repair to home cooking, from gadgets to getaways.

PAGING DR. GUPTA -- STAT!

By Dan Olmsted

As the fallout from the Hannah Poling case continues, several people have mentioned the same thing to me: They've noticed that Dr. Sanjay Gupta of CNN, arguably one of the most powerful arbiters of medical information in the world, has seemed honestly perplexed and cautious in his response to the case.

Unlike Gardiner Harris, Dr. Timothy Johnson, Dr. Nancy Snyderman and their ilk -- people whose careers are wrapped up in the defense of vaccines, and vaccine mercury, at all costs -- Dr. Gupta seems like a real reporter. What's the difference?

OKLAHOMA SENATE VOTES TO REDUCE MERCURY IN VACCINES

March 12, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Senator Jay Paul Gumm
State Capitol: (405) 521-5586
Email: gumm@oksenate.gov


Oklahoma Senate Votes to
Reduce Mercury in Childhood Vaccines

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill to reduce the amount of mercury allowed in childhood vaccinations was approved by the Oklahoma Senate today on a bipartisan 27-17 vote. Senator Jay Paul Gumm, author of Senate Bill 1407, said the purpose of the bill was to remove a substance that causes some parents to have concern about childhood vaccinations.

TIME MAGAZINE ON THE POLING AUTISM CASE

Time Magazine has an interesting article (HERE) on the Poling case this week. We were particularly struck by this passage from the Time article:

"It's difficult to draw any clear lessons from the case of Hannah Poling, other than the dire need for more research. One plausible conclusion is that pediatricians should avoid giving small children a large number of vaccines at once, even if they are thimerosal-free. Young children have an immature immune system that's ill-equipped to handle an overload, says Dr. Judy Van de Water, an immunologist who works with Pessah at U.C. Davis.

OLD NEWS IS GOOD NEWS

By Kelli Ann Davis

The story that the Bush administration is trying to seal vaccine court records (CLICK HERE) has been circulating around the internet causing quite a stir – to put it mildly – during the last several days. In fact yesterday, a few AoA readers posted the link along with their comments.

When it was sent to me yesterday morning, I just about blew a gasket.

DR. JON POLING TO DR. STEVEN NOVELLA ON AGE OF AUTISM

By Dr. Jon Poling, father of Hannah Poling.

OPEN LETTER TO DR. STEVEN NOVELLA
IN RESPONSE TO "Has the Government Conceded Vaccines Cause Autism?"

Dr. Novella,

Thank you for generating interesting discussion regarding my little girl, Hannah Poling.  I would like to give you additional information in order to generate further productive discussions on this matter amongst the neurology community.  This information should assist you, Dr. DiMauro, and Dr. Trevethan, who have also commented publicly, to formulate better theories as to the significance of Hannah’s mitochondrial dysfunction in relation to her autism.

1. Mito Dysfunction or Mito Disease?  Chicken or Egg?

THANKS TO YOU, THE NEW YORK TIMES IS PAYING ATTENTION

Thank you to everyone who made a call, sent an email yesterday. The mainstream media is starting to pay attention.

The New York Times has run an EDITORIAL today that at least mentions the Poling case. However, if you have a child on the spectrum, you might be disturbed by this line which uses fear, as usual, to promote the AAP vacccination schedule: "...even youngsters with these rare disorders (meaning underlying mitochondrial disorders) may be at risk of neurological deterioration if they contract one of the diseases that vaccines protect them against."   

Chicken pox or autism? Measles or autism? Rubella or autism? Flu or autism? You decide.

The editorial follows.

TALK ABOUT PASSING THE BUCK: AUTISM AND INSURANCE

By Wayne Rohde

One of the most exciting developments in the autism community that gives many parents and caregivers tremendous hope is the groundswell of autism insurance coverage.  There are 10 states that provide some form of coverage with Indiana, South Carolina, and Texas being the most comprehensive.   There are many other states that are currently entertaining legislation or reviewing possibilities.

The insurance industry is under tremendous pressure to stop the onslaught of state legislature initiatives to mandate coverage, from policyholders who are seeking monetary damages for denied services, and from the public demanding affordable policies.

A SCANDAL JUST LIKE ANY OTHER

By Kent Heckenlively, Esq.

There’s a certain narrative logic to every scandal which generally eludes all those involved.

In stage one, there’s the attempt to cover up damaging information, like you’re stealing the company blind, or covering up the health hazards of your product.  Depending on the skill with which you conceal the information, or how much the law or others will assist you, this can go on for years.

JULIE GERBERDING MUST RESIGN FROM CDC

From our commenter SD: I just got off the phone the White House and was told they were getting MANY phone calls and that we all seemed very passionate about this issue.  The operator told me that we should continue to call AGAIN and AGAIN.  That we should be putting our stories in writing and getting them out to the press.  By keeping it in the press will create pressure for results.  Thanks for the tip White House operator!

Today we call for the resignation of CDC leader Julie Gerberding for ignoring the health and safety of our children.  The following provides contact information for the CDC, White House and other organizations. (We can not guarantee all of these numbers will be reachable throughout the day.) Thank you to two A of A readers for these numbers.

Let's give our children the voice autism took away. Start "dialing."


Centers for Disease Control (CDC) 

julie.gerberding@cdc.hhs.gov

(404) 639-3311 (live)
(404) 498-1515 (answering service)
(800) 311-3435
http://www.cdc.gov/contact/      

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

Senator Obama  202-224-2854
Senator Clinton  202-224-4451
Senator McCain  202-224-2235

THE WHITE HOUSE

Main phone number: 202-456-1111

Switchboard: 202-456-1414

Fax: 202-456 -2461

First Lady Laura Bush's office: 202-0456-7064

Chief of Staff Josh Bolten: 202-456-6798

Presidential Scheduling: 202-456-5251

White House Counsel: 202-456-5257

Political Affairs: 202-456-5275/5277

President Bush: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
(There's a link to send message to President Bush)

Vice-President Dick Cheney: vice_president@whitehouse.gov
(Gee! There's email in the bunker?)

A PERSON'S A PERSON. NO MATTER HOW SMALL.

Or "autistic-symptom-like." Thank you, Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey. 

 

COME BACK AT 9:00am

Check in at 9:00am. Start stretching your index finger. Thanks.

NEW YORK TIMES PROMOTES FLU VACCINE

From The Daily Planet. On another planet.

It is accepted sound public health policy to inoculate as many people as possible every year against influenza before they can become infected. That is why 47 states allow not just doctors and nurse practitioners but also pharmacists to administer vaccines. New York is one of the three states (Maine and West Virginia are the others) clinging to a wrongheaded policy that endangers everyone, especially the elderly and the very young.

Read the full editorial here.

SO THERE ARE MORE HANNAH POLINGS WE JUST DON'T KNOW ABOUT? GOTCHA, JUDGE.

(Managing Editor's Note: Schafer Autism Report has just run this letter they received:)

We Were Compensated, too

      We were also compensated by the Federal Government in 2002.  Our child suffered the same diagnosis after her routine immunizations.  Encephalopathy with autistic like symptoms.  I am not sure why people think this is the first case?  Maybe they are just the first to go so public.  I wonder how many other families have been compensated for the exact same symptoms?  When we settled with the government I did not get the impression that we were that unique; quite the opposite as I spoke to the Special Master (the judge for the compensation program).  - Misty Hiatt  Read their story here.

By Dan Olmsted

Thanks to Michael Belkin for passing on this quite remarkable passage from an AP story (HERE) on the Poling settlement: "The case may not be a first," said Gary Golkiewicz, chief special master for the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

He oversees the special 'vaccine court' which rules on requests for payments from the vaccine injury fund. 'Years ago, actually, I had a case, before we understood or knew the implications of autism, that the vaccine injured the child's brain caused an encephalopathy,' he said. And the symptoms that come with that 'all [fall?] within the broad rubric of autism.'

And there are other somewhat similar cases, Golkiewicz says, that were decided before autism and its symptoms were more clearly defined."

VANISHED WITH A TRACE

By Cathy Jameson

When I want to be a couch potato and stare bleary-eyed at something other than my computer screen I watch those 20/20 and 48 Hour television shows. I like the informative, educational and entertaining twists presented on prime time. I’ve always been an info junkie which I am pretty sure has helped me find and bring back my son injured by vaccines.  While Ronan never physically left me, his body shut down from the top of his brain that stores his intellect to his tippy toes that tell me constipated poops are on the way.

JENNY McCARTHY: JULIE GERBERDING MUST GO!

By Jenny McCarthy

I’m asking all parents and autism groups to join me in demanding Julie Gerberding’s immediate resignation as Director of the CDC.

On Monday, March 10th, beginning at 9:00am Eastern Daylight Time, let’s all start calling the White House and ask President Bush & Laura Bush  to demand Julie Gerberding’s resignation for incompetence during the autism epidemic. The White House switchboard can be reached at:

202-456-1414

Also, on the same day, please call your local Congressperson and Senators from your state and ask them to call for her resignation, too.

A GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY

By Kent Heckenlively

There was a moment in the Larry King interview of the Polings in which Hannah Poling stretched up her arm and her mother scratched it for several moments.  It was without doubt an odd television moment, but one I know very well.  Every night as she’s laying down for bed my daughter Jacqueline stretches out her arm and I scratch it for several minutes.

It was great because for the first time I saw a child very much like my own on television, and terrible because I couldn’t help but notice how unusual the child must appear to so many.

DEIDRE IMUS ON THE POLING VACCINE CASE

From Imus in the Morning today.

IMUS: Welcome to Diedre Imus

DIEDRE: Good morning to everyone.

IMUS; I saw you on CNN yesterday.  They were watching you over at the radio station as they were getting ready for a big luncheon, talking about the vaccine case.  Explain to me, first of all, what's that all about?

DAN OLMSTED FEATURED AT SPECIAL NEEDS CONFERENCE

EDITOR'S NOTE: The link below is an example from Olympia, Wash., of a heartening trend -- good local coverage of autism including a balanced discussion of parents' concerns about vaccines. By and large, as many of you know first-hand, local media do a much better job than the national media. I believe that's because they know the people they write about and their role in the community and are respectful of their first-hand experience, whereas national media know the "experts" and are convinced by their data and their dogma.

This story features the Fultons and their recovering son, Grant, who I wrote about as part of my Pox series. I'm speaking at a conference there on Friday. As a sidebar to the article puts it: "Vaccines and autism: Three speakers will address the topic of vaccines and their link to autism. Speakers include a geneticist and the former editor for United Press International, who has researched autism since 2004 and authored the series The Age of Autism, which included interviews with Olympia families who link their children's regression into autism to vaccines." The paper promoted me from former senior editor to former editor, but I'm not complaining -- Dan Olmsted.

CLICK HERE.

$150,000 DONATION TO NATIONAL AUTISM ASSOCIATION

Fuller Family Reaches Out to Help Autism Community Through National Autism Association Program Generous Donation Will Directly Assist Autism Families

Nixa, MO – The National Autism Association (NAA) has received a generous donation this week to benefit its Helping Hand Program. The funds, in the amount of $150,000, will directly assist families struggling to pay for therapy and medical services associated with autism.

POLING AUTISM PRESS CONFERENCE AND DAVID KIRBY ON CNN HERE!

Click HERE to see Dr. and Mrs. Poling's news conference about their daughter's autism. You can also watch David Kirby on CNN from later in the day.

Don't forget to support the fine folks at Fair Autism Media who brought you these clips!

CDC'S GERBERDING AND TREVATHAN TWIST THE FACTS

This classless comment from Dr. Julie Gerberding, head of CDC and Forbes Magazine #23 in the 2006 100 most powerful women in the world:  In a telephone press conference, Dr. Gerberding said the case -- although "sad" -- doesn't change the CDC's recommendations on childhood vaccinations.

"Sad?" She has no idea.

And from Dr. Trevathan: "There is nothing about the particulars of this situation that should be generalized to an understanding of the risks associated with vaccines for normal children," he said."

Is he delusional? Normal Children??? This is the CDC folks. Still trust them after these contortions?

Read the full article  in MED PAGE TODAY HERE.

KATIE COURIC: WHY THE AUTISM DEBATE RAGES

Katie Couric re-prints Sharyl Attkisson's piece on autism and vaccines HERE.

Remember this gem? 

One of the best examples of this is the landmark autism/vaccine study published in Pediatrics. Early in his study, the lead author, CDC's Dr. Thomas Verstraeten, found statistically significant associations between the amount of mercury (thimerosal) exposure kids got from their childhood vaccines, and a wide range of brain disorders. However, the published version of the study (the one the authors say is accurate) found no evidence of a link to autism. Not disclosed was that Dr. Verstraeten had left CDC midstream during the study and had gone to work for Glaxo, a vaccine manufacturer. That failure to disclose was criticized in a later publication of Pediatrics, but it got little mainstream attention. Also getting little attention was a letter from well-respected scientists, also in Pediatrics, who echoed what parents of autistic children had been saying for months: they questioned the use and exclusion of certain data from Dr. Verstraeten's study that eventually reduced the statistical ties between vaccines and neurodisorders.

EMAIL FROM ASTHO'S PAUL JARRIS TO ANNA DEBLOIS: CRUSH THE NEWS!

Paul E. Jarris, MD. Executive Director of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) sent this email to his colleague Anna DeBlois on how to spin the current vaccine information.  This case has been interpreted by some media outlets and anti-vaccine activists as a concession by the government that vaccines may cause autism.



From: Paul E. Jarris MD
Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2008 10:49 AM
To: Anna M. DeBlois
Subject: ALERT TO SHOs: Media interest regarding "conceded"
vaccine-autism lawsuit
Importance: High


> > To: All SHOs, Senior Deputies, and SHO Assistants

> > You may have seen the recent media interest in a vaccine-autism
> > lawsuit which was settled by the federal government.

CNN LIVE

VOTE NOW: DO YOU BELIEVE VACCINES CAUSE OR CONTRIBUTE TO AUTISM?

VOTE HERE AT CNN.

GEORGIA VACCINE INJURY CASE

"Vaccines contributed to symptoms of the disorder in a 9-year-old Georgia girl."

While government officials continue to maintain that vaccines don't cause autism, advocates say the recent settlement of the girl's injury case in a secretive federal vaccine court shows otherwise.

Read the full article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution HERE.

MISDIAGNOSED?

By Kim Stagliano

Is Miss Hannah Poling patient #1 in the new paradigm for "The disorder formerly known as autism?"   Perhaps we'lll come up with a really funky sign like Prince did?  Was Hannah misdiagnosed with autism, when she actually had a mitochondrial disorder that was triggered by her childhood vaccines? If so, there may be tens of thousands of children who have been misdiagnosed.  That opens up rather a large can of wigglers, doesn't it?

FEEL LIKE PEEKING INTO THE CDC?

There's an unofficial blog for employees of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) You can peek at it HERE.  We pulled one comment to get you started.

Re: McCain Steps Into Debate Over Cause of Autism (Score: 0) by Anonymous on Mar 04, 2008 - 01:31 PM

I have worked for CDC for awhile and know that CDC routinely distorts the truth. I believe the common phraseology is "there is no evidence that..." CDC hides emails and internal information exchanges from the public even though FOIA'd.
CDC also wags the dog routinely if a negative story is about to hit, then all of a sudden you see an urgent CDC press release.

THE OATH

By Harry Hofherr

I'd just finished rereading David Kirby's excellent book, "Evidence of Harm" and something stirred in my memory. This entire discussion over vaccines and mercury kept reminding me of words I'd heard years ago.

I had read enough about doctors, the guardians of humanity, saying and doing stupid things. Doctors are the Praetorian Guards of humanity, fighting off nature's diseases and paving the way to pure health and long life. They are our medical warriors.

Throughout history, warriors have taken Oaths of allegiance. I took an oath to defend and protect the Constitution when I joined the Army. Oaths are sacred.

SEEN TONIGHT AT CDC, CHOP, FDA AND AUTISM SPEAKS

LARRY KING TO INTERVIEW FAMILY OF VACCINE INJURED CHILD

The Eve of Battle

By Kent Heckenlively

The war has begun.

On Thursday March 6, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. at the U. S. Federal Courthouse in Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Jon Poling, M.D., Ph. D. and his wife Terry, an attorney and nurse, will hold a press conference about the government’s recent concession that “vaccines” (not just thimerosal or the MMR shot), “significantly aggravated” their daughter’s underlying mitochondrial disorder and led to her diagnosis of autism and seizures.  (The seizure part of the equation was conceded on February 22, 2008.)

Later on March 6, Dr. Poling and his wife will be on the Larry King show.

Let me say that again.  The war has begun.

PRESS CONFERENCE: VACCINE AUTISM LEGAL CONCESSION ON MARCH 6

Landmark Federal Court concession that local child from Atlanta developed autism from vaccines.  Child joins parents in press conference about this historic result at Atlanta Federal Court House tomorrow.

The press conference will be held Thursday, March 6, 2008 at 11:30am on the steps of the US Federal Courthouse at 75 Spring Street, in Atlanta, GA.

The Centers for Disease Control have estimated that 1 in 166 children have autism, and many have linked the autism epidemic to the mercury based preservative used in childhood vaccines.

Contact Todd Scott
                212-564-4692
                516-312-6573 cell

NOTE: "Evidence of Harm" author and journalist David Kirby is available to the media to comment on this breaking news: www.evidenceofharm.com

JENNY McCARTHY UNOFFICIAL TODAY SHOW TRANSCRIPT

Thank you to a diligent reader (and former court stenographer?) for this unofficial transcript from Jenny McCarthy's appearance in The Today Show.

Jenny McCarthy on the Today show, March 5th, around 10:30am EST. 

(not official transcript)

First Jenny talks about her new show on the web In The Motherhood.

Reporter #1 (Natalie Morales): “Your son Evan is 5 yrs old and we were talking about what a breakthrough you’ve been able to make with him because he has autism.  And I know you’ve been such an inspiration to so many women around the country you were telling us that you’ve become an advocate for finding cures.”

AND THE WINNER OF THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM AWARD IS...

Immune Systems Increasingly On Attack

By Rob Stein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 4, 2008; A01

First, asthma cases shot up, along with hay fever and other common allergic reactions, such as eczema. Then, pediatricians started seeing more children with food allergies. Now, experts are increasingly convinced that a suspected jump in lupus, multiple sclerosis and other afflictions caused by misfiring immune systems is real.

And what about activating an infant's immune system with dozens of vaccines? Think that has an effect on the body?  Read the complete article HERE.

OH, JUST 2 MORE SHOCKING VAX vs. UNVAXED SURVEYS. LAD-DE-DAH.

By Dan Olmsted

The conversation about the autism rate in vaccinated versus never-vaccinated kids has gotten kind of surreal, wouldn’t you agree? Right now (see several posts on this page) we’re battling the double-reverse pseudo-scientific assertion that such studies have been done and that they prove there’s no connection between vaccination and autism.

Oh, brother. In fact, oh, Big Brother. What we’re dealing with here is positively Orwellian. Not only is it the Big Lie -- because there are no such studies and those nonexistent studies prove no such thing– but it is an abuse of language that makes you wonder if this is 1984 rather than 2008.

THE SKITTLE GENERATION AND ADHD

Has your pediatrician ever asked you about your child's diet before handing you a script for Ritalin?  How many therapists use candy like the one in the photo as "reinforcers" for our children on the spectrum?

PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ― In health, Medical Reporter Stephanie Stahl has details on a new study that details how certain foods can make kids hyper.

This is the most substantial evidence to date, new research about foods and certain behavior in children and it isn't just an issue for kids with ADHD.

Read the full piece HERE.

DAVID KIRBY ON IMUS IN THE MORNING

A listener provided a transcription. Here it is.

IMUS: Good morning Mr. Kirby. How are you?

DAVID: I'm good. It's been exactly 3 years ago when you and Diedre really started bringing this to the people's attention. Boy, talk about "Ground Hog Day". It just seems  like we're beating the same issues all over again, without getting anywhere.

IMUS. I thought it was kind of amusing to me, after Senator McCain said what he said in
Texas, which I'll ask you about in a second....to see my name in a couple of columns
blaming me for influencing him. When I've never said anything of the kind. I've got my
own suspicions, but, any way, what exactly did Sen. McCain say now?

FLUTIE FOUNDATION GRANT TO MERCURY STUDY

The National Autism Association has announced that they have received a generous grant from the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism for the Burbacher Study of the effect of mercury on the brain.

Nixa, MO  – It was announced this week that The National Autism Association (NAA) will receive $10,000 for the Burbacher/Charleston study into the effects of mercury exposure in the brain. The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism, Inc. awarded the grant. Funding will support the completion of a research study relating to the effects upon the brain following exposure to mercury. 

WHAT'S SO HARD ABOUT THE AUTISM QUESTION?

By Mark Blaxill

We’ve heard some extraordinary statements in the last week. For the first time in any of our lifetimes, autism has become an active issue in a Presidential campaign, to the point that the major campaigns have all developed an autism policy statement. In questions posed directly to the campaigns (in two cases by A-CHAMP) and to the candidates (in one case by a mother in a town hall meeting), we’ve learned that we have a clear consensus among the three leading candidates about the answer to a simple question.

Question: Do you believe there is an autism epidemic in the United States?

ABC HAS NO SHAME

By Anne Dachel

To back up Dr. Johnson (see a post on the ABC/Tim Johnson story HERE), ABC NEWS also gives us Dr. Peter Hotez and more false claims.

February 29, 2008: Fallout From Vaccine Fear Hits UK Kids (HERE.)

In the article, we're told about parents not vaccinating in the UK over fears about the MMR and the question is asked: "Could it happen here?"

PHONE CALL TO A FLU SHOT COMPANY

Someone called a manufacturer of the flu vaccine for some information. Here's the call on You Tube.

Take under two minutes to listen. And pay close attention to when the young woman (who is with the company) realizes maybe she shouldn't answer any more questions. You can almost hear her supervisor hit the disconnect button.

OBAMA AND CLINTON ON AUTISM, VACCINES, RESEARCH

Last December A-CHAMP began a campaign to obtain answers from all the presidential candidates to our autism issues questionnaire. We have received responses so far from Senators Obama, Clinton, Biden and Dodd. Below are the responses for Senators Obama and Clinton. We hope this will be useful in helping voters decide who to vote for in upcoming primaries and caucuses. We will continue our efforts to get responses for Senator McCain and Governor Huckabee.

The responses below are unedited. Senator Obama's response is presented first because he returned his answers before Senator Clinton.

If this is useful to you, please help A-CHAMP in our work. We are 100% volunteer organization and we survive on the generosity of people like you. You can donate HERE.

Thank you.

Please vote and please distribute this information widely.

Senator Obama's Response to the A-CHAMP Autism Issues Questionnaire

Will you fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act?

IMUS AND BRIT HUME TODAY

By Anne Dachel

This from Don Imus's radio program this morning:

IMUS:  Interview with guest Brit Hume, Foxnews

IMUS:  Let's talk about John McCain.  He's talked about something that I've talked about for years now.  The link between thimerosal, a mercury preservative in vaccinations, and autism.  There's a body of evidence saying there is a link and a body of evidence suggesting they can't find a link.  Anyway, McCain said, I believe down in Texas some place, that he felt there was a link.  Have you heard anything about that?

DAY TWENTY OF THE AUTISM OMNIBUS PROCEEDING

The Assault on Dr. O’Leary – Day Twenty of the Autism Omnibus Proceeding – Snyder v. the Secretary of Health and Human Services

By Kent Heckenlively, Esq.

On this last day of testimony the government needed to attack the petitioner’s most compelling piece of evidence; the measles virus RNA found in the cerebral spinal fluid of Colten Snyder and Michelle Cedillo by the Unigenetics Lab of Dr. John O’Leary.

If the questions from Special Master Denise Vowell are any indication, the government is failing in that task.

MIGHTY MIGHTY MITOCHONDRIA AND THE ROOTS OF AUTISM

By MARY WEBSTER

By now, you have no doubt read the news this week that the government conceded the case of a child with autism filed in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.  David Kirby and Kent Heckenlively have adeptly covered the events for Age of Autism.

What you may not have read, however, is the compelling scientific evidence linking mitochondrial dysfunction and autism.  One such piece of evidence comes to us from a country whose history is, ironically, rich with tales of famous discoverers.  In keeping with the adventurous spirit of their countrymen who dared to brave the seas centuries ago, researchers in Portugal are among the few early explorers investigating the possible association between autism and mitochondrial dysfunction.

CONGRESSMAN'S OFFICE CORRECTS DR. JOHNSON

Editor's Note: We've been pointing out the flat-out fallacy of Dr. Tim Johnson's recent comments on ABC that studies of vaccinated and unvaccinated populations show vaccines don't cause autism. Now we've got powerful company. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney's press secretary has sent an e-mail telling him the same thing. Congresswoman Maloney, you may recall, has introduced legislation to compel the federal government to conduct just such a study, calling it "common sense."

Hats off to Rep. Maloney from Age of Autism for her continuing involvement in this fundamental issue. We hereby move and second that everyone let her know we appreciate the effort.