Comments Gloss has made

RFK Jr. autism and vaccines--Bad choice

RFK Jr. published a really bad article in Rolling Stone called "Deadly Immunity".  Slate ran it as well.  I forget how many corrections were published, but it was many.

The article added momentum to the then weak and now failed idea that thimerosal in vaccines cause autism.

At the parent of an autistic child, I have looked at this closely.  The article was bad when it was written, it is thoroughly debunked now.  And, yet, RFK Jr, is still standing up at anti-vaccine rallys as though he made no mistakes.

He has caused major harm to the autism community, creating a divide that may never be fully healed.  He has added momentum to the ideas that have led many to avoid vaccines, leading to outbreaks of measles this year and possibly worse in the future.  

Worst of all--the vaccine/autism notion has given momentum to the alternative-medical practitioners who prey on the autism community.  Children have been harmed by these treatments, at least one has died.  No apologies from RFK.

The only thing I could think of that would be worse than giving him a position in EPA (or Interior as has been mentioned elsewehre) would be for him to be in a position where he could directly influence autism policy.

Mr. Obama has the best, most clear autism policy that any presidential candidate has ever put forth.  Now is NOT the time to scuttle that by giving credence to someone who has brought such grief to the autism community.On Obama considers RFK Jr. for EPA posted 1 year ago 34 Responses