There were several examples of pandering to the Republican base by the candidates at last night's GOP debate. Unfortunately, a few of those issues were completely contrived by different groups ranging from the Center for Medical Progress (fake Planned Parenthood hatchet job video) and the idiotic movement that attempts to claim that bulk vaccines are the cause of autism and other afflictions. One of the highest polled candidates on stage, Dr. Ben Carson was asked about the 'controversy' surrounding the vaccine hoax, but not in so many words, of course.
Jake Tapper brought up the recent Measles outbreak in California because of the misguided reluctance of parents to vaccinate their children. He also asked about the autism fallacy.
CARSON: Well, let me put it this way, there has — there have been numerous studies, and they have not demonstrated that there is any correlation between vaccinations and autism.
This was something that was spread widely 15 or 20 years ago, and it has not been adequately, you know, revealed to the public what’s actually going on. Vaccines are very important. Certain ones. The ones that would prevent death or crippling.
There are others, there are a multitude of vaccines which probably don’t fit in that category, and there should be some discretion in those cases. But, you know, a lot of this is — is — is pushed by big government.
He went on to discuss the size of government, because the large, efficient National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control are simply too thorough for Republicans? These agencies work, and to decrease their size will most assuredly, decrease their efficacy, which would be even better if they had the necessary funding which has been diverted to GOP wars and 1% tax cuts. So the debate on the matter continued.
TAPPER: Should he stop saying it? Should he stop saying that vaccines cause autism? (hell yes he should, because it's a blatant LIE)
CARSON: Well, you know, I’ve just explained it to him. He can read about it if he wants to. I think he’s an intelligent man and will make the correct decision after getting the real facts.
WHAT??? Trump has 'the best people' and has access to the same, if not more information than the rest of us and he has erroneously come to the conclusion that bulk vaccine delivery is dangerous. He is, obviously not going to make a correct or informed decision. The real facts are there!
TRUMP: I’d like to respond.
TAPPER: Mr. Trump, as president, you would be in charge of the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health, both of which say you are wrong. How would you handle this as president?
TRUMP: Autism has become an epidemic. Twenty-five years ago, 35 years ago, you look at the statistics, not even close. It has gotten totally out of control.
I am totally in favor of vaccines. But I want smaller doses over a longer period of time. Because you take a baby in — and I’ve seen it — and I’ve seen it, and I had my children taken care of over a long period of time, over a two or three year period of time.
Same exact amount, but you take this little beautiful baby, and you pump — I mean, it looks just like it’s meant for a horse, not for a child, and we’ve had so many instances, people that work for me.
Just the other day, two years old, two and a half years old, a child, a beautiful child went to have the vaccine, and came back, and a week later got a tremendous fever, got very, very sick, now is autistic.
I only say it’s not — I’m in favor of vaccines, do them over a longer period of time, same amount.
In the most pathetic display of yielding to a complete medical moron...
CARSON: But, you know, the fact of the matter is, we have extremely well-documented proof that there’s no autism associated with vaccinations. But it is true that we are probably giving way too many in too short a period of time.
And a lot of pediatricians now recognize that, and, I think, are cutting down on the number and the proximity in which those are done, and I think that’s appropriate.
TRUMP: And that’s all I’m saying, Jake. That’s all I’m saying.
If this is so TRUE, then why haven't there been any credible findings on this 'claim?' There are, however, many studies available that disprove this baseless hypothesis. All of the studies showing no connection between autism and vaccines were done using the standard schedule. Therefore there's absolutely no basis for either of the two hollow heads dissertation on the schedule that children should follow, none. Carson is looking to operate on what's not present, which are two things: a logical argument and Trump's misinformed opinion on a subject, one of which he is completely ignorant.