McCain-Palin Campaign Ridicules People with Disabilities?

Through the kind generosity of a business colleague, I have been fortunate enough to share in some enlightenment regarding the inclusion rights of disabled citizens - a now not-so-silent population of productive and able citizens.

I have received some interesting information about some unkindly activities in the midst of our recent campaign and voting frenzy. With the blessing of the originators of this message indicated near the top of this news release text, I am now able to hand this off for your consideration.

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DISABILITY RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS EXPRESS OUTRAGE OVER ATTACKS AT MCCAIN-PALIN RALLY

NEWS RELEASE

October 31, 2008

Disability Rights Organizations Express Outrage Over Attacks at McCain-Palin Rally

(Washington, DC) The National Coalition for Disability Rights (NCDR) pushed back today against the McCain-Palin campaign for ridiculing the legal rights of people with disabilities. News reports describe McCain-Palin campaign representative Senator Kit Bond (R-Mo), joining Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin at a rally in Rush Limbaugh's hometown of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, mocking Presidential candidate Senator Barak Obama for stating that he's looking to nominate judges who empathize with "the disabled."

"It's Halloween and it seems that Sarah Palin's mask of support for people with "special needs" is slipping. Despite past pandering to people with disabilities, McCain-Palin are actually opposed to vital disability legislation like the Community Choice Act and they want to appoint judges who will further roll back the civil rights protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act," declared NCDR's founder and president, Jim Ward.

NPR's Nina Totenberg has reported that McCain-Palin's and conservatives' "most oft-mentioned prospects" for nomination to the Supreme Court include Ohio Judge Jeffrey Sutton. Sutton was opposed by hundreds of disability organizations when he was nominated by President Bush after successfully weakening the ADA with states' rights arguments. As a sitting judge, he has recently supported the execution of criminals with developmental disabilities and has undermined the Help America Vote Act(HAVA).

Disability rights advocates are further incensed that the McCain-Palin campaign has reframed this civil rights struggle, one founded in concepts of equality, dignity and self-respect, as an issue of "special needs."

Disability rights advocate, Steve Gold states, "Yes we need support services. Yes we need inclusive education. Yes we need integrated employment. Yes we need equal rights. This is not "special". These needs are based on us, people with disabilities, equal members of our communities. We are not inspirational nor are we "special". We are PROUD PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES who should push back when anyone describes us as anything but equal members of our communities."

The National Coalition for Disability Rights isa nonpartisan nonprofit that does not endorse political candidates. We are a coalition of national, state and local disability, civil rights and social justice organizations united to protect and promote the human rights of children and adults with physical and mental disabilities.

National Coalition for Disability Rights

1701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 300

Washington, DC 20006

202-448-9928 - info@ncdr.org

www.ADAWatch.org

Contacts:

Jim Ward, Founder and President

National Coalition for Disability Rights

202-415-4753 or jward@ncdr.org

Marcie Roth, Executive Director

National Coalition for Disability Rights

301-717-7447 or mroth@ncdr.org

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