Comments on: Yet more Scientology and Autism

By: Musings on Music, Religion and Politics | Bang the Drum

Musings on Music, Religion and Politics | Bang the Drum — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 09:30:19 +0000

[...] Let’s not limit it just to Christians. Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN), who routinely preaches his anti-vaccination gospel and pushes forward with the proven-false claim that vaccines lead to autism has deep ties to Sarah Elizabeth Clay, who is a board member for the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, a known front for Scientology and used to be his top aide. Burton is the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, one of the most powerful committees in Congress. Whether Burton himself is a Scientologist is up for grabs, but a look at his record certainly indicates like-mindedness with their anti-vax, anti-psychiatry stance. [...]

By: Mork

Mork — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 00:27:20 +0000

Some information about SafeMinds, Cure Autism Now (Etc)

SafeMinds:
“Jim Moody, Legal Counsel Heidi Roger, Treasurer Lynn Redwood, President Sallie Bernard, Executive Director Mark Biaxill, Member Albert Enayatl, Secretary”

Cure Autism Now:
“Sallie Bernard, Chair”

By: Do'C

Do'C — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 21:29:40 +0000

“It clearly shows that no money is going into research, but into PR.”

For 2005. 2006 and 2007 might be different.

By: Bonnie Ventura

Bonnie Ventura — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 20:51:15 +0000

Do’C wrote:

I heard that it was more like $110K for 6 or 7 months for Google Ad Words (not even a whole year). I wonder if they cut back on that budget for 2006.

Yes, I started seeing their adwords on autism-related sites in June 2005 or thereabouts. Then they cut way back in December, after blowing their budget on the infamous New York Times ad that most of the quoted scientists promptly denounced.

By: sophia8

sophia8 — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 19:21:27 +0000

Very interesting document. I notice that although one of GR’s stated objectives is to sponsor scientific research, virtually all their money in 2005 ($450K+) went on advertising and PR. With zilch going to research.

By: Kev

Kev — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 17:16:58 +0000

GR 990 for 2005. Enjoy.

By: Pass the Buttar

Pass the Buttar — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:28:26 +0000

The beautiful thing about this argument is that we canâ€™t both be right. One of us therefore MUST be wrong.

A. Autism is epidemic because it is caused by an external/environmental event and therefore treatable.

If A is true, you parents will end up feeling rather rotten for not having treated your children.

B. Autism has always been here. Itâ€™s just a genetic difference in brainwiring/being. You canâ€™t treat it, you just accept it.

If B is true than the mercury militia like me will have unnecessarily scared parents out of vaccinating and helped push quackery that did nothing to help autistic kids.

-JB Handley
Beautiful.

By: anonimouse

anonimouse — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 14:22:54 +0000

I’d like to see their 990 as well.

I would think JB knows that if he doesn’t provide it willingly, you can always get a copy of it from the IRS. You can sometimes get them online from GuideStar although GR’s isn’t on there yet for some reason.

By: Do'C

Do'C — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 14:07:27 +0000

“Huh? Would you like me to produce the GR990 form for 2005 which shows you pissed away $100k of donations on Google Adwords?”

I heard about that Kev. Actually, I heard that it was more like $110K for 6 or 7 months for Google Ad Words (not even a whole year). I wonder if they cut back on that budget for 2006.

By: Ms. Clark

Ms. Clark — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 05:31:45 +0000

I’m not jypsy, either. Though I wouldn’t mind being mistaken for her sister. She’s prettier ‘n me, and mom always did like her best.