Dr. Red Eye

It is fairly common for people in a movement look to celebrities to publicize their agenda. An obvious example is Barack Obama, who has gotten notoriety from the ilk of popular talk show host Oprah Winfrey, actor George Clooney and rapper Ludacris.

But the downfall of looking up to celebrities is that they, perhaps more than the ordinary Joe, tend to be highly fickle and unreliable as spokespeople.

Many Christians were excited to hear that rapper R. Kelly professed to becoming a born-again Christian… before R. Kelly started churning out more lewd records and being salaciously charged with having videotaped sex with an underage girl.

Similarly, some homeschoolers were excited to hear that actor Will Smith was homeschooling his kids… until learning that he decided to start his own school (New Village Academy) and, even more interestingly, that the school uses some Scientology educational methodologies and employs some Scientologists.

So now we have the news that former Playboy Playmate Jenny McCarthy has joined the vaccine-autism movement.

Brace yourself, people.

Actually, McCarthy has done nothing to disappoint the vaccine-autism movement. In fact, she recently got into a public feud with actress Amanda Peet, who said in a recent interview that parents who don’t vaccinate their children because of autism fears are “parasites.”

Peet, who is now the spokeswoman for the pro-vaccination organization Every Child By Two, claims she did research to “educate ourselves on vaccines” and found reassuring support from “credible organizations like the World Health Organization, the National Academy of Sciences, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.”

McCarthy responded in Spectrum Magazine that Peet “has a lot of balls to come forward and be on that side, because there is an angry mob on my side. I like the fact that I can say she’s completely wrong.” And as for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), McCarthy said it “sucks.”

McCarthy’s son is autistic. Peet’s daughter is not.

Autism is typically diagnosed between 18 months and 3 years of age, the same period of time that most of the recommended vaccines are administered. Families affected by autism see their previously happy, healthy, normal children transformed into shells of their former selves after having taken the many shots.

Peet apologized for using the term “parasite” but not for the point she was trying to make about unvaccinated kids living off the “shield” created by the vaccinated. And she called it irresponsible to suggest that the AAP is engaged in a massive coverup of harmful vaccines.

But is it?

Let’s face the facts: vaccines are big business for drug companies. With 48 doses of 12 vaccines multiplied by millions of children, you won’t need to be a math major to know that drug companies have more than health reasons to see every child take all those vaccines.

Peet claims that the “worldwide scientific community” concludes that vaccines are safe. But has Peet overlooked the little fact that the AAP and others in the “worldwide scientific community” are in bed with the drug companies? Don’t believe it? Next time you go to your doctor’s office, count how many sponsored products are there. And guess where those doctors get their policies from?

Media reports are quick to state that there is no proven cause for autism. But perhaps the reason there is no proven cause is because people aren’t exactly looking very hard for the cause. Call me a cynic but do you really believe the drug companies and their medical organization bedfellows are honestly and earnestly investigating whether a link between vaccines and autism exists?

Generation Rescue, McCarthy’s organization, states that the Centers for Disease Control has been unable/unwilling to do vaccine-autism research, despite an $8 billion annual budget. And check out these statistics from a survey done by an independent opinion research firm that was commissioned by Generation Rescue:

• Vaccinated boys were 155% more likely to have a neurological disorder
• Vaccinated boys were 224% more likely to have ADHD
• Vaccinated boys were 61% more likely to have autism

You willing to take those chances with your kids?

The vaccine preservative thimerosal, which contains mercury, has been named as the main suspect for these problems. One study indicated that thimerosal was safe but safe or not, mercury is poisonous… so is there really any reason to put that in a growing baby’s system?

Notably, the federal government compensated one family whose daughter developed autism from vaccinations.

Here’s the bottom line: celebrity involvement or not, if you are a parent of a young child, you owe it to yourself and your child to do as much research on this subject as possible. It would be a travesty if your child developed autism because you as the parent just shrugged your shoulders at the vaccine-autism warnings. I personally know a couple whose child was perfectly normal until receiving her 2-year-old vaccination shots. While some argue coincidence, these parents strongly feel otherwise.

Start with these suggestions, then check out this content and go from there.

I’m not saying don’t ever vaccinate your kids; but at least consider an alternative immunization schedule and make sure you have educated yourself on the potential dangers first.

This is one case where celebrity involvement was useful. Jenny McCarthy is not only raising awareness about this issue but also putting her money where her mouth is in providing help. Props to Jenny.

[Side note: Spectrum magazine submitted ten questions to Barack Obama and John McCain to see where each candidate stands on autism issues. Obama did not bother to respond; McCain has been in dialogue with Spectrum regarding the questions.]

I’m just starting my own journey on this issue. What resources do you recommend?