I have a severely autistic brother who will never have any form of self sufficiency or independence of any kind. He lives in a group home and is doing quite well, but he will never be able to live on his own and my brother and I will have to look after him for the rest of our lives once our parents are gone (which isn't a burden and something that I am perfectly fine with undertaking, for whatever its worth). He is not a "retard" and in fifth grade I once punched a kid who referred to my youngest brother as such. But the "retard" in a context outside of insults isn't a horrible word. I use the term "retard" and "retarded", and I would never in a million years demean the handicapped after watching my youngest brother struggle day in and day out to express even the simplest statement or request.
That being said, this campaign is retarded.