* I wrote earlier that Sharron Angle wasn't mocking autism in that vid that's making the rounds, but Nevada writer Steve Sebelius makes a strong case that she was, in fact, expressing "skepticism that autism is a legitimate disorder."
Sebelius argues the vid reveals "Angle's utter selfishness, and her encouraging that selfishness in others. She doesn't have autism, or autistic kids, so why should she pay for them? And why should you? She's not going to have any more babies, so why should she be forced to pay for other people's? And why should you?"
* And: Eric Kleefeld points out that "it is very clear that Angle was opposing mandated health insurance coverage for various conditions, including autism." Meaning that Angle's plan wouldn't require insurance companies to cover it.
* Angle's response: Her camp puts out a statement that government allows people to "falsely label other symptoms as autism."
It isn't every day that a White House cabinet secretary thrusts herself this forcefully into a Senate race, but Health and Human Services secretary Kathleen Sebelius today took a very hard shot at Sharron Angle over that widely-circulated video of Angle belittling mandated coverage for autism treatment.
"It is my understanding that Sharron Angle believes that there is a hoax, under the guise of autism, where you would include requests for treatments that may not even be required," said Sebelius, who was in Nevada promoting health care reform with Harry Reid.
Sebelius pounded Angle's comments as "insulting" to parents and kids, adding: "I don't know if there is anyplace in the country where the differences in the candidates are more stark than here."
The Reno Gazette-Journal reports:
Russ Steele, a parent whose 5-year-old son suffers from autism, said Angle "owes an apology" to parents and their children with autism.
"When she mocked the very existence of autism, she crossed the line," Steele said.
"Sharron Angle owes (my son) Brandon and every other autistic child in Nevada an apology, not only for trying to undermine their insurance coverage but for mocking the very existence of autism," Steele said.
