Has Obama Renounced his Vaccination Comments Yet?

[The Atheist]

I see that Obama has equivocated (at best) on vaccines and autism.

"We've seen just a skyrocketing autism rate," said President-elect Obama. "Some people are suspicious that it's connected to the vaccines. This person included. The science right now is inconclusive, but we have to research it," he said.

link


Has he reversed this stance yet?

I can understand him speaking from ignorance as a throwaway comment, but I'd hope that someone has pointed out to him in the meantime that the science is conclusive.

 

[Alt+F4]

I can understand him speaking from ignorance as a throwaway comment, but I'd hope that someone has pointed out to him in the meantime that the science is conclusive.

Since when does Obama care about science? Rick Warren doesn't believe in elvoution.

 

[Undesired Walrus]

Since when does Obama care about science?

Obama has recently appointed one of the world's leading climate change experts and has been consistent on his belief that it is man who is melting the ice caps.

At the weekend, the President-elect appointed two of the world's most respected climate scientists, John Holdren and Jane Lubchenco, to his team as scientific adviser and head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration respectively. Both are advocates of urgent action to curtail global warming.

They will join the incoming Energy Secretary, Steven Chu, who is another prominent advocate of the need to tackle climate change, and the Labour Secretary, Hilda Solis, who sponsored a Green Jobs Act in Congress last year.

If you wan't further evidence, see an extract from a recent Internet address:

Today, more than ever before, science holds the key to our survival as a planet and our security and prosperity as a nation. It’s time we once again put science at the top of our agenda and worked to restore Americas place as the world leader in science and technology.

Or his dedication to the promise that Stem Cells prove:

"I believe that the restrictions that President Bush has placed on funding of human embryonic stem cell research have handcuffed our scientists and hindered our ability to compete with other nations. As president, I will lift the current administration's ban on federal funding of research on embryonic stem cell lines created after 9 August 2001 through executive order, and I will ensure that all research on stem cells is conducted ethically and with rigorous oversight."

"I stand in full support of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act as I did when this bill was introduced and sent to the President's desk in the 109th Congress. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill.

"The study of stem cells holds enormous promise for the treatment of debilitating and life-threatening diseases.

Rick Warren doesn't believe in elvoution.

Obama and Warren are not joined at the hip for standing on the stage together, nor are their views now conjoined. Warren will not be -to the best of my knowledge- advising Obama in the White House. Bringing him up is a retreat of this years attempt to paint Obama as a terrorist because he was once on speaking terms with Bill Ayers.

Obama on creationism being taught in schools:

I think it’s a mistake to try to cloud the teaching of science with theories that frankly don’t hold up to scientific inquiry.”

To state that Obama cares not for Science is flippant and unfounded.

 

[kallsop]

Obama has recently appointed one of the world's leading climate change experts and has been consistent on his belief that it is man who is melting the ice caps.

Is that a point for or against scientific competence?

2008 was the year man-made global warming was disproved

 

[332nd]

Is that a point for or against scientific competence?

2008 was the year man-made global warming was disproved

Is that a point from a scientific journal or an op-ed column?

 

[Gord_in_Toronto]

Is that a point for or against scientific competence?

2008 was the year man-made global warming was disproved

From that site:

Ever shriller and more frantic has become the insistence of the warmists, cheered on by their army of media groupies such as the BBC, that the last 10 years have been the "hottest in history" and that the North Pole would soon be ice-free – as the poles remain defiantly icebound and those polar bears fail to drown.

And yet.

Arctic ice melting faster than predicted: expert.
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/12/24/climate-passage.html

 

[Beerina]

"Some people are suspicious that [autism is] connected to the vaccines."

Some People : n Ambulance-chasing lawyers dragging humanity through huge piles of feces for their own profit. Some people claimed silicone breast implants caused joint/auto-immune diseases and some people thought Olestra potato chips caused cramping although it actually cramped less than normal potato chips.

 

[Morrigan]

This is worrying. Let us hope he did recant this statement, or will soon.

 

[The Atheist]

Some People : n Ambulance-chasing lawyers dragging humanity through huge piles of feces for their own profit. Some people claimed silicone breast implants caused joint/auto-immune diseases and some people thought Olestra potato chips caused cramping although it actually cramped less than normal potato chips.

Wow.

Have a look back through threads and the internet on what I've said about Obama to date. Even better, have a look at what I've said about people who opposed him. I have supported him since long before he was a genuine hope for the Dems, let alone the prez.

To me, it seems likely that only some kind of slavering idiot entranced by the idea of Obama as Prz rather than what he actually believes and does, would have ignored this bit:

Some people are suspicious that it's connected to the vaccines. This person included.

Mind you, if you're just calling him an ambulance-chasing shyster, then that's fine.

 

[Tricky]

I don't expect Obama to be scientifically educated on every single issue. He said he is suspicious and that we should study it. If he does read the studies (or has his staff read the studies) they will find that his suspicions are unfounded. Unless he actually takes actions that result in fewer vaccinations, then I am not going to worry too much about his off-the-cuff comments.

 

[Nogbad]

His comments don't seem that bad. There is nothing wrong with research. Such research might well conclude that autism is better reported now than before or there is an increase but vaccines are not the cause or indeed there might be some hitherto undetected link between vaccines and certain cases of autism.

There is a school of woo that holds that vaccines are the spawn of Satan and that no good will come of them. This is quite separate from a reasoned examination to see if specific vaccines can be improved to prevent unwanted side effects.

It seems to me Obama's comments fall to the latter camp rather than pander to the flight of fancy of the former.

 

[Tim Moen]

The FDA was sufficiently concerned about Thimerosal (the mercury containing preservative in vaccines some have linked to Autism) to remove it from childhood vaccines (except for Flu shots). Flu shots have been shown to decrease your chance of getting influenza from 3% to 2% a whopping 1% (JAMA 1994;272:1661–5).

One investigator has reported that people who received the flu vaccine each year for 3 to 5 years had a ten-fold greater chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease than people who did not have any flu shots (Int J Clin Invest 2005;1:1–4). (The brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease display three pathologic hallmarks: neurofibillary tangles, amyloid plaques, and phosphorylation of tau protein. Brain cells grown in test tubes develop these changes when exposed to nanomolar doses of mercury, doses similar to the amount of mercury a person gets from a flu shot.)

So it would seem reasonable to be skepitical about what health officials are injecting into ones body, especially considering (in the case of the influenza vaccine at least) that they are injecting Mercury (a known neurotoxin) into your body for a negligible benefit.

 

[The Atheist]

I don't expect Obama to be scientifically educated on every single issue. He said he is suspicious and that we should study it. If he does read the studies (or has his staff read the studies) they will find that his suspicions are unfounded. Unless he actually takes actions that result in fewer vaccinations, then I am not going to worry too much about his off-the-cuff comments.

This is apologism at its very worst. I already stated that I don't expect him to know everything about everything, but this is an extremely important matter and his continuing to hold that view would be disastrous.

You have no kids, so I guess your attitude fits.

His comments don't seem that bad. There is nothing wrong with research.

You don't think we've done enough research already? Dozens of studies involving hundreds of thousands of kids?

It seems to be enough for every serious scientist and medical professional in the world, so it ought to be good enough for Obama.

There is a school of woo that holds that vaccines are the spawn of Satan and that no good will come of them. This is quite separate from a reasoned examination to see if specific vaccines can be improved to prevent unwanted side effects.

It seems to me Obama's comments fall to the latter camp rather than pander to the flight of fancy of the former.

You also need to re-read what he said. He was quite clear - "I am suspicious that autism and vaccination are related".

You don't think there's any chance that raving nutcase scum like Jenny McCarthy will go around saying, "Even Obama thinks there is an issue"?

Nah. Never happen.

The FDA ...

Thanks - I'll look and respond later.

 

[marksman]

Unless he actually takes actions that result in fewer vaccinations, then I am not going to worry too much about his off-the-cuff comments.

I am. Public officials' statements can translate to public action without the need for actual legislation.

If Obama's comments on his (unfounded and unsupported) concerns about vaccinations cause more parents to withhold vaccinatins from their children, then he has created a public health risk without ever proposing a piece of legislation about it.

I would in fact like a public statement from Obama, or at a minimum, from his director of NIH or the Surgeon General that vaccinations don't cause autism and parents should get their children vaccinated.

 

[jj]

From that site:


And yet.

Arctic ice melting faster than predicted: expert.
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/12/24/climate-passage.html

It's ok, the anti-Obama crew has to make any excuse to object in advance to his policies in their attempt to foment open civil war in the USA.

 

[gtc]

It's ok, the anti-Obama crew has to make any excuse to object in advance to his policies in their attempt to foment open civil war in the USA.

Who are you talking about, kallsop or The Atheist?

The suggestion that either is trying to foment a civil war would be ludicrous.

 

[DC]

but we have to research it

atlest the man is not jumping to conclusions.

 

[Rolfe]

How much research do you want, for goodness sake?

Saying "we have to research it" is no substitute for reading and assessing the research that has already been done. Especially when that research is of enormous volume and almost complete unanimity and would lead most readers to conclude that the jury was already in.

This statement merely demonstrates ignorance of the amount of research that already exists, and its content.

Rolfe.

 

[DC]

How much research do you want, for goodness sake?

Saying "we have to research it" is no substitute for reading and assessing the research that has already been done. Especially when that research is of enormous volume and almost complete unanimity and would lead most readers to conclude that the jury was already in.

This statement merely demonstrates ignorance of the amount of research that already exists, and its content.

Rolfe.

sorry for expressing my oppinion

Dr. Rolfe....

 

[fls]

The FDA was sufficiently concerned about Thimerosal (the mercury containing preservative in vaccines some have linked to Autism) to remove it from childhood vaccines (except for Flu shots). Flu shots have been shown to decrease your chance of getting influenza from 3% to 2% a whopping 1% (JAMA 1994;272:1661–5).

Yes, the absolute reduction will depend upon the baseline incidence, and what you report as cases. The incidence of serological influenza was a difference of 9% and 4% ("a whopping 5%") in that same study. Looking at the combination of clinical influenza (the 3% to 2% reduction that you chose to report) plus serological influenza showed a 58% relative risk reduction. Please note that 'serological' and 'clinical' refer to how the case was defined, not to the extent of the illness (i.e. 'serological' cases were not without clinical findings).

One investigator has reported that people who received the flu vaccine each year for 3 to 5 years had a ten-fold greater chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease than people who did not have any flu shots (Int J Clin Invest 2005;1:1–4). (The brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease display three pathologic hallmarks: neurofibillary tangles, amyloid plaques, and phosphorylation of tau protein. Brain cells grown in test tubes develop these changes when exposed to nanomolar doses of mercury, doses similar to the amount of mercury a person gets from a flu shot.)

Did you copy that without reading the reference (a bad idea since people ******** about the contents of research articles), because there doesn't seem to be an International Journal of Clinical Investigation or anything like it that fits that reference. The only reference I can find to that study comes from an anti-vaccination site, whose author curiously chose to convey the information with the exact same wording as you. It looks like it's made up.

Linda