Michele Bachmann: Embracing Teh Lefty Anti-Vaccy Crazy?

Look, let’s start off by me noting I didn’t care for the way that Congresswoman Bachmann went after Governor Perry over Gardasil last night, frankly: I recognize that there’s a core issue there about choices for your kids, but the central issue is more complicated than either side wants to admit, and it’s heavily partisan-tinged at this point.  But put that aside.  This isn’t beanbag.  Forget it, Moe: it’s politics.  And, as Erick Erickson originally pointed out, it’s effective politics, too.

This (via @bdomenech*), on the other hand, is not politics, effective or otherwise. If the Congresswoman really believes this, it’s crazy-time. Continue reading Michele Bachmann: Embracing Teh Lefty Anti-Vaccy Crazy?

#rsrh Unfair to creationists, really.

Calling anti-vaccination hysteria “Left-wing creationism,” that is.  *I have yet to have it explained to me why I should worry more about my kid being around another kid whose parents believe that the universe was created six thousand years ago than I should be worried about my kid being around another kid whose parents believe that the MMR is the tool of Satan.  Creationism doesn’t cause encephalitis, meningitis, and/or deafness; mumps can.

Anyway, The Panic Virus: A True Story of Medicine, Science, and Fear is not the Book of the Week.  While I will pick books that I have not yet read, I try to pick ones that I’m pretty sure that I will read, once they come out; and this particular book is probably superfluous to my needs.  I’m already quite aware that there’s an unscientific fringe group out there pushing a false link between autism and vaccinations; and that said group is putting my kids at risk with their nonsense; and that the typical believer is, ah, generally not on my side of the political spectrum.  You may still want to check out the book anyway.

See also here and here.

Moe Lane

#rsrh The Left’s War on Science, Part MMXVII.

The next time one of ’em wants to whine and moan to you about all those awful right-wingers out there and their literal belief in Genesis, look ’em in the eye and say “Young-Earth Creationism doesn’t kill kids*.”

Doctor Andrew Wakefield – anti-vaccination nut – killed kids.  And elements of the progressive and radical Left ate that stuff up with a spoon.  Which they will now pretend to have never done.  So I don’t think that I’m particularly obliged to listen to the smug sneers of anybody who doesn’t want to face that particular unfortunate truth…

Moe Lane

*At some point during this post I’m expected to issue a pro forma disavowing of Genesis literalism, thus showing that I’m hip to the culture or something.  You know something?  Forget that: Young-Earth Creationists don’t put my kids at risk.  I’ll worry about their religious beliefs when they start impacting on my actual daily life, thanks.

Left’s War on Science Watch: Bill Maher edition.

Via Hot Air, and the best part? Watching the faces of his guests curdle. Ever so slightly.  They start around the point where Maher starts babbling about inoculations. (Language warning):

Interestingly, the people who most like to beat their chests and howl about all those awful fundamentalist ‘Christianists’ on the Right* absolutely hate it when the entire anti-vaccination Left thing comes up. Their utter lack of self-awareness of  just how ironic their responses tend to be should provide the interested observer with hours of fun at parties – for a given value of ‘fun,’ of course…

Moe Lane

*All the while hoping that you don’t know how many of them vote Democrat. Hint: lots.