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Congressional Committee Casts a Harsh Eye On Vaccination Science

The Bad Astronomer writes "A recent hearing of the Congressional Committee on Oversight and Government Reform became a bully pulpit for antivaccination rhetoric when Representatives Dan Burton (R-Ind.) and Dennis Kucinich (D-Oh.) made speeches connecting vaccines to autism — a connection that medical experts have shown does not exist. Although there were actual medical researchers there as witnesses, they were mostly berated by the Congressmen on the panel. Vaccines are one of the most successful medical advancements in human history, having saved hundreds of millions of lives, and after copious studies have been shown to have no connection with autism. Despite this, a vocal antivax lobby exists, including, clearly, members of Congress. In part this is why preventable and potentially fatal diseases like pertussis and measles are once again on the rise."

6 of 858 comments (clear)

  1. Hey! Now we know by phantomfive · · Score: 5, Funny

    Pundits have been asking how we can overcome the deadlock in congress, and finally get things done.

    Now we know. There is full bipartisanship on stupidity.

    --
    "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
  2. Re:5.4.3.2.1... by Andrewkov · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yeah, don't they know autism is caused by wifi??

  3. "a vocal antivax lobby exists" by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 3, Funny

    So they're against out-of-date computers?

    Please don't try to invent bad catch phrases that don't make any sense. Nobody refers to vaccinations as "vax". Yes, we get it - "vax" rhymes with "tax", and there's overlap in the two groups. Really clever, we're all in awe of your wordplay prowess.

    --
    #DeleteChrome
  4. Re:Congress Sucks by crazyjj · · Score: 4, Funny

    Agreed! We need to get government out of health care. I propose the following changes, in this order, to finally free us from the burden of government run health care:

    1) Eliminate all healthcare benefits for all Congressmen, past and present. This will give them all the freedom to handle their own health care. I'm sure the Republican Congressmen will be the first in line to support this!
    2) Eliminate all healthcare for vets and active duty military. They've earned to the right to pay for it themselves.
    3) Eliminate Medicare and Medicaid. Grandma deserves the chance to choose and pay for her own nursing home care. Get government out of the way!

    --
    What political party do you join when you don't like Bible-thumpers *or* hippies?
  5. Re:this is an old, old, story by T.E.D. · · Score: 5, Funny

    Actually, no. Both of those men will be out of office next month. "We" chose others to represent us. Both are being replaced by women, as a matter of fact.

    So essentially this is a couple of stupid people on the street, minus about 3 weeks.

  6. Re:Congress Sucks by mybecq · · Score: 3, Funny

    *cough*

    You'll have that looked at, right?