Comments on: On Trig Palin: ‘A child with special needs enlarges the world’

By: Kathy Ratkiewicz

Kathy Ratkiewicz — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 23:45:38 +0000

Actually, this research has nothing to do with autism or any other condition in humans. The fruit fly that she was speaking about is a type of fly that infects olive trees.

http://dogfightatbankstown.typepad.com/blog/2008/10/did-she-seriously-just-say-that-research-on-drosophila-has-little-or-nothing-to-do-with-the-public-good-as-in-the-drosophil.html

“”In 2007, for example, the Democratic-led Congress approved $17 billion in legislative pet projects. According to Citizens Against Government Waste, $5.4 billion of that pork came from Democratic members. Misguided Republicans added $4.3 billion to the pot and, in a rare display of bipartisanship, the remaining $8 billion came from jointly sponsored projects by both Democrats and Republicans.

Pork projects included such gems as $211,059 for Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., for olive fruit fly research in Paris, France,” end quote.
(the olive fruit fly is a pest that damages olive groves…it has nothing whatever to do with research into autism)
So,,the claim that Palin is against funding research for kids with special needs based on her ‘fruit fly’ comment is, well…fruity;-) And I am not targeting the person who made that comment hereâ€¦the same thing is all over the internet.

In fact, the vast majority of the claims that critics make about Palin’s supposed ignorance or her lack of advocacy for people with special needs are based on twisted interpretations of what she REALLY said or did. This is a prime example..it is all over the internet about how truly stupid and uncaring Palin is because she doesn’t grasp the concept that fruit fly research is vital in the quest to understand autism, etc.= Palin is against research!= She wants to block all scientific research because her religion is against it! Gasp!! The sky is falling” (again) Problem is, it isn’t true.
What is so ironic about all of this is that the people making the claims are so contemptuous of Palin because “how can-she-say-she-is-an-advocate-for-special-needs-if-she-doesn’t-even-know-about-the-importance-of fruit-fly-research??”

The reality is that she is smart enough to know that there are different kinds of fruit flies. When I heard her speech, I assumed she was saying that the US could save money for programs for Americans by not funding research in Paris, Franceâ€¦.it never occurred to me that she was saying that the research shouldn’t be done … just why are we the ones paying for it?

Then when I saw that people were so riled up about it, I went looking for more information, because it didn’t make sense to me that she would actually be against research per se â€¦ and that is when I found out what the fruit fly research funding in question was used for. Once again Palin is being blamed for something that she never said.

By: bowdesnki

bowdesnki — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 17:18:25 +0000

hmmm, Ms Palin has just spoken out against funding fruit fly research (after mentioning bridges non-ironically). If she was an advocate for those with special needs or had some advisers versed on science, she would know that fruit flies are as important as mice in research.
McCain/Palin would continue Bush’s war spending instead of funding for basic and applied research looking for cures. McCain previously voted against funding for special needs kids.

By: Cathy W.

Cathy W. — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:13:38 +0000

To Lynn Halatek – doesn’t Trig have a father, too? Can’t he supervise the child’s therapies? As the mom of a child with Down syndrome, I can honestly say that my husband and I have shared equally in this journey. Sarah Palin has a chance to change the world’s misconceptions of what our children are capable of. She should be applauded, not condemned.

By: P Saleeby

P Saleeby — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 06:02:24 +0000

I am an active advocate for disability rights, a person with a disability, a sibling of a sister with Down’s Syndrome, a mother of two children, an educator and social worker. I disagree that Sarah Palin’s decision to accept the nomination is a “slap in the face.” As the focus of a media frenzy for just a few days, she already is raising awareness of disability, special needs, Down’s Syndrome, prenatal testing, and so forth. She can possibly do so much on behalf of those with disabilities and their families during the course of the election and beyond certainly if elected as Vice President. And who says that Trig will not receive those early intervention services and therapies while his mother runs for election and possibly becomes the next Vice President? Many mothers with special needs children work full-time (balancing work and family as best as they can) and their children still receive those needed services. Many of these mothers do not have the luxury of staying home with their children and so they make the best of their situation by spending quality time with their children. Most families split child-rearing duties between mother and father, grandparents, siblings, even friends, neighbors, fellow church members, and so forth. You state “he needs a mother” – well he has a mother – what seems to be a caring, loving mother who cared enough about him and valued his life that she gave birth to him knowing about his Down’s Syndrome condition. Her child is so fortunate that he also has a loving, caring, involved father and if you watched the Republican National Convention this evening, an entire loving family who will support him in the years to come including the critical early developmental years.

By: susan

susan — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 05:12:43 +0000

What about Mr. Palin — it seems no one is recognizing his role as a parent. It is my belief that the value of family is in part built on a foundation that includes all members of the family. In toda’ys society many push their children to “think for themselves” and to “do what it takes to get what you want”. There are families and extended families who operate on a principle of unity whose values while independent are not self seeking.

I think the public may be underestimating the strength of conservative families. As a conservative, I don’t assert perfection nor do I pretend that me or my family is exempt from trials, errors in judgment and controversy. I don’t think Gov. Palin makes this claim either.

By: Kinda

Kinda — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 04:42:24 +0000

I’m a 22-year old Sociology major at AZ State University. I have severe cerabrel palsy. I think when you’re as well off as Palin is, it’s easy to talk about keeping a baby w/ a disability, but what those who can’t afford to? And, for God’s sake, stop using the child for political gain!!!

By: Cynthia Barnes

Cynthia Barnes — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 02:45:02 +0000

As a mom of three daughters, the oldest of which has Down syndrome, and the daughter of a mom who adopted 4 kids, I am frankly appalled at the treatment of women and persons with disabilities by both the Democratic and the Republican party.

First the Republicans spend a decade trashing Mrs. Clinton for her husband’s choices and for being a loyal wife and putting her child’s privacy needs first. Then the Dems support an overly ambitious democratic man who uses his wife and kids to portray a traditional sexist family scene and the Republicans love it, because they know he is the least experienced and least prepared democratic candidate and because they hate Hilary and Bill so much.

Then the Republicans pick and support a woman who puts her own ambitions in front of the glaring needs of her 17 year old daughter, her own infant with a disability, and who sends her sons off to war, and quote Hilary and use the same tactics to defend Palin they criticized in Hilary only weeks earlier.

P.S. Palin and Guiliani are just clever nasty snarks and I feel sorry for her kids.

It makes me sick. Sometimes a good choice is refusing to support either of two bad choices.

By: Nancy Iannone

Nancy Iannone — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 23:40:40 +0000

Lynn, This baby has two parents as well as other supporting family. As the parent of a child with Down syndrome, I would say that with the exception of her medical issues, she is the easiest of my four children. Trig does not seem to be facing the medical issues that can (but not always) arise with Down syndrome. It is up to this family to consider their situation – including Trig and HIS situation which may not be the same as my child’s. If Dad will be the lead parent, more power to him. But I’m still voting for Obama.

By: Lynn Halatek

Lynn Halatek — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 22:27:38 +0000

As a mom of a child with Spina Bifida, I know the importance of early intervention. It seems a poor choice to expect a mother of an infant with Downs Syndrome to take on the political world as Vice Presidential candidate. How will she have time for Trig? He needs a mother, he will need various therapies and interventions to improve his quality of life. Research promotes the importance of early childhood programming and Birth – 3. With a push at natural environments.

As an advocate for disabilty rights, I find her decision to accept this position a slap in the face. How can she say she is an advocate for disability rights when she is not showing knowledge of the most basic needs of her child.