Send thank yous to the media

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/31/2006 11:47:34 AM Central Standard Time,

maralaviola2003@... writes:

<<We need to passionately but reasonably engage the nation in a dialogue

about this by using all the resources available to us...and it has to be US

because we can not rely on the Autism Community at the top - they are

well-intentioned, but far too fractured >>

One of the first things we can all do to help the cause is send heartfelt

thankyous to all the media who have covered this story. Perhaps waves of

letters

for awhile will keep it in their minds. Letters from readers and viewers go

a long way in continuing their interest in keeping on top of a story. Also,

Mara, Kristi, Mike and the others who so eloquently spoke on our behalf and are

so on top of this, if you could post some specific talking points for us to

work into our letters, it could possibly give the media further ideas for

follow-up stories. For example, the quote from Hastert that he's always been

willing to meet with us and will meet with us. If he doesn't set a date for

this

really soon, we need to let the media know he's backing down on his word. Also

can you give us some specific talking points to refute the " we're trying to

help all children, not just those with autism " line that those not in the know

might accept?

Has anyone contacted Nightline asking for a story on this? The did a nice

series on autism awhile back so might be interested if we could spin it the

right way.

Gaylen

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/31/2006 4:14:34 P.M. Central Standard Time,

Googahly@... writes:

For example, the quote from Hastert that he's always been

willing to meet with us and will meet with us. If he doesn't set a date for

this

really soon, we need to let the media know he's backing down on his word.

Not only do we need to make sure that Hastert keeps his word as quoted

yesterday, but apparently also by Joe Barton because Larry Neal, deputy staff

director of the House Committee on Energy & Commerce was quoted in his

statement

yesterday as saying, " Barton hopes to reach a compromise and work to pass

legislation in November, " I wonder what specifically he's referring to???

CReece

[Guest guest]

You are right about thanking the media for covering the story, I

personaly started thanking the media that showed up for covering

this story that is so important for the future of our children.

We need to have the media on our side and getting praises for their

coverage can only help our cause.

Lets keep the momentum going

>

> In a message dated 10/31/2006 11:47:34 AM Central Standard Time,

> maralaviola2003@... writes:

> <<We need to passionately but reasonably engage the nation in a

dialogue

> about this by using all the resources available to us...and it has

to be US

> because we can not rely on the Autism Community at the top - they

are

> well-intentioned, but far too fractured >>

>

>

> One of the first things we can all do to help the cause is send

heartfelt

> thankyous to all the media who have covered this story. Perhaps

waves of letters

> for awhile will keep it in their minds. Letters from readers and

viewers go

> a long way in continuing their interest in keeping on top of a

story. Also,

> Mara, Kristi, Mike and the others who so eloquently spoke on our

behalf and are

> so on top of this, if you could post some specific talking points

for us to

> work into our letters, it could possibly give the media further

ideas for

> follow-up stories. For example, the quote from Hastert that he's

always been

> willing to meet with us and will meet with us. If he doesn't set

a date for this

> really soon, we need to let the media know he's backing down on

his word. Also

> can you give us some specific talking points to refute the " we're

trying to

> help all children, not just those with autism " line that those not

in the know

> might accept?

>

> Has anyone contacted Nightline asking for a story on this? The

did a nice

> series on autism awhile back so might be interested if we could

spin it the

> right way.

> Gaylen

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Gaylen - i will try to get something to you tomorrow - but in the meantime, just

search within this site for the talking points that we posted just before the

protest on Sunday - that will help alot as most of the points you need to make

are there. The only one that you will need some guidance in is the rebuttal to

Hastert's statements - this single disease thing is just a smokescreen and you

can say that. Barton has acknowledged that Autism is an epidemic, a national

emergency and is underfunded. NIH Reform does not address any of this at

all...do not get caught up in the two arguments that they want you to get caught

up in - a comparison of the two bills - it is unnecessary - the two are not

mutually exclusive and S.843 was designed to fit in there - so this point is

moot and the single disease legislation is just absurd given the statistics

surrounding autism - there has been single disease legislation in the past and

there will be in the future....it is just a

sham...ignore it and focus on what is happening with Autism and why the nation

needs to be fearful - if they do not know someone affected now...they will

soon...and the costs associated with taking care of these children when they

grow old will be astonomical...Hope these are some ideas that will help...mara

Googahly@... wrote: In a message dated 10/31/2006 11:47:34 AM

Central Standard Time,

maralaviola2003@... writes:

<<We need to passionately but reasonably engage the nation in a dialogue

about this by using all the resources available to us...and it has to be US

because we can not rely on the Autism Community at the top - they are

well-intentioned, but far too fractured >>

One of the first things we can all do to help the cause is send heartfelt

thankyous to all the media who have covered this story. Perhaps waves of letters

for awhile will keep it in their minds. Letters from readers and viewers go

a long way in continuing their interest in keeping on top of a story. Also,

Mara, Kristi, Mike and the others who so eloquently spoke on our behalf and are

so on top of this, if you could post some specific talking points for us to

work into our letters, it could possibly give the media further ideas for

follow-up stories. For example, the quote from Hastert that he's always been

willing to meet with us and will meet with us. If he doesn't set a date for this

really soon, we need to let the media know he's backing down on his word. Also

can you give us some specific talking points to refute the " we're trying to

help all children, not just those with autism " line that those not in the know

might accept?

Has anyone contacted Nightline asking for a story on this? The did a nice

series on autism awhile back so might be interested if we could spin it the

right way.

Gaylen

[Guest guest]

One last thing - the 100 US Senators and 228 co- sponsors in the house

apparently saw the need for this single disease legislation!! Someone needs to

remind Pete Sessions that he is a co- sponsor!!! (Did you see his comments

towing the party line about this and that Autism needed to wait its turn behind

other diseases - talk about waffling!!) (Not trying to be partisan - I am just

applying the facts after what he said in the paper - it is astonishing)

Mara LaViola wrote: Gaylen - i will try to

get something to you tomorrow - but in the meantime, just search within this

site for the talking points that we posted just before the protest on Sunday -

that will help alot as most of the points you need to make are there. The only

one that you will need some guidance in is the rebuttal to Hastert's statements

- this single disease thing is just a smokescreen and you can say that. Barton

has acknowledged that Autism is an epidemic, a national emergency and is

underfunded. NIH Reform does not address any of this at all...do not get caught

up in the two arguments that they want you to get caught up in - a comparison of

the two bills - it is unnecessary - the two are not mutually exclusive and S.843

was designed to fit in there - so this point is moot and the single disease

legislation is just absurd given the statistics surrounding autism - there has

been single disease legislation in the past

and there will be in the future....it is just a

sham...ignore it and focus on what is happening with Autism and why the nation

needs to be fearful - if they do not know someone affected now...they will

soon...and the costs associated with taking care of these children when they

grow old will be astonomical...Hope these are some ideas that will help...mara

Googahly@... wrote: In a message dated 10/31/2006 11:47:34 AM Central

Standard Time,

maralaviola2003@... writes:

<<We need to passionately but reasonably engage the nation in a dialogue

about this by using all the resources available to us...and it has to be US

because we can not rely on the Autism Community at the top - they are

well-intentioned, but far too fractured >>

One of the first things we can all do to help the cause is send heartfelt

thankyous to all the media who have covered this story. Perhaps waves of letters

for awhile will keep it in their minds. Letters from readers and viewers go

a long way in continuing their interest in keeping on top of a story. Also,

Mara, Kristi, Mike and the others who so eloquently spoke on our behalf and are

so on top of this, if you could post some specific talking points for us to

work into our letters, it could possibly give the media further ideas for

follow-up stories. For example, the quote from Hastert that he's always been

willing to meet with us and will meet with us. If he doesn't set a date for this

really soon, we need to let the media know he's backing down on his word. Also

can you give us some specific talking points to refute the " we're trying to

help all children, not just those with autism " line that those not in the know

might accept?

Has anyone contacted Nightline asking for a story on this? The did a nice

series on autism awhile back so might be interested if we could spin it the

right way.

Gaylen

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/1/2006 11:01:38 AM Central Standard Time,

cmtssingleton@... writes:

<<Well, what I remember Hastert saying was that he " preferred to meet parents

in Washington but they chose to do a demonstration here (Dallas) instead. .

.. . " and I kind of took that to mean that because parents had demonstrated,

he didn't have to meet with them. . . . just my take on what I remember him

saying.>>

A reporter asked Hastert a follow-up question right after that quote as to

whether he would still meet with " them " and Hastert said " yes, we always have. "

That part was only shown on two of the stations I saw. I have the video of

at least one of them and I'm sure if he needed a reminder, it could easily be

gathered from those who were at the press conference.

Gaylen

[Guest guest]

Well, what I remember Hastert saying was that he " preferred to meet parents

in Washington but they chose to do a demonstration here (Dallas) instead. .

.. . " and I kind of took that to mean that because parents had demonstrated,

he didn't have to meet with them. . . . just my take on what I remember him

saying.

Re: Send thank yous to the media

In a message dated 10/31/2006 4:14:34 P.M. Central Standard Time,

Googahly@... writes:

For example, the quote from Hastert that he's always been

willing to meet with us and will meet with us. If he doesn't set a date for

this

really soon, we need to let the media know he's backing down on his word.

Not only do we need to make sure that Hastert keeps his word as quoted

yesterday, but apparently also by Joe Barton because Larry Neal, deputy

staff

director of the House Committee on Energy & Commerce was quoted in his

statement

yesterday as saying, " Barton hopes to reach a compromise and work to pass

legislation in November, " I wonder what specifically he's referring to???

CReece

[Guest guest]

oh well -- like he would have met with us regardless....

ho hum....

~ Guppy

Singleton wrote:

Well, what I remember Hastert saying was that he " preferred to meet

parents

in Washington but they chose to do a demonstration here (Dallas) instead. .

.. . " and I kind of took that to mean that because parents had demonstrated,

he didn't have to meet with them. . . . just my take on what I remember him

saying.

Re: Send thank yous to the media

In a message dated 10/31/2006 4:14:34 P.M. Central Standard Time,

Googahly@... writes:

For example, the quote from Hastert that he's always been

willing to meet with us and will meet with us. If he doesn't set a date for

this

really soon, we need to let the media know he's backing down on his word.

Not only do we need to make sure that Hastert keeps his word as quoted

yesterday, but apparently also by Joe Barton because Larry Neal, deputy

staff

director of the House Committee on Energy & Commerce was quoted in his

statement

yesterday as saying, " Barton hopes to reach a compromise and work to pass

legislation in November, " I wonder what specifically he's referring to???

CReece

[Guest guest]

Well, technically, he said he would meet with " those people " . I'm sure he

didn't realize that " those people " demonstrating, and " those people " who

crafted the bill over the last 18 months with legislators were 2 different

sets of folks. I don't recall him using the word " instead " , but that's not

the point, IMO. That he said he would meet with " those people " in DC means

he's now opened his mouth and commited to meeting SOMEONE in the autism

community over this bill.

Anne

-- Re: Send thank yous to the media

In a message dated 10/31/2006 4:14:34 P.M. Central Standard Time,

Googahly@... writes:

For example, the quote from Hastert that he's always been

willing to meet with us and will meet with us. If he doesn't set a date for

this

really soon, we need to let the media know he's backing down on his word.

Not only do we need to make sure that Hastert keeps his word as quoted

yesterday, but apparently also by Joe Barton because Larry Neal, deputy

staff

director of the House Committee on Energy & Commerce was quoted in his

statement

yesterday as saying, " Barton hopes to reach a compromise and work to pass

legislation in November, " I wonder what specifically he's referring to???

CReece

[Guest guest]

My " inside " sources tell me that ASA has already begun talks and

meetings with both Hastert's and Barton's people in Washington

D.C....all due to this AWESOME grassroots work that has been done

here in Texas...the letters, articles, demonstration, and video.

Everyone has done a phenomenal job.

Even if it doesn't turn out the way we would like, no one can say

that parents in Texas can't come together and take charge!

nna

>

> Well, technically, he said he would meet with " those people " . I'm

sure he

> didn't realize that " those people " demonstrating, and " those

people " who

> crafted the bill over the last 18 months with legislators were 2

different

> sets of folks. I don't recall him using the word " instead " , but

that's not

> the point, IMO. That he said he would meet with " those people " in

DC means

> he's now opened his mouth and commited to meeting SOMEONE in the

autism

> community over this bill.

>

> Anne