Autism Blog - Amanda Peet Aplogizes… « Left Brain/Right Brain

17 Jul 2008

Author: Sullivan
Comments: 8

Amanda Peet Aplogizes…

...about the word parasite but at the same time, she holds her ground on the issues surrounding vaccines.

She notes that the term “parasites” was “mean and divisive”.

I wanted to address my comment in Cookie magazine that “parents who don’t vaccinate their children are parasites.” I believe in my heart that my use of the word “parasites” was mean and divisive; I completely understand why it offended some parents, and in particular, parents of children with autism who feel that vaccines caused their illness. For this I am truly sorry. Since my mom has Parkinson’s Disease, I know what it feels like to want a concrete cause, and a concrete cure, as soon as possible.

Cookie Magazine deserves the click-through, so go ahead and read the entire statement. Here’s another taste, though:

However, I still believe that the decision not to vaccinate our children bodes for a dangerous future. Vast reductions in immunization will lead to a resurgence of deadly viruses. This is as indisputable as global warming. I know a lot of parents who secretly use as a justification, “Well, enough other people are vaccinating, so therefore, we don’t have to.”

Unfortunately, the apology is not being met well in some circles. I’ve already read people comment that she couldn’t have written that herself. Just a thought here: she graduated from Columbia, not Google U.

I’ve been told recently that it’s really neat how both sides of a story can be told. So, in that spirit, here’s a link to Jenny McCarthy’s apology to Dr. David Tayloe of the AAP and Dr. Harvey Karp, for shouting “bull****” at them on TV. I promise to put it up when I get it. Maybe I missed it.

In searching for a possible Jenny McCarthy apology, I tried a search for jenny mccarthy apology. What I got was a lot of hits to the Amanda Peet apology. Including AutismVox.

Link to this post?

If you want to reference this post in your site, use the code below to link to me from your website.

<a href="http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2008/07/amanda-peet-aplogizes/">Amanda Peet Aplogizes…</a>

Comments

8 Responses to “Amanda Peet Aplogizes…”

Amanda Peet, my new favorite celebrity! « Virginia Hughes
July 18th, 2008
01:14:50

[...] (Hat tip: Sullivan) [...]
Autism Blog - Cookie Mag talks to the expert (not plural) | Left Brain/Right Brain
July 18th, 2008
02:57:32

[...] story short, after statements, an apology (but not backpedaling!), lots of internet discussion, a threat here and there, Cookie Magazine now [...]
Kev
July 18th, 2008
09:08:59

Well, personally, I don’t know why she felt the need to apologise. I thought it was a perfectly justified descriptive term.
Jen
July 18th, 2008
13:10:38

I’m sorry that she felt the need to apologize- I’ve heard too many anti-vaccinationist parents declare that their kids will be fine because of herd immunity. To me that does make them parasites.
navi
July 18th, 2008
17:09:57

I’d just read the blog Isn’t she talking yet for an idea of the kinds of kids that are protected by herd immunity and the idea that parents of otherwise healthy children who refuse to vaccinate based solely on fear and not any other reason maybe are parasites. No, my healthy, vaccinated kids probably won’t be hurt, but kids with conditions that affect not just their development, but also their health, can be.
Matt Morrison
August 9th, 2008
15:56:30

Granting that neither McCarthy or Peet is a qualified professional, I am more likely to give McCarthy the benefit of the doubt for three reasons.

1. I’ve read McCarthy’s book and she is far from the anti-vaccine crusader that the media seems to paint her as. Indeed, she only mentioned vaccines once and all she says – after reminding the reader that she isn’t a doctor, just a concerened parent (hmmm.. sound familiar Miss Peet?) – is that she thinks there enough evidence of a link to warrant further investigation and to reccomend a book about the controversy.
2. Peet has been going out of her way to say that she isn’t an expert, that people shouldn’t be listening to her. Me thinks the lady doth protest too much – because if she really felt her opinion wasn’t worth listening to, she wouldn’t be taking a spokesperson job with Every Child By Two.
3. Dr. Paul Offit – the only doctor Peet consulted with outside of her own extended family – has a questionable background to say the least. Even taking care to avoid potentially biased autism activism websites, I found several articles – including one by Lou Dobbs – about how he abuses his authority with the CDC to make a vaccine he held the patent on mandatory ( http://thedobbsfraudreport.blogspot.com/ )and how said vaccine was recalled almost immediately for causing more problems than it treated (http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKE.....98S1_2.ppt).

Seems to me that Peet isn’t nearly as educated as she would like to think.
HCN
August 9th, 2008
20:40:57

Lou Dobbs? Hasn’t there been some controversy over his credibility lately? Especially since the vaccine that was recalled was not the one that Offit was part in developing. And blaming all sorts of things on immigrants without any facts:
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/ne....._of_1.html

Please, when it comes to medical advice ignore Amanda Peet, Jenny McCarthy, Lou Dobbs and anyone else who has never attended are real School of Medicine.
Sullivan
August 10th, 2008
00:51:49

1. I’ve read McCarthy’s book and she is far from the anti-vaccine crusader that the media seems to paint her as. Indeed, she only mentioned vaccines once and all she says – after reminding the reader that she isn’t a doctor, just a concerened parent (hmmm.. sound familiar Miss Peet?) – is that she thinks there enough evidence of a link to warrant further investigation and to reccomend a book about the controversy.

is there a reason why you have left out everything that Ms. McCarthy has done since writing her book? I’d love to hear from more people who have no idea that she was on Larry King Live, that she organized a vaccine-rally in DC, that she supports the very questionable Generation Rescue “alternative” vaccine schedule that leaves out Measles, Mumps and Rubella entirely.

2. Peet has been going out of her way to say that she isn’t an expert, that people shouldn’t be listening to her. Me thinks the lady doth protest too much – because if she really felt her opinion wasn’t worth listening to, she wouldn’t be taking a spokesperson job with Every Child By Two.

She notes that her opinion isn’t important, but the fact that her celebrity brings attention is. Let’s face it, had Every Child By Two held a press conference without her, would anyone have come?

That is her value-add and she is acknowledging it and honestly stating her limitations.

3. Dr. Paul Offit – the only doctor Peet consulted with outside of her own extended family – has a questionable background to say the least. Even taking care to avoid potentially biased autism activism websites, I found several articles – including one by Lou Dobbs – about how he abuses his authority with the CDC to make a vaccine he held the patent on mandatory ( http://thedobbsfraudreport.blo…..gspot.com/ )and how said vaccine was recalled almost immediately for causing more problems than it treated (http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKE.....98S1_2.ppt).

Are you aware of the actual facts, or did you make these mistakes honestly?

Dr. Offit did not vote on his own vaccine when he was on the vaccine advisory panel. He voted on a competitor’s vaccine. His votes were in accord with his potential conflicts of interest.

Note that the vaccine that was recalled was not the one that Dr. Offit assisted in creating. The one that was recalled was RotaShield. Dr. Offit’s vaccine, which came out later, was RotaTeq. Mixing those two vaccines up is a common mistake. Sometimes the mistake is an honest one, sometimes it isn’t.

Seems to me that Peet isn’t nearly as educated as she would like to think.

A tough statement to make given the clear mistakes you have made in your own post.

Has Amanda Peet mentioned in any of this her degree from Columbia? I haven’t heard it.

Makes an interesting comparison to having a Gh.D. (Doctorate of Ghoogle)