The blogosphere is abuzz with rumors of potential cabinet and staffing choices as the new administration prepares to assume the reins of power. One of those unsubstantiated rumors, now being reported by the Wall Street Journal and Politico, has science bloggers deeply concerned:
I join my fellow SciBlings Orac, PalMD, Blake and Coturnix (and Wired's Keim) in a big thumbs down on RFK, Jr. He may be the favorite of some in the environmental movement but he is not a favorite of scientists for a simple reason: his uninformed championing of the vaccination/autism case speaks poorly for his commitment to relying on scientific evidence ... read the rest.
For more information, this is your Obligatory Reading of the Day. RFK Jr as a head of a Federal Agency (either Interior or Environment) would be equivalent to Michael Crichton advising Bush on climate change, or McCain choosing Sarah Palin for VP ... read the rest.
There are now several reports that RFK, Jr is being considered for an even worse position, a position where he could do incalculable mischief and at the same time provide credible ammunition to Republicans that the complaints of Democratics that science was politicized under the Bush Administration were hypocritical ... read the rest.
Feeling a little bit queasy all of a sudden? I am. Then "be the change we want to see" or "the change we can believe in" (whichever you choose) and head on over to Change.gov to register your objections and make your suggestions for rational, competent science advisors, administrators, secretaries, etc. Let's keep this ball rolling in the right direction. ... read the rest.
If you're wondering what all the fuss ia about, make no mistake, this issue can be bitterly divisive (Watch what happens in comments below if you doubt this). On one side is a consensus of scientists and researchers from every political corner who calmly point out that the science and methodology supporting a connection between thimerosal-containing vaccines (TCVs) and autism is just not there, at least not now. On the other is a group of parents motivated by the presence of an autistic child or relative. Add in claims of massive, global conspiracies and celebrity demagoguery, and that mix might tip over from divisive to explosive. And if it does blow up, you better believe unfriendly political opportunists, including the usual suspects that don't give a hoot in hell about the welfare of middle-class autistic kids, will move in swiftly and without mercy to first amplify and then exploit that division for their own shady political ends.
We have no way to determine if this is a real possibility for the EPA, one of many trial balloons, or simply hearsay echoing harmlessly around the cyberscape. But in the remote event there is something to it, bear in mind that, after eight years of Bushism, cleaning up our science policy will be challenging enough. A nascent administration adverse to drama, focused on creating unity, and committed to restoring scientific credibility, would be well advised to choose the most credible, qualified person they can find.