Beyond The Photo-Op: Bush Budget Leaves Autistic Children Behind
Beyond The Photo-Op: Bush Budget Leaves Autistic Children Behind
Jason McElwain aka “J-Mac” — the autistic high-school basketball player — gained national attention when he scored 20 points for his varsity team with a flurry of 3-pointers. While President Bush has publicly acknowledged his admiration for the young star, his FY07 budget shows an indifference towards autistic children:
- In his proposed budget for next year, Bush has cut all funding for the National Children’s Study, a project that planned to investigate the causes of autism, asthma, and other serious illnesses.
- The President’s budget will eliminate Medicaid reimbursements for schoolchildren with disabilities, denying them “access to medical services they need to fully participate in school and learn to their greatest abilities.”
- The number of children diagnosed with autism and served by schools under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) increased by more than 500 percent in the last decade, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The President’s FY07 budget, however, will fund IDEA at $6.3 billion below the amount Congress recommended.
Bush’s visit with J-Mac was a great photo-op. But the best way for Bush to show his support is by providing adequate funding for programs to help autistic children.
– Sam Davis
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68 Responses to “Beyond The Photo-Op: Bush Budget Leaves Autistic Children Behind”
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On a related matter, readers should check out this column by Newsweek's Jonathan Alter on Bush's hypocrisy on national service:
March 15th, 2006 at 3:48 pm
More examples of Bush = hypocrisy.
March 15th, 2006 at 3:59 pmWhy is he holding J-Mac's head on a stick? Oh, I get it, the fan club.. but it looks creepy.
March 15th, 2006 at 4:04 pmThis has been a practice of Republicans for years. Bill Moyers did a "Frontline" years ago showing how Reagan would provide pretty pictures for the evening news of him cutting the ribbon on a new senior center on the same day that his budget slashed money for senior citizen programs. Even though the reporter would point out the contradiction, people remembered the images and came away with the impression that Reagan was helping senior citizens. It was completely intentional manipulation with the intent to decieve. With Bush, all he's ever used the bully pulpit to do is lie to the American people.
March 15th, 2006 at 4:04 pmThis is pathetic using handicapped children for a photo-op to boost your ratings in the polls. Hopefully other will see through the shame as well.
March 15th, 2006 at 4:05 pmCongress allocates the money.
Preznits fight wars! They don't have time for allocatin' an stuff.
March 15th, 2006 at 4:08 pmAccording to the Neocon philosophy, these people are weak and they should work hard to pull themselves up by their own boot straps. No assistance from all those hard working rich people like Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie who need to spend $50,000 on a purse.
March 15th, 2006 at 4:14 pmIt is really a shame when Bush goes for a disabled child to prop up his ratings. The real shame is Jason McElwain probably would do the Bush job as well as he plays basketball, and Bush could not play basketball as good as the Jason. If Bush needs Jason to look compasionate he is really lost and doesn't even know it.
March 15th, 2006 at 4:21 pmdid anyone else think it odd that the prez said he wept after seeing the video of the game? that's a bit of an overreaction, isn't it?
March 15th, 2006 at 4:21 pm[deleted]
March 15th, 2006 at 4:23 pmArrrrghhhhh! Don't get me started! My son has been waiting for over a year for a hearing on SSD application. His autism has been documented for most of his life, but since his IQ is higher than Georgie's, he can just go f*ck himself. Ok, I wasn't going to do this.
I'm so pleased J-Mac is doing well. I watched that video about a week ago and sat at my desk and cried.
March 15th, 2006 at 4:24 pmMy brother is autistic and I know first hand how he's getting screwed by this budget.
March 15th, 2006 at 4:25 pmNot if you understand why Bush wept, he realised that Jason had better physical and verbal skills...........
March 15th, 2006 at 4:26 pm#10 - It is an overreaction for George W. Bush since he has no soul, but not for someone who can actually relate to what it means to have a whole gym cheering for your autistic son. I'm not kidding when I said I sat there and cried.
March 15th, 2006 at 4:28 pmWouldn't Jesus be proud of the Neo-Cons?
March 15th, 2006 at 4:30 pmLeave the sick and dying to expire by the roadside.
Leave the weak and feeble to stumble and starve.
Leave the poor and the homeless to freeze in silence.
But be sure to make the rich richer.
Be sure to settle differences with war or slander.
Persecute those not like you.
Wear your religion on your chest like a badge.
And bring that money on into the temple!
Yup. I'm bettin Jesus is thrilled enough to give them all their just reward.
Crap like this just highlights the lack of compassion and empathy with this administration. It isn't enough to just cut funding to groups who don't assist their goals, but they like to really rub it in by getting in a photo op first.
Nothing like rubbing salt in a wound... and laughing while doing it.
Arrogant hypocrites. What will finally be enough for the remaining 33% of the public to see through these shams?
March 15th, 2006 at 4:32 pmThis is pathetic using handicapped children for a photo-op to boost your ratings in the polls. Hopefully other will see through the shame as well.
Comment by David B
Don't blame Jason McElwain, David. He probably wasn't worried about his ratings.
Besides, and you can correct me if I'm wrong, but Jason has no reason to be ashamed for having his picture taken with someone who is handicapped.
March 15th, 2006 at 4:33 pmWhy do we so badly need the remaining 33%?
March 15th, 2006 at 4:35 pm1) the numbers are good enough for the Dems to take a stand. Why don't they?
2) the remaining 33% believe that Bush is the second coming and they will never open their eyes. Their eyes are glued to Revelations, praying for the end of the world. I say, may they find the end they are seeking, and we should end Bush's reign, with or without that stupid 33%.
#4 - I couldn't pull my eyes away from that face on the stick either.
March 15th, 2006 at 4:35 pmI think Bush is going to start wearing that thing everywhere he goes, as it is certainly better than him showing his own face in public.
Bush used the firefighters as props in a photo op after 9/11. He uses our troops as photo ops all the time. So this is completely in character for the anal sphincter.
March 15th, 2006 at 4:40 pmBush himself is profoundly politically autistic, so he'd only be helping himself.
March 15th, 2006 at 4:44 pmBush himself is profoundly politically autistic, so he’d only be helping himself.
No, no... I think you meant sadistic, not autistic.
(Bad joke, I smacked myself)
March 15th, 2006 at 4:57 pmI’m not kidding when I said I sat there and cried.
Comment by Zookeeper — March 15, 2006 @ 4:28 pm
One of my cousins has an autistic son. The video made me cry as well. But, Zookeeper, I think it would have anyway, it was a a real life 'Rudy' moment times 100.
March 15th, 2006 at 4:58 pmIt's nice to know Bush can make room in his budget for the war . My god what the f's going on here have we all lost are marbles , how can this be happenning . We're not just talking autism here , asthma was mentioned along with other serious illnesses . As an asthma sufferer I can relate .
March 15th, 2006 at 5:00 pmWhy do we so badly need the remaining 33%?
Comment by Solitaire — March 15, 2006 @ 4:35 pm
You're right, we don't need them. I don't understand either. It's like how one derranged lunatic can get millions of people to go against their will on something, and it keeps repetaing itself over the course of history many times simply because one depost is called "Emporer", 'Fuhrer', or 'President'.
March 15th, 2006 at 5:02 pmPlease excuse the horrific typing... I really need to learn how.
March 15th, 2006 at 5:03 pmCongress doesn't have to go along with every item in the proposed budget for 2007. If these programs are necessary and important,then Congress needs to hear from the people that the programs need to stay.
There is the tendency to blame the head for the sins of the body. Bush takes the blame that lies with Congress. Cutting federal funding doesn't mean that the various states can't respond.
There are only 122 members of the House and 23 in the Senate who deserve consideration for re-election in November,the ones who voted against the AUMF in Oct.2002. The rest should resign if they had any honor but if not,there needs to be work done at the local level to start with that as a basis for running a campaign.
March 15th, 2006 at 5:08 pmI gotta agree with Bush that the video of Jason's triumph was moving -- I teared up myself. But Bush's pathetic attempt to boost his falling popularity by attaching himself Jason's soaringly uplifting story is one of the most cynical things I've seen in my life.
March 15th, 2006 at 5:25 pmI hear Bush is very popular among the autistic, but not so much among those with ADHD. The comatose also find him delightful, but his base is really among those in a persistent vegetative state.
March 15th, 2006 at 5:28 pmBush has thrown more money away on social programs than Carter and Clinton combined. In 2003 he spent 500 billion on you losers and his proposal for 06 is over 650 billion. How much more do you want? Pick a number and don't forget April 15th is just around the corner.
March 15th, 2006 at 5:31 pmWe’re not just talking autism here , asthma was mentioned along with other serious illnesses . As an asthma sufferer I can relate .
Comment by Michdem
So, you want us to pay for your freaking asthma medicine? Sure, no problem. Anyone else got something you want Uncle Sugar to take care of?
March 15th, 2006 at 5:33 pm#30 - I hear Bush is very popular among the autistic
Not in my house!! I know you're being sarcastic.
#31 - How about the $43,000,000,000,000 he's spent so far? STFU.
March 15th, 2006 at 5:36 pmSure, no problem. Anyone else got something you want Uncle Sugar to take care of?
Comment by I-RIGHT-I — March 15, 2006 @ 5:33 pm
Uh, yeah... you.
March 15th, 2006 at 5:36 pm*Sigh*...yet one more example of phony, hypocritical, self-serving posturing on the part of the Bush administration so that people will think that Bush is supporting something he's actually taking steps to undercut. Just like the malarkey in the State Of The Union address about subsidizing education in math and science at the same time that he was cutting billions of dollars from Pell Grants. And to blatantly exploit the kid like this -- that's exactly what this was, make no mistake -- is utterly shameless, disgraceful, and despicable.
March 15th, 2006 at 5:58 pmShould anyone be surprised? This is typical of this administration, cynically using people for photo-ops then quietly cut their funding. After 9-11, pose with firemen, but gut funding for first responders. Pose with soldiers with the battle cry 'support our troops', but send them into battle with inadequate body armor, and slash the VA budget. What next, rabies shots for the Easter Bunny(of which the bunny MUST pay)?
March 15th, 2006 at 6:51 pmHey I-R-I, I hear they've lowered the standards for enlisting in the army. So GO FOR IT, (hint; take the dildo out of your ass before the physical exam though).
March 15th, 2006 at 7:27 pm#31-In 2003 he spent 500 billion on you losers and his proposal for 06 is over 650 billion.
Mr. I-Right-I, I don't want to rush to judgment on your message, so could you please clarify who the "losers" are that you refer to? Are they all liberals? Are they only the beneficiaries of the social programs you speak of? Are they specifically the autistic (in keeping with the original J-Mac storyline)? Only the autistic children of liberals, not conservatives? Are you referring to my six-year-old autistic son as a loser, sir? As I say, I do not wish to misconstrue your trenchant commentary, so please clarify.
March 15th, 2006 at 8:16 pmSomeone should bitch slap George Bush -- he deserves that and more.
March 15th, 2006 at 8:18 pmTo think he would photo op with the boy and, back at the White House, slash programs and funding for children with all kinds of disabilities and handicaps, including being born into poor families, is an unconscionable act of callousness and arrogance.
I-R-I just calls the autistic losers. What a (wo)man. Next time you get on your pedestal about personal attacks or people saying offensive things you are getting both barrels of that quote.
March 15th, 2006 at 8:55 pmSigh,
The motherfucker has absolutely no goddamn shame whatsoever.
And the GOP is just as dirty. If Bush were caught getting head from Monica Lewinsky and then lying about it they would make hummers from fat chicks mandatory and repeal all laws about perjury.
March 15th, 2006 at 9:04 pmSherrod Brown (Hackett's opponent) has the ACTUAL credentials Bush (and Hackett) pretend to:
"Throughout his tenure in Congress and as Ranking Member on the Health Subcommittee, Congressman Brown has been a leading advocate of full funding of the National Institutes of Health. He was one of the leaders in the successful effort to double NIH funding between 1998 and 2003.
"A leader on children’s health issues, Brown was the chief Democratic sponsor of the bipartisan Children’s Health Act of 2000, which established a new Pediatric Research Initiative within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and expanded research projects on autism, birth defects, and other child-related illnesses and diseases. His efforts earned him the "Friend of Children and Children’s Hospitals" award from the National Association of Children’s Hospitals.
"The American Public Health Association, the nation’s largest public health organization with 50,000 members, recognized Congressman Brown with its Distinguished Public Health Legislator of the Year Award for 2002."
http://sherrod.house.gov/bio.htm
March 15th, 2006 at 9:06 pmA very special president. This stunt reminds me of the grotesquely manipulative ad before the 2004 election. The one where the Ohio girl that lost her mother during the 9-11 attack and went into a shell. Then they showed bush, almost christlike, giving her a hug at campaign event. Miraculously she emerged from her shell and once again became a vibrant girl. This presidents policies has done that autistic kid and others like him real damage. Much like his dithering on vacation, and ignoring repeated warnings, put that girls mother at risk on 9-11. Yet he shamelessly exploited both of them. I have never known greater disgust.
March 15th, 2006 at 10:28 pmI saw a clip of Chimpy with the kid on last night's Countdown. I guess that's proof once again that Chimpy's photo-ops are meant to conceal his deceptive ways.
March 15th, 2006 at 11:06 pmAdd these pictures to pictures of "Ali" (the token kid media sympathy object).
Have you noticed how LITTLE the Republicans ever talk about their victims?
Bush has STILL NOT BEEN TO A SINGLE MILITARY FUNERAL.
He hasn't put in an appearance for ANY of those thousand or more military orphans he created.
He hid behind our children on Nine-eleven. Unlike Colin Powell dancing YMCA in Bangkok, Bush took his sitting down. While people threw themselves from the building windows.
Waking up with the horseheads of their crimes in the bed with them (and I don't just mean Katherine Harris) like Republicans do, it's amazing they can soldier on, without feeling ANY of the awesome guilt they have for the destruction of innocent lives, contempt for our soldiers, and hatred of our systems of justice, the morality of our government.
They're some fancy born-agains -- who trash America "like a business in liquidation" (--RFK Jr.).
Bloody religion is the WRONG religion.
March 16th, 2006 at 1:28 am#31-In 2003 he spent 500 billion on you losers and his proposal for 06 is over 650 billion.
Mr. I-Right-I, I don’t want to rush to judgment on your message, so could you please clarify who the “losers†are that you refer to? Are they all liberals? Are they only the beneficiaries of the social programs you speak of? .
Comment by Noah Joad
Certainly. I'm always available to help the less fortunate whenever possible. The 500 billion I spoke of was the total budget for Health and Human Resources for 05. That would be the money that goes to myriad of social programs most of which are unnecessary entitlements and give-always to gain the vote of LOSERS.
Sorry about your kid.(If you're not lying as most here do when they want to give themselves a hint of credibility.) Mental retardation is a scourge of humanity and apparently affects 5 out of ten people in this country over 18 according to Kerry's vote count last election.
March 16th, 2006 at 9:17 am#46--Certainly. I’m always available to help the less fortunate whenever possible. The 500 billion I spoke of was the total budget for Health and Human Resources for 05. That would be the money that goes to myriad of social programs most of which are unnecessary entitlements and give-always to gain the vote of LOSERS.
Sorry about your kid.
Sort of a mixed message there. I appreciate your sympathy for my son, and I assure you that he is really autistic.
For the record, autism and mental retardation are two different things. The current rate of autism is 1 in every 166 children as compared to a rate of 1 in 10,000 as recently as 1990. It's a big problem that is not going to go away. Autism does not shorten lifespan, so Americans need to prepare for the future when these children become adults and need care. The more help they receive now, the less, hopefully, they will require in the future. There's your choice. Scoffing at the problem and the afflicted is not an option. You can't think that the problem does not affect you because it does and it will even if you are fortunate enough to not have any autistic family, friends, or acquaintances.
It is also worth noting that the fight for autism advocacy is a bi-partisan one. Dan Burton (R-IN), Dave Weldon (R-FL), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Patrick Leahy (D-VT)and my local rep. Chris Smith (R) are among those trying to help.
March 16th, 2006 at 9:35 amGeorge W. Bush thinks to himself:
Who would of ever believed that such a fine artistic young man, would make such a fine basketball player.
March 16th, 2006 at 10:54 amI am certainly glad that IRI is on the other side. Talk about crazy. We need to somehow showcase him during the upcoming elections.
March 16th, 2006 at 11:14 amSort of a mixed message there. I appreciate your sympathy for my son, and I assure you that he is really autistic.
Comment by Noah Joad
It's a mixed message because there is never enough spent on social programs to suit liberals. It's mixed because so much is spent on those who are simply lazy and dishonest not to mention the crooks inside government who thrive on money that never gets to its intended destination. It's a mixed message because the left wing fucktards won't admit that when it comes to social spending George spends like a drunken socialists and unconstitutional set-asides and programs have not seen such increases since LBJ's Great Society Grab Bag. Again, I am so sorry about your kid. It's a damn shame.
March 16th, 2006 at 12:00 pmI am certainly glad that IRI is on the other side. Talk about crazy. We need to somehow showcase him during the upcoming elections.
Comment by progressive and proud
You're doing just fine on your own loser. Leave it to the Filthy Left to use dead soldiers and autistic children to spread your gospel of misery to the masses.
March 16th, 2006 at 12:02 pmAw c'mon, people. It is totally unreasonable, unrealistic, and foolish to count on George Bush to keep his word on anything, except those things which will most damage our democracy and move us closer to a dictatorship. The man can't even LIE competently and most of America now recognizes him for the "incompetent idiot" that he is.
Republicans can point to him with pride, and brag that, "George Bush is OUR idiot and no one else's!"
March 16th, 2006 at 12:54 pmIt’s mixed because so much is spent on those who are simply lazy and dishonest not to mention the crooks inside government who thrive on money that never gets to its intended destination.
Comment by I-RIGHT-I #50
So tell us oh Ignorant-Repugnant-Insect,
...is the TRILLION dollars we're spending on Iraqis- who hate your al Cracker Bushite worshipping guts- worth it?
...are we NOT spending this trillion to in essence turn Iraq over to Iran?
...would it NOT have been better to spend that money here in our own country?
...and isn't it true that...
...Being a hypocrite is a pre-requisite for being a loyal Bushite TRAITOR!
March 16th, 2006 at 1:01 pm#47 - My heart goes out to you and your family, Noah Joad. Thank goodness there has been so much focus and research on autism in the last few years. Thank you for trying to educate the troll about the nature of autism. Not a disease, not mental retardation, and usually not a physical health problem.
My son is 24 now, and when he was diagnosed at age 7, the best our library could offer was advice for "refrigerator mothers." Fortunately I knew that wasn't me, so I never took it to heart. If you ever get a chance to see Temple Grandin speak, please do. Always follow your gut instinct.
March 16th, 2006 at 2:17 pmSO perfect that Bush sitting there with the kid's head on a stick.
March 16th, 2006 at 2:55 pmYeah, those of us from Rochester were thrilled to see Jason McElwain (J-Mac) get a little national spotlight when he had his moment on the court. Having to see this photo-op moment was excruciating.
This probably breaks Bush's all time record for sleaze, and that's not easy to do.
March 16th, 2006 at 3:00 pmThis probably breaks Bush’s all time record for sleaze, and that’s not easy to do.
Comment by DragonFlyEye
I bet the kid was thrilled to death to meet the President of the United States. George is a kind and gentle man to spend his time like that. If there's a sleeze factor here it belongs to you for pissing all over that boy's moment.
March 16th, 2006 at 5:37 pmI bet the kid was thrilled to death to meet the President of the United States. George is a kind and gentle man to spend his time like that. If there’s a sleeze factor here it belongs to you for pissing all over that boy’s moment.
Comment by I-RIGHT-I #57
unIntelligent-unRepentant-Inbred,
These are your god Bushiva's priorities:
The right wing has announced its commitment to repeal the estate tax and make the Bush tax changes permanent. A repeal of the estate tax would cost nearly $1 trillion over the first 10 years of enactment.
In all, once made permanent, the tax changes will eventually add over $400 billion to the debt and deliver over $100 billion to the richest one percent of tax payers each year. Bush is also proposing a $439.3 billion defense budget, and $67 billion in emergency funds for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan on top of that.
To preserve his tax cuts for the rich and his costly defense programs, Bush is balancing the federal deficit on the backs of those who can least afford it. Some marginal spending measures that were recently rejected: $1.5 million for veteran's medical services, $2.8 billion for higher education funding, and $975 million for the widows and orphans of soldiers. Conservatives haven't been willing to march in complete lock-step with the Bush budget, however. Bush proposed cutting $7 billion from education and health care spending, hurting valuable programs that serve our nation's schoolchildren and cutting vital investments in public health...
...shall we CONTINUE to educate you about how SLEAZY your god's Bushiva and L'il "trigger" Dick are?
March 17th, 2006 at 12:33 pm…shall we CONTINUE to educate you about how SLEAZY your god’s Bushiva and L’il “trigger†Dick are?
Comment by big papa
Sure, knock yourself out Buckwheat.
March 17th, 2006 at 2:28 pm#54 Zookeeper -
I recall reading about Temple Grandin in one of Oliver Sacks' books. She's really something else.
March 17th, 2006 at 9:31 pmHypocrisy and Bush are joined forever...it's like when he talked about alternative energy and cut the funding for it at the same time....or when the college student asked him if he considered college education so important, why did he just gut the student loan programme?
March 18th, 2006 at 3:22 pmThis is endemic of the deep cynicism found in the Republican party. They are still sore over Clinton perverting their carefully-crafted phrases, such as "welfare reform", and beating their asses red with them. To them, the true villains are these community leader do-gooders and the public at large who elected a philanderer over both Reagan's sidekick and a war hero who is now a viagra spokesmodel. No tactic is low or cynical enough to ease their pain and suffering. An elephant never forgets...
March 18th, 2006 at 4:34 pmI saw this basketball story on the news soon after it happenned. It is a super story. It sickened me to see G.W. meet that sweet kid and use him as a photo prop. I do not believe he saw it when it aired on the news - Rowe probably showed it to him with the idea this would help his poll numbers! He wept - My Ass he wept!
March 18th, 2006 at 5:51 pmThis is totaly outrageous, and makes me physicaly ill. Where are the conservatives groups'
March 18th, 2006 at 9:20 pmscreams when one of their own ilk does something like this? Or are they too busy raking
in the money, howling, and screaming hate?
BTW: I am getting royaly fed up with f*cked up, hateful, Sunday school hacks like Bush, Falwell and Robertson. Real Christians need to be standing up to the likes of them.
March 18th, 2006 at 9:34 pmBTW: I am getting royaly fed up with f*cked up, hateful, Sunday school hacks like Bush, Falwell and Robertson. Real Christians need to be standing up to the likes of them.
Comment by Disgruntled Human
Cool. What do you suggest as an alternative?
March 18th, 2006 at 9:44 pmThe current administration is at such a point that I cannot have any level of trust in their actions. They have effectively pushed the middle class out to the edge of our population. This morning DELL announced that it will transfer an additional 20,000 jobe to India. The destroying of all the great services that educational professionals have develop is worse that just a sin it should be considered criminal.
The focus of this administration does not have the needs of the American voter in mind but only that of further develping relations with economic sources that do not benefit the America population.
I've worked with many Autistic children and have seen them do very well at both the HS & College level. Working towards successful places in their community maintaining both independence & dignity. Pres. Bush's photo ops are just more window dressing for an already disgusted country.
Is any political action being organized to protest these actions?
March 20th, 2006 at 1:52 pmIn spite of idiots like Bush, we people with autism are making tremendous gains. And at the rate that our numbers are increasing, we'll soon be able to vote his kind out of office! Sure hope I-Right-I isn't dependant on public opinion for his livelihood, because he's sure not getting our approval!
March 21st, 2006 at 8:29 pmAnother attack would give Bush all the self-justification he needs to suspend the Constitution and give himself that dictatorship he wistfully desires.
November 20th, 2006 at 7:15 am