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McCain steps into debate over cause of autism
International Herald Tribune ^ | Mar. 4, 2008 | Benedict Carey

Posted on 03/09/2008 6:17:55 PM PDT by raybbr

"It's indisputable that autism is on the rise among children," Senator John McCain said while campaigning recently in Texas. "The question is what's causing it. And we go back and forth and there's strong evidence that indicates that it's got to do with a preservative in vaccines."

With that comment, McCain marked his entry into one of the most politicized scientific issues in a generation.

McCain is correct that autism diagnoses have increased in recent decades; indeed, no one disputes that. He is on much shakier ground when talking about the preservative as a cause.

While some parents' groups and lawmakers assert that the preservative, called thimerosal, has caused an epidemic of new autism cases, most mainstream researchers strongly disagree.

Several large-scale studies have found no evidence of a link between thimerosal and autism, and medical groups including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Institute of Medicine and the American Academy of Pediatrics have publicly stated as much. In January, the state of California reported an increase in autism cases, despite the removal of thimerosal from most vaccines.

(Excerpt) Read more at iht.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: autism; disorders; mccain
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Does McCain EVER think like a Conservative?
1 posted on 03/09/2008 6:17:55 PM PDT by raybbr
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To: neverdem

ping


2 posted on 03/09/2008 6:18:22 PM PDT by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote!)
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To: raybbr

a lot of people don’t want the govt to force vaccination on their kids because of this issue


3 posted on 03/09/2008 6:19:43 PM PDT by ari-freedom (McCain must pick a conservative VP if he wants conservative support)
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To: raybbr

McCain needs to stay away from things he’s not well informed about in or he will get savaged.


4 posted on 03/09/2008 6:21:02 PM PDT by boop (Democracy is the theory that the people get the government they deserve, good and hard.)
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To: ari-freedom
a lot of people don’t want the govt to force vaccination on their kids because of this issue

I know. My wife and I worried a lot when our boys were vaccinated.

McCain just can't keep from adding fuel to every fire started by a liberal.

5 posted on 03/09/2008 6:21:44 PM PDT by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote!)
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To: raybbr

"I agree! Me and kitty never get shots, do we snookums? Viva McCain!"

6 posted on 03/09/2008 6:22:21 PM PDT by Uncle Miltie (New York Times Endorsed!!!)
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To: raybbr
Does McCain EVER think like a Conservative?

Based on his comments on this issue, I'd have to just ask "Does he ever think, period?". His comments on this topic reveal an frighteningly shallow understanding of science and epidemiology. We need to keep this man's hands OFF our medical system.

7 posted on 03/09/2008 6:22:53 PM PDT by Hardastarboard (DemocraticUnderground.com is an internet hate site.)
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To: boop
McCain needs to stay away from things he’s not well informed about in or he will get savaged.

If he followed that guideline he would hardly ever speak.

Regards

8 posted on 03/09/2008 6:24:34 PM PDT by ARE SOLE (Agents Ramos and Campean are in prison at this very moment.. (A "Concerned Citizen".)
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To: ari-freedom

I have heard that bundling so many vaccines together and scheduling injections when children are very young and still developing their immune systems could be a cause.


9 posted on 03/09/2008 6:25:05 PM PDT by orchid (Defeat is worse than death, you have to LIVE with defeat.)
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To: raybbr
I don't know whats causing Autism but I hope these scientist can find out soon.Its very traumatic to a parent to see a child start out as bright and cheerful and watch them loose ground intellectually almost overnight.
10 posted on 03/09/2008 6:26:37 PM PDT by puppypusher (The world is going to the dogs.)
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To: raybbr
McCain sounds like he's about 8 or 9 years out of date on this issue. They quit using the stuff in the required vaccines nearly a decade ago. The diagnostic rates for autism haven't changed. It's still around.

Used to be the shrinks said it was a result of a weak father and a cold mother (or was that homosexuality).

Whatever, it is almost exclusively a Caucasion disease.

11 posted on 03/09/2008 6:28:57 PM PDT by muawiyah
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To: raybbr

Hmmm, and we thought John Edwards was out of this campaign.


12 posted on 03/09/2008 6:29:49 PM PDT by SampleMan (We are a free and industrious people, socialist nannies do not become us.)
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To: ari-freedom

Well, that and death. Myself? My kids? We have a number of natural immunities that keep us from dying from a lot of this stuff ~ and alas, you probably don’t. We can take them or leave them (except for the chicken pox thing).


13 posted on 03/09/2008 6:30:27 PM PDT by muawiyah
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To: raybbr

To paraphrase Homer Simpson: “Science. Is there anything politicians don’t know?”

The definition of autism has broadened, which is one reason why cases are up.

Diagnosis is not by lab test, but by observation.

Could be caused by genetics, pre-natal environment, birth complications... no one knows.


14 posted on 03/09/2008 6:30:32 PM PDT by LibFreeOrDie
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To: All

Might be the year to address this issue. A 62-1 longshot named Autism Awareness won the El Camino Real Derby yesterday and may be headed to the Kentucky Derby. This horse was purchased for a mere $1,000. The child of the owner is autistic, thus the name selection. Story here:

http://tcm.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=43986


15 posted on 03/09/2008 6:32:10 PM PDT by Renah
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To: Hardastarboard

http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/thimerosal.php


16 posted on 03/09/2008 6:32:40 PM PDT by ari-freedom (McCain must pick a conservative VP if he wants conservative support)
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To: raybbr

McCain cares nothing about the truth. He is a scientism kool aid drinker. I guarantee he doesn’t even know that autism rates have risen despite the preservative being taken out of vaccines. McCain is an idiot plain and simple and he is the best we got.


17 posted on 03/09/2008 6:33:11 PM PDT by Archon of the East (Universal Executive Power of the Law of Nature)
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To: raybbr

thanks, bfl


18 posted on 03/09/2008 6:34:29 PM PDT by neverdem
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To: raybbr

the point is to err on the side of liberty and life.

It works both ways. Most scientists believe in global warming and think that those who deny it are quacks. But we should err on the side of liberty (which global warming solutions tend to be in conflict with) and mcCain should consider the skeptics on that issue.


19 posted on 03/09/2008 6:36:21 PM PDT by ari-freedom (McCain must pick a conservative VP if he wants conservative support)
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To: raybbr

They say the vaccines aren’t the cause of autism but haven’t addressed the issue - what is the cause - only that vaccines don’t. Their emphasis seems on their CTA than getting to the root of the cause. It’s been around long enough to have some knowledge of the cause.


20 posted on 03/09/2008 6:37:00 PM PDT by presently no screen name
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