FWD: Autistic father police escort out of Congressman Joe Barton's office

[Guest guest]

http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=aa2-bFlASpo

Just when you think it can't get any worse, apparently it can....

After months of seeking an appointment with his Congressman

regarding the Combating Autism Act, Mike, father of a 3.5 year old

son with autism who lives in Texas, is escorted on this video (web

address below) from Congressman Joe Barton's district office with a

police escort.

Not only is Joe Barton hell bent on being the one man to hold up a

bill that the majority fo Congress would like to see passed, but he

and his staff apparently are tired, and better yet...are actually

fearful, of talking to the autism community to the point that even

if they are constituents, they will be treated as uninvited guests.

Mike arrived at the office on October 25, 2006, without an

appointment at the same time that Congressman Joe Barton was in the

conference room meeting with other parents and constituents

regarding the Combating Autism Act.

In this clip, Mike is told repeatedly that there is absolutely no

room for him to attend the meeting or be included because the room

is so so small. No door can be opened. He cannot stand in the door

frame of that room. There is just no room at the inn.

Additionally, the staff makes it clear to Mike that members of the

autism community are the most vile and frightening people with whom

they have ever spoken.

Regardless of the number of times Mike simply requests to speak with

his Congressman, his requests are denied. A staffer calls 911 to

have Mike removed.

While Mike is firm in expressing his concerns and wishes, he is in

no way vile or threatening.

I am sending this to you not to spark a flood of angry calls to

Congressman Barton's office, but to employ another tactic. In the

past, grass roots activity has been very strong in this community.

What would happen if our community viewed this video over and over

and over again?

Would it make the top of the YouTube list? Can we do that? Over this

weekend? We get an extra hour after all on Saturday night....

250,000 hits gets you make to the front page of their website. Send

this link to anyone and everyone you know far and wide. Cousins, co-

workers, aunts, neighbors, teachers, friends of friends...pass it

on.

Pop popcorn, grab a coke, a smile and have a party....

Because there really is nothing more interesting to me as a citizen

of the United States of America than to see a constituent who takes

the time to express his concerns to his own Congressman, in person,

then be escorted out of the office by police. What has our society

regressed to? I would bet Jefferson and Washington are

rolling over in their graves....

Barton is there to serve Mike whether he wants to serve Mike or not.

Mike may or may not have voted for Barton, but regardless Barton

opted when he took office to represent his constituency and to do

that he has an obligation to listen to Mike's concerns. With that

choice, comes responsibility.

The fact that he is clearly present in the office participating in a

meeting two rooms over on the very subject Mike wants to discuss but

prefers to have Mike escorted from the office by the police rather

than open the door to the room is unfathomable to me.

If the opportunity for Americans to visit with their Congressmen is

fading, that should be of grave concern to every single American....

all 300 Million of us.

Here is the link...happy YouTubing!

http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=aa2-bFlASpo

Reynolds

Unlocking Autism

www.unlockingautism .org