McBain On Autism
February 29, 2008 by Do'C 
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From a post by blogger Jake Tapper at ABC News, here’s a few apparent quotes from Arizona’s own, Senator John McCain.
McCain said, per ABC News’ Bret Hovell, that “It’s indisputable that (autism) is on the rise amongst children, the question is what’s causing it. …”
Scientific evidence that (autism) is “on the rise amongst children” Senator McCain?
“…And we go back and forth and there’s strong evidence that indicates that it’s got to do with a preservative in vaccines.”
Okay Senator, here’s your opportunity to present and explain that evidence. Comment away sir.
McCain said there’s “divided scientific opinion” on the matter, with “many on the other side that are credible scientists that are saying that’s not the cause of it.”
Senator, if you would be so kind, please explain the division of opinion and provide some supporting scientific examples.
Is the division really a scientific one?
And by the way, on the side of credible science, the statement, in general, is more along the lines of, “there’s no evidence in support of a thimerosal etiology of autism”. Do you understand the distinction?
Nevermind, have a cracker.
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Comment by Broken Link — 29 February, 2008 @ 7:46 pm
Not being an American, I can safely sit here and laugh at the total ignorance on display here. This candidate, with his huge and expensive staff, is unable to properly research a field and decide where to place his support? Or does he just get swayed by a personable woman with a sad story and a printed out letter? Really, I cannot understand why someone would come out so openly on a topic that could recoil and make him look like a fool.
Comment by jypsy (janet norman-bain) — 1 March, 2008 @ 5:31 am
and that would be “McCain”, not “McBain” on Autism….
Comment by Lenora — 1 March, 2008 @ 7:38 am
I don’t think looking like a fool is a big concern for Republican candidates. Our president is widely regarded as an idiot, and he got re-elected.
Comment by abfh — 1 March, 2008 @ 8:06 am
McCain has admitted he doesn’t know much about the economy, and he seems to be obsessed with fighting the Vietnam War all over again in Iraq for the next century or so. We probably shouldn’t be surprised that he doesn’t know squat about autism, either. What an ignoramus.
Go Obama!
Comment by Do'C — 1 March, 2008 @ 10:50 am
Hi Jypsy, great to see you here. I promise, I never ever would have used anything that was “Bain” all by itself.
“McBain” is not a typo. It refers to an american television show (the Simpsons), and not so obviously, to McCain’s fellow republican Arnold Schwarzenegger (California Governor who apparently bought-in to some degree, to the Thimerosal non-sense).
[Added an image of McBain to post]
Comment by isles — 1 March, 2008 @ 9:49 pm
It’s really disappointing. I had hoped that McCain’s life experiences would have given him a decent BS detector, but sadly, it seems not.
Comment by Fleetwood — 3 March, 2008 @ 3:32 pm
Well, at least he doesn’t think autism means hearing impaired (which is something I once heard…). Let’s just be grateful he considers it a serious topic.
Comment by David N. Andrews M. Ed. (Distinction) — 12 March, 2008 @ 5:40 am
“… ignoramus.”
Is that Latin for ‘pillock’?
Comment by AutismRealityNB — 12 March, 2008 @ 6:16 am
As a Simpsons watcher, and someone with no attachment to either side of the autism vaccine controversies, I found the McBain thing funny.
While I am here has your critique of the DeSoto-Hitlan article been accepted for journal publication?
Keep the funny stuff, all the funny stuff, coming!
Comment by Do'C — 12 March, 2008 @ 3:53 pm
Hi Harold. I like the Simpsons too.
You’re aware that most reputable medical journals only accept original articles that have not been previously published elsewhere, right?
The answer to your question is not likely to change no matter how many times you ask. There are no journal submission plans.
Perhaps you’d like to write a letter to the editor of the Journal, accurately citing the critical points from our Part-Three post, and ask for response that directly addresses those points.
That way, you won’t have to be concerned about blogger credibility, and you might even learn something. Heck, we might even learn something too.
Comment by AutismRealityNB — 13 March, 2008 @ 8:40 am
Do’C
That was a truly “Homeresque” excuse and I am still laughing as I type this reply to your rationalization. You and IV posted quite a few comments I am sure you could re-write them into a “new” article for publication in a reputable journal … if you had confidence in your views.
Comment by jypsy — 26 March, 2008 @ 5:05 am
sigh… I’m obviously not a Simpsons watcher…. (I do my best to ignore it when the kids watch it)
Comment by Harold L Doherty — 26 March, 2008 @ 5:12 pm
Too bad jypsy. You are missing out. I enjoyed this past week’s episode about the American primary/election season.
Comment by Lin Darling — 26 March, 2008 @ 5:53 pm
You people scare me!!
Comment by Do'C — 28 March, 2008 @ 6:31 pm
Hi Lin,
You are not alone. Many people are probably scared of scientific reality for one reason or another.
The idea that there probably isn’t really any Thimerosal-induced autism “epidemic” could be difficult to embrace when one is heavily emotionally invested in such belief - especially so, since the once-plausible hypothesis, has failed to develop scientific support.
Additionally, the notion that autism and mercury poisoning are somehow synonymous (if you’ve bought that one), is scientifically beyond repair.
If one wasn’t watching the science carefully, it could be easy to wonder what happened, and one might even be scared by those who were watching the science.
Comment by HCN — 29 March, 2008 @ 12:28 am
Lin:
As a parent of a child who could be adversely affected by infection, you anti-vax folks scare me!
Comment by Linophobic Guy — 29 March, 2008 @ 5:48 pm
As someone who only spells Lynn with a Y and two Ns, I am fearful of you.