Let Patrick Help The Kids Too

This Guest Opinion appeared in today’s Courier Times, and it was written by Elizabeth Thomassen, a 35-year resident of Bucks County who, according to the bio, is the mother of two autistic children (you have my prayers and admiration for your sacrifice). Also, Virginia Poulterer, Beth Vogt, Holly Kimball, and Chris Keshanech contributed to this column.

Taking your kids to get a haircut or getting them to behave in a grocery store can be a challenge for any parent. For those of us with autistic children, it’s often impossible. That’s why the owners of Bouncing Off The Walls close their play center early a few nights each month. Our kids can have the place to themselves, and we don’t have to worry about being judged or questioned about our child’s outbursts and unusual behavior.

Recently, Patrick Murphy, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress, met with us at Bouncing Off The Walls. While our kids played on the moon-bounce and brightly colored slides, Patrick listened intently to our frustrations with our current batch of so-called representatives. His opponent, Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick, has been an elected official for more than 10 years and in Congress for almost two years. And yet, he has consistently failed to take active leadership in protecting our children.

Autism has the notorious distinction of being one of the most prevalent developmental disabilities, second only to mental retardation. About a year ago, it seemed like Congress was taking steps to address the need for additional education and information about autism. The Combating Autism Act, which autism advocates originally supported, would have channeled money to state agencies conducting applied autism research.

However, Congress slipped a revised version of the bill through just before midnight on Aug. 3rd. The new bill was drastically different than its original, and there was no public debate involved in the process. A-CHAMP, a self-described community watchdog on government autism programs, withdrew its support for the bill it had praised months earlier. The reason they gave was that it no longed mandated that the National Institute of Health examine the environmental causes of autism, including certain vaccines.

In case Mrs. Thomassen hasn't read it already, I would highly encourage her and her friends to read this article by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and the thimerosal scandal (it will likely enrage her - I'd feel that way if I were in her shoes - but it's something we must know about).

The fact that our children’s suffering could have been caused by environmental factors, and thus avoided, is a difficult thing to bear. Looking into all possible culprits, including vaccines, is one thing we must do to prevent other children from developing this devastating condition. If Congress truly wanted what is best for our children – and not what is best for pharmaceutical companies – it would explore this avenue fully.

Lisa, a frequent visitor of Bouncing Off The Walls, faxed a letter voicing these concerns to Fitzpatrick’s office. A year later, she’s still waiting for a response.

Gosh, I’m so shocked that Mikey (who, as the Courier Times never fails to mention, is the father of six kids) blew this lady off. Aren’t you?

We need people like Patrick Murphy in Congress who will ensure that these decisions are transparent and made with the best interests of our children in mind.

This Republican congress has simply let our children down. One of their most egregious failures is not ensuring that special needs children receive adequate therapy in school. Chris, the mother of an autistic toddler, explained to Patrick that early intervention could mean the difference between her daughter living an independent life or being a lifelong ward of the state. And yet, this year alone she spent upwards of $4,000 hiring educational experts and advocates to negotiate with her school. For many, these costs are prohibitive. Denied adequate therapy, Chris said, autistic children will sit like zombies in overcrowded classrooms.

The cost of caring for autistic children affects everyone’s pocketbooks, making it prudent for early intervention to be a major priority among our legislators. In fact, the cost of lifelong care can be reduced by almost 66 percent with early diagnosis and treatment.

Before Patrick left, he spoke with Virginia, whose 6-year-old son suffers from a rare brain abnormality. Several surgeries and various therapists left her with a $200,000 medical bill which she couldn’t even begin to pay. To try and raise money, she started a fundraiser selling chocolates for $1. It took months of appeals and endless haggling with her insurance company to get them to cover the bill.

Patrick believes that every parent deserves to have whatever resources they need so our children can live fulfilling and independent lives. We hear a lot about how Mike is looking out for kids. What about ours?

What indeed (these letters appeared also).

I am deeply disturbed with the new campaign tactic utilized by Republican Mike Fitzpatrick at his recent press conference in Newtown. To stand by shamelessly as two Iraq war veterans publicly disparage the military record of Patrick Murphy, his Democratic opponent, is bothersome.

That’s one word I can think of (and by the way, I haven’t seen Kevin Kelly’s connection to the Philadelphia Republican Party reported anywhere but in blogs here and elsewhere).

Our armed forces serving in Iraq are placed in danger every day as they fight for freedom and democracy in that country. Bullets and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are not discriminatory based on a job description. It is troubling that Congressman Fitzpatrick remained silent at his press conference as potentially slanderous remarks were made about his opponent.

Yet later he claims he disagreed with the veterans who spoke on his behalf. Is this behavior status quo for Fitzpatrick?

As we head down the home stretch towards Election Day, it appears Fitzpatrick and his fellow Republicans are attempting to “swift-boat” the military record of Patrick Murphy, who served honorably in the 82nd Airborne Division in Iraq. Because of Patrick Murphy’s surging campaign, Mike Fitzpatrick may be resorting to Karl Rove’s smear tactics.

I have known Patrick Murphy for many years. As a fellow alumnus, teammate and friend, Patrick always took action to help those who needed it most. It light of Mike Fitzpatrick’s newest campaign tactics, I encourage all voters to carefully consider their congressional vote.

Robert Graebner
Middletown

Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick separates himself from the attacks on Murphy’s military record but endorses his swift-boaters’ attacks on Murphy’s plan to return the war on terror to Afghanistan, where we should have been all along.

According to two polls reported by the Associated Press and Yahoo News conducted by the University of Maryland’s Program on International Policy Attitudes and by the State Department, 61 percent of Iraqis approve of attacks on American troops and 72 percent want their government to demand our withdrawal within the year (they also overwhelmingly despise Osama bin Laden and 57 percent disapprove of the Iranian President Ahmadinejad).

I wonder how they’d respond to the question, “Are you better off now than before the U.S. overthrew Saddam? On ABCNews.com I read a reporter’s claim, “After six weeks away from Iraq and returning to Baghdad, I find the city appears much worse than when I left.”

I’ve heard dozens of reporters on C-SPAN say that for the last two or three years. Our patch of military control in the Green Zone keeps shrinking. That’s a “strategy for victory”?

Alex Liddie
Lower Makefield

The Sept. 19th article about the debate at King’s Caterers between Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick and Democratic challenger Patrick Murphy refers to Fitzpatrick’s comments on Social Security. He is factually incorrect.

The truth can be found on an urban legend web site. The Social Security web site also has the entire history of Social Security, all the legislation and all the information you would ever need to be knowledgeable about Social Security.

The statements by Fitzpatrick about Lyndon Johnson and Bill Clinton are wrong. He also misspoke about Jimmy Carter. The president of the United States cannot make laws or impose taxes or act without the consent of Congress.

Clinton did not impose the income tax on Social Security benefits. That was an act of the 98th Congress in 1983 and signed into law by Ronald Reagan. The majority of Republican representatives from Pennsylvania voted yes, including the two senators. Former Bucks County Congressman Peter Kostmayer voted no.

If the Republicans find this tax so onerous, why, in the six years that the Republicans have been in control of the congress and the White House, have they not moved to repeal it? Ask them.

Robert Parrillo
Bristol Township

Nice research there, Mr. Parrillo (and to help Patrick – 21 days to go – click here).