"Thorough and independent review" to be performed by whom? A review could just as easily produce no change or a change for the worse.

I would recommend you read Lin's posted comments (http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/11/texas-based-pro.html) of 11/2/08 for an excellent summation of what each of the presidential candidates has said and done with regard to autism. She also references Senator Obama's answers to the Science Debate questionnaire. In those answers, he uses very positive language toward vaccines; he calls them a "vital product" and expresses a "need for broad-gauged vaccines". He also states, "I have pledged to invest $10 billion per year over the next 5 years in electronic health information systems to not only improve routine health care, but also ensure that these systems will give health officials the crucial information they need to deploy resources and save lives in an emergency." I do not think it is a good idea for the government to be able to easily find out what vaccines any of our children have been given, what special diets/supplements/medications they are using, and whether we are chelating. Such a database would be too prone to misuse. In addition, please note that Senator Obama has stated that he is "not for selective vaccination."

Something else that I would recommend you read is Kelli Ann Davis' comments: both (http://www.ageof autism.com/2008/10/obama-team-on-d.html) and (http://ageof autism.com/2008/10/ask-wolf-blitze.html). Both of them are very recent (11/1/08 and 11/2/08) and concern a bill that is to be introduced by Obama and Durbin. Putting the CDC in charge of anything to do with autism is putting the fox in charge of the chicken coop. She also states that there is no biomedical language in the bill and that "our segment of the community was not involved in the formation of this bill." The question that occurs to me is if our side wasn't involved in writing this bill, then who was?

Senator Obama has said very little with regard to autism to national audiences. He mentioned it at the last debate only to criticize Senator McCain's proposals. Senator McCain has talked about autism several times to such audiences. Senator Obama has used the word "treatment". Senator McCain has stated that he wants to find the cause and a cure. Senator Obama had the perfect opportunity at the last debate to mention what he wanted to do about autism - and thereby score points off Senator McCain if his positions were better - but there was silence from him on that subject.

I am not a one issue voter. However, these are some of the reasons that I am voting for Senator McCain.

Lin -

I'm sorry my post was unclear. While I thank you for the link you posted to Senator Obama's responses to the A-Champ questionnaire, that was not the link I was looking for. I had previously stated that I thought I had read somewhere that Senator Obama had disavowed the answers to that questionnaire, and I was having trouble finding the link for THAT particular statement. Since I could not find it, I retracted that particular statement. I do, however, appreciate the help.

As I have not had much time to continue the search lately, my retraction stands.

Senator McCain has been interacting with our community and fully committed for many months now.

Nov. 2007 met with ACHAMP representatives and in DEC of '07 requested hearings for the Senator HELP committee. Senator Obama sits on the HELP committee by the way.
http://autismactionnetwork.org/

Feb. of 2008

John McCain Enters the Autism Wars
McCain said, per ABC News' Bret Hovell, that "It’s indisputable that (autism) is on the rise amongst children, the question is what’s causing it. And we go back and forth and there’s strong evidence that indicates that it’s got to do with a preservative in vaccines."
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/02/john-mccain-ent.html

http://adventuresinautism.blogspot.com/2008/03/critical-mass-john-mccain-thimerosal.html

Which, leads us to today. John McCain has a long history of supporting us, and our cause.

He has been speaking out against pharma for quite some time and went toe-to-toe with Bill Frist in opposition to the Lily Rider as well.

Since I am currently having considerable difficulty in locating the link to Senator Obama and his response to the A-Champ questionnaire that I previously referred to, I wish to retract that portion of my post until such time as I am able to locate the information.

However, I stand by the rest of what I wrote.

In April, David Kirby argued that either candidate would essentially have to follow-up with vaccine safety issues b/c it is on the agenda of the CDC.

See the below link to Huffingtonpost.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-kirby/obama-climbs-on-the-vacci_b_97969.html

Additionally, one issue voting is what got us here in the first place, what good will it do to have one issue taken care of if you don't deal with other important issues as well, like the economy, or energy, or environment, or climate change?

We owe it to our children not only to advocate for them and for vaccine safety, but to keep our eyes open and look at the entire horizon.

No intention of offending anyone --

Thomas Jefferson once said "Every Generation needs a new revolution." To me, the Obama campaign seems like a new kind of revolution.

To "It's getting ridiculous":

I'm having some trouble finding the reference, but I will continue looking. What I remember reading is that Senator Obama claimed not to have seen/filled out the questionaire; either he or his campaign stated that a staffer must have completed it. Upon further investigation, the author of the piece stated that the answers appeared to be in Senator Obama's handwriting. I'm sorry not to be more helpful right now.

I do not believe that Senator Obama has already won the presidential race. This race is still too close to call at this point; too many polls are still within the margin of error and too much (very intense) campaigning is still going on.

Twyla - while I didn't necessarily agree with the veto on the SCHIP at the time, please check out this link and pay particular attention to the fourth paragraph.

That makes me sick. It has long been said that Big Pharma runs this country, not the government. Big Pharma would love socialized medicine. While I agree that every person in our country should have healthcare, the backing can not come from Big Pharma.

http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/10/pharma-runs-tv-ads-for-supportive-lawmakers/

You may have to copy and paste - sorry for that.

"Palin calls that the story of millions of Americans. Her hope is to strengthen the National Institutes of Health 'to make sure we're researching everything about autism and make sure we find out what causes it.'"

Does Palin not know that the National Institutes of Health have already done that and declared the "autism is genetic" verdict? Like years ago?

Is anyone else frightened by the fact that this woman seems to be completely clueless about all areas of public life? And this is AFTER there is autism in the family that she is close to? HELP!

"Palin's eyes well up as she talks about her sister's son, Karcher, who has autism.

"'My sister and I have talked a lot about this. It makes me cry thinking about it,' Palin said. 'She asked with tears in her eyes, she says, 'What happens when Kurt and I, though, are elderly, then what happens to Karcher?'

"Palin calls that the story of millions of Americans. Her hope is to strengthen the National Institutes of Health 'to make sure we're researching everything about autism and make sure we find out what causes it.'"

TO: Just Wondering
From: Claudine Liss
(Claudine responds to Just Wondering's questions)

Although your article here on AoA does not include Ms. Liss' comments. I was just wondering what her party affiliation is?

Claudine: (I am an Independent. I have never voted for a Republican Presidential Candidate--in 30 minutes I turn 40, so I have been voting for a few years.)

And I wonder why you excluded this statement from Ms. Liss here?

Claudine(No reason that I know of. Go read my Age of Autims post from early Sept.)

We're putting a lot of emphasis on this 5-10 second interaction with Ms. Liss and Barack Obama.

Claudine: The interaction was actually several minutes.

I don't know if I can make a decision based on this 5-10 seconds.

Claudine: Again, the conversation was several minutes, and you should not have to make a decision on my comments. Both candidates should have the honor, integrity and courage to address this issue with us open and honestly.

Claudine:(In my opinion, nothing regarding the vaccine protocol will change with Obama, still not sure if it would change with McCain either - both candidates have no courage when it comes to discussing the vaccine issue publicly.)

I have to wonder if Mr. Obama had a more lengthy interaction and learned of Ms. Liss's concerns would he have given the same response?

Claudine: (I told Obama my concerns. They did not impact his response. Obama told me that his staffer has an autistic child. From his response re:no selective vaccination, I can only assume that his staffer does not believe in a vaccine/autism connection. Now none of us should have to assume anything these candidates should be openly discussing this issue...an issue that has many US parents very concerned, including myself.)

I thought I was all about the autism-vaccine issue too. Turns out I'm not.

Claudine: In my opinion, both candidates are terrible. Obama will most likely be better for funding services (if there is any money left).I do not blame parents for voting for him for this reason,however, I firmly believe that the root of the problem will be ignored by Obama, and possibly by McCain too. I am Pro-Choice, Anti This War, feel that Bush is a war criminal....I went to a McCain town hall to ask him vaccine questions too. I was not called on...I tried to get his attention. I left the event shaking my head...I left the Obama event shaking my head too.

I feel John McCain is desperate and his delay in responding to your questionare shows that. He'll promise anything at this point. He needs votes.

Claudine: I do not disagree with this statement. However, I still firmly feel that Obama will not change his mind on selective vaccination. He used the word "selective" not me. A friend said the following to me several months ago: the Republicans love vaccines because they are great for big business, the Democrats love vaccines because they help so many children and are for the public good.

I WANT TO HEAR MORE FROM BOTH CANDIDATES. NEITHER HAVE THE COURAGE TO TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE IN A MEANINGLFUL WAY...WE NEED LEADERS WITH COURAGE...2012??

To Judith Mortenson, who appears to be a one-time canvaser or at least not a regular visitor to the blog: Thomas Sowell is not particularly popular around here. You know... being that he's a big fan of the "increased recognition" theory of the epidemic. He was also a big fan of Clarence Thomas. Not good selling points to this community.

"It's getting ridiculous" -
I am not a "die-hard Obama supporter". I actually did not start out supporting him. But as this campaign has unfolded, I am liking him more and more, and McCain less and less. However, if McCain did something wonderful I would acknowledge it. I'm not so biased, but I do have opinions, which may be different from yours.

Below is a quote from today's Schafer Autism Report. This is written by By Robert A. Naseef, author of "Special Children, Challenged Parents" (a wonderful book BTW) co-editor of Voices from the Spectrum, psychologist, and father of a son with autism.

"So which candidate is more likely to be a friend and advocate based upon proposals and not rhetoric? At JohnMcCain.com, readers will notice 2 short paragraphs about autism and another page, 'Americans with Disabilities for McCain' which does not include actual policy positions. To his credit, John McCain was a co-sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). He has also supported some of the same legislation as Obama; however, he has not supported full funding of these bills and has sometimes actively opposed it.

"Recently McCain opposed the expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP) which is vital for families with expensive healthcare bills for children with special needs. McCain's running mate Sarah Palin does not have a track record of focus on special needs though she has implied that having a baby with Down syndrome may change that.

"At BarackObbama.com, readers can review an 8 page 'Plan to Empower Americans with Disabilities.' Obama plans to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to insure that children with special needs are not left behind. He also has a significantly strong record of support and has sponsored varied legislation concerning the special needs population. His running mate, Joe Biden also has a long record of supporting the educational rights of children with disabilities. Both Obama and Biden have substantial track records that are easy to find on the Internet.

"To 'advocate' means to speak or write in favor of a person or cause. We moms and dads need more than words in order to truly care for our children. To speak for the cause of therapy moms and dads requires vigorous support of the need for full funding of Special Needs programs including those involving education, health care, and civil rights. So far only Barrack Obama has spelled out such a policy."

Yes, this is not about vaccines. But vaccines are only part of the picture. Both McCain and Obama have expressed support for removing thimerosal, but neither has said that vaccines cause autism. Both are politicians, who do a fair amount of "artful dodging". But the more I know about Obama, the more he seems to me like an intelligent, thoughtful person who listens and learns.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/dahome

Mrs. Silencebegood -

I can understand you being upset, but please accept that I am not a one issue voter (even though autism rules in this house). My concern with McCain surrounds a host of issues not related to autism. And as far as the autism issue, I am not convinced he or Sarah Palin are sincere on this or will have the power to change the situation. Likewise, I am not convinced by Obama's promise to make insurance companies pay up. (Trust me, you DO NOT want to know what I just went through with my insurance company.) I am aware of the work he did with Joe Leiberman on this and I know he's not new to this issue. I could go on, but let's suffice to say I am not a one issue voter. But that's what makes this country free, doesn't it?

Relax, cast your vote and pray for our kids.
Have a good night.

For Cindy Lozano - I can only speak from my own experience and argue for my own family. If autism is a response to environmental triggers in the presence of a genetic predisposition, the parallel goals should be to reduce the harmful exposures and screen for the genetic predisposition. I already have my screening tool - A child, a sibling with a child, and a cousin with a child with autism, all of whom were raised in different states, with no classic autism in prior vaccine free generations. At the very least such extended families should be test cases for challenging mandated vaccines. We are a population sub group that responds differently to exposures that others have no problem with.

I don’t think anything will get accomplished without compromise, and that is why I would support a tiered system. I am not against vaccines. I feel that recognition of at-risk sub groups will open the door to greater choice. My strategy to reduce early childhood neurological injury would be to completely eliminate preservatives that are known to be harmful in isolation if an alternative exists, demand relevant testing before mandating anything, partially remove corporate immunity, prioritize vaccines into risk tiers, delay the schedule (no child before two), and develop genetic screening techniques for children who should be exempted.

The comments by Twyla below on Obama are encouraging.

My vote goes to McCain. I do believe that McCain actually sees this issue - and isn't sold that vaccines are safe either.

I have ZERO confidence whatsoever that Obama would do anything regarding autism & vaccinations.

I have to wonder if McCain would have pulled his car over to talk to those at the rally next door to Bon Jovi's house. Somehow, I don't think he would have just driven right by like Obama did.

i agree that McCain seems to have a better radar for autism than Obama - but how can McCain claim that health reform can only come from consumer choice while still advocating mandatory participation in our corrupt health insurance system? Forcing everyone to buy for-profit health insurance is only going to increase our inability to selectively vaccinate, no matter what his intentions.

http://adventuresinautism.blogspot.com/2008/10/cindy-mccain-discusses-autism-on-fox.html

I am very concerned that Obama's campaign appears to be off on the issue of vaccine safety and choice. However, I have more confidence in the intellectual curiosity of the Obama team then in the "why does it always have to always be about money" crowd. I have emailed the Obama campaign directing them to this article, and I hope others will do the same.

As an uncle of a child with autism before I became the parent of a child with autism, I can testify that the two perspectives are entirely different. The only advantage I had was to shield my child from thimerosal, but that was not enough. We need more answers.

I can tolerate a tiered program that mandates some vaccines while leaving others up to choice. Vaccines in the top tier should pass the most stringent safety tests, and be of the greatest necessity. Families that have a history of early childhood neurological injury or mitochondrial disorders should be offered greater choice even at the top tier then those who do not.

Over the years I have heard parents say that Senator McCain has listened to their concerns about vaccine safety and promised to look into the issue. Then earlier in the year at a town hall meeting he said that he believes that there is a link between thimerosal and autism. I don't think he was pandering then, because that was a politcaly dangerous thing for him to say.

I think he believes in the vaccine-autism connection. Now he has stated that he believes in parental choice in the matter.

I fear a government run health care system that emphasises "preventive" care, which will surely mean more vaccines mandated, with less freedom to choose.

McCain has been in Congress for a very long time. If he had a commitment to vaccine safety or otherwise had a concern for families for autism, he's had plenty of time to act on that supposed commitment. So what has he done for the autism community in the last five years, 10 years or 20 years? What legislation did he sponsor? How did he support fellow Republican Dan Burton?

Why hasn't McCain said that he'll fully fund IDEA? I wholeheartedly believe that we've got to have safer vaccines to prevent autism, but we also need important interventions for tens of thousands of children who already have autism.

If Senator McCain is well aware of the problems and solutions, why hasn't he done anything?

OH my, how to determine whether this is a sincere answer or more political pandering on the part of McCain.
Either way I don't agree with McCain's health care plan and I certainly don't want Palin as our next VP (possible Prez if something were to happen to McCain). I don't believe that she has shown in any way that she is an 'expert' on autism and special needs as the McCain campaign has tried to tote her as.
I'll take my chances with throwing my vote Obama's way as we all keep shouting at the top of our lungs that are children have been hurt by environmental damage, including vaccines.
Has anyone approached either Michelle Obama or Cindy McCain on these issues? Seems like the future first lady might be a good 'in' with our pleas for help.

Karenatlanta and anyone else who may be interested,

I encourage you to email me. A local Connecticut attorney who advocates for children with special needs has put together a piece about the McCain/Palin ticket. She has actually traveled to Alaska and was shocked at far behind it was with the education of children with special needs. She gives permssion at the end to email to anyone who cares deeply about this issue, but it would be too long to post.

[email protected]

Maria

Becky, thank you so much! Your hard work and dedicated advocacy on behalf of all our of children is appreciated beyond words!

Good luck on getting the health care you need on John McCain's small health care credit. His $5000 credit ($2500 if you're single) will fall significantly short of the $12,000 needed to cover the average cost of yearly insurance premiums.

Don't count Obama out simply because he didn't respond to your email. He's a wise man who understands how to find solutions. Take a look at the whole package before you pull the lever on November 4th.

If you really want your children to have a future with good health care, affordable college education, and a job to work at after they graduate, vote for Obama.

Maria,
McCain has been the underdog from the get go, trailing in the polls.
His stance on Thimerosal, friendship with Lieberman who has demand VAERS inquiry and Pharma contributions predate any campaigning.
Palin has governed a state bigger than Texas for 2 years. Obama has 143 working days as a senator.
Palin increased Special Needs spending to 70K per child in her state and rebated revenue back to families while tackling reform, as a woman no less.
Her nephew has Autism.
All of this pre dates last minute campaigning.
Jenny shouldn't feel bad McCain stiffed Letterman to bailout the economy.
Maybe she needs to bug him again for that interview taking advantage of every opportunity.

Ms. Estepp, you are a Mother Warrior. I sincerely appreciate your activism. I also appreciate your husbands service to this country.

It should be obvious by now that Obama will not support parental vaccination choice. That said, then why would anyone think that an Obama Administration's autism/vaccine position would differ from what we have now. There will be NO CHANGE.

Hello Diane,

Here's Obama's response to the A-Champ Vaccine Choice Question:

"Q: Would you support a federal right for families and individuals to choose for themselves which vaccines they will use?

Obama: I support screening for a wide
variety of diseases and disorders. Early diagnosis and early intervention are the best practice for most illnesses. I believe that every American has the right to access these screenings, and I believe that every American has the right also to refuse these screenings voluntarily if they so choose. I also support a thorough and independent review of our nation’s vaccination policies. "

He never answered the question about vaccine choice. He just says he's for health screenings, and a health screening is not a vaccine. Choosing to completely avoid answering that question plus his previous statements where he specifically told us "I am not for selective vaccination" clearly show us his current stance towards vaccines is NO he does not support Vaccine Choice.

"Early diagnosis and intervention" are great, but they are not the *best* practice for autism. The BEST practice is prevention. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"

On the other hand, McCain's official stance is
"2) Parental choice is paramount. 'The key to health care reform is to restore control to the patients themselves.'"

As for health care, after watching the debates, I admit I did not understand McCain's healthcare plan, but after reading about it, I think it's a great idea. In fact, the "Tax Policy Center, agrees that the McCain proposals will result in a "net tax benefit" of more than $1,200 for an average tax payer. A recent Lewin Group study estimated savings of more than $1,400 per American family – almost three times the savings as under the Obama plan." Here's where you can get more information on McCain's health plan: http://www.johnmccain.com/content/default.aspx?guid=30eb2d8b-0777-4ce3-9438-1bf1888b2614

And Obama's idea of government-run healthcare concerns me, because I don't want the politicians who deny that autism is caused by vaccines and who swear up and down that vaccines are safe to be in control of my children's doctors. http://no-more-forced-vaccines.blogspot.com/

So I'm voting for McCain

Becky,

Thank you for the immense amount of work you have done on this issue and congratulations on the results you have pried out of the McCain campaign. We need to thank loudly and publicly Sen. McCain for his position, and we need to use it to extract a similar commitment from Obama.

I agree with you that for us being a Republican or a Democrat doesn't make a lot of sense, I consider myself a member of the Autism Party.

Thank you again and we need to follow-up quickly and forceful on this important step forward.

I am a McCain supporter, and I'm thrilled that he understands the gravity of this issue. I do believe that if Obama becomes President, this will become a non-issue.
With either outcome, I believe we need to organize a peaceful rally in Washington, D.C. to educate the Washington politicians that they will NOT take our parental rights for our children's health away from us. This is America, the country we love, and mandatory vaccines which are unsafe and untested have no place in our society.
We should be ashamed of how Big Pharma has used our children as guinea pigs. Eyes are opening to the facts all over this nation.
Let's bring eveyone together, those that believe vaccines are beneficial but need testing & greening for safety, those that believe vaccines are harmful period, those that believe parental choice is a right -- all of us should agree that America is behind in understanding the potential unnecessary vaccine risks - and how it is all tied to money, money money! Press coverage would be there if we were were in Washington, D.C. right after the inauguration of our new President.

I am sorry, but this is a bit much. Jenny McCarthy flew in and was prepped for an interview with McCain in May of this year, but she was turned away with the explanation, "we're ahead in the polls." He didn't believe in vaccination choice enough to put himself out there when he was ahead, even though he knew it was an important issue for our children.

Now, he is behind in the polls - it really doesn't look like he is going to do it and all of the sudden, he is willing to put himself out there. He is desperate.

Sarah Palin shows no real promise for our children. There is a lot out there that demonstrates her lack of experience with the laws and what is really going on in the US education system.

I just think we need to recognize that there is a good chance that McCain is making this stance as a last ditch effort to win our votes.

Too late for me-I already voted. And as important the vaccine issue is to me, I still cannot vote on one issue. One president cannot change the world. No matter who gets in office-we have work to be done to change the hearts and minds of all of our elected officials.
Maurine Meleck

Diane, yes, Obama replied to some of A-CHAMP's questions, but he completely dodged quite a few of them. And he made his position on selective vaccination very clear back in September. He is not for parental choice.

I agree with you on McCain's health plan being a joke.

Sorry, but I don't believe much of what McCain says. I also think his health plan is a joke.

Additionally, if my memory is working correctly, Obama and Biden both responded to A-CHAMP's questions regarding Autism, while McCain did not.

Kudos to Rebecca Estepp for her monumental efforts regarding this extremely important topic. Vaccination choice is a basic parental right. Vaccine safety needs to become priority. Senator Obama is clearly oblivious and uninformed. Senator McCain is well aware of the problems and solutions. On November 4, America will have the opportunity to save thousands of lives from lifelong disabilities due to vaccine injuries. Will they make the right choice for our community?