I know this is supposed to be a blog about marketing online and marketing tips , and I will get to that in just a minute. I just have a heart felt passion that I want to share with you all after watching the Presidential debates the other night.

I was left feeling a bit confused and now I’m even curious about Governor Palin’s announcement that autism is an issue near and dear to her heart. Governor Palin has a nephew with autism , and that certainly identifies a personal connection to autism for the Governor, but other than that personal connection, what does she actually have in mind for autism programs ? What plan, if any, does she have in place for autism ? The answer, apparently, is none.

The Governor said:

“There are a lot of wasteful expenditures in the federal (government),” Palin said. “Let’s get rid of those and put them into strengthening NIH (National Institutes of Health) and these other areas where we can help our kids with autism .”

“Here’s the difference between John McCain and our ticket and Barack Obama and Joe Biden ,” she said. “We don’t just talk the talk, we walk the walk. And that’s why in not just that first speech, but in every speech I give, I talk about being an advocate and a friend in the White House for our families who have members who have these special needs .”

I have not heard Governor Palin indicate what expenditures would be cut and what autism programs would be funded in a McCain-Palin administration. Stating over and over that you are an advocate for autistic persons appears to be a clear example of talking the talk, but does not demonstrate that Governor Palin is prepared to walk the walk as she claims. At this point, I don’t think Governor Palin even has an actual plan for how to help autistic persons and their families.

Senator Obama , on the other hand, has specified clearly what action he would take if he becomes President .

The elements of the Obama plan include:

1. Appoint Federal ASD (autism spectrum disorder) Coordinator to Oversee All Federal ASD Efforts.
2. Fully Fund the Combating Autism Act and Federal Autism Research Initiatives .
3. Support Special Needs Education for children with ASD .
4. Support Universal Screening .
5. Work Together .

Senator Obama , not Governor Palin , appears ready to walk the walk to help autistic persons and their families. I’m not a political person, and still not sure how to vote this year, but I know how I would vote on THIS issue.

This is where the marketing tips come in. :0) When blogging, you can’t just chat aimlessly about whatever comes to mind. You need to come prepared, like Senator Obama , with a plan and an end goal in mind. Get your ducks in a row, so to speak. Know who your audience is and write/talk to them on a personal level. Write what they want and need to hear/read, like you’re writing a letter home to Mom.

I can’t say that I’ve honestly been doing that very well lately, but (aka Bob the Teacher ) recently hit me over the head with that comment and it stuck. I know I could write and ask my Mom for her opinion and help too, so here goes…Bob Jenkins

I know and love several friends and family members who suffer from Autism . I know how these families suffer and what they go through on a daily basis, and it just seems to be getting worse every day. Autism is up from 1 in 10,000 less than 50 years ago, to 1 in 150 today!!!

Why? Where are the answers? What is causing Autism? What can We do?

I’m starting to put some answers in another blog. You can find it at Behavior Characteristics of Autism dot com. Please feel free to coment or ask questions as I want this to be a helpful site. I’m also going to have a free report by the same name up there soon.