Re: Mc Cains possible VP Pick - Mom with Downs syndrome child?

[Guest guest]

1) why a strong pro-life politician would even bother to be tested for

DS? They said that they knew in the womb that " tests " showed DS. My

guess is that she got an amnio, because blood tests are not

conclusive. I may be wrong about this.

~~~~

To PREPARE!!!!

I also had an amnio and my Hub and I went back and forth with the " What if's "

I was NOT going to get an abortion no matter what the test results showed. I

was going to

have my baby no matter what. DS or not. I would have had this child.

Guess what? Test results were negative.

I got autism, it doesn't show in an amnio and I regret not one minute.

I am very pro life and I am not going to pretend that I am not.

I have the most beautiful son on the planet. He is almost 12 now and I regret

NOTHING. I

would much rather have my son than not.

Margo

[Guest guest]

Replying to my own post. I have to add:

My hub and I really did go back and forth with the amnio thing. I was 39 when I

had

Tristan and there was no way in hell I was going to abort. My Hub, on the other

hand,

thought if something was wrong.... No baby.

NOT!!!!!

Well, amnio was fine.

We got autistic child.

Hubby has made a complete turn around, and is now pro life. We have our

wonderful son

and if something showed on the amnio? Hub and I may be divorced.

We are still married (26 years) and we have a wonderful beautiful son. This

child would

have been born no matter what, but the amnio showed no problems.

Margo

>

> 1) why a strong pro-life politician would even bother to be tested for

> DS? They said that they knew in the womb that " tests " showed DS. My

> guess is that she got an amnio, because blood tests are not

> conclusive. I may be wrong about this.

> ~~~~

>

> To PREPARE!!!!

>

> I also had an amnio and my Hub and I went back and forth with the " What if's "

>

> I was NOT going to get an abortion no matter what the test results showed. I

was going

to

> have my baby no matter what. DS or not. I would have had this child.

>

> Guess what? Test results were negative.

>

> I got autism, it doesn't show in an amnio and I regret not one minute.

>

> I am very pro life and I am not going to pretend that I am not.

>

> I have the most beautiful son on the planet. He is almost 12 now and I regret

NOTHING.

I

> would much rather have my son than not.

>

> Margo

>

[Guest guest]

>

> you KNOW... everyone... in CHINA.. years ago.... the woman gave

birth and was back in the fields a day later.. with the baby on her

back... it is not impossible... Lia.. many women are up to it.. many

are not..

Was this an Olympic event?

Lenny

(ducking and running)

[Guest guest]

Very well said!

Thanks.

Lin

> >>

[Guest guest]

There are so many, much more politically " relevant " reasons that

totally disqualify Palin, that frankly we don't even have to nit pick

about her personal life. My opinion is my opinion and it is only

relevant here to show that in no way, form or shape I can relate to

this woman and in no way, form or shape has she anything in common

with Hillary Clinton to even pretend to go out after her votes.

Beti

> To each their own, I'm certainly not going to NOT vote for her

because of this, kwim?

[Guest guest]

Ah, I don't think so.....

I didn't go back to work and my son still had/has autism.

Margo

>

>

> I had to return to work within a couple of weeks of our son coming home

> from the hospital. Perhaps some would argue that is why he acquired

> autism?

>

> Lin

[Guest guest]

Wow!! I don't think I've EVER read or heard so many women putting down

another woman for her choices. I am not good at judging other's until

I've walked in their shoes. It's her and her families life, NOT OURS!!

Seems like there are a lot of Mrs. Kravitz's on here. Remember, how we

women stick together and tell our little girls that they can be anything

they want to be when they grow up. Then when they grow up and strive to

change things and do what they aspire to they seem to have other women

do nothing but put them down and judge them for everything. I say leave

her alone and let's wait and see what this wonderful woman has to offer.

We may be surprised! Let her tackle the good ole boys and see how much

she can change in Washington D.C.

I can't believe that I am a Grandmother ready to turn 60 soon ,watching

my daughter deal with my Grandson with Autism. She has been fighting

for him for 9 years now since his diagnosis. I am so proud of her and

the things she has done. I couldn't have handled the things she had to

do for him to make his life easier. She worked and worked and read and

read EVERYTHING she could. and it worked. With everything she did he is

no longer considered Autistic. He is attending Catholic School this

year in the 4th grade and is doing wonderful. I always told her she

could do anything she wanted or be anything she wanted. I would never

put her down for any choice she made in her life or let anyone tell her

she wasn't a GREAT MOM from ANY choices she made. We are ALL different

and our own person. So if any of you are the perfect Mother and you do

everything right, then by all means cast the 1st stone. I can't believe

you young women haven't learned anything from your Moms and

Grandmothers. We didn't have many choices. You do, even with disabled

children. Make the most of your lives and always make sure you back up

any Mother's dreams and goals. I say to Sara " YOU GO GIRL " . Thank you

for letting me vent.

MAY ALL OF YOU REACH YOUR HIGHEST GOALS AND RAISE YOUR LITTLE GIRLS TO

DO THE SAME!!

> > >

> > > My apologies if this has already been mentioned (I haven't

finished

> > reading all of today's EOHarm postings yet), but what struck me ODD

> > about Sara Palin was reading today (tho' I can't recall

> > exactly where), that she went back to work a mere 3 DAYS after Trig

> > was born!! How can you hope to " bond " with your kid, if you leave

them

> > that early? That does not auger well for doing right by kids with

> > disabilities.

> > >

> > > Aasa

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

---

that is the BEST response to this I have seen! How true. In

EOHarm , " yurcinan921 " wrote:

>

>

> Wow!! I don't think I've EVER read or heard so many women putting

down

> another woman for her choices. I am not good at judging other's

until

> I've walked in their shoes. It's her and her families life, NOT

OURS!!

> Seems like there are a lot of Mrs. Kravitz's on here. Remember,

how we

> women stick together and tell our little girls that they can be

anything

> they want to be when they grow up. Then when they grow up and

strive to

> change things and do what they aspire to they seem to have other

women

> do nothing but put them down and judge them for everything. I say

leave

> her alone and let's wait and see what this wonderful woman has to

offer.

> We may be surprised! Let her tackle the good ole boys and see how

much

> she can change in Washington D.C.

>

> I can't believe that I am a Grandmother ready to turn 60

soon ,watching

> my daughter deal with my Grandson with Autism. She has been

fighting

> for him for 9 years now since his diagnosis. I am so proud of her

and

> the things she has done. I couldn't have handled the things she

had to

> do for him to make his life easier. She worked and worked and read

and

> read EVERYTHING she could. and it worked. With everything she did

he is

> no longer considered Autistic. He is attending Catholic School this

> year in the 4th grade and is doing wonderful. I always told her she

> could do anything she wanted or be anything she wanted. I would

never

> put her down for any choice she made in her life or let anyone tell

her

> she wasn't a GREAT MOM from ANY choices she made. We are ALL

different

> and our own person. So if any of you are the perfect Mother and

you do

> everything right, then by all means cast the 1st stone. I can't

believe

> you young women haven't learned anything from your Moms and

> Grandmothers. We didn't have many choices. You do, even with

disabled

> children. Make the most of your lives and always make sure you

back up

> any Mother's dreams and goals. I say to Sara " YOU GO GIRL " .

Thank you

> for letting me vent.

>

> MAY ALL OF YOU REACH YOUR HIGHEST GOALS AND RAISE YOUR LITTLE GIRLS

TO

> DO THE SAME!!

>

>

>

> > > >

> > > > My apologies if this has already been mentioned (I haven't

> finished

> > > reading all of today's EOHarm postings yet), but what struck me

ODD

> > > about Sara Palin was reading today (tho' I can't recall

> > > exactly where), that she went back to work a mere 3 DAYS after

Trig

> > > was born!! How can you hope to " bond " with your kid, if you

leave

> them

> > > that early? That does not auger well for doing right by kids

with

> > > disabilities.

> > > >

> > > > Aasa

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you. I don't either.

Lin

> >> > > > I had to return to work within a couple of weeks of our son coming home> > from the hospital. Perhaps some would argue that is why he acquired> > autism?> > > > Lin>

[Guest guest]

ABSOLUTELY!!!

How quickly they turn on their own - sad.

Lin

> > > >> > > > My apologies if this has already been mentioned (I haven't> finished> > > reading all of today's EOHarm postings yet), but what struck me ODD> > > about Sara Palin was reading today (tho' I can't recall> > > exactly where), that she went back to work a mere 3 DAYS after Trig> > > was born!! How can you hope to "bond" with your kid, if you leave> them> > > that early? That does not auger well for doing right by kids with> > > disabilities.> > > >> > > > Aasa> > > >> > >> >>

[Guest guest]

Thank you!! I just speak from the heart. I have been reading on hear

all day on and off and I am having a really hard time reading anymore of

these back stabbing women's comments. No wonder women have a hard time

getting anywhere in this country. This is totally unbelievable! The

only thing I can come up with is the attitude " Iwill be the judge of

who is a good Mom! " This is why I'm afraid that the fight we're

fighting for our kids isn't going anywhere. We start out with the

bashing. Like they did with . You people ripped her apart too and

then found out she was one of the best things that has happened for our

kids.

I thought this was a place to be educated and find out what we can ALL

do for our children.

> > > > >

> > > > > My apologies if this has already been mentioned (I haven't

> > finished

> > > > reading all of today's EOHarm postings yet), but what struck me

> ODD

> > > > about Sara Palin was reading today (tho' I can't recall

> > > > exactly where), that she went back to work a mere 3 DAYS after

> Trig

> > > > was born!! How can you hope to " bond " with your kid, if you

> leave

> > them

> > > > that early? That does not auger well for doing right by kids

> with

> > > > disabilities.

> > > > >

> > > > > Aasa

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

With all due respect , being a female and a mother of a special

child are not sufficient reasons for electing someone to the

presidency or the vice presidency. What you call " back stabbing " is my

right as a citizen and as a voter to disagree with a candidate's

qualifications. The main issue here is not whether or not she is a

good mother, but whether or not she is going to make a good V.P., and

by sheer accident (God forbid), might make a good president.

People come and go, ideas remain. It's my humble opinion that there is

more chance in a democratic administration to take on big

corporations, and that includes big pharma, than under a republican one.

Beti

> > > > > >

> > > > > > My apologies if this has already been mentioned (I haven't

> > > finished

> > > > > reading all of today's EOHarm postings yet), but what struck me

> > ODD

> > > > > about Sara Palin was reading today (tho' I can't recall

> > > > > exactly where), that she went back to work a mere 3 DAYS after

> > Trig

> > > > > was born!! How can you hope to " bond " with your kid, if you

> > leave

> > > them

> > > > > that early? That does not auger well for doing right by kids

> > with

> > > > > disabilities.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Aasa

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I think it all depends on your delivery and how fast you bounce back. I was

fortunate

enough to have all good deliveries. I have 5 children (in 7 years). An hour

after my 4th

delivery I was in the hospital gift shop (on the maternity floor) shopping for

my beautiful

baby girl!

After some of my deliveries, my dh went back to work when I got home from the

hospital.

Many times 3 days after delivery I was at the grocery store or Babies r Us 3

carrying the

baby....and carrying other small ones in tow as well.

It sounds as though Ms. Palin had a great delivery and looks as though she was

in good

shape to begin with. She seems like a strong woman on every front.

AM

>

> you KNOW... everyone... in CHINA.. years ago.... the woman gave birth and was

back in

the fields a day later.. with the baby on her back... it is not impossible...

Lia.. many women

are up to it.. many are not..

>

>

> Re: Mc Cains possible VP Pick - Mom with Downs syndrome

child?

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'm a religious person who is pro-life, but find it hard to believe

the law will ever be overturned. We'd take away choice & go back to

backstreet abortions. I'm an older mom, son's 10. Was talked into

the earlier test, can't think of name now, where they sample via

another route. Our tests were fine. Got a flu shot after & went down

him from there. I don't think I could abort an innocent baby, but

that's just me.

I'm not proud to say, I haven't been in the trenches with legislators

as most of you. I've written letters. We can't afford all the biomed

we'd like to. So, don't have binders full of tests to help convince

officials how harmed our son is. He's higher functioning, but did not

recover. I've been harmed by fillings & vacc's as most of us.

I'm not trying to start anything. Pro-Life is the only issue

Republicans have I'm for. We view Democrats doing more for the poor

& middle class. As God would give us a fish & show us how to catch

it. View conservatives doing: Let's see if they catch a fish? What do

they do if they don't catch one? View some things as our fault which

is nonsense. Not all born poor can make it out, but can try.

Has anyone approached Obama's team? If so share. I may be wrong, but

think McCain picked her for 2 reasons. One to support pro-life views,

with her son for votes. 2. To improve special ed with all

her son will need. We know she has a long road ahead of her.

We don't know if she knows about vaccine dangers or would believe it.

It doesn't take long though. I understand some talked with McCain,

but don't know his views & how he'd fight pharma? A job that would

take guts & time whoever took them on.

Kathy

" betisus " wrote:

>

> With all due respect , being a female and a mother of a special

> child are not sufficient reasons for electing someone to the

> presidency or the vice presidency. What you call " back stabbing " is

my

> right as a citizen and as a voter to disagree with a candidate's

> qualifications. The main issue here is not whether or not she is a

> good mother, but whether or not she is going to make a good V.P.,

and

> by sheer accident (God forbid), might make a good president.

> People come and go, ideas remain. It's my humble opinion that there

is

> more chance in a democratic administration to take on big

> corporations, and that includes big pharma, than under a republican

one.

> Beti

>

>

>

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > My apologies if this has already been mentioned (I

haven't

> > > > finished

> > > > > > reading all of today's EOHarm postings yet), but what

struck me

> > > ODD

> > > > > > about Sara Palin was reading today (tho' I can't recall

> > > > > > exactly where), that she went back to work a mere 3 DAYS

after

> > > Trig

> > > > > > was born!! How can you hope to " bond " with your kid, if

you

> > > leave

> > > > them

> > > > > > that early? That does not auger well for doing right by

kids

> > > with

> > > > > > disabilities.

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > Aasa

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Sorry late & should have wrote " went down hill from there "

wrote:

>

> I'm a religious person who is pro-life, but find it hard to believe

> the law will ever be overturned. We'd take away choice & go back to

> backstreet abortions. I'm an older mom, son's 10. Was talked into

> the earlier test, can't think of name now, where they sample via

> another route. Our tests were fine. Got a flu shot after & went

down

> him from there. I don't think I could abort an innocent baby, but

> that's just me.

>

> I'm not proud to say, I haven't been in the trenches with

legislators

> as most of you. I've written letters. We can't afford all the

biomed

> we'd like to. So, don't have binders full of tests to help convince

> officials how harmed our son is. He's higher functioning, but did

not

> recover. I've been harmed by fillings & vacc's as most of us.

>

> I'm not trying to start anything. Pro-Life is the only issue

> Republicans have I'm for. We view Democrats doing more for the

poor

> & middle class. As God would give us a fish & show us how to catch

> it. View conservatives doing: Let's see if they catch a fish? What

do

> they do if they don't catch one? View some things as our fault

which

> is nonsense. Not all born poor can make it out, but can try.

>

> Has anyone approached Obama's team? If so share. I may be wrong,

but

> think McCain picked her for 2 reasons. One to support pro-life

views,

> with her son for votes. 2. To improve special ed with all

> her son will need. We know she has a long road ahead of her.

>

> We don't know if she knows about vaccine dangers or would believe

it.

> It doesn't take long though. I understand some talked with McCain,

> but don't know his views & how he'd fight pharma? A job that would

> take guts & time whoever took them on.

>

> Kathy

>

> " betisus " <bargun@> wrote:

> >

> > With all due respect , being a female and a mother of a

special

> > child are not sufficient reasons for electing someone to the

> > presidency or the vice presidency. What you call " back stabbing "

is

> my

> > right as a citizen and as a voter to disagree with a candidate's

> > qualifications. The main issue here is not whether or not she is a

> > good mother, but whether or not she is going to make a good V.P.,

> and

> > by sheer accident (God forbid), might make a good president.

> > People come and go, ideas remain. It's my humble opinion that

there

> is

> > more chance in a democratic administration to take on big

> > corporations, and that includes big pharma, than under a

republican

> one.

> > Beti

> >

> >

> >

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > My apologies if this has already been mentioned (I

> haven't

> > > > > finished

> > > > > > > reading all of today's EOHarm postings yet), but what

> struck me

> > > > ODD

> > > > > > > about Sara Palin was reading today (tho' I can't recall

> > > > > > > exactly where), that she went back to work a mere 3

DAYS

> after

> > > > Trig

> > > > > > > was born!! How can you hope to " bond " with your kid, if

> you

> > > > leave

> > > > > them

> > > > > > > that early? That does not auger well for doing right by

> kids

> > > > with

> > > > > > > disabilities.

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > Aasa

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

---Dont forget clintons were in in the 90's. The big push for more

vax was in the 90's. babies were given hep-b at 12 min old laced with

25 micros in the 90's...... Just saying before I cast any vote i wil

need more info on all the people involved. I however do not think

reverand white will approve of any white children typ or not.......

In EOHarm , cathylynn2 wrote:

>

> We need to be careful not mistake a woman for the RIGHT woman.

While

> I firmly believe that America needs a woman in the white house, I

> don't believe it enough to vote for just any woman, even if she is

> the mother of a special needs child. (And I don't see what is so

> noble about a woman who is rigidly anti-abortion choosing to keep

her

> Down's Syndrome child. For her there WAS no choice. She doesn't

> believe women should have that choice. I far more respect a woman

> who is pro-choice and decides to keep a baby with special needs.

> THAT is a REAL choice.)

>

> Senator McCain's choice of a running mate is very far out of line

> with my values. It is absolutely appalling to me that Governor

Palin,

> a mother of five children, could so blatantly ignore the

> environmental catastrophes that are occurring, literally, right

> outside her door. Her actions have shown that she doesn't care if

the

> polar bear disappears off the face of the earth, or whether grey

> wolves are altogether exterminated from certain areas of Alaska in

> order to boost the population of caribou and brown bear simply for

> hunters' enjoyment. And then there's her support of drilling in

the

> Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and her refusing to protect the

> precious population of Beluga Whales in Alaska's Cook Inlet,

because

> it could halt oil drilling efforts there.

>

> Some may say that these actions mean nothing in the larger scheme

of

> things or when weighed against the " progress " that she has made as

> governor of Alaska, but we must look at the bigger picture and

> acknowledge the importance of ecological balance. If our

government

> continues to ignore the needs of the environment in which we live,

it

> will bring us closer to the end of the world as we know it, a path

> that has been steadily forged over the past 8 years, which is a

long

> time when it comes to the fragile balance of bio-diversity on the

> planet. If people with these types of values are running the

country,

> then we may well be facing another horrible war....the war on the

> natural world and our children's future. We are also in an

> environmental crisis like none this planet has ever seen before

>

> I believe in Mother Earth more than I believe in just any woman

who

> claims to know what's best for my country, my body and for my

> children. If I am going to vote for a woman as a leader of my

> country, she must respect the principles of LIFE in BALANCE and

put

> the Earth first, because that's what the men of Washington need to

> learn the most and that's what the RIGHT woman will help teach them.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hahaha Lenny. Funny.

> >

> > you KNOW... everyone... in CHINA.. years ago.... the woman gave

> birth and was back in the fields a day later.. with the baby on her

> back... it is not impossible... Lia.. many women are up to it.. many

> are not..

>

> Was this an Olympic event?

>

> Lenny

> (ducking and running)

>

[Guest guest]

No one is saying that. You just said yourself "the main issue is not whether Palin is a good mother, but whether or not she would make a good vp"....well then why in world do so many keep harping on what kind of a mother she is??And what makes you believe a democrat can fix this mess? Haven't you realized by now that they have all screwed us? REPUBLICANS and DEMOCRATS!!!!!!!!!!Stop looking to the government to fix this mess our country is in....they enabled it! The "elite" who really run this country love to keep us divided by party, they perpetuate the arguments between us, it keeps us from accomplishing anything that protects us from their corrupt ways.Americans who continue to get caught up in the democrat vs. republican arguments are ripping this country apart!! If your a republican get over yourself ! If your a democrat get over yourself! Neither party has upheld it's standards.Be an American! "We the PEOPLE!!!"NOT "We the DEMOCRATS" NOT "We the REPUBLICANS" NOT "We the GOVERNMENT!!!!!"> > > > > > >> > > > > > > My apologies if this has already been mentioned (I haven't> > > > finished> > > > > > reading all of today's EOHarm postings yet), but what struck me> > > ODD> > > > > > about Sara Palin was reading today (tho' I can't recall> > > > > > exactly where), that she went back to work a mere 3 DAYS after> > > Trig> > > > > > was born!! How can you hope to "bond" with your kid, if you> > > leave> > > > them> > > > > > that early? That does not auger well for doing right by kids> > > with> > > > > > disabilities.> > > > > > >> > > > > > > Aasa> > > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > >> > > >> > >> >>

[Guest guest]

Thank you for sharing your wisdom!

Lin

> > > > > >> > > > > > My apologies if this has already been mentioned (I haven't> > > finished> > > > > reading all of today's EOHarm postings yet), but what struck me> > ODD> > > > > about Sara Palin was reading today (tho' I can't recall> > > > > exactly where), that she went back to work a mere 3 DAYS after> > Trig> > > > > was born!! How can you hope to "bond" with your kid, if you> > leave> > > them> > > > > that early? That does not auger well for doing right by kids> > with> > > > > disabilities.> > > > > >> > > > > > Aasa> > > > > >> > > > >> > > >> > >> >>

[Guest guest]

This isn't about party for my family. It is about who is sincere in his/her desire to help us help our kids. Knowing what I know, having seen what I've seen, first hand, it isn't going to be Obama-Biden.

Lin

> > > > > > >> > > > > > > My apologies if this has already been mentioned (I haven't> > > > finished> > > > > > reading all of today's EOHarm postings yet), but what struck me> > > ODD> > > > > > about Sara Palin was reading today (tho' I can't recall> > > > > > exactly where), that she went back to work a mere 3 DAYS after> > > Trig> > > > > > was born!! How can you hope to "bond" with your kid, if you> > > leave> > > > them> > > > > > that early? That does not auger well for doing right by kids> > > with> > > > > > disabilities.> > > > > > >> > > > > > > Aasa> > > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > >> > > >> > >> >>

[Guest guest]

Obama, McCain it's all the same!

NWO puppets.

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > My apologies if this has already been mentioned (I haven't

> > > > > finished

> > > > > > > reading all of today's EOHarm postings yet), but what struck

> me

> > > > ODD

> > > > > > > about Sara Palin was reading today (tho' I can't recall

> > > > > > > exactly where), that she went back to work a mere 3 DAYS

> after

> > > > Trig

> > > > > > > was born!! How can you hope to " bond " with your kid, if you

> > > > leave

> > > > > them

> > > > > > > that early? That does not auger well for doing right by kids

> > > > with

> > > > > > > disabilities.

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > Aasa

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

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[Guest guest]

[http://www.autismactioncoalition.org/McCain_Lieberman_letter.html]

or

http://tinyurl.com/5at8u8

JOHN McCAIN ENTERS THE AUTISM WARS

http://www.ageofautism.com/2008/02/john-mccain-ent.html

or

http://tinyurl.com/6lzboe

Vaccination

On February 28, 2008 McCain told ABC News' Bret Hovell, "It's indisputable that (autism) is on the rise amongst children, the question is what's causing it. And we go back and forth and there's strong evidence that indicates that it's got to do with a preservative in vaccines."[290]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_views_of__McCain

or

http://tinyurl.com/5o5bop

McCain Blames Autism on Mercury

Joyner | Monday, March 3, 2008

http://tinyurl.com/64yno4

or

http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/mccain_blames_autism_on_mercury_/

McCain on Pharma:

http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/04/news/companies/pharma_votes/index.htm

or

http://tinyurl.com/627hq4

Big Pharma opens wallet to Dems

Liberals have lost their reputation as the long-standing foes to drugmakers as party lines become blurred with McCain.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Democrats have long served as the traditional enemy of Big Pharma, but in this presidential campaign, the left is taking the lion's share of drugmaker money.

Democratic senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are the top recipients of donations from the pharmaceutical industry, according to The Center for Responsive Politics, a non-profit, non-partisan research group in Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, donations to Sen. McCain, who was recently endorsed by President Bush as the official Republican candidate, pale in comparison.

Obama maintains a slight edge over his Democratic rival, with $181,000 in Big Pharma donations through Jan. 31, compared with Clinton's $174,000, according to the center. McCain is far behind with $44,000.

This is in spite of the fact that all three candidates have consistently bashed the pharma industry and vowed to lower drug prices, which would take a bite out of corporate profits.

But it wasn't always this way. Big Pharma, voting with its wallet, used to be more of an enthusiastic supporter for the Grand Old Party.

In the 2004 presidential election, drugmakers donated $516,000 to the Bush campaign, a huge increase over the $280,000 provided to Sen. Kerry, the Democratic candidate from Massachusetts, according to the center.

A changing climate

There are two reasons for the recent shift in funding. The Bush administration may still control the White House, but Republicans no longer control Congress. Democrats hold the majority in the House, and the parties are evenly split in the Senate. Drugmakers could be trying to secure access to the ruling party by courting their traditional enemies.

"Since the Democrats took control of Congress in 2006, money has shifted away from Republicans, to the Democrats who hold the keys to the kingdom," said Massie Ritsch, a spokesman for The Center for Responsive Politics. "The pharmaceutical industry is one that would lean Republican if it didn't have to make friends with the party that's in power right now."

Merck spokesman Ron said his company has never announced support for a specific candidate and "has always sought to work with both Republicans and Democrats on the issues that affect pharmaceutical innovations whether one party or the other has controlled the Congress of White House."

Schering-Plough spokesman Steve Galpin said his company has not donated to any presidential candidates. Other drugmakers contacted on this issue - Pfizer and Eli Lilly & Co. - did not comment by press time.

Secondly, the distinctions have blurred between the two parties' relationship with big business. Democrats have traditionally been seen as enemies to the pharmaceutical industry, while Republicans are supposed to be their allies.

"I think what you can say about the philosophical divide is that the Republicans as a party believe in free markets and the Democrats want to socialize our healthcare system," said Barbara , pharma analyst for Deutsche Bank North America.

But with McCain as the conservative contender for the White House, the issues are no longer black and white. noted that the current campaign lacks hard and fast party differences in healthcare. In fact, the policies from of Clinton, Obama and McCain are uniformly unfriendly toward Big Pharma.

The high cost of prescriptions

Much of their political ire is focused on drug prices. All the candidates co-sponsored a bill early last year to allow the re-importation of U.S.-made drugs back from Canada, where they're cheaper. But the bill failed to pass the Senate.

McCain, who has described himself as "the biggest enemy of the pharmaceutical industry in Washington," has been particularly vocal on re-importation.

"Why shouldn't we be able to re-import drugs from Canada?" he asked during the New Hampshire republican debates in January. "It's because of the power of the pharmaceutical companies."

"Don't turn the pharmaceutical companies into the big bad guys," countered Mitt Romney, the former presidential candidate who has since dropped out of the race.

"Well, they are," said McCain.

Campaign crosshairs are also focused on the Bush administration's ban on drug-price negotiations between the government and drug companies. This ban was included in the 2003 Medicare Modernization Act. Removing it could result in lower drug prices, which would put the squeeze on pharma sales.

Obama and Clinton have clearly stated that they oppose the ban on price negotiations.

"[Clinton] has been very much against the non-negotiation ban, said Gene Sperling, her economic advisor, as well as former director of the National Economic Council for former President Bill Clinton. "She feels that that puts the government in a worse position than a big company."

Obama, on his campaign Web site, has vowed to repeal the ban that prevents the government from negotiating with drug companies, estimating it could result in savings of up to $30 billion for patients.

McCain's stance on this issue isn't clear. When Democrats failed to pass a bill last year that would have eliminated the ban, he wasn't present for the vote. McCain's office did not return calls and emails asking about his position on this issue.

Business as usual

But even with all the political rhetoric, Wall Street doesn't seem to be paying attention.

Alan , manager of Schwab's $800 million healthcare portfolio, which includes holdings in Pfizer (PFE, Fortune 500), Merck (MRK, Fortune 500), & (JNJ, Fortune 500), Schering-Plough (SGP, Fortune 500) and other major pharma companies, said he wasn't sure which of the candidates posed the biggest shake-up for the industry - if at all. He also said that the campaign is not a factor in his investment decisions.

"I think it's probably easier to talk about change to get votes than it is to actually change the system," he said.

> > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > My apologies if this has already been mentioned (I > haven't> > > > > finished> > > > > > > reading all of today's EOHarm postings yet), but what > struck me> > > > ODD> > > > > > > about Sara Palin was reading today (tho' I can't recall> > > > > > > exactly where), that she went back to work a mere 3 DAYS > after> > > > Trig> > > > > > > was born!! How can you hope to "bond" with your kid, if > you> > > > leave> > > > > them> > > > > > > that early? That does not auger well for doing right by > kids> > > > with> > > > > > > disabilities.> > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > Aasa> > > > > > > >> > > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > >> > > >> > >> >>

[Guest guest]

Welcome, and thank you for your post!!

Lin

> > > >> > > > My apologies if this has already been mentioned (I haven't> finished> > > reading all of today's EOHarm postings yet), but what struck me ODD> > > about Sara Palin was reading today (tho' I can't recall> > > exactly where), that she went back to work a mere 3 DAYS after Trig> > > was born!! How can you hope to "bond" with your kid, if you leave> them> > > that early? That does not auger well for doing right by kids with> > > disabilities.> > > >> > > > Aasa> > > >> > >> >>

[Guest guest]

Thank you!!! This post ROCKS!!!

Lin

> > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > My apologies if this has already been mentioned (I haven't> > > > > finished> > > > > > > reading all of today's EOHarm postings yet), but what struck> me> > > > ODD> > > > > > > about Sara Palin was reading today (tho' I can't recall> > > > > > > exactly where), that she went back to work a mere 3 DAYS> after> > > > Trig> > > > > > > was born!! How can you hope to "bond" with your kid, if you> > > > leave> > > > > them> > > > > > > that early? That does not auger well for doing right by kids> > > > with> > > > > > > disabilities.> > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > Aasa> > > > > > > >> > > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > >> > > >> > >> >>

[Guest guest]

OMG!!!! I have never seen so much judgement based on so little

knowledge in my life from a group of people who should certainly know

better! How many times have you or your child been judged harshly by

someone who just saw one small scene out of your life. How do you

know she cant do the job. How do you know she cant give her children

what they need. I dare you to tell my husband who raised his

children alone for 8 years that a father cannot do a good job of

parenting. I am really apalled at some of the opinions expressed

here. ---

In EOHarm , Primer wrote:

>

> " 3) forget going back to work after 3 days--which I assume was

because

> of her tremendous responsibilities as a governor, in which case she

> should never have become pregnant at a job like that to begin with

> IMHO-- but what about being able to give ANY kind of attention and

> care to this special child down the road? How can anybody have 5

> children, run for VP, still have the responsibilities of

governorship

> AND attend to all these kiddos properly? How? How? How? "

>

>  

> Wow I am speechless....As a mom of 4 who works full time,

volunteers for numerous organizations, I personally think parents of

3 or more children have the skills needed to be more organized and

understand the how to get stuff done.  I have had more parents of 2

kids tell me they can't volunteer due to having to get two kids to

two different places.  Most of the mom's I know who do the most have

the most kids.  Just my 2 cents.

>  

>

>

>

>

> Re: Mc Cains possible VP Pick - Mom with Downs

syndrome child?

>

>

> Not to put more fuel on this fire about Palin, but can somebody

please

> tell me

>

> 1) why a strong pro-life politician would even bother to be tested

for

> DS? They said that they knew in the womb that " tests " showed DS. My

> guess is that she got an amnio, because blood tests are not

> conclusive. I may be wrong about this.

>

> I'm a strong believer " choice " as a public policy. But people may

make

> different personal decisions. That's what CHOICE means (pro choice

> does NOT mean pro- abortion). I chose not to get an amnio and not to

> abort when I was pregnant with my now only child, because I did not

> want to risk a miscarriage with amnio and decided that I wanted the

> baby no matter what. I made that personal decision, but I want women

> to have that choice as a matter of public policy.

>

> 2) I know I will get a lot of heat for this but, why would anybody

get

> pregnant with their 5th child while bearing the very serious

> responsibility of governing a state? And why would anyone get

pregnant

> at age 44 knowing that the risk is so high for DS? Can we assume

that

> it is possible that Palin may get pregnant with a 6th child while in

> the White House? It's conceivable based on the pattern here. And

> please don't tell me " what's wrong with that? "

>

> 3) forget going back to work after 3 days--which I assume was

because

> of her tremendous responsibilities as a governor, in which case she

> should never have become pregnant at a job like that to begin with

> IMHO-- but what about being able to give ANY kind of attention and

> care to this special child down the road? How can anybody have 5

> children, run for VP, still have the responsibilities of

governorship

> AND attend to all these kiddos properly? How? How? How?

>

> I regard this part of this candidate's life (I'm not saying anything

> about her political career--YET) a bit tainted by poor judgment.

>

> My opinion. I too am ready to be slapped around. So go ahead if you

like.

>

> Beti

>

>

> > >

> > > My apologies if this has already been mentioned (I haven't

finished

> > reading all of today's EOHarm postings yet), but what struck me

ODD

> > about Sara Palin was reading today (tho' I can't recall

> > exactly where), that she went back to work a mere 3 DAYS after

Trig

> > was born!! How can you hope to " bond " with your kid, if you leave

them

> > that early? That does not auger well for doing right by kids with

> > disabilities.

> > >

> > > Aasa

> > >

> >

>

>

> Primer who lives in Oceansidebut is in

CarlsbadUnifiedSchool District

> ~All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed.

Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-

evident.  -- Arthur Schopenhauer

> ~Well-behaved women seldom make history~ Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

>