MAGA Quackery@Work: RFK Jr. links autism to circumcision and says a woman carries her baby "in her placenta"
S. E. Anderson
RFK Jr. links autism to circumcision and says a woman carries her baby "in her placenta
During Thursday's cabinet meeting, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. doubled down on his previous Tylenol-causes-autism lunacy. And took it up a notch. He reiterating his warnings to pregnant women that taking the painkiller would lead to damaged babies. And he told his boss a lurid tale. In RFK’s words:
"This morning, before I came in here, somebody showed me a TikTok video of a pregnant woman at eight months pregnant. And she is saying F trump, and gobbling Tylenol with her baby in her placenta. And the level of trump derangement syndrome has now left political landscapes, and it is now in the realm of pathology."
First, I am not an obstetrician or a woman. But I am confident in saying that an expectant mother never carries a baby "in her placenta."
More importantly, I worry about the scientific rigor of an administration that makes medical policy by watching TikTok videos. But I'll play along. The sample size — one — will not deliver statistically significant results. So, even if the subject of the video was "gobbling Tylenol" and has "trump derangement syndrome," that is hardly evidence of any trend.
In addition, the rational observer knows that, during the age of MAGA, the "political landscape" is already in "the realm of pathology."
In fairness, Kennedy's vestigial rational brain kicked in. He added:
"This is not this dispositive. It is not proof. We're doing the studies to make the proof. And any mother who is taking this stuff during pregnancy just to get back at donald trump is doing something that is pathological."
I find no fault with his contention that he offered no proof. Everyone can agree on that. We can also concede that "any mother" who is gobbling pills to "get back at donald trump" is indeed pathological. However, I challenge Kennedy to produce a woman acting as he claims, in the flesh.
The mother/child bond is one of nature's most potent forces. It is absurd to maintain that there is any groundswell of women doing something that might hurt their fetus simply to make a political point. Of course, there are nutters. But insanity, by definition, is outside the norm.
Kennedy then broke new ground. trump set the table by saying, "When the baby is born, don't give it Tylenol." This instruction prompted RFK to add:
"There's two studies that show children who are circumcised early have double the rate of autism. It's highly likely because they're given Tylenol."
I have questions:
What two studies? He doesn't say. And Kennedy's own department, Health and Human Services, makes no mention of them.
What does "circumcised early" mean? I'm guessing Kennedy means infant circumcision — which accounts for 93.3% of all circumcisions. Aside: I was surprised that 6.7% of circumcisions were performed on males older than newborn. Conversion to Judaism requires it. Conversion to Islam recommends it — even if it is not required. However, that doesn't explain much of that 6.7%. Were the parents laggards? Is it a cosmetic choice by adult men? Is there a medical necessity?
Why is it "highly likely because they're given Tylenol? " We don't know. This unsupported claim is typical of MAGA. They say things like 'Antifa are terrorists,' 'liberals are violent,' and 'trump is intelligent' without a wisp of evidence.
Kennedy and every other current cabinet secretary prove two things. One, trump hires for loyalty, not ability. Two, he surrounds himself with people who won't outshine him intellectually. Sadly, when you're a moron, that means your cabinet will appear really dumb — which in RFK's case does not seem to be an act. ///
s. e. anderson
author of The Black Holocaust for Beginners
www.blackeducator.org
"If WORK was good for you, the rich would leave none for the poor." (Haiti)
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