Another Disability Shout-Out....and a Missed Opportunity?
Sarah Palin wasn't the only speaker who appealed to families of children with disabilities during the Republican National Convention. During John McCain's acceptance speech, he also directed attention to a family in the audience whom McCain believes his policies would help.
I fight for Jake and Toni Wimmer of Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Jake works on a loading dock, coaches Little League, and raises money for the mentally and physically disabled. Toni is a schoolteacher, working toward her master's degree. They have two sons; the youngest, Luke, has been diagnosed with autism. Their lives should matter to the people they elect to office. They matter to me.
Could that have been a time for McCain to slide a quick sentence mentioning his support for more federal funding for special education? He's already on record with this. It might have made a nice counterpoint to Palin's declaration that parents of children with disabilities would find a "friend and advocate" in the White House with her.
