HuffPo Piece on Trump and Autism Speaks

[Guest guest]

" " In an interview, Trump said he thinks the rising prevalence of

autism is related to vaccinations of babies and toddlers, a topic that is

hotly debated among parents and doctors. "

EXELLENT

From Kim - " Come over to HuffPo and comment please! And please spread the

word about this piece to your other groups, wont you? "

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kim-stagliano/will-autism-speaks-fire-d_b_7869

4.html

Kim Stagliano

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Will Autism Speaks Fire Trump?

Posted December 29, 2007 | 02:30 PM (EST)

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Read More: Autism, Autism Speaks, Autism Vaccines, Trump, Breaking

Entertainment News

Will Autism Speaks " fire " billionaire fundraiser Trump for telling

the world he believes vaccinations may be at the heart of the autism?

Trump's long running hit " The Apprentice " runs on NBC, and Bob ,

founder of Autism Speaks is still with GE, which owns the network. Trump

could be in trouble! Why? Allow me to explain.

The made a startling pronouncement during a press stop for Autism

Speaks at his Mar-A-Lago estate in Florida. One would call his words,

" heresy " in some autism circles. He fingered vaccines and referenced the

epidemic numbers of kids with autism. Looks like Trump has been

paying attention to the news.

The Sun Sentinel reported:

" In an interview, Trump said he thinks the rising prevalence of

autism is related to vaccinations of babies and toddlers, a topic that is

hotly debated among parents and doctors.

One in 150 children is now diagnosed with autism, with the prevalence

higher among boys.

" When I was growing up, autism wasn't really a factor, " he said. " And now

all of a sudden, it's an epidemic. Everybody has their theory, and my

theory is the shots. They're getting these massive injections at one time.

I think it's the vaccinations. " (Here is the full Sun Sentinel Story.)

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-flpautism1228pndec28,0,

7162133.story

" Hotly debated? " Try nuclear. And Autism Speaks has run away from the

vaccine/autism debate faster than that NASCAR dude they sponsor can race.

Someone (Pick me! Pick me!) had better show " The " Bob and Suzanne

's letter in which they disassociated themselves from their daughter

for speaking out about her similar beliefs on autism and

vaccinations. (Why look! It's right here!

http://www.autismspeaks.org/wrights_statement.php )

Better yet, let's allow The Great Gray Lady to tell The about how

the s pitted daughter against dollars. (Hint, the dollars won.) This

article from The New York Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/18/us/18autism.html?_r=3 & pagewanted=1 & adxnnlx

=1198861427-Zig/HYhiudBqAh/EPy5RFQ & oref=slogin

described the 's treatment of in order to assuage the hurt

feelings of fund raisers, volunteers and researchers associated with Autism

Speaks. Here's a bit of the article:

So, in early June, Bob and Suzanne repudiated their daughter on the

charity's Web site. " is not a spokesperson " for the

organization, the s said in a brusque statement. Her " personal views

differ from ours. " The s also apologized to " valued volunteers " who

had been disparaged. Told by friends how cold the rebuke sounded, Mrs.

belatedly added a line saying, " is our daughter, and we love

her very much. "

Now that's cold, isn't it, ? The young woman whose child launched a

multi-million dollar charity, the founders' own daughter, doesn't represent

the ongoing mission of said charity. Makes you and Rosie look like a love

fest.

, when Bob and Suzanne fib to you that they are looking at all

potential causes of autism, let me tell you about the day back in 2005 when

Suzanne promised me in front of hundreds that Autism Speaks was

going to study vaccines and autism. Don't be swayed, as I was when she

says, " Autism knocked on the wrong door. " In reality, it knocked on a bank

vault door. (Got time? Pop some popcorn, grab the family and check out the

video here.) I've filed her empty promise under " BFL " (big fat lie) and

stored it next to my shattered dreams about weapons of mass destruction,

compassionate Conservatives and Santa Claus.

How will tread marks look on your Armani suit? Please watch your back,

. You might find yourself locked out of Two Park Avenue, unless you

own that building. Of course, your cash might insulate you from the

drubbing took, unless the 's are dining with Bill Gates

tonight, in which case his cash, er, trumps your own.

If you do find yourself locked out, you're welcome to pop up to Connecticut

to visit my family. You can even wave to Bob and Suzanne who live down

Route 95 and waaay on the other side of the tracks from me. You see, we

have three children with autism and measure our fortune not in dollars and

donations but in dry undies and single word sentences.

, I thank you for stating your opinion in your inimitable way. When

your handsome son Baron says, " Hi, Daddy! The market is up today! " and

points at the carousel you probably have in your backyard, think about

those of us whose kids have never pointed or uttered so much as a word.

I don't want to cause trouble between you and the s (insert eye roll

here.) I simply want to get some answers and bona fide treatment research

for my girls and the thousands of other kids who make up the epidemic that

you have acknowledged. Or perhaps I should say, " Ivana get some answers? "

Kim Stagliano is Managing Editor of www.AgeofAutism.com. She's a writer,

autism advocate and lives in Connecticut with her husband and their three

girls, who have autism. You can read her blog here.

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Sheri Nakken, former R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath

Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Nevada City CA & Wales UK

Vaccines - http://www.wellwithin1.com/vaccine.htm Email classes start in

January