Unanswered questions on special needs

Posted: Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:01 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
McCain mentioned that Palin knows more about the issue of autism than nearly anyone. What evidence is there of that?

Because Palin has a child with Down Syndrome, it can be safely assumed she feels a connection with parents of children with special needs.

But what does McCain-Palin specifically want to do about special education? Do they agree with IDEA? Do they want to expand rights for special-education students to private schools? Do they want to increase funding? Do they want more access, by way of funding, to special-ed advocates?

McCain also said they want to help find a cure. But how?

The NIH budget has been slashed in the past eight years. Does McCain-Palin propose additional funding, particularly for autism or Down's research?

We don't know. Nothing was or has been laid out.

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Comments

what does she know about anything!she does not represent women because she as an x and a y.Autism?Downs?sex ed?really-how stupid do they think we are?

leslie,congers,ny (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:09 PM)

It appears that McCain is selling nothing. Palin has no record of improving healthcare serives to special needs children. As a mother of a child with special needs, I can say that in the long term Obama's plan fits our needs!

Melisa, Dallas, TX (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:10 PM)

Having a newborn with Down's does not make Palin some type of expert on child development.

It's like the "I'm a Russia expert because I can see Russia from Alaska"

John In IN (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:10 PM)

McCain has not given any answers to any issues tonight with the exception of buying up mortgages. He just keeps attacking Obama. He is laying out no policy.

Cindy Appleby, Raleigh, NC (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:11 PM)

Sen McCain said Palin has greater knowledge of special needs Obama said autism

woween (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:11 PM)

Bringing up Palin's child was a ploy to women and a way to distract from the question that was asked. This is all McCain does now. He's incapable of sticking to the issues. It drives me crazy, why can't he OR Palin answer a question!

Heather MN (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:11 PM)

Yeah, I dont think that Palin having a special needs baby qualifies her as an expert

necole, louisiana (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:11 PM)

Amen, thank you for pointing this out. I'm a parent of a child with autism, and was infuriated when I heard this statement. I'm sorry, but Sarah Palin's newborn son with Down syndrome does NOT make her an authority on special needs, and especially not about autism. Oh, and it got even better when Obama pointed out the need for additional funding for autism research (YAY) but McCain slammed him about "always just thinking we need to spend more money".

Jennifer, Charleston SC (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:11 PM)

This is a talking point for McCain, not something he has any real interest in. It's a red herring, and is an attempt to pull sympathy for his less-than-stellar running mate.

patty, St. Petersburg, FL (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:12 PM)

McCain/Palin are anti-science, anti-intellecualism in keeping with appeal to the Republican base. So this may be why nothing has been said about "value" of education in general. But certainly, Republicans are not known for favoring government programs to help anyone including children with special needs.

TruePatriot (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:12 PM)

This is a talking point for McCain, not something he has any real interest in. It's a red herring, and is an attempt to pull sympathy for his less-than-stellar running mate.

patty, St. Petersburg, FL (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:12 PM)

Palin will not know the government's involvement in special education until her child has his first IEP. I think trivializing special needs in this way will turn off voters who have children with special needs or educate children with special needs. And, Down Syndrome and Autism are hugely different. Having knowledge of one does not make you an expert in the other.

Anne, South Orange, NJ (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:13 PM)

Well, gee, being close to Alaska makes her an expert on foreign policy, so having a down syndrome baby must make her an expert on children with special needs!

You see? Perfectly logical

Dan, Portsmouth, VA (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:13 PM)

FR: McCain mentioned that Palin knows more about the issue of autism than nearly anyone. What evidence is there of that?

Probably because she has an autistic child and she talks to a lot a professionals about treatment. In time, she might even figure out what's wrong with you guys at FR. You certainly seem to special needs kinds of people.

Laura Tyler, Texas (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:13 PM)

Sorry, I think he is out of content. Wasn't she the first one to reduce the Special Olympics at her own state. I don't think she know anything about it. In all, I feel sorry for all the people of Alaska whos child have some kind of autism or other special needs. My heart goes out to you for having a Governor that does not support her own state.

VA (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:13 PM)

Palin is a joke and McCain is making claims that are not based on any substance, much like the campaign that he has run so far. One of the reasons he is losing this election is the fact that people do not want Palin in the White House!

Rose Black, Atlanta, GA (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:13 PM)

This has been evident of their entire campaign... if McCain/Palin would spend their time talking about how their are going to great change (versus defending themselved) they might actually be able to answer the American public's concern.

Defensiveness gets the best of any of us... so the case with McCain/Palin.

Karen, Bel Air, MD (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:13 PM)

Ok so Sarah Palin has a child with Down Syndrome but that does not make her qualified to run the country beside am i missing something here what does one statement have to do with the other?? I'm confused

Paula Marshall, Oklahoma City, OK (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:14 PM)

How does Palin know anything about a special needs child? Or children in general? She obviously had no time to educate her daughter on the consequences of unprotected intimate relationships and she is obviously not spending much time with her special needs baby on the campaign trail. She is a success hungry self-centered woman and I am offended when John McCain says that she would represent women well!
A disgusted mother and woman!

MS, Nashville, TN (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:14 PM)

that has certainly been my question...I do not believe they have any real money or published policy statements focused on these issues

Janthony,Maine (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:14 PM)

There is another thing Palin knows a lot about, Abusing Power. I think that having her in a position of power would be irresponsible and dangerous.

Sam Leon, Miami, Fla. (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:14 PM)

McCain voted down these special need bills.
It is amazing how he can not keep himself
focused. McCain is great at not giving answers,
he has danced around most questions by targeting
Obama-Very scary

Sophia Beck Laramie WY (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:14 PM)

Autism and Down Syndrome are two very different things medical issues, but I wouldn't hold Sen. McCain to knowing the facts, as not have many people.

Lee-- Dallas, TX (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:14 PM)

Can't help yourself First Read can you? Anything to get a dig in on Palin. Pathetic.

Ashamed I Even Read This Crap (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:14 PM)

What we do know is that McCain-Palin do what they can to get gov't out of the way.

Todd Hawley, Baton Rouge, Louisiania (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:14 PM)

McCain's statement about Palin's knowledge on Autism is absurd. Her very young child's diagnosis and disability has nothing to do with autism. The etiologies, complications, prognoses, therapies, incidences, and potential outcomes have nothing to do with one another. Moreover, it is insulting to thousands of advocates and parents of special needs individuals that a woman who has been a parent of a child with Down syndrome for a few months has some inner wisdom on this subject. As a physician and a family member of a person with Down syndrome, these comments smack of pure ignorance and pandering.

Raileigh (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:14 PM)

I'm outraged that McCain called Palin a role model for women. She's an embarrassment to women!! If McCain in his imperialistic way supported his preference for women being barefoot and pregnant and Palin would nod and agree in that bobblehead way she does to everything. If Palin becomes Vice President, will she accept only 60% of the wage?

N. Dunston (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:14 PM)

What's Obama going to do? He never said anything either; just the keyword of autism. Give me a break. Could you kindly report on this debate without your Democratic goggles? Good God!

Kirby, Pa (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:15 PM)

How can McCain-Palin do anything for
special needs children when they will
freeze the funding for such programs?

While everything is frozen, what happens
do those children, women, and veterans
while all programs are frozen and there
are no means for assistance?

BG, Seattle, WA (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:15 PM)

Obama wants to cut taxes, and at the same time have massive government spending increases. How? He hasn't laid out any plan. So we don't know.

Gilda Mays, LA CA (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:16 PM)

They will surely/shorely/showly depending on which personality you normally hear Obama speak in give it a "litmus test" and provide professional and personal combined expertise input and provide necessary funding even if imbezzlement to agencies such as ACORN have to be slashed. In other words they are not clueless libs.

vickiegee (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:17 PM)

Thank you for pointing this out. I am a teacher and face the issue of autism every day. It's one thing to say that she's an expert but it's a whole other thing to prove it.

I was especially offended that he implied that Governor Palin is qualified to be President because she has a special needs child. If that is true, I know a few parents of multiple special needs children who should be crowned rulers of the world.

Justin, Salem, OR (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:17 PM)

i am a special needs teacher and Obama I believe will help them but McCain is only responding on the notion because palin has a special needs child that she doesnt really care for.

Linda Mitche huntingtown md: (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:18 PM)

Nothing was said about Palin slashing the budget of the Alaska Special Olympics, either

Don Buchwalter, Erie, Penn. (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:18 PM)

McCain said Palin knew more about "special needs" children than just about anybody he knew(I may be paraphrasing). That I highly doubt.

Margaret Harmatuk (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:19 PM)

As Obama pointed out, this is another area that McCain has mentioned that will required special programs, yet he wants to cut so many. Does McCain follow his own thoughts???

Kat, Tucson, AZ (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:19 PM)

I am one of those fifty something single American women who has lost her job and her health care coverage. I have a pacemaker and have been deemed uninsurable because of this pre-exisitng condition. Sen. McCain is so out of touch with people like me....and there are alot of us in Dayton, Ohio. $5000 in a tax cut will not provide any health care assistance for me. And, What is with McCain and his little smirk? I am so angry that I want to reach into the TV and smack him. He is coming off to me as being snide and superior. I am sick of the attacks and his denials of his negative ads and campaign tactics. I used to think rather highly of this great war hero, but not any more. I am so frightened of his policies and those of his running mate. I fear for this county that I love so much.

Renee Reed, Dayton, OH (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:19 PM)

What I do understand is prior to Palin having a special needs child, she was AGAINST financial support in Alaska. Only when it hit her family was she then supportive.

Joe (666 pack) Plumber (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:19 PM)

McCain looks and sound old.

John Moseley (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:19 PM)

I would love to hear more about the specifics of John Mccain's health insurance plan. He's giving $5,000 to families but my family is already covered 100% by my husband's employer, so where will our $5,000 go?

Kristina Byers, Lancaster, Ohio (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:19 PM)

Is this what are country needs at this moment? How to cure autism? I don't think it makes Palin qualified for VP and possibly President.

Matthew Ramon, San Diego, CA (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:19 PM)

That's not how I heard it. Palin will be a supporter of families with children with special needs. And autism is an example of the need for increased support for children with special needs. Interesting to me is that it was a Republican President, Gerald Ford, who signed P.L. 94-142 granting free and appropriate education to children with special needs. And it was a Republican president, George H. W. Bush, who signed into law the American Disabilities Act.

Sharon, Peoria, IL (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:20 PM)

oh my goodness. Today on the today show hosts were talking about how much time and effort a parent with an autistic child will have to spend, over and above that of a "normal" child I suppose they were referring to, and it was overwhelming. Now, just because Sarah Palin has a child with Down's Syndrome, what makes her an expert on Autism? AND, to direct it to one of the questions actually asked of John McCain, WHY DOES THAT QUALIFY HER FOR THE PRESIDENCY OF THE UNITED STATES? If the raising of a special needs child is a greater than full-time job, and that is her primary responsibility, then where will she find time to run the country if it comes to that?

julia hanberg, Bristol, IN (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:20 PM)

Parents are always the #1 advocate for the special needs child. It is difficult to understand Sarah Palin being such a supporter of these children, when she is clearly neglecting her Down Syndrome infant, by putting her own needs ahead of his and her family. Not Fair!

beverly, Nc (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:21 PM)

Uhhh, didn't Palin vote to cut funding for Special Needs children in schools, then backed off when she had her own child?

Sam, Cumberland, Maine (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:21 PM)

She knows 'more than anyone I know.' That might be true. I think his hyperinflation of Gov. Palin's skills and experience have received a shameful bye throughout the campaign.

Susan (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:21 PM)

mccain is one angry fellow. he will have the us in every war he can find. and sarah palin alaska independece party that is her best role. I can't follow mccains eyes they roll all over. they have always said he has a bad temper

candy snyder (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:22 PM)

I'm going to take a wild guess that McCain doesn't know any special educators or autism researchers. Palin is an expert on autism and special needs kids because she gave birth to a child with three copies of the 21st chromosome? It's like saying I'm an expert mechanic because I own a car.

EAH, Washington DC (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:22 PM)

Having a special needs child does not make you an expert in that area. I say that as a parent of a special needs child. Usually whenever there are budget cuts, mental health and social services are the first two to get cuts in funding.

Sonya Griggs, Norfolk VA (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:23 PM)

After his performance tonight, I'm starting to think that Senator McCain qualifies as a "special needs" individual.

Melissa S - Aiken, SC (Sent Wednesday, October 15, 2008 10:23 PM)

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