The Verdict on McCain on Thimerosal and Autism
Many in the autism community (as noted here and here), and many scientists (here and here, and here, and also here, for starters), have spoken out about Senator John McCain’s saying that “‘there’s strong evidence” linking thimerosal for the increase in diagnoses of autism in the US—-and political commentators have also been asking, what was the Senator thinking, or not?. (On the other hand, David Kirby writes a letter to McCain commending him for his “courage” and talks about the “Great American Autism Epidemic”—-too much misinformation to unpack right now.)
Here’s CBS’ Kevin Drum on McCain’s junk science:
So what happened here? Why did McCain perpetuate this rubbish without even a smidgen of doubt in his voice? Was he pandering to some constituency or other? Was he just making [s***] up because he didn’t really know anything about the subject? Was he misinformed by own staff about this? Unfortunately, my guess is that the correct answer here is “making [s***] up,” a quality that McCain has shown an unfortunate weakness for in the past. It’s just another indication that when it comes to anything outside of the few pet issues he cares about, McCain really can’t be bothered to take an interest. Not a great quality for the leader of the free world.
Maybe a comment, too, on the sorry state of science education in our country?
Here’s Megan McArdle in today’s Atlantic; also see Matthew Yglesias:
Lots of people are talking about John McCain’s lunatic pronouncement that “there’s strong evidence” for the proposition that thimerosol [sic], a mercury-based preservative used in vaccines, causes autism. This is nonsense on stilts. While it might once have been a viable theory, there is now multi-national evidence that removing thimerosol [sic] from vaccines (as the US did in 2001) causes no decline in the rate of autism. Why, people ask wonderingly, is the good senator wandering around claiming otherwise?
I offer two explanations, neither of them mutually exclusive:
1. The desperate parents who believe that thimerosol caused their child’s autism are highly motivated people with a very good chance of voting for anyone who says he believes them. The researchers who study thimerosal probably weren’t going to vote for McCain anyway. No one else votes on the issue.
2. The vast expansion of the state means that we expect our representatives to have opinions on everything from missile defense to flame-retardant pajamas. No one could possibly learn about every subject we expect them to know, even if he were not spending sixteen hours a day doing the grip-and-grin with voters, lobbyists, donors, and other politicians.
Commenters on McArdle’s post have been weighing in about explanation #2. Though it seems to me that, even though “no one could possibly learn about every subject we expect them to know,” all it takes to figure out what’s the truth about the vaccine-autism link (there isn’t one) is to read around a little and see how much evidence there is refuting it. And then, exercising some of one’s own good judgment.
For more: Outside the Beltway wonders if McCain—who has been a frequent guest on Don Imus’ radio show—-has listened too long to Imus “hammering home the mercury-autism link on his program.” Also, Overlawyered, The Carpetbagger Report, the Angry Bear.
Tags: asd, asperger, autism, john mccain, mercury, Parenting, pdd-nos, Politics, texas, town hall meeting, Vaccines
16 opinions for The Verdict on McCain on Thimerosal and Autism
Emily
Mar 3, 2008 at 5:37 pm
It’s fine to say that there’s so much information out there that maybe a candidate shouldn’t be required to process every last bit of minutiae on every topic of public interest. At least, I think that’s fine. What isn’t fine is to mouth off about said topic from an obvious starting point of utter ignorance.
Autismville
Mar 3, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Thanks for the summary. Very helpful…
Regan
Mar 3, 2008 at 6:02 pm
What bugs is that a politician has gotta know that what he says has more significance than the average bear since they bank on that as candidates. And I still wonder, is that sound bite what he believes and is that a belief that is subject to change?
Again, if these guys are hitting the ground running, it makes sense to try and make the views of the silent majority as well as the vocal minority known to these candidates and legislators.
(A good, “I don’t know, but that is an important issue to look into” or some paraphrase can go a long way with me, rather than just pop out with something…”Senator McCain, what’s your opinion on the Higg’s Particle?”; interesting to consider what we might have heard there.)
Sarah
Mar 3, 2008 at 6:50 pm
I’m not sure if McCain is just uninformed, or actively pandering to the anti-science wing of the Republican Party. Either way, it’s unfortunate that someone of his stature is promoting this belief. Yes, we ask our candidates and politicians to know about a huge range of subjects. But if he isn’t sure about something, he shouldn’t mention it. At the very least, I’d think he has policy advisers to help him on the more obscure issues.
Leila
Mar 3, 2008 at 7:31 pm
I will never vote for a Republican no matter what their ideas about autism are.
Regan
Mar 3, 2008 at 7:58 pm
As for David Kirby’s letter “to” Senator McCain, ‘could be me, but it seemed to have little to do with directly addressing the Senator, except to use him as a device for a straw man monologue of the usual talking points and self-congratulations.
dkmnow
Mar 3, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Regan: “except to use him as a device for a straw man monologue of the usual talking points”
Now that you mention it, that perfectly fits my impression of Koplewicz’s “responses” to people at the so-called “Town Hall Meeting.”
“GMTA”?
:-p
Kristina Chew, PhD
Mar 3, 2008 at 8:41 pm
Regan wrote:
“except to use him[McCain] as a device for a straw man monologue of the usual talking points”
—maybe we can substitute “autism” as his “device for a straw man monologue”……
dkmnow
Mar 3, 2008 at 8:56 pm
“Hi, my name is Dave, and I’ll be your scarecrow.”
:-)
Sharon
Mar 4, 2008 at 5:47 am
The politicians would look a look less ridiculous if they just occasionally said, I don’t know enough on that to comment, but I’d go with the evidence.
Chuck
Mar 4, 2008 at 8:38 am
There is no evidence to go one for a statement. Nothing has been scientifically proven to cause ASD, except Retts, and that only covers less than 10% of all ASD. It is all political jockeying on what is said and who has said it.
RAJ
Mar 4, 2008 at 10:20 am
Here’s what Hillary Clinton had to say when questions about her response to autism:
Q: Do you think vaccines should be investigated as a possible cause of autism? Hillary’s answer: I am committed to make investments to find the causes of autism, including possible environmental causes like vaccines. I have long been a supporter of increased research to determine the links between environmental factors and diseases, and I believe we should increase the NIH’s ability to engage in this type of research. My administration will be committed to improving research to support fact-based solutions, and I will ensure that the NIH has the staff and funding to fully explore all possible causes of autism.
Q: What will you do to protect Americans, especially young children and pregnant women, from exposure to mercury through vaccines? Hillary’s answer: I will ensure that all vaccines are as safe as possible for our children by working to ensure that Thimerosal and mercury are removed from vaccines. I plan to fully invest in our research agencies so they can protect our children’s health, and so they can find the causes and cures for conditions such as autism.
Barrack Obama is also on record as stating he will fight to remove Thimsoral from all vaccines.
What’s your point?
This Week’s Top Posts
Mar 8, 2008 at 11:31 pm
[…] The Verdict on McCain on Thimerosal and Autism Members of the autism community, scientists, and political commentators speak out about Senator John McCain’s saying that “‘there’s strong evidence” linking thimerosal for the increase in diagnoses of autism in the US. […]
Tiffany
Mar 9, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Finally McCain says something intelligent.
Exercising some of one’s own good judgment for MANY parents would include not ignoring their own experiences with seeing first-hand a child regress into autism directly after a vaccination…. AND ignoring the politically motivated naysayers.
TRUTH ON THE MARKET » Autism Misinformation Continues
Jul 22, 2008 at 3:34 am
[…] supporting such a link and emphasized his support for autism research. See also Overlawyered, and here, and here. Obama has made similar references to the vaccine link and underlying science. […]
Andrew
Oct 11, 2008 at 4:17 pm
As an Applied Chemist (mostly biochem), I’m more than aware of the dangers of Mercury poisoning, and the variety of routes with which it can enter our systems, having worked with it among other Heavy metals amongst the jungle of laboratory hazards.
Never take word of mouth as evidence. Ever. It’s been shown time and time again since the 1600’s that individual cases are not only meaningless, but rapidly grow in their supposed severity and prospect of doom with every set of lips they pass through. It’s just like a virus of disinformation, and we take it it, grow it, build it up and unleash it on the next set of unsuspecting believers.
Save the rumours for the neighborhood gossip.
Vaccines save lives. They saved YOUR life.
The Mercury preservative in multi-vaccines is NOT Mercury METAL, it’s MgCl2 = INSOLUBLE salt, it passes right through the body, and NEVER enters the bloodstream.
Without the Mercury, the vaccine could become infected - i.e., 3rd-world grade vaccine. Those multi-shots protect against a Huge array of pathogens that your child WILL encounter in her life.
You have more fear (and more Mercury) to be found in your Lakes, Rivers, _Drinking_Water_ and Fresh Air, thanks to Poorly Regulated Industry.
Say NO to 19/20th century Industry! Direct your fear at the Real Menace in your own back yard. Pressure your Local government to ACT in the public’s interest, and Seek Proof of compliance Above and BEYOND EPA heavy metal and other toxic environmental pollutants. EPA levels are some of the WORST in the Modern World.
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