Oh no she dih int!!!! Palin just said this at a NC rally:

She was remarking about how they have these bumper stickers bragging about someone's kid being on the honor roll. Palin countered that there was one she liked that said: "My kid has more chromosomes than your kid!" She was talking about Trig, of course. Wow. Just wow.

When their campaign keeps bringing up how much she is doing for autistic, Down, or whatever special needs they choose to call it, all I can think of is: when? Just tell me when she has actually had the time? I'm not interested in learning what the McCain staff might have found for her - I want to know what she has learned.

What literature she has read? What web-sites she has visited? Who has she spoken to at depth? Mothers? Fathers? Doctors? Nurses? Special Ed teachers? What has she learned, and what preliminary plans does she have in mind? As a matter of fact, I question if she knows how her child is actually progressing - she doesn't have to answer that to me, it's a family/medical matter, but has she had time to truly observe?

Now, from that, what good things is she doing for special needs that they're all telling us is so great?

Thus, explaining the following

http://www.gotdownsyndrome.net/bumperstickers.html

(I'm not saying that I'd put such a bumper sticker on my car if I had a DS kid, but at the same time, I'm not going to sit in judgment of those DS parents that do deal with it that way.)

That bumper sticker you posted, along with the one I mentioned, are just strange to me. Loving your DS child makes total, complete sense; bragging that s/he has got an extra chromosome does not. The disability is being highlighted; that is my issue. The child is not his or her disability.

PB

:eyes:

And I am not suggesting that a parent shouldn't be proud of their special-needs child at all. But it's almost like having a bumper sticker that says: "My kid has more toes than yours" or something. Just bizarro world.

I doubt that there's an adjective in the English language adequate to describe THAT level of stupidity and callousness.

In general, I just won't pretend to get it, because I've never been there.

For all we know, she may be parrotting a phrase that is common among the community of downs syndrome parents.

I accept that you don't like her, don't like her politics, don't like her style, and are scared sh*tless of having her for VP... but recognize that she is connecting to some people. And try to respect that.

Average age of diagnosis is probably about age three, although typically parents seek professional advice about developmental delays at around 18 months. The diagnosis is based upon observations of the child's development and behaviors.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/overview_diagnostic_criteria.htm

My daughter was diagnosed just before her third birthday. When she was an infant, there were no signs that she had autism.

My son was diagnosed at 2 1/2 yrs. As a baby, he was chronically sick, always had a fever, on one medication after another, had thrush, and diagnosed as cholicly. He would only sleep in 1 and 1/2 hour increments. He could never hold any milk down--breast or formula--didn't matter, he threw it up. He could only sleep in a swing, providing him constant movement and stimulation. He could only relax to mechanical noises like the sound of our air conditioner running or furnace running, whrrrr sounds. He never crawled, he just jumped to walking.

He did, however, develop within normal milestones of physical development--rolling over, moving & holding his head, sitting up, walking, and he smiled and giggled too.

We had warning signs with his sicknesses and sensory demands for the swing & mechanical sounds.

kids, some of them VERY high functioning.

My daughter seemed pretty typical as an infant. She had even started talking a little and then she started to regress at around 14 to 15 months of age. At around that time she had a lot of ear infections so a hearing loss was suspected at first.

It was a long process to get the diagnosis, and even though by that point you are kind of expecting it, it doesn't make it any easier to hear, does it?

:hug:

That would mean I actually had something in common with Bible Spice's spawn! :scared:

:sarcasm:

Palin does have family members with autism.

Don't parents know the pressure it puts on their child? What if s/he DOESN'T make honor roll next semester? Will s/he still be loved? Or is s/he a trained seal?

Edit... delete. I'm going to begin being civil in treatment of other people again...

Wouldn't that be the same for all forms of praise? I guess not all forms of praise are so public, though.

Hm.

I see these stickers and my first thought is: Do you love your child for her accomplishments or her essence? Children who feel accepted and loved conditionally fear failure because they believe that they will be rejected for not making their parents proud. And it's an extension of the parents' ego; let's get real. Anyone who needs to advertise their child's grades on their fender seems a tad insecure to me. I don't like it a bit and I don't have kids. But I feel what I feel because I was once a child...

and a lot of Palin's people really are like that, even up to opposing all anti-bullying programs in schools.

is that the adult is dissing the mentality of bragging about one's children. I personally find it very obnoxious and harmful for children. It communicates to them that they are what they do and will either be accepted or rejected based upon how they reflect upon their parents. What happens if the kid doesn't make honor roll one semester? Do they scrape off the sticker?

That person will be eating their 7th pizza soon.

mikey_the_rat

The nerds rule the Universe.

not really.

deserve an honorable mention from the committee, in light of those who expanded on his work winning the prize. There's a big difference.

that smart people end up as bosses. (nt)

It would be okay to say it at Special Olympics, maybe. It's a weird thing to say at a stump speech, IMO.

Kids with problems need a FULLTIME, totally devoted mother to become all they can be.. It takes super-human effort to help them, and this poor little baby is just a prop..to be handed off to the nearest "other child", when it's time for Grandma to wave to the people:(

Sometimes he looks like a doll, I swear...

He never moves, doesn't react to being tossled, and never even seems to flench. I have no experience with Down Syndrome children, so I will not claim to be an expert of any kind, but I expect involuntary movements from any baby. I don't see any from Trig. I have focused on his hands when I watch them on video, and I never even see his fingers move. This is really odd to me. Really odd.

He has therapies of all different kinds many times a week..and it started when he was a baby..very near Trig's age.. stimulus is a very important part of it..but not from being tossed around like a beanbag..from person to person..

these children need a very defined structure..a consistency of life..and usually many doctor's appointments.

Is anyone even seeing to his needs...beyond feeding & diapering??

That this child is being carried around like a little bean bag is not what he needs.

My children were normal average babies, and all this traveling and being unsettled would have been hard on them. I can only imagine what it is doing to this special needs child. Even the way they dress this child worries me. I know this sounds silly, but when the parents are wearing long sleeves and the infant is is a short sleeved romper, it makes me wince. And that he is not reacting to his environment or the people in it, really bothers me. I expect involuntary movements at the very least. I don't know??

First off, I am not being mean when I write this. I'm actually concerned. I have an autistic son. I've been around children of all various mental & physical disabilities, which is why Trig's reactions concern me.

My understanding and personal experience is that all babies, regardless of their disability, have primitive & instinctive reactions--hunger cry, warm or cold cry, and fear.

That baby never reacts, in rooms of 10,000 people yelling. No fear, no crying, to the roar of crowds and applause. I think, it is possible, he maybe deaf.

I have a friend whose daughter has Downs and she IS deaf in one ear and impaired in the other. It inhibits her speaking and understanding. They recognized it when their daughter was a baby, because she didn't react to sounds.

As I first wrote, I'm a little concerned.

But he also does not react to bright lights and other stimulus. Like I said, even if a child is severly disabled, they usually have involuntary movements. My only thought on it would be paralyzed or drugged senseless. There are probably other reasons, I just don't know what they are. I am perplexed on this one.
:shrug:

sight impaired since he's so still. I think he's a cute little bean bag baby and deserves better. What a sow she is.

and feeling very, very sorry for the little guy.

think that was odd?

I think McCain doesn't always have complete control of the facts.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedishrag/2008/10/did-john-mcca-1.html

What worries me more is that he's previously linked vaccines to autism.

issues, due to her child's situation, in addition to being a governor (and the mother of ANY child, for that matter!).

I also think that since autism is such an epidemic these days (I don't know the stats of autism vs. Down's but I am sure autism is way more frequent), McCain wanted to score points with parents who are concerned about it.

like karma slapped her alongside the head. I feel for that little boy.

It was said and then debunked (or so I heard)? Obama and Biden have never mentioned it...

mikey_the_rat

I know I'm not the first to say it... but it's so true.

I can't imagine even that half-wit Palin would have said that, much less in public.

Not calling you a liar, i just can't believe it.

It'll come out in due time. It'll be interesting if it gets any play, but DUers can put it out in the Universe and see that it is covered.

On a similar topic: is there any reason why rallies are not immediately available online? Like all the ones shown on CNN don't seem to be archived...Only the debates.

that's just sad.

AND Alaska, who abused her power in both offices AND is inciting hate crimes -- but you don't want to think she can tell a bad joke?

Come on. :)

I hope that she is simply ignorant.

It's pretty creepy. I feel awful for all of her kids. :(

cruel sense of humor. Or perhaps they have always had that in common. :shrug:

Because, and I mean this quite honestly, many mothers of Down Syndrome children are very proud of their kids and they don't see the extra chromosome as a disability, it's something that makes their children special.

This bumper sticker is a way of them showing pride in their child with DS. I know two mothers with DS children, one of whom has become a huge advocate on behalf of DS, and in particular on trying to stop the stigmatization of people with DS. She doesn't believe DS is a "disability" just that her child is different in a way society is not used to.

I say more power to that type of mother. DS mothers, many of them, will find that bumper sticker very cool. Palin however, is still awful.

I just cringe at that slogan for some reason...If your child was born with an extra arm, would you have a bumper sticker that says: "My kid has more limbs than yours?" There is the intent and there is the appearance. I don't doubt Palin's intent and that she loves her baby as much as her other children. I just think the slogan is a little awkward and uncomfortable for my liking.

She won't actually do anything for them, in fact she'll cut funding, but she will transparently use her own as a prop.

Which would make sense because neither Biden nor Obama have ever said a thing about it.

Hence, Olbermann's choice for donations everytime Failin' lies.

We're talking major deletions.

that she had a special needs child to use as a campaign prop. She couldn't have planned it better.

Come on, Sarah, show some class.

:eyes:

but, really, I'm going to leave it alone.

:shrug: What a freak.

I just need to make clear once more: I don't think it was anything against her child. I think it was a bizarre slogan to even bring up and go there with. I wonder if it will make the rounds on tv and Internet.

nt

What I am curious about is whether anyone else was struck by this comment of hers or if it will just fly under the radar.

That's funny and horrible all at the same time. Tell me you're joking.

Perhaps I'll Youtube it and see if it's been posted yet...

To be continued

"My kid was inmate of the month."

jesus christ. can't they just be a part of things, where no one is above or below another person? Your kid isn't special, Sarah. Not any more special than anyone else's kid. get over it.

(not a knock to special needs kids -- but to the glorification of the self which the GOP specializes in)

What a witless fuck.

PB

:banghead:

:puke:

Republicans try to be hip.

:eyes: :puke:

Why am I not surprised?

Can you get any more insensitive? What an a-hole.

Palin went onto explain that she and her husband Todd recently received a bumper sticker from a support group for families with a Down syndrome child that riffed off the traditional bumpers that boasts how a child has better grades or is better at sports than the one riding in the car behind it.

"This one said, 'My kid has more chromosomes than your kid,'" Palin recounted.

During last night's debate, however, GOP presidential candidate John McCain seemed the blur the distinction between Down syndrome and autism, a brain development problem that impedes a child's communication and social skills. At one point during the debate, when McCain was praising his running mate, he said, "She understands that autism is on the rise, that we've got to find out what's causing it, and we've got to reach out to these families, and help them, and give them the help they need as they raise these very special needs children."

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/10/16/after_mccain_spoke_of_autism_p.html

. . . she didn't exploit the poor lil' guy so shamelessly for purely political gain.

I've never seen her holding him tenderly, cooing and behaving affectionately, as any normal, loving parent would.

When she's out in public with him, poor Trig isn't much more than a stage prop. I cry for him. :cry:

What a dipshit.