Susan's Blog

Sunday, May 28, 2006

Wright is Wrong on Rick Santorum

I got the announcement today from Autism Speaks, that Senator Rick Santorum, Republican from Pennsylvania, of the extreme right wing of the GOP, is to be the Honorary Chair of the Seventh Annual Walk for Autism in Pittsburgh. I do not appreciate the Autism Walk being identified with someone who is so heavily ideological, known for his anti-gay rhetoric as well as his infamously stupid statement about Massachusetts, in which he actually blamed the “liberal culture” here as the reason for the pedophilia scandal in the Catholic Church.

Oh, sure, Senator Santorum’s affiliation with the hallowed cause of autism research proves that autism is a universal challenge that spans all political beliefs. Or does it? I think that the Wrights’ naive use of such a conservative symbol has suddenly and unfortunately thrust autism into the poisonous heart of Washington politics. The Wrights have a right to do whatever it takes to raise money for autism research: the ends justify the means. Or do they? With this decision, Rick Santorum comes out smelling like a rose because of his humanitarian ties to Autism Speaks, instead of the intolerant peabrain he really is. Maybe he ends up being reelected, score another point for the right wing that has grown in such strength in this country and given us wonders like tax breaks for hugely wealthy oil companies (while our gas prices rise astronomically) and voted huge budget cuts for public education while choking school systems with more and more difficult mandates like “No Child Left Behind.” While IDEA has never been fully funded.

A person so highly identified with the right — he only recently recanted some of his beliefs in “Intelligent Design” — is not a wise choice to lead a crusade for something as non-political as autism research. It is foolishly naive. Autism Speaks, yet again, but not for me.

posted at 5:07 pm 8 comments

8 comments

“Autism Speaks, but not for me.” Yeah! that should be on a button or a T shirt.

— added by mike stanton on Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 7:35 pm

Hey, I used “Autism Speaks Doesn’t Speak for Me” as the title of a blog post just the other day, so either great minds think alike or it was an easy turn of a phrase.

I’m going with great minds. =-)

(Oh and keep sticking it to Santorum, Susan – that guy deserves his UrbanDictionary definition.)

— added by Jemaleddin on Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 10:18 pm

Shame on Autism Speaks for making a pact with such an evil person.
Let him have his crusade for whatever he wants to do on his own and without the autism fundrasing community’s help.

— added by Anonymous on Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 11:19 pm

Great, the elite are now politicizing autism.

— added by Someone Said on Monday, May 29, 2006 at 8:36 am

So let’s clarify here. You’re angry because the leading advocate autism families in Congress is being recognized for his leadership on autism.

The shame here is that there are people here lambasting a certain U.S. Senator for taking leadership on an issue largely ignored by Congress.

— added by Anonymous on Monday, May 29, 2006 at 10:07 am

Susan, I’m to the left of Lenin when it comes to politics. I don’t care for any Republican, nor most Democrats. However, you may not be aware that Santorum has been instrumental in autism research funding to the tune I believe of $700 million primarily to the NIH. My son is in an investigation drug study right now because of funding Santorum was responsible for moving through the Senate. Thus, I don’t have a problem for him being honored by any autism group. I’m sure your probably not aware of his role in funding for research. I don’t know why he attached himself to this cause, but I think it goes deeper than politics.

— added by not my blg on Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 7:06 pm

I think it’s great that Santorum is sponsoring autism research funding, but where was he when Bush pushed the “clear skies initiative” that actually mandated that some states ease mercury restrictions? He was right there in bed between Bush and big business! Rick doing anything remotely humanitarian is highly suspect in an election year. I would look for a company who benefits from government autism research as the reason for Rick’s new-found humanitarian streak. If none is found, it would be a first.

— added by Joe Talarico on Thursday, June 22, 2006 at 11:38 am

I found a very interesting, an irreverent site about Santorum.

You should check it out…very groovy:

http://www.spreadingsantorum.com/

Cheers!

— added by Anton on Thursday, August 17, 2006 at 5:55 pm