National Review: Neil de Grasse Tyson cover

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Why am I not surprised by the cover, or the unflattering editorial?

Tyson's own reaction on Bill Maher's program, Friday night.

Comments

[deborahkla.livejournal.com]

None of these figures claim that vaccines cause autism.

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

RFK Jr is a prime proponent of the theory, a theory Obama gave further validity to.

[deborahkla.livejournal.com]

Obama has never given the theory validity, and RFK Jr is hardly a "major democratic figure."

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

So why did Obama say "[w]e've seen just a skyrocketing autism rate. Some people are suspicious that it's connected to the vaccines. This person included. The science right now is inconclusive, but we have to research it."

Remember, the science had not been inconclusive for ages, and autism is not connected to vaccines.

[deborahkla.livejournal.com]

It's clear in the link (supported by video evidence) that Obama was pointing to someone else when he said "this person included."

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

Let's assume, for the sake of your ridiculous argument, that this is true. Why, then, would he then say "the science is inconclusive?"

[deborahkla.livejournal.com]

Because it was 2008, and he was on the campaign trail, and didn't want to offend anyone (including the person who obviously was concerned about it). John McCain made statements that were far clearer when it came to supporting the anti-vaccine contingent. The same article quotes McCain making a statement about the preservative used in the vaccine as a possible cause of autism. But then you managed to somehow overlook that part of the article.

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

So it's okay to advance anti-scientific positions as long as you're not trying to offend anyone.

Good to know.

[deborahkla.livejournal.com]

For John McCain, obviously. For President Obama, not so much.