Autism Street

In the third presidential debate, autism was mentioned a couple of times.

Arizona’s own, Senator John McCain has seemingly parroted anti-vaccination rhetoric in the past, and didn’t hesitate to apparently do it again.

McCain was asked to explain why the country would be better off if his running mate became president.

Here’s part of McCain’s response:

She’ll be my partner. She understands reform. And, by the way, she also understands special-needs families. She understands that autism is on the rise, that we’ve got to find out what’s causing it, and we’ve got to reach out to these families, and help them, and give them the help they need as they raise these very special needs children.

She understands that autism is on the rise? Really? Can she clearly convey the distinction between more diagnoses, and an actual increase in prevalence? Does she understand diagnostic substitution? What about the broadening criteria and the changes in the very definition of autism? Does she really understand this? Or, is McCain pandering and simply parroting anti-vaccination and anti-autism advocate fundraisers’ “autism epidemic” rhetoric?

And when asked whether or not he thinks the federal government should play a larger role in the schools, here’s part of McCain’s reply:

And I just said to you earlier, town hall meeting after town hall meeting, parents come with kids, children — precious children who have autism. Sarah Palin knows about that better than most. And we’ll find and we’ll spend the money, research, to find the cause of autism. And we’ll care for these young children. And all Americans will open their wallets and their hearts to do so.

Sarah Palin knows about that better than most? We’ll find “the cause of autism”? It’s really a shame that a grown man doesn’t seem to have the appropriate judgment to reserve comment on issues for which he seems to have no specific knowledge. I mean really, several causes of autism are already known. It’s difficult to think this is not a simplistic, completely uniformed conclusion, formed by listening to those who promote the scientifically unfounded notion of an “autism epidemic”.

I’m sure his intentions are good, but in my opinion, ignorance does not deserve a vote.