Obama's health plan includes reducing mercury pollution,

parity coverage for mental illnesses, research in the causes of and treatment for autism as well as increased Federal funding for education of children with autism.


Edited to clarify that Obama is NOT tying mercury exposure to autism!

If he's playing the mercury-->autism card this early, then he just lost my vote in the primary.

But i'm sure that he'll do well with the bloodletting and therapeutic touch crowd, if that's any consolation...

then he doesn't want to support them.

Disclaimer: I haven't yet had the chance to read his full proposal and am basing my comments on the OP.

Since no causative link has been shown between autism and mercury (or Thimerosal, the other favorite target), the suggestion that such a link exists speaks poorly of the person making that implication. Despite his popular appeal, RFK Jr. looked like a buffoon when he wrote his ill-based article for Rolling Stone. Obama looks no better for casting his lot with the same pseudoscientific trend.

If he truly believes that there's a link, then he should explain why he thinks that this is the case. And if he doesn't believe it, then he's pandering to the crowd that does.

I'd still vote for him in the general election, of course, but his credibility just took a hit IMO.

Read the bottom of the page on Obama's plan:

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/


Sheesh, next you all will be claiming that Obama is tying mercury to mental illness!

No one is saying that lots of mercury is good for you or that it doesn't have serious implications for one's mental health.

However, it is entirely appropriate, based on current evidence, to reject claims that mercury causes autism.

Some people took my OP and misread it to claim he did. I was trying to point out that Obama's health plan goes beyond addressing health care costs by attacking such problems as autism, environ metal mercury and the fact that mental illnesses are treated as a step-child. He also wants more spending on AIDS and lead poisoning. Does that mean he thinks AIDS is caused by lead poisoning!?

I was addressing specifically your jab about those who would deny the impact of mercury upon mental illness. My objection was based on the fact that mercury has been known for many decades to be harmful to neurological health, whereas mercury has not been shown to cause autism.

I was commenting on your statement without clearly indicating that my comment was not directed at Obama's views or statements.


Sorry for the confusion.

His concern is with mercury in the environment, not in vaccines. It is unsafe to eat fish taken from any lake or stream in New York because of mercury. That can't be good. I am convinced that this shows a recognition that a lot of the diseases we're paying for through health care, asthma especially, are the result of contaminants in our environment. I think this shows thinking that attacks the source of a problem rather than merely treating the symptoms.

His concern with autism is to increase research in to causes and treatments and also to increase federal spending for educating children with autism.


Go to Obama's page on his health plan and scroll down to the bottom before accusing Obama of pseudo science.

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/

But the subject line of the OP was phrased in such a way as to imply that Obama was identifying such a link, which if true would mean that he was advocating pseudoscience.

That is unambiguously commendable--much more research should be undertaken in this area.

in health care for the person afflicted and their family. the insurance industry wants nothing to do with autism because the cost of treatment costs are astronomical and there is no easy fix for autism