Posted on 06/19/2009 10:40:49 AM PDT by radar101
The California Republican Party seemed to hit political paydirt in a YouTube ad that pilloried the Service Employees International Union for "bullying state leaders in the budget process."
The ad featured footage of an angry woman telling lawmakers that union members would work to defeat lawmakers who didn't vote their way.
It turns out that the woman portrayed as an SEIU union leader in the commercial is a home health care worker from Fresno named Lisa Brown, who works for the state by caring for her son who has Down syndrome.
Now Brown is calling on Republicans to pull the ad and "apologize for its content."
"I am the mother and care provider for a sweet young man with developmental disabilities who doesn't comprehend the implications of budget cuts on the table in Sacramento," Brown said a letter to the state Republican Party.
Brown, who is an SEIU member but not a union official, said: "Your attempt to label me a 'union bully' would be hilarious if it weren't so dangerous to people that I love.'"
The GOP ran the video to counter a $1 million SEIU advertising blitz featuring a television commercial that urges lawmakers to consider taxes on oil extraction, cigarettes and alcohol to avoid social services cuts.
In the selected clip in the GOP ad, Brown hardly treads easily on lawmakers:
"We helped to get you into office, and we got a good memory," she says angrily at a legislative budget hearing. "And come November, if you don't back our program, we'll help to get you out of office."
Brown said in her letter that she appeared at the hearing "to speak from my heart and in my own words" on behalf of services for the disabled.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
I remain thankfully ignorant of retardation since my kids are normal.
As for this woman, to those who say she’s scamming the system, what she’s doing is taking the state up on their offer to pay her to stay home and take care of her son.
She needs a job or a husband with a job.
Why should anyone else have to pay for her & her defective kid?
Having a retarded kid is now a free ride forever? Why is that?
SOP.
How heartless is it if her son “doesn’t comprehend”? Not very I’m thinkin’.
You approve of the defective & retarded getting a free ride?
Calling people *retards* and things *retarded* is immature and should be left behind back in second grade.
It is no way for someone who calls themselves an adult to talk.
I can’t believe that there are people on FR who think that joking about other’s disabilities is funny.
Making snide remarks about people who do stupid things is one thing, but comments like that about something no one has any control over is another.
There but for the grace of God go I.....
I think He has pulled His grace.
There go you, retarded..
Yes, it’s common. Our neighbors’ daughter was profoundly disabled with spina bifida and a host of other issues. Her mother was paid so many hours a week for her care.
As I understand it X amount of money is allocated for home help/nursing care and family members often administer the care and receive the money.
What about all the non-disabled kids who suck at the public tit going to public schools? People pay into them even if they don't have kids going to them. When are you going to start objecting to that as well?
Time to be consistent about your stand.
So how in the world should all of us have to pay for the upkeep of this woman's kid?
So how in the world should all of us have to pay for the education of everyone else's kids?
So, now you're going to start advocating for homeschooling and criticizing anyone for sending their kids to public schools.
Same thing in NC. Our neighbors were paid to care for their own daughter. I assume it is cheaper than providing institutional placements.
Our neighbor received both.
We all pay for that, even my 77 year old mother.
Best use it if you have kidlets.
When are you going to start objecting to that as well?
Never. My kids are done with it. I continue to pay however.
So how in the world should all of us have to pay for the education of everyone else's kids?
Good question. There is no way around it that I can see.
So, now you're going to start advocating for homeschooling and criticizing anyone for sending their kids to public schools.
Oh, no. I reckon most "homeschool" kids are educated that way because they tried to go to real schools
but the other kids beat them up and made them cry so they whined to mommy
until mommy agreed to let them stay home and watch cartoons.
And I sincerely hope you gain sufficient confidence to argue a point without calling for backup.
Let's say you have an accident and become severely disabled? Does your family have the money support you indefinitely?
If not, what should be done with you?
Personally, I think that the entire constellation of problems that the mentally retarded have should be handled by insurance.
Parents should buy catastropic disability insurance when they are planning to have children and before the mother conceives. Then if there is a disabled child, insurance would pay for the medical, home care services, and **education** expenses of the child throughout his life.
I doubt though that insurance plans like this exist, but theoretically, they could.
I have insurance for that from my job.
Does your family have the money support you indefinitely?
Yes, not to put too fine a point on it.
If not, what should be done with you?
Many think I would make a good zoological exhibit.
Should I find myself without resources, I suppose I would die.
Do you think every person should be sustained past the point where God decrees they need to come on home?
I bet that makes God pretty mad, what with you over-ruling Him like that.
And note I need not call in my posse to support my position.
Dang that's weak.. why do y'all do it?
Entitlement my ass. Want to see where my property taxes go?
It is inconsistent to defend government schooling and then gripe about help to the mentally retarded.
Okay, here’s a thought: Let the kid run for the state legislature (have you seen our state lege lately?...he’s overqualified) and mama can go out and get a real job.
What if it's one of your kids?
Do you think every person should be sustained past the point where God decrees they need to come on home?
You believe that God has decreed that all disabled should die? What about those who clearly aren't dying?
I bet that makes God pretty mad, what with you over-ruling Him like that.
You must be a Christian Scientist.
I assume you refuse to take antibiotics if you have an infection and you would refuse surgery, chemotherapy or radiation if you got cancer.
Do you believe that our Lord, Jesus Christ was lying in Matthew 25:31-46?
I sure can gripe while mommy has no job.
Further, she is supported by the fact that she has a defective child.
NOT MY PROBLEM.
Does she work, other than caring for her little darling?
Sorry. Sympathy is not my thing.
I did not sire this child, and it is not entitled to anything other than normal education.
Surely the mother is not entitled to a living.
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