So, if you are a veteran thinker you were most definitely watching the play by play of the Congressional Hearing on the Federal Response to Autism on CSPAN yesterday. You could probably identify the faces in the crowd: the vivacious Jenn Larson, with her ever-present Canary feather representing the Canary Party; Carolyn Gammicchia, with her long, slicked-back braid and visage of vigilance; Kim Mack Rosenberg’s penetrating glance; Katie Wright, bobbing and grimacing like someone was feeding her spoonful after spoonful of apple cider vinegar. Her face spoke louder than any speaker at that table.
Sunshine is on her way to the Congressional Autism Hearing in D.C. There to represent, along with Mamacita, all the Thinkers and their thinking families. Let’s get something done in Washington!
Yeah, we’ve heard this all before. Every single one of them seemed to be saying with their eyes and body language.
But… wait.
Congress is listening. They’re really… listening! They’re asking questions. Can this be?
After the tedium of intros and announcements of good intent the speakers made an earnest attempt to delve into the meat of this EPIDEMIC. Sorry, Ari Ne’eman, we know how you detest that word. But if it stims like a duck that’s just had his well-bird visit to the vet, and said duck can no longer walk like a duck and loses his ability to quack like a duck… well… it’s an autistic duck. And it’s an EPIDEMIC. The Congress members, CONGRESS, kept using the word. Epidemic. Epidemic. Epidemic. THEY used it for a change, instead of us. And they used it in the same paragraph with the word… VACCINES!
Sunshine, Rolf Hazelhurst and Mamacita at the Congressional Autism Hearing
Repeatedly.
Could this be?
Why, when Representative Maloney questioned CDC Dr. Colleen Boyle about the studies involving vaccines she was downright confrontational. She asked her THREE times point-blank, “Are you studying vaccines?” Three times. Dr. Boyle could only respond that they give so many shots at one time because parents don’t always come back for the rest.
Still not an answer as to whether or not the CDC is studying vaccines in relation to autism.
Don’t get me started on Dr. Guttmacher of the NIH. This poor fellow, despite weeks to prepare was hard pressed to answer a single question. If he did not say, “I can get that to you…,” or “I don’t have those statistics with me…,” he was filling the space with nonsense about the increase in Caesarean births and how we need to study the gut flora of the mother (during Caesarean birthing) and what possible impact that process may have on the fetus. Oh no, wait, it’s car emissions. No, sorry… it’s uhm… old dads. For sure. Or not.
Jen Larson of the Canary Party, Kim Mack Rosenberg and Lisa Colin of EBCALA taking their seats
How could we possibly know? This seemed to be Dr. Guttmacher’s anthem. To him, the causative factors of autism are environmental for sure, but gosh, golly, how would he know? He just runs the National Institute of Health, a bastion of cutting-edge solutions for the health and welfare of the public.
If it was, say… 1903. Nah, 1856.
Neither he nor Dr. Boyle were exactly sure how many shots go into the bodies of our developing babies and could only assert that the approximations reported by congress seemed like a lot.
So, all this was going on and as Thinkers we’ve become accustomed to such idiocy. But, today, November 29, 2012, Congress bore witness to it too.
As fellow Thinking Mom the Professor, known to the real world as Zoey O’Toole, quipped, “You realize what this hearing means, right? The tide HAS turned. We are no longer the crazies in tin foil hats. THIS is in the Congressional record!”
Mamacita, Sunshine & their Mini Thinkers with U.S. Representative Dan Burton (Photo credit: Carolyn Gammicchia)
Thank you.
Thank you, Dan Burton. Thank you, Representatives Maloney, Buchanan, Posey, and Cummings.
THANK YOU.
I think, for me personally, the Cherrybrook icing on the GF/CF/SF Namaste spice cake was when Representative Cummings asked Mark Blaxill, Safeminds Founder and Canary Party Co-Founder, if he was alluding to what has been happening to our children all these years as “fraud.” Uh-huh. Yep. He said it!
Related Video: Click here to watch Thalia Seggelink of The Thinking Moms’ Revolution interviewed Representative Dan Burton on the eve of the first Congressional Hearing on Autism in a Decade (http://wp.me/p2mXj9-2xw)
F-R-A-U-D.
That’s the Vaccine Court, he was talking about. That’s the CDC’s efforts to downplay this EPIDEMIC. That’s the NIH’s smokescreens. That’s DHHS Head, Kathleen Sebelius’s orders to the media to silence parents, doctors and scientists who talk about a vaccine/autism link. That’s Julie Gerberding, former CDC Head leaving her post at the CDC, after telling the world that Hannah Poling’s mitochondrial disease is “rare” and was not “caused by” but “resulted from” vaccines. That’s the suppression of the Simpsonwood Conference. The Ely Lily Rider.
Mark Blaxill speaking at the autism hearing on the true epidemic
Cover-up. Collusion. Fraud.
Yes. Mr. Blaxill spoke. And it was good. All the people of the land were sated.
Do you feel good right now? Because I do.
Alas… here’s the part where I suck the life out of you like a character from First Blood: It’s over now.
And it’s time to move forward. The only reason we were taken seriously is because the public is outraged. Today we were given a really good show. Now congress needs to show up. They need to hold Boyle and Guttmacher accountable for all the data they were incapable of providing. They need to start influencing legislation, meaningful legislation, that gives parents healthcare freedom and dismantles the Medical Industrial Complex. And they need to abolish the Vaccine Court.
To watch the recorded video of the Congressional Hearing on Nov 29, 2012 please click here
That’s where you come in.
The Thinking Moms’ Revolution, VaxTruth, Age of Autism and every other true autism media news source will soon be calling YOU to action.
This hearing has to be the first of many if there is going to be real change and genuine justice for our children, and the ONLY WAY this issue is going to be heard is if we continue to INSIST that it is. Because, you will note, despite the impassioned responses, the knowing nods, the sympathetic glances and words of comfort and validation, you did not hear about today’s proceedings on your evening news. It wasn’t on CNN, FOX or MSNBC.
This is a NATIONAL EMERGENCY. Now that we know Congress recognizes this we need the rest of our country to fall in line and start treating it as such. It’s a tsunami that is taking our babies one well-baby visit at a time. And if you weren’t a Thinker, and you were having your first baby and you didn’t happen to channel surf to CSPAN yesterday, how would you know?
~ Yours in Action, the Rev
* For more by The Rev, please click here
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To everyone who was kind enough to respond and wants more info please “friend” me personally at Lisa Joyce Goes on FB and I will get you all you need to share with friends and I think we should have some snippets to share that are particularly pertinent that Alison MacNeil put together. Thank you all so much for your support, comments and drive. You push us to push harder! So grateful we are. xo the rev
I submitted my testimony to be part of the public record for this meeting via fax 202-225-3974
Will there be a transcript available?
And can someone PLEASE put short little snippets of highlights on YouTube, so we can send them to our colleagues at work, our families who never believed us before, our friends, our doctors? Post them on forums, FaceBook, comment sections of blogs, etc.?
I don’t want anyone to be able to make the excuse that they didn’t have time to watch the whole thing, so they watched NOTHING. Let’s give’em highlights to watch!!
Here is the link to the C-SPAN video. There are also transcripts available on the same site!!
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/event/211465
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“But if it stims like a duck that’s just had his well-bird visit to the vet, and said duck can no longer walk like a duck and loses his ability to quack like a duck… well… it’s an autistic duck.” That is priceless!
This was an amazing hearing, and if it sinks into the lake with barely a ripple showing that will be very disappointing. So many times over the past 15 years or so it seemed like we were on the verge of a breakthrough. But the CDC and FDA and pharma are advocating against themselves by continuing to add more and more vaccines with a totally inadequate response to the unintended consequences. More and more people have witnessed adverse reactions in themselves or their loved ones. It’s becoming undeniable. And while 20 years ago it might not have occurred to someone that seizures or paralysis or autism might be the result of a recent round of vaccines, now people have heard of a possible connection and so will at least consider it.
Anyway, this was an absolutely amazing event and I am so grateful to those who planned it and attended. I’m so happy to know that there are some congresspeople who get it. It was so amazing to see families listened to and the CDC and NIH questioned intelligently.
I am currently committed to revealing the connection between gmo’s containing forms of pesticides to the unimaginable increase of autism, digestive disorders and such. How much does the autistic community realize that an organic diet can sometimes actually heal the child? I did not vaccinate 22 years ago and so I’m aware of the consequences of vaccines. But what about pesticides? The introduction of massive gmo’s directly correlates with the massive increase of autism. The baby formulas are horrific and unacceptable. I will be present to all that you are doing and plan to begin speaking and helping families to restructure their nutritional lifestyles. Thank you for who you are and for speaking powerfully! Kari
Great article. I myself was damaged by vaccines, and settled with the vaccine court just this year. The people running the court are indeed scumbags like Thorsen, and I agree with Cindy’s comments. Just after a doctor that we paid to be an expert witness told me that there was nothing wrong with me and I was making up my symptoms, he got pissed when I put a stop payment on his check. A week after we settled our case with Vaccine Court for a very small amount because of this guys refusal to stand up for me, his partner told me that my neurological problems were indeed caused by the slew of vaccines I stupidly let my primary care provider inject me with five years ago. His advise was “you need to get over it.” Move on. That ain’t gonna happen. We do need to keep on these people and to continue to tell our stories everyday.
I was so proud of ALL of you yesterday!! I loved your impassioned nods, facial expressions, gestures, etc. Congress got it!! They saw it with their own lives how autism has taken away so much from us!! I loved the one congressman who suggested Boyle turn around, and that she would see grown men crying. She just sat their pan-faced as always. And the fact that she could not look anyone in the eyes when she answered their questions, was VERY telling!!
So, now for the question. What do WE do to keep this momentum up? Do we call our congressmen, write letters, etc. I kept reading that we could submit something that would be in the records for today, and that we had five days to submit it. Anyone know who we submit that to? I want our story to be heard. I want my government held responsible for their lack of testing and the injury they caused in my baby!! I am prepared to fight!
So far I wrote to my congressman, senators, and the president. Easy to do – just Google to find their websites and look for the Comment tab. Plus some have FB pages you can post on. Just drops of water, but maybe if all of us do it enough we can wear down the stones a bit. Of course there’s lots more to do too.
What are steps I can take and share with others for how to hold those involved with the hearing accountable to their promises. I could use names and contact info for those who might need email prodding or phone call reminders. Please share as much as you can re. How I can help and share with others how they can help.
Thanks
Cathy
Cath, see the message below. Call, email, fax these members and ask everyone you know to call, email, fax them as well. Thank you, and love you!! Mamacita
Thank you to our friend Christine Heeren for this list:
Please call & thank the following members of the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee for attending the autism hearing on Nov. 29th, 2012: Rep. Darrell E. Issa (CA-49) Chairman (202) 225-3906
Rep. Elijah Cummings (MD-7) Ranking Member
(202) 225-4741
Rep. Dan Burton (IN-05) (202) 225-2276
Rep. Paul Gosar (AZ-1) (202) 225-2315
Rep. Pat Meehan (PA-7) (202) 225-2011
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY-14) (202) 225-7944
Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C.)
(202) 225-8050
Rep. Dennis Kucinich (OH-10) (202) 225-5871
Rep. John Tierney (MA-6) (202) 225-8020
Rep. Danny Davis (IL-7) (202) 225-5006
Rep. John Yarmuth (KY-3) (202) 225-5401
Rep. Jim Matheson (UT-2) (202) 225-3011
Rep. Vern Buchanan (FL-13) (202) 225-5015
Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-4) (202) 225-3765
Rep. Bill Posey (FL-15) (202) 225-3671
Rep. Mike Kelly (PA-3) (202) 225-5406
Fellow REVOLUTIONARIES…here is OUR call…LETS GET TO IT!!!!!!!!!!
Just so thankful for all of those who stood up before congress and attended this meeting for all of us at home listening or watching. Tears rolled down my face – both happy and sad – and angry. I am so thankful that we are being heard!!! What a strong community. xoxoxo
I may have to take back everything I’ve said about “old white men” in congress now. They kicked ASS yesterday and I could kiss every one of them hard on the lips for it.
As a clearing house for those of us scattered across this nation, please be specific about what you need us to do, who we need to write to and what we need to say. My desk (which is really my kitchen table) is overflowing with things I need to do, would like to do and things I would like to forget so having a succinct reminder about activating the troops is helpful!!
I’m still in a daze about what I witnessed yesterday and I haven’t even made it all the way through the hearing. I’m not dreaming am I?!?!?
Hi Amy,
Please see the message below. Call, email, fax these members and ask everyone you know to call, email, fax them as well.
Thank you! Mamacita
Thank you to our friend Christine Heeren for this list:
Please call & thank the following members of the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee for attending the autism hearing on Nov. 29th, 2012: Rep. Darrell E. Issa (CA-49) Chairman (202) 225-3906
Rep. Elijah Cummings (MD-7) Ranking Member
(202) 225-4741
Rep. Dan Burton (IN-05) (202) 225-2276
Rep. Paul Gosar (AZ-1) (202) 225-2315
Rep. Pat Meehan (PA-7) (202) 225-2011
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY-14) (202) 225-7944
Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D.C.)
(202) 225-8050
Rep. Dennis Kucinich (OH-10) (202) 225-5871
Rep. John Tierney (MA-6) (202) 225-8020
Rep. Danny Davis (IL-7) (202) 225-5006
Rep. John Yarmuth (KY-3) (202) 225-5401
Rep. Jim Matheson (UT-2) (202) 225-3011
Rep. Vern Buchanan (FL-13) (202) 225-5015
Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-4) (202) 225-3765
Rep. Bill Posey (FL-15) (202) 225-3671
Rep. Mike Kelly (PA-3) (202) 225-5406
I live in Maryland, and have already called Congressman Cummings’ office to thank him for his poignant observations and comments at the hearing, and to ask for more hearings on each of the topics addressed. I also called Congressman Issa’s district office to thank him and let him know we need more hearings on the issues discussed at the hearing. Having worked on Capitol Hill, the absolute number of callers to each office, and number of letters written, is what draws the office’s attention to an issue. Numbers matter.
I also think we should have an office, much like the Office of National Drug Control Policy, which coordinates our nation’s autism policy–and has some say over the use of funds appropriated for the issue, whether it is employment, housing, physical health, mental health, education, and the list as we know goes on. This office would REPLACE the IACCC. When I get their emails, I delete them–I know nothing they do will results in a “boots on the ground” change, but this is what our families NEED and DESERVE.
It is time for change, and unless we embrace this opportunity, the words in the Congressional Record will not come to life, and our lives and those of the persons we love, will not be improved TODAY. Action is the name of the game, and time is of the essence.
Thank you, Thinkers. It’s not easy to be of the minority, but obviously, we are being heard loud and clear.
Here’s to more clarity and less obfuscation.
Lisa
a new day is here.
time to spread the word.
social media is our weapon.
🙂
Congratulations on a mission accomplished. But a word of caution: those who looked like idiots yesterday will come back fighting. They will not surrender easily. And we must remember not only that the war has only just begun,but that from here on out, there will be a war raging inside the halls of Congress that you’ll never see or hear. The Congresspersons holding these hearings will be bombarded and shelled from the inside. They’ll be inundated secretly, covertly, with warnings that implicating vaccines will endanger national security. They’ll be informed that pointing any fingers at vaccines will destroy world plans to end hunger and disease and poverty.
They’ll be told to Shut. Up. or they won’t get some of their pet projects for their home districts funded. They’ll be told to Shut. Up. or they won’t get elected again. They’ll be told to Shut. Up. Shut. Up. Shut. Up. OR ELSE. And I can tell you this isn’t conspiracy theory. As a journalist and a former community activist in Florida, I’ve seen this happen before, and I’ve experienced it.
You won’t hear about it when this happens, but you’ll know because those politicians who were supporting you yesterday will suddenly not have time for more hearings, or won’t return phone calls. Or, they’ll just all of a sudden and inexplicably “realize” that vaccines have nothing to do with autism, and let you know in rainbow of ways how you need to get over it. And so on. This will happen because your supporters will be threatened by people with an agenda that goes beyond yours, no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
So, yes, Pandora’s Box was opened yesterday. But we need to support those who opened it. Stand by the Congresspersons who rallied for you yesterday, and be strong for them and with them, even if they’re not in your Congressional district. There is strength in numbers, and these people are going to need all the numbers behind them they can get in order to keep going. Don’t let suppression and threats and blackmail and tradeoffs and all the other little political tricks that happen to them behind the scenes destroy the momentum that began yesterday.
Go get ‘m, TMR! Go get ‘m Canary Party! And may the Force be with you!!
I totally hear what you are saying, Cindy, but I’d like to add that many of the Congressmen yesterday went in eyes wide open to the risk they were taking. There was only one that really is new to this game, and surely he was briefed. I am hopeful that they are smart enough to know what will come and are ready for it. This toothpaste ain’t going back in the tube now!
I’d say it’s a safe bet that many of the Congressmen who went in with their eyes wide open know first hand someone who is vaccine-injured. Perhaps their child or grandchild, a relative or a friend’s child… they will surely not retreat now. Blaze is spot-on; this toothpaste is NOT going back in the tube!!!!
In fact, Thorsen was referred to as a “scumbag”…it was priceless. This hearing was like toppling the first domino. And while it’s long overdue, it has now happened. It’s the first time in the history of the autism epidemic that Congress was actually listening. Thanks to all who participated. Now let’s get busy!
I think my own personal icing on the cake was the fact that they called Paul Thorsen a criminal wanted for fraud and that he was involved in 21 of 24 studies.
I believe the term used was “Humongous Scumbag.” My favorite quote of the day, actually 🙂
Yes! It’s like we’re in a parallel universe most of the time because mass media never talks about Thorsen. Loved hearing these congresspeople asking wtf is up with that? And then the lie that he was only involved in two studies – quickly contradicted.