Scott -
There seems to be quite a few people who love to state repeatedly that studies have proven vaccines don't cause autism, but that is not the case. If you would like to cite some specific studies we would be happy to discuss them.

Read J.B. Handley's article at http://www.ageofautism.com/2009/01/alison-singer-feeds-the-hungry-lie-twice.html . Go to www.putchildrenfirst.org for a discussion of some of the studies, such as the Verstraeten study and the 2001 and 2004 IOM studies. Read David Kirby's book "Evidence of Harm".

We thought long and hard -- much longer than "half a second" -- and read and studied -- before concluding that vaccines can and often do cause autism.

This is consistent with studies showing that inflammation in the brain as well as other immune system abnormalities are factors in autism, and is also consistent with a long history of encephalitis as an adverse reaction to vaccines. As our vaccine schedule has expanded, more children are affected.

And don't tell me that means that coming down with measles would cause autism. I grew up at a time when everyone I knew got measles, but the rate of autism was much much lower than today. I don't know a single person who suffered lasting effects from measles, mumps, German measles, chicken pox, or flu. But now we are told that these diseases are so incredibly dangerous that any adverse effects of the vaccines should simply be ignored.

It appears that the more live viruses given at the same time, the more adverse events occur such as seizures and/or autism and/or IBD -- sometimes caused by inflammation from an ongoing measles infection. And when toxins such as mercury and aluminum are added to the mix, the combination is that much more hazardous.

There has never been a study comparing vaccinated and unvaccinated kids.

There also have not been studies of kids who suffered adverse reactions to vaccines. As Dr. Bernardine Healy (former head of NIH) stated, those kids are not being studied because the authorities are afraid of what might be found. See http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/12/cbsnews_investigates/main4086809.shtml
The CBS interview of Dr. Healy is quoted below:
_______

In an exclusive interview with CBS News, Healy said the question is still open.

"I think that the public health officials have been too quick to dismiss the hypothesis as irrational," Healy said.

"But public health officials have been saying they know, they've been implying to the public there's enough evidence and they know it's not causal," Attkisson said.

"I think you can't say that," Healy said. "You can't say that."

Healy goes on to say public health officials have intentionally avoided researching whether subsets of children are “susceptible” to vaccine side effects - afraid the answer will scare the public.

"You're saying that public health officials have turned their back on a viable area of research largely because they're afraid of what might be found?" Attkisson asked.

Healy said: "There is a completely expressed concern that they don't want to pursue a hypothesis because that hypothesis could be damaging to the public health community at large by scaring people. "First of all," Healy said, "I think the public’s smarter than that. The public values vaccines. But more importantly, I don’t think you should ever turn your back on any scientific hypothesis because you’re afraid of what it might show."

As an example, Healy points to the existing vaccine court claims.

CBS News has learned the government has paid more than 1,300 brain injury claims in vaccine court since 1988, but is not studying those cases or tracking how many of them resulted in autism.

The branch of the government that handles vaccine court told CBS News: “Some children who have been compensated for vaccine injuries…may ultimately end up with autism or autistic symptoms, but we do not track cases on this basis.”

There are numerous false flagg organizations and web sites, Autism Vox and Autism Speaks total BS. Please stop wasting your time with this and move forward on the agenda of getting the vaccines stopped until they are proven safe, which by the way will never happen as they are not safe in children and we have already proven that havent we?

I posted this AM: "I awoke this morning expecting to see emails from other autism organizations in support of Autism Speaks' position that the New Administration restore the intent of the CAA. Nada...not a single one did I find."

Well the day has indeed turned out better with SafeMinds and TACA following Autism Speaks' lead by removing their support of the strategic plan for autism. Hopefully there will be more by morning. Good going SafeMinds and TACA!

I hope that this heads them in the right direction. So many news reports about A.S., much to do with riding the fence and occasionally falling on either side of it. Awareness is important and most importantly equality on choice of research. ALL potential causes need to be looked in to. I hope that this lingering fence goes away for them and that there is a permanent stance on their beliefs and intentions. This looks like this could potentially be heading them in that direction. And thank you again Katie for all of your caring and reporting on this issue... You are making waves that are washing the shore.

Shauna Layton-Founder
Together In Autism
www.togetherinautism.org
[email protected]

Three things:

1) So what happened at the meeting? Did the vote cause a change in the plan? If so, this is incredibly evil.

2) I agree with Louis Conte's comment. This is entirely out of order and the vote should never have happened. We need to figure out how this happened and try to get the process fixed.

3) Wasn't Ms. Singer's position on the committee granted because she was a representative of AS? I read elsewhere that she'll still be on the committee until 2011!? How do we get her off of this committee now???

Charlie, a bridge to Dr. Minshew, who denies an epidemic? A bridge to Dr. Shih? Alison was the face of the iceberg. Time will tell where this leads for our children. KIM

It is time for some people to be interviewed by a special prosecutor. These (millions of) dollars for autism research belong to the citizens of the USA. They should be spent in a manner that reflects the over-all good of the country and not be held captive to special intrests. The United States deserves to know if vaccines trigger autism - Mrs. Singer's personal beliefs have nothing to do with answering this vital question. Ms. Singer was not voting for prom queen here. One could easily vote for this research expenditure just to rule vaccines out as a cause.

For some reason, Mrs. Singer couldn't do that.

I am concerned that some federal rules regarding public meetings have been broken. All of a sudden, an issue previously voted on, is put back on reconsideration without appearing on the agenda? And it just happens to be the decision to spend money on researching the vaccine/autism connection? WHO CAUSED THAT TO HAPPEN? We should DEMAND to know how this went down. We should DEMAND an investigation!

Politics ahead of children, suffering, DYING and suffering for years, because these people deny the obvious. Nice...

Should I sing that song from the Wizard of Oz? Ding dong the witch is dead..or is she???

Perfect idiology for research, HIRE ALL PARENTS OF VACCINE INJURED CHIDREN WHO SIT AT THEIR COMPUTERS TRYING TO FIND THE BIOMED CURE TO AUTISM...bottom line, cure within ten years, prevention in one.

Kim said:
So she resigned her position at AS because she felt so strongly against the research on vaccines? SERIOUSLY, she left a high paying job so that she could vote against vaccine research? Surely she's going to get money elsewhere (or already has been) for holding this position? I can't imagine leaving this job for this reason unless pharma's got her in their pocket.
********
I second that Kim. I was wondering the same thing myself. At first I was a bit confused as to how her vote would count and why she resigned but the "devil is in the details" here. Why would she give up that kind of job to make ONE vote??? Against vaccine research??? Something stinks here.

time out "...effective next month." What the?

"The evening prior to the vote, Singer submitted her resignation to Autism Speaks – which was accepted – based on her intention to vote on certain Strategic Plan vaccine safety matters in a way that diverged from Autism Speaks’ position on this issue."

What is the point of dramatically resigning the night before you stab the lobbying group that employs you in the back, only to make it effective one month later? Why did AS speaks allow the one month time period given what they knew? I was wondering why her name was still listed. Why is she not removed effective immediately?

Please be prepared to disclose any parting gifts AS. That month sounds awfully generous. You should send a letter to each person who donated $20 up to the amount of the severance, if any, explaining what their money went for.

I heard Eric London is no longer with Autism Speaks.

If true that would be a plus.

Hopefully Shih goes too and all three of them can get jobs at the CDC in Atlanta, GA.

From Vaccination News, which links to RPM Report (Regulation Policy Market Access):
"Are the manufacturing and commercial development subsidies that the vaccine companies learned to count on from the Bush Administration likely to continue? Probably not; but they may be replaced by a different, and more timely, form of incentive – enhanced government-stimulated markets for vaccine products.
The Obama Administration will be beneficiary-oriented, looking for ways to provide more health services to people not now receiving adequate services. Vaccines fit that bill perfectly and vaccine companies have well-identified target segments for many different types of vaccines. There are plans (and improved technology) for vaccinating the elderly and adolescents.
Key Democratic health figures (such as the top health figures on Capitol Hill, Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) are already on record as supporting vaccination programs for the forgotten adult segment of the population. There will be challenges about the payment and distribution systems for reaching the new markets, but the stage looks set for making use of the corporate expansions into vaccines during the last administration."

Then there's this from AP:
"Barack Obama's choice for Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, said that contributors to her husband's foundation, Clinton Global Initiative, would not influence her in her new role. Merck has been a member since 2006, during which time Hillary Clinton wrote a letter to the Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt asking him to approve the HPV vaccine. She also wrote letters on behalf of Barr Laboratories and Plan B."

Sadly, sounds to me like she's a perfect fit.

"Obama wouldn't dare make her an autism czar under these conditions"

Not so sure about that, especially if he and Daschle are supporting the status quo. She punk'd AS for 3 years, surely she can punk a few under-informed Obama vetters long enough to be appointed! I seem to recall that her vote didn't swing things either way; she could have voted safely with AS and kept her position as a mole, so I agree with Kim she must have gotten a better offer from somewhere else. Fingers crossed, it isn't anywhere within the new administration. But with Merck and Sanofi laying people off, who's hiring besides the new admin?

Amen, Richard.

Lots of interesting things happening on the eve of a new administration...

Call me bitter or vindictive or whatever, but I sincerely hope there is a special place in hell for the people who have put and continue to put so many children and families through hell on earth.

Fascinating times at Autism Speaks. Seems there has been a covert mole operating independently of her organization (espionage and autism--who knew). Kudos for the Wrights standing up to it's infiltration. Perhaps this is a good thing to galvanize AS along with the other autism groups to unite with common goals.

Recall the letter from Congressman Brad Miller to Sec Leavitt 7/08 clearly stating his expectation about research goals to include vaccine research. Perhaps this will tick off his committee enough to launch a full scale investigation of the IACC. http://autism.freedomblogging.com/files/2008/07/iacc-letter.pdf

This IACC nonsense will be water under the bridge if another Omnibus VICP case goes for the children (where are those decisions by the way). It will be like Singer and Offit re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic!

according to kevin's release, Singer's position on the IACC was a personal spot, not related to her job. So she resigned her position at AS because she felt so strongly against the research on vaccines? SERIOUSLY, she left a high paying job so that she could vote against vaccine research? Surely she's going to get money elsewhere (or already has been) for holding this position? I can't imagine leaving this job for this reason unless pharma's got her in their pocket.

Charlie, remember, the Hydra has many heads.... Only one is gone and who knows to where?

Michael, no you're wrong. ALL of the money has gone into genetics, boobies, TV, etc. with no results. The one stone scientists are afraid to turn over is vaccinations. And we're going to push for that until we get it.

KIM

I can't find a link to this online.

ALISON SINGER ANNOUNCES HER RESIGNATION AS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF AUTISM SPEAKS

Disagreement on Vaccine Research Prompts Departure

NEW YORK, NY (January 15, 2009) – Alison Tepper Singer, executive vice president of communications and awareness for Autism Speaks, today announced that she has resigned from her position with the advocacy organization, effective next month.

"It has been an honor and a pleasure to help to build this
organization into the preeminent autism advocacy group -- the group that has, in fact, elevated the word "autism" to the global
vocabulary," said Singer. "I am grateful to Autism Speaks founders
Bob and Suzanne Wright for their leadership, insight, commitment and for the tremendous support and love they have shown to my family and me."

"However, for some time I have had concerns about Autism Speaks' policy on vaccine research. Dozens of credible scientific studies have exonerated vaccines as a cause of autism. I believe we must devote limited funding to more promising areas of autism research."

Singer resigned prior to the January 14th Interagency Autism
Coordinating Committee (IACC) meeting, at which the discussion of vaccine research was to be continued from the December meeting, at the request of one of the public members. Knowing she might cast a vote with which Autism Speaks might disagree, she resigned from Autism Speaks prior to the meeting. Singer serves as a public member of the IACC and will continue to serve until 2011. She was appointed to the IACC by outgoing HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt in 2007.

The IACC, created via the Combating Autism Act of 2006, is responsible for coordinating all efforts within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) concerning autism spectrum disorder, including drafting a Strategic Plan for autism research with budgetary requirements. At the January meeting, the IACC voted to seek input on two proposed studies of vaccines and autism from the National Vaccine Advisory Committee Safety Working Group (NVAC), an HHS group specifically charged with undertaking and coordinating scientific review of the federal vaccine safety system, prior to including the proposals as
specific objectives in the strategic plan. Singer voted in favor of
this motion.

Singer was the first professional hired by Autism Speaks when it
launched in 2005. She served as interim CEO for three months, then as senior vice president and later as executive vice president. She also served as a staff member of the board of directors until her resignation. Singer has been responsible for directing the
organization' s award-winning awareness and strategic communications programs, including its work with the Ad Council which was awarded a prestigious "Effie" award in 2008 in recognition of the 43 percent increase in overall autism awareness directly attributable to the campaign. She also serves on the Executive Committee of the Yale Child Study Center and on the board of directors of Autism Spectrum News, as well as on numerous state and local autism advocacy committees. She has appeared on Oprah, The Apprentice, NBC Nightly News, Good Morning America, CBS Early Show and numerous other news
programs discussing autism issues.

"My work with Autism Speaks and within the advocacy community has been exceptionally rewarding, and I will continue to advocate on behalf of my daughter, my brother and the millions of others affected by autism spectrum disorder," said Singer.

Let me get this straight. Allsion Tepper Singer is appointed to the IACC because of her association with Autism Speaks. She attends the meetings for several months as a representative of the public on behalf of Autism Speaks. Then one day before the most crucial day of the IACC, in which they vote on specific language that will influence how monies are allocated, she resigns from Autism Speaks because her voting will conflict with Autism Speaks official positions. Unbelievable.

Unless legal action is taken by Autism Speaks against Ms. Tepper-Singer, they will lose any credibility they may have had. I can not think of a better example of employment not being in good faith.

Maybe this will finally give Mr.Wright the impetus to clean house, or take his money elsewhere.

Nice job autism speaks. Finally.

"The evening prior to the vote, Singer submitted her resignation to Autism Speaks – which was accepted – based on her intention to vote on certain Strategic Plan vaccine safety matters in a way that diverged from Autism Speaks’ position on this issue. Thus, in casting votes on January 14, she was acting as an individual public member of IACC and no longer as a representative of Autism Speaks."

Forgive me if I'm missing the boat here, but as the AS representative on the IACC, by resigning her position within AS, would she not also then forfeit her seat at the table (and therefore her vote as well)? It was not Alison Singer who was invited to participate - it was AS - if she's no longer associated with AS, then someone else should step in, as the AS rep, in that role. She should be out the door.

This has the same kind of sleazy stench as that 11th hour crayola-copy Pharma-get-out-of-jail-free addendum to the Homeland Security bill. This time Alison Singer is the proverbial Trojan horse.

Sorry, folks, no items of inconvenience on the agenda. Thanks, public members [pat on the head] - we'll take it from here - didn't really take any of you or your concerns seriously anyway. Have a nice day...

Dr Jay Keys (from another thread) - are you still tuning in? Nice end run, don't you think? Please feel free to follow the politics around these parts for a while - when you see how some of the most intelligent, diligent, caring parents imaginable are treated (note that their only crime is standing up and working their collective a$$es off in the name of open honest research and discussion), I think maybe you'll get a bit of a different perspective. Or not. Up to you.

"Don't worry, Dr. Offit is working on a vaccine for pathological liars. It makes everyone else in the universe believe them."

Oh, you're so funny.

Maybe he can work on one for narcissists. You should look into that one.

It would seem to me that Singer's resignation should have disqualified her from representing Autism Speaks the following day.

Was it AS's intent to say one thing and act another, or was there some bureaucratic-red-tape-comittee-rule that forced this lack of "representation?"

I hope the IACC meeting transcript indicates that Alison Singer announced she was no longer Executive Vice President of Autism Speaks. Can anyone who attended or listened in verify?

If the vote on the vaccine language was a last-minute surprise and not on the agenda, why would Alison resign the night before?

Pathological Liar

A pathological liar is usually defined as someone who lies incessantly to get their way and does so with little concern for others. Pathological lying is often viewed as coping mechanism developed in early childhood and it is often associated with some other type of mental health disorder. A pathological liar is often goal-oriented (i.e., lying is focused - it is done to get one's way). Pathological liars have little regard or respect for the rights and feelings of others. A pathological liar often comes across as being manipulative, cunning and self-centered.