In The Politics of Autism, I analyze the discredited notion that vaccines cause autism. This bogus idea can hurt people by allowing diseases to spread. And among those diseases could be COVID-19.
Unfortunately, Republican politicians are increasingly joining up with the anti-vaxxers. Recent examples include a member of the House COVID subcommittee and a crackpot who won the US Senate nomination in Oregon.
Josh Mandel, who's running in the GOP primary for the seat that will open up with the retirement of Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), issued a pair of tweets Friday raising baseless concerns about the vaccine against COVID-19 and suggesting armed conflict against the government if inoculations become mandatory.
"Dear @GovMikeDewine, WE THE PEOPLE are putting you on notice that if you try to institute a 'vaccine passport,'" Mandel tweeted. "WE WILL REVOLT. WE WILL RISE UP. WE WILL DEFEND OUR FREEDOM."
The former Ohio treasurer and state representative then shared a story about a Utah woman who died two days after receiving her second dose of the vaccine, although the medical examiner said her death was not likely linked to the shot.
