The "Autism Vote" is not up for grabs...

I have to say I am offended at John McCain's attempts to use his VP pick as a basis to court the "autism vote" throughout the debate tonight.

My very bright but autistic child needs healthcare and educational opportunities and a brighter economic future, not just sympathy. Do not insult me by courting me as part of a demographic but failing to address the actual needs of that demographic.

How are you going to help children with autism? By nominating a woman with an autistic niece? Well, if that's your plan you have still not answered my question.

If your really want to court my vote as an "autism mom" either offer up actual policies that give me hope or nominate a neuroscientist but don't insult me with vague intimations that I will have some sort of "friend in the White House" because your running mate has a disabled child.

Being related to an autistic child does not make you an autism expert. And while choosing to have a Down's Syndrome child may be as hard or harder than raising an autistic child, this is again not a qualification to influence public policy.This does not make her any more of an expert on childhood disability than I am. Hell, my kid is older than hers, so I have seniority in that regard, frankly...