Okay. I have been fielding calls all day from family, friends, colleagues, fellow advocates and parents who want to know how I feel about McCain choosing Sarah Palin as VP.
And it says everything – that the reason they're curious is because we both have kids with Downs. So, let me just make sure that everyone understands this.
The fact that our kids both have an extra 21st chromosome does not, in any way, impact my opinion of the harm caused families and people with disabilities during the Bush/Cheney Administration. Unless Ms. Palin can magically change the history of McCain's support of the Bush/Cheney Administration, I don't give a flying fuck if both our kids have Downs.
McCain must take full responsibility for the votes he cast harming affordable and accessible housing; education; heath care; the ADA; IDEA; NCLB; Medicare; privatization of social security; fair tax policy; the American economy; energy policy; the environment; funding for veteran benefits (all the while supporting a war of lies that is resulting in bringing home young men and women with devastating disabilities.)
And no VP choice or diagnosis negates the years of harm John McCain has done. As a matter of fact, I have always been perplexed as to why on earth folks with disabilities would vote Republican. It's like someone volunteering to sharpen the knife that will be used to cut their own throat.
It says something important to me that folks are focusing on a particular diagnosis. Michelle Obama was raised by a man with MS, who died early of the complications of his disability. Barrack Obama spoke eloquently of his mother's struggle with insurance companies as she lay dying of her medical disability, cancer. Senator Joe Biden's wife and daughter died in an automobile accident, the one that injured his sons. And of course, John McCain is a disabled vet (for which he collects $58,000/yr.)
Read More Here: 6/8/08 AmericaBlog
Palin has only been the parent of someone with a disability since April. She probably doesn't even "get" how fortunate she and her son and family are that he will live during the Obama Administration, where our loved ones are valued and their human rights respected. Under Obama and Biden that value will be reflected in enhanced program and services funding and rebuilding the social systems our vulnerable family members will rely on for the rest of their lives.
--Shella
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