I think Mike Huckabee could appeal to a very strong constituency of family members of autistic children and adults. I sent his campaign the following e-mail this week. If there are others who agree with my letter please let his campaign know at: 'information@explorehuckabee.com'

Dear Huckabee campaign:

I just wanted to let you know about one group of people representing a huge segment of the population that Mike Huckabee could win over by supporting research into the cause/causes of the astronomical increase in autism rates in our country. Now – 1 in 150 children are being born with Autism according to the CDC. Other groups measuring this have put the numbers as high as 1 in 64. Parents of autistic children face enormous challenges, and a recent Harvard study put the costs of autism in the multibillion dollar range. A statement from Mike Huckabee to the Autism Society of America that his message of prevention would mean finding the causes of this devastating National health crisis would secure him votes from the parents of the 1 in 150 children now being born with autism. I am a parent of an autistic daughter, and I can tell you that the disease is very devastating to society. Parents of autism have high divorce rates, high bankruptcy rates, and social problems. Schools have astronomically high costs of educating and early interventions. The earnings potential and productivity is completely effected.

This group of voters is a rabid bunch which will definitely support a candidate that makes a sincere effort to help this community. They will also hold that person accountable. I know Mike is a conservative man, but he is also a compassionate man. This is a huge issue that will secure the votes of those dealing with this terrible epidemic. I prayerfully hope that Mike Huckabee will consider supporting autism research and treatment efforts. If he does – I will start a viral movement to get the word out, and he will immediately get support in places like California, and even New York that are typically very liberal.

Don’t underestimate this group of people. Do your own due diligence, and research the passion that they displayed in pushing the combating autism act.

Thank you,

Jeff Edwards, Oklahoma

great idea.

Jeff,

You might be interested in this:
http://massachusettsforhuckabee.blogspot.com/2007/09/massachusetts-for-huckabee-exclusive.html

Huckabee made a $400 donation for a haircut as part of an autism research fundraiser. We should pass this on to show people an example of Gov. Huckabee's concern for others.

I saw the article about the Haircut, and I did forward it on. It would probably persuade a few folks, but if he made a stronger statement about the issue, he would get many folks from both parties to support him.

Thanks for the posts - and for supporting a good man like Huckabee

Regards,

Jeff

I wanted to point out that my point from October relating to autism and the huge number of people being affected by it has definately been picked up on by the Clinton Campaign - as the following press release came out this weekend. It would be very smart for the Huckabee campaign to make a comittment to this issue. I saw where John McCain was meeting with the Autism Society of America last weekend as well.



Clinton Stresses Commitment To Autism

By Jennifer Jacobs for the desmoinesregister.com. http://tinyurl.com/35eaen


Sioux City, Ia. - People with autism would see $700 million a year in spending for more research for cures and services if Hillary Clinton is elected, the Democratic presidential candidate said today.
"It's time we had a government and a president that recognized the seriousness of autism and addressed it head-on," Clinton told a crowd of more than 300 in Sioux City, a town evenly divided between Democratic, Republican and independent voters. "We can help people with autism live rich and full lives."
The alarming increase in autism in America was the topic of Clinton's first post-Thanksgiving visit to Iowa, a state where she plans to devote much more time between now and Christmas.
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Clinton said she would like to see an autism task force, grants for services for adults, teacher training, and a new national assistance center.
The number of people with autism is growing far faster than the options for treatment, Clinton said. She said she wants to invest more on tracking the possible causes of autism.
"I believe there are environmental triggers," she said.
Clinton said people are exposed to thousand of chemicals. "They are in the carpets. They are in the paints. They are in the clothes we wear," she said.
Democrat Sally Pederson told the audience that when her 24-year-old son, Ronald Autry, was diagnosed when he was 2, she'd never heard of autism.
The number of diagnoses have jumped from 1 in 10,000 in 1993 to 1 in 150 in 2007, said said Pederson, a former lieutenant governor of Iowa.
Ronald now has his own apartment and a job and recently purchased his first car.
"Thank you for your leadership," said Pederson, who intends to caucus for Clinton.
Clinton's plan would include a task force, that would include people from the autism community, that would be charged with identifying gaps in evidence-based biomedical research, behavioral treatments, and services for children and adults with autism.
A grant program would offer money for adults with autism, including for job training, housing, and transition services for young people leaving school.
She would expand access to care immediately after diagnosis. Intensive intervention as soon as possible following diagnosis yields the best outcomes, but too often, children have to wait for months, Clinton said.
There would be more money for school districts to provide teacher training. "A lot of teachers get no training whatsoever," Clinton said.
And the national technical assistance center would be a clearinghouse of information about autism treatments, interventions and services. The information would accessible to the public through the Internet.
One of Clinton's on-stage guests in Sioux City was Jane Seely, whose daughter Sara Seely has autism. The younger Seely asked Clinton a question about pollution and deforestation during a campaign stop earlier this week in Vinton.
Jane Seely said Sara hopes to be invited to Washington, D.C. if Clinton is elected.
"You will be invited to the inauguration, no doubt about it," Clinton answered, laughing.