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Measles Epidemic Pits Anti-Vaxx Parents Against Public Health
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Presidential hopefuls Chris Christie and Rand Paul have decided that raising money for their 2016 campaigns is more important than the health of children everywhere. Both are pandering to the Anti-Vaxx movement, saying that vaccinating your kids should be a "choice" and not a mandate from the government. This is an epic fail on their parts, and completely irresponsible!
But what do they care about the public good? They only want to be President of the United States, right?
In order to get elected, these guys have to be seen as the "Anti-Obama," and the President is pro-Vaccination (because he is also pro-science and has a brain).
CDC warns of potential large measles outbreak while President Obama urges vaccination http://t.co/1qAsYHP7Ha
— Daily Kos (@dailykos) February 2, 2015
Now that Obama has advocated for vaccinations, the right wing will go full-on anti-vaxx.
— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) February 2, 2015
It's bad enough that Rand Paul's father, perpetual candidate Ron Paul, is a medical doctor, and Rand Paul himself is some type of doctor. But Chris Christie is worse, since he recently had an Ebola patient quarantined and basically held at house arrest in New Jersey, but for kids who get measles from the unvaccinated - you're on your own, kids!
UPDATE: The Nurse who was quarantined by Chris Christie for Ebola had some words for him:
"I think this is a good example of Gov. Christie's making some very ill-informed statements. We heard it a lot during the Ebola discussion, and now it seems to have happened again," Maine medic Kaci Hickox said in an interview that aired Monday night on MSNBC's "All In With Chris Hayes."
. . . "I think the unfortunate thing or the scary thing is that I want a leader who consults experts and thinks about sort of all of the different sides to an issue before making statements and — and policies that are unfounded in science," she said.
They are both being intellectually dishonest about their true beliefs. Notice they both used the phrase "measure of choice," which tells me that this is probably a GOP talking point and not something they actually wanted to say. They are pandering to the base.
From Guardian UK
Christie, who is considered a leading presidential candidate, told press during his visit to the UK that parents should have “some measure of choice” in the decision to vaccinate their children.
“It’s more important what you think as a parent than what you think as a public official,” said Christie. “I also understand that parents need to have some measure of choice in things as well. So that’s the balance that the government has to decide.”
Within hours, Christie’s office had sent a clarification. “The governor believes vaccines are an important public health protection and with a disease like measles there is no question kids should be vaccinated,” wrote a representative. “At the same time different states require different degrees of vaccination, which is why he was calling for balance in which ones government should mandate.”
From The Hill
Paul was asked to weigh in on vaccines, after New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), a likely rival for the GOP nomination in 2016, said Monday morning that there should be "some measure of choice" for parents leery of vaccinating their children.
"I'm not anti-vaccine at all, but most of them ought to be voluntary," Paul, an ophthalmologist, said Monday on the "Laura Ingraham Show," in a segment circulated by the Democratic National Committee along with criticism of Paul's views.
Paul added a shot at potential presidential primary rival former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who made an HPV vaccine mandatory in his state before later calling it a "mistake."
"I think there are times where there can be some rules, but for the most part it ought to be voluntary and the biggest one is — I don't know if you remember when Governor Perry made it mandatory to get, for a sexually transmitted disease, to have everybody have to take it," Paul said. "While I think it's a good idea to take the vaccine, I think that's a personal decision for individuals to take and when they take it."
Measles = the price of liberty http://t.co/JXIVsLFKuU pic.twitter.com/uXr4CqK54y
— Luke Brinker (@LukeBrinker) February 3, 2015
On vaccines, Chris Christie is not a scientist, man http://t.co/FIyeLdLYF9
— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) February 2, 2015
.@GovChristie Get your fucking shit together: you quarantine Ebola nurse for a month, now you say vaccination a choice? You're DANGEROUS
— RiskyLiberal (@RiskyLiberal) February 2, 2015
From Andy Borowitz on FB - "Centers for Disease Control Urge Quarantining Chris Christie" @AndyBorowitz
— Doc Hamrick (@mch7576) February 2, 2015
I am happy to announce that Jenny McCarthy has agreed to be my 2016 running mate.
— Governor Asshole (@GovernorAsshole) February 2, 2015
In 2009, Chris Christie sent letter endorsing anti-vaxxer conspiracy theory http://t.co/lKAiTbd8Do via @dailykos #UniteBlue #libcrib #p2
— Justin (@liberalnyer1) February 2, 2015
Nigerian Writer Turns The Tables On Ebola-Fearing America, Suggests Africa Screen Americans For Measles (IMAGE) http://t.co/KMsxdpOpNI
— AddictingInfo.Org (@AddInfoOrg) February 2, 2015
Christie's pandering on measles vaccine shatters "real talk" image. Can't wait for him to shout down a pro-vaccine advocate at a town hall
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) February 2, 2015
Christie called for balance in vaccination debate from England England had measles spike in 2013 Solved it w/ vaccination catch-up program
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) February 2, 2015
Rand Paul Was Longtime Member Of Group That Promoted Autism-Vaccines Link http://t.co/UfjmgQFWww via @BuzzFeedAndrew @buzzfeednews
— JUDITH MILLSTEAD (@ARTSYJUDITH) February 2, 2015
I'm not saying Rand Paul has a nasty anti-science streak. Wait, that's exactly what I'm saying http://t.co/cyAGC2fZVB pic.twitter.com/Ro4K2ItsD3
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen) February 3, 2015
Breaking News: Senator Rand Paul Says Vaccinations Cause Plagiarism .... #obviouslyhehadallofthem @SenRandPaul #teaparty #tcot #idiots
— Cletis Stump (@CletisStump) February 3, 2015
Rand Paul: Most Vaccines Should Be "Voluntary": http://t.co/dbD6lZXvq7 This should disqualify this Libertarian hack from ANY elected office
— TeapartyCrasher (@VegasJessie) February 2, 2015
Now Republicans are pro-measles. Honestly, if @BarackObama comes out in favor of drinking water, the GOP will die of thirst. Not a bad idea.
— BWD (@theonlyadult) February 2, 2015
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