{"id":3935,"date":"2016-08-03T18:00:35","date_gmt":"2016-08-03T23:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/backgroundprobability\/?p=3935"},"modified":"2016-08-03T16:07:05","modified_gmt":"2016-08-03T21:07:05","slug":"presidential-candidates-on-vaccines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/backgroundprobability\/2016\/08\/03\/presidential-candidates-on-vaccines\/","title":{"rendered":"Presidential Candidates on Vaccines"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>If we were to create a &#8220;good\/bad skeptic&#8221; checklist for the most popular presidential candidates, we would have to include where they stand on vaccines. Do they support inoculation or do they caution against it? Do they support inoculation while subtly tossing off anti-vax talking points? Do they try to pander to all sides? Let&#8217;s have a look.<\/p>\n<h3>Jill Stein<\/h3>\n<p>The Green Party candidate isn&#8217;t full-on anti-vax, as she reiterated just this morning:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The idea that I&#39;m anti-vaccine is false, my full response to this obvious smear campaign: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/v1Kbll81e3\">https:\/\/t.co\/v1Kbll81e3<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/3sC45mi6ai\">pic.twitter.com\/3sC45mi6ai<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Dr. Jill Stein\ud83c\udf3b (@DrJillStein) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DrJillStein\/status\/760829384072712192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 3, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>That said, Stein has been repeating a number of anti-vax taking points, presumably because she doesn&#8217;t want to alienate any portion of her far-left constituency.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Jill Stein: People have &#39;real questions&#39; about vaccines <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/c0kK4mumDT\">https:\/\/t.co\/c0kK4mumDT<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/m3WND2x3yq\">pic.twitter.com\/m3WND2x3yq<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; The Hill (@thehill) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/thehill\/status\/759078316477480960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 29, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This is a doctor wanting us to go backwards on healthcare- Jill Stein on vaccines: People have &#39;real questions&#39; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/aRoxzXzB8d\">https:\/\/t.co\/aRoxzXzB8d<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Kathy Groob (@kathygroob) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/kathygroob\/status\/760478443494600704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 2, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Jill Stein Deletes Tweet That Says &#39;There&#39;s No Evidence That Autism Is Caused By Vaccines&#39; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/88aXiRsemF\">https:\/\/t.co\/88aXiRsemF<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Center for Inquiry (@center4inquiry) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/center4inquiry\/status\/760097365399339008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 1, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Snopes defended <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DrJillStein?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@DrJillStein<\/a> \u2013 both are wrong about <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/vaccines?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#vaccines<\/a> &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/nO6rd4vq5l\">https:\/\/t.co\/nO6rd4vq5l<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KimLaCapria?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@KimLaCapria<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/CDCwhistleblower?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#CDCwhistleblower<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/vaccineswork?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#vaccineswork<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; SkepticalRaptor (@skepticalraptor) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/skepticalraptor\/status\/760369630099677184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 2, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The Skeptical Raptor article is the best summary of her position that I&#8217;ve seen so far, and an excellent takedown of Snopes&#8217; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.snopes.com\/is-green-party-candidate-jill-stein-anti-vaccine\/\">uncritical apologism<\/a> to boot:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Jill Stein is so ignorant of the regulatory process that she claims that \u201cregulatory agencies are routine packed with corporate lobbyists and CEOs.\u201d That is utter bullshit, and Ms. LaCapria should have taken the time to refute that statement.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.fda.gov\/AdvisoryCommittees\/CommitteesMeetingMaterials\/BloodVaccinesandOtherBiologics\/VaccinesandRelatedBiologicalProductsAdvisoryCommittee\/ucm129570.htm\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff\">The FDA advisory committee for vaccines contains 17 members<\/span><\/a>, all but two are academics with impeccable research and science credentials. The other two, admittedly are from Big Pharma, but they also have impressive scientific backgrounds, and to impugn their character or any of the 17 others, is borderline libel.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>I don&#8217;t think we can expect Stein to walk back her attacks on the FDA any time soon; assailing the corruption of corporatism is at the heart of her message.<\/p>\n<h3>Gary Johnson<\/h3>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"es\" dir=\"ltr\">No to mandatory vaccines<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Gov. Gary Johnson (@GovGaryJohnson) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GovGaryJohnson\/status\/113419678730301440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 13, 2011<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>This is consistent with the core Libertarian principle of non-aggression, unless of course you consider spreading deadly diseases to be a form of aggression in and of itself. Under Libertarian leadership, America would go even further than <a href=\"http:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2015\/02\/03\/colorado-kindergartners-have-lowest-measles-vaccination-rate-in-the-nation\/\">Colorado<\/a> by repealing instead of merely <a href=\"http:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2015\/03\/18\/colorado-vaccination-law-lacks-enforcement-and-no-change-is-in-works\/\">refusing to enforce<\/a> existing laws which mandate vaccination for schoolchildren.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">A different kind of red-blue map: vaccination rates by state <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/sRWur9qAnP\">http:\/\/t.co\/sRWur9qAnP<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/QbCae73BLZ\">pic.twitter.com\/QbCae73BLZ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; \u2022 (@daudig) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/daudig\/status\/563468221420810241?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 5, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Then again, who needs\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=%22Libertarians+oppose+public+schools+because+they+are+government+schools%22\">public\u00a0schools<\/a>, anyhow? Kids can just\u00a0stay home and learn a <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Freeganism#Urban_foraging\">useful trade<\/a> instead.<\/p>\n<h3>Donald Trump<\/h3>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Healthy young child goes to doctor, gets pumped with massive shot of many vaccines, doesn&#39;t feel good and changes &#8211; AUTISM. Many such cases!<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/realDonaldTrump\/status\/449525268529815552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 28, 2014<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">With autism being way up, what do we have to lose by having doctors give small dose vaccines vs. big pump doses into those tiny bodies?<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/realDonaldTrump\/status\/449544008986275840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 28, 2014<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">So many people don\u2019t understand I am a big proponent of vaccines for children\u2014just not in one massive dose\u2014spread them out over time.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/realDonaldTrump\/status\/453935896623316992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 9, 2014<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>If only there was some sort of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalacademies.org\/hmd\/~\/media\/Files\/Report%20Files\/2013\/Childhood-Immunization-Schedule\/ChildhoodImmunizationScheduleandSafety_RB.pdf\">expert consensus<\/a> on the immunization schedule, then we could rightly judge whether The Donald has a valid point.<\/p>\n<h3>Hillary Clinton<\/h3>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The science is clear: The earth is round, the sky is blue, and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/vaccineswork?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#vaccineswork<\/a>. Let&#39;s protect all our kids. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/GrandmothersKnowBest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#GrandmothersKnowBest<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/HillaryClinton\/status\/562456798020386816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 3, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This is urgent. We need to invest in a vaccine and treatment now. My heart goes out to parents impacted by Zika. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Su07BTN5Ie\">https:\/\/t.co\/Su07BTN5Ie<\/a> -H<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/HillaryClinton\/status\/720450813538279424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 14, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Can&#39;t believe we&#39;re *still* debating vaccines in 2016. Good job, America.<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/SBlxwxou8b\">https:\/\/t.co\/SBlxwxou8b<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Dorothy N. Charles, MD (@dn_charles) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/dn_charles\/status\/760316124667838464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 2, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;m not suggesting that anyone should become a single-issue voter on the matter of vaccines (or anything else) but if they were, at least the choice would be clear enough.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If we were to create a &#8220;good\/bad skeptic&#8221; checklist for the most popular presidential candidates, we would have to include&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":3780,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,36],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3935","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics","category-skepticism"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/backgroundprobability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3935","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/backgroundprobability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/backgroundprobability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/backgroundprobability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/backgroundprobability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3935"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/backgroundprobability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3935\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/backgroundprobability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3780"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/backgroundprobability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3935"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/backgroundprobability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3935"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/backgroundprobability\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3935"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}