Unconscionable Right Wing Deceit

[SoDesuKa]

The American College of Pediatricians, a right wing political pressure group, hopes to deceive the unwary into thinking it's the similar-sounding American Academy of Pediatrics. Indeed, the websites are similar. Compare the phony organization http://www.acpeds.org/ with the real thing http://www.aap.org/. ACP claims a scientific basis for its viewpoints, which include opposition both to reproductive choice and to gay adoption.

Writing in The Nation, columnist Ari Berman describes how Paul Cameron, ACP's founder, spreads disinformation:

Cameron's "studies" are distributed through the Christian Communications Network, run by anti-choice advocate Gary McCullough, the press agent for Operation Rescue and the parents of Terri Schiavo. Press releases in the past few weeks included: "Gays Twice as Apt to Drive Under the Influence, says Family Research Institute," "Gays 6X More Expensive Than Smokers, says Family Research Institute," and, "Weird Behavior Among Gays Due to Mental Illness? Asks Family Research Institute." Until the Globe article, the 43,000-church Traditional Values Coalition listed Cameron's work on its website. He's briefed White House aides on his adoption theories ...

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/outrage?bid=13&pid=10207

[Maat]

1. Thanks for the post!

I write about these groups for our local DFA blog; people need to know about misinformation that is out there.

Another organization's findings, which are very dubious, is NARTH's (a 'reparative' therapy-affiliated institute).

[tulsakatz]

2. misinfo

this kind of bigoted thinking really makes me sick!! While I was reading the titles aimed at gays, it occured to me that the reason why these people think gays are more likely to drink and drive or are more likely to be mentally ill is because they don't (personally) know any gays.

If gay people began joining traditional churches and becoming members of groups like this, some people might see that they're not so different after all!

[donco6]

3. Isn't that an oxymoron?

I doubt they believe there is such a thing.