McCain on the Thimerosol Bandwagon

[Fnord]

I was going over some past articles on the two major candidates for president, and came across this:

John McCain Enters the Autism Wars

This opening paragraph reads:

At a town hall meeting Friday in Texas, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., declared that "there’s strong evidence" that thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative that was once in many childhood vaccines, is responsible for the increased diagnoses of autism in the U.S. -- a position in stark contrast with the view of the medical establishment.

The article was posted February 29, 2008 at 7:11 PM on the ABC News website by Jake Tapper as part of his blog.

Has Mr. McCain gone Woo, or has he flip-flopped on this issue as well?

 

[Smackety]

probably just a rich donor with an autistic child in the audience that night...why else even bring it up?

 

[Fnord]

probably just a rich donor with an autistic child in the audience that night...why else even bring it up?

I'm inclined to vote for Mr. McCain, but if he is as big an idiot as Mr. Obama, then I don't want to waste my one vote on either of them.

 

[davefoc]

McCain's position here is stirringly stupid of course, but my guess is that it nets him a few more votes than it loses him. Of the people for whom this is an important issue more probably have a sense that the vaccine played some role in the rise of autism*. Of course he loses a few votes from the small percentage of the population that realizes how uninformed his view is and are less likely to vote for somebody promoting crackpot theories. So well done McCain, you've pandered to a few crazies and have ended up with a net gain. Can we expect to see Robert Kennedy Jr switch to McCain after this?

This election will come down to the side that gains the most from unfair charges against their opponent and slimy pandering. What a great way to select a political leader.

* I'm aware that most of the rise of the autism rate is due to changing diagnostic standards and whether there has been an actual increase in the rate of autism is disputed.

 

[geni]

Unfortunate. The claim isn't true but will convinceing people of that has tended to be tricky. While thimerosol no longer appears in US vaccines other than a flu one it is still used in a large number of countries.

Playing politics with public health is unfortunate.

 

[Beerina]

* I'm aware that most of the rise of the autism rate is due to changing diagnostic standards and whether there has been an actual increase in the rate of autism is disputed.

And silicone breast implants had no statistical difference in the number of autoimmune, joint problems, etc. it's been accused of. That didn't stop politicians and lawyers jumping on the bandwagon until Dow declared bankruptcy and set aside billions for settlements that were actually paid.

And asbestos used as insulation and fire retardant in schools was just fine because it was in-place already. But that didn't stop politicians and lawyers from jumping on the bandwagon and spending tens of billions to remove it, pointlessly, and in fact, dangerously, since ripping it down actually dispersed some into the air.

And Olestra, of course, everyone "knows" causes bad cramping when eating potato chips cooked in it. Look at all the talking heads and lawyers saddling up a few years ago, ready to ride. But a study showed people eating Olestra chips actually had a slightly smaller chance of cramping than people eating regular chips. Oopsie! What all the talking, braying heads spaketh was wrong.

 

[geni]

And asbestos used as insulation and fire retardant in schools was just fine because it was in-place already. But that didn't stop politicians and lawyers from jumping on the bandwagon and spending tens of billions to remove it, pointlessly, and in fact, dangerously, since ripping it down actually dispersed some into the air.

You think schools are bad try getting the stuff out of a lighthouse.


On the pluss side McCain doesn't appear to have brought the issue up again (well the anti vax mob don't appear to have heard about it if he has) so it probably isn't of much significance to him.

 

[Big Les]

Unfortunate. The claim isn't true but will convinceing people of that has tended to be tricky. While thimerosol no longer appears in US vaccines other than a flu one it is still used in a large number of countries.

Playing politics with public health is unfortunate.

Unfortunate? "Irresponsible", I would say.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

I'm inclined to vote for Mr. McCain, but if he is as big an idiot as Mr. Obama, then I don't want to waste my one vote on either of them.

Right, a Harvard Law grad is an idiot and you are a shining example of intelligence.