If you say this, I get to say that RedState and Newsmax define the mainstream of Republican thought. Both statements are ridiculous. Anti-vaxx sentiment runs across the spectrum of American politics, and while it’s certainly possible that it leans a little more to one side than the other, it is thankfully a very small minority opinion anywhere - though unfortunately a large enough number that it can cause problems. To suggest that RFK Jr’s opinion enjoys mainstream support because he once appeared on TDS and had an article published in Salon is the height of ridiculousness, as well as it suggesting that Democrats only support vaccination because Rand Paul said he didn’t.
A kook got through the system - yes, on the strength of his last name. Democrats have, as effectively as they have been able to, pushed his view to the margins. Are Republicans been able to say the same?
At this point, we should recognize that while Republicans/the right wing hold a considerable lead in supporting pseudoscience, antivax sentiments are fairly evenly divided between left and right* (I could bring up Michele Bachmann and Dan Burton as examples of (R) standing for Retarded, but prefer not to induce nausea so soon after breakfast).
RFK Jr. is indeed The Compleat Jackass on the subject of vaccines, and you don’t need to quote Fox News.
Dr. Pan is the author of the California bill that would end the personal belief exemption for getting one’s kids immunized (the bill that RFK Jr. is stomping around protesting). He reports getting death threats (i.e. via e-mail). And I can believe that crazies in the antivax camp would do this. Dr. Paul Offit, an outspoken vaccine advocate, has been unable to do promotional book tours because of such threats. And in Australia, an antivaxer recently posted a bomb threat on social media after a venue there backed out of an agreement to host a prominent U.S. antivaxer.
*obligatory Fair And Balanced note that Sen. Hillary Clinton helped pressure the CDC to spend time and money studying “Morgellons disease” (a psychosomatic disorder in which people fantasize alien fibers coming out through their skin), and Obama during an early Presidential campaign appearance played footsie with the idea of a vaccine-autism connection.
As even you acknowledge, “antivax was a left-wing thing for a while”. That while was a decade ago back before the science on the issue had been debunked. Democrats didn’t suddenly flip a few months ago - “let’s not rewrite history”. They had figured it out years ago. Check out this board, for example, and see how many anti-vaccination posts you find in the last five years. All sensible people abandoned the anti-vaccination movement long ago.
But Chris Christie and Rand Paul are supporting the idea in 2015. As far as I know, there are no Democratic candidates supporting anti-vaccination in 2015. Anti-vaccination now belongs to the people who don’t believe in science and those people apparently vote for Republicans.
This doesn’t have to be a partisan issue. The guy is a little off. The anti-vax thing is just one example of that. Falling into that 10 years ago is one thing, holding that belief now shows that he is definitely a couple of tacos short of a combination platter.
I don’t know much about RFK Jr’s position on vaccinations but I do know about Fox news. I also know that your super power to wrongly read someone’s mind is functioning quite well. Fox News is a hate group filled with bigots, your defense of them by attacking others who refuse to slurp up the same drivel you partake in does not help your case.
Would you kindly cite another credible news organization that has an objective write-up of your claims?
So why would anybody take anything written by a guy like Kennedy seriously? He is not a scientist, knows nothing about statistics, and has a reputation for dishonesty. Rolling Stone is not a serious magazine-it focuses on human interest stories, not scientific discussions. As for the freedom NOT to have your kids vaccinated, that has to be measured against the harm that re-introducing long gone diseases into the population can do. Tuberculosis is now being seen in the USA-mostly because of immigration from 3rd World countries. Is it a good idea not to treat those exhibiting TB symptoms?
The idea that non-scientists like Kennedy can have anything worthwhile to say (about vaccinations) is absurd.
I don’t know much about Fox News but I do know you’re an idiot.
Because he’s a Kennedy. Democrats are still dying to suck a Kennedy dick and since the media are the Democrats bitch they report stupid shit like this.
Well, he is a sort of politico. True, he has not (yet) held elective office, but he’s considered it and his endorsement is sought after. Sure, I care more about what scientists say, but since a politician can make laws concerning vaccinations, their views are non-absurd.
Lots of True Believer Dems in this thread who apparently think that something becomes untrue if Fox News reports on it even if it’s well-attested in neutral sources. How painful is it for you people to admit that a Kennedy is a moron? Does it actually cause you physical discomfort?
Like, I gave you a VIDEO of the man himself very laboriously explaining all of his own stupid beliefs to Jon Stewart of all people, and you apparently belief this was fabricated by Fox News to embarrass the holy family of the blue states! How fucking insane is that!