Bill to Honor Rachel Carson on Hold

[MountainLaurel]

Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn has effectively blocked a resolution to honor environmental author Rachel Carson on the 100th anniversary of her birth, saying that her warnings about environmental damage have put a stigma on potentially lifesaving pesticides, congressional staffers said yesterday.

Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.) had intended to submit a resolution celebrating Carson, author of the 1962 book "Silent Spring," for her "legacy of scientific rigor coupled with poetic sensibility." Carson, a longtime resident of Silver Spring who died in 1964, would have turned 100 this Sunday.

snip

In a statement on his Web site yesterday, Coburn (R) confirmed that he is holding up the bill. In the statement, he blames Carson for using "junk science" to turn public opinion against chemicals, including DDT, that could prevent the spread of insect-borne diseases such as malaria, which is spread by mosquitoes.

snip

"Carson was the author of the now-debunked 'The Silent Spring,' " Coburn's statement reads. "This book was the catalyst in the deadly worldwide stigmatization against insecticides, especially DDT."

The controversy over Cardin's resolution -- which Sullam said was to be co-sponsored by Sens. Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and Robert P. Casey Jr. (D-Pa.) -- is the second spat over Carson's legacy on Capitol Hill this year.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/22/AR2007052201574.html

[AndyA]

1. Coburn is my Senator. I am so proud. NOT.

He still hasn't answered my question about when a human life becomes meaningless. As a medical doctor, he is supposed to protect life at every opportunity, and he says he does so when he votes against a woman's right to choose.

Yet, he will send innocent young people off to their deaths in a war in a foreign country without so much as a thought. He doesn't seem to care if they have good medical care, a decent education, or loving parents, so I just wanted to know at what point the caring and protection of a life ends, and it becomes OK for that life to die.

He hasn't answered my question yet. I wonder why. :shrug:

[depakid]

7. That is one sick individual

who's quite beyond words....

on edit:

The Post is also one SICK publication for presenting such a slanted article, devoid of objective scientific analysis- and quoting yet another far right "think tank" spokesperson in an effort to legitimize this garbage.

Hell, DDT put the nation's very symbol- the Bald Eagle, on the endangered species list!

[MountainLaurel]

8. And he's supposed to be a physician

An OB-GYN at that?! If I were in his state, I would keep my girlie bits as far away from him as possible!

[hunter]

11. There is a sub-class of OB-GYNs who are truly hateful creatures.

The transition from toxic attitudes about women and medicine to toxic politics, in a medical setting or in general, isn't a big leap for them.

Insecticides are harmful to people and the environment, the scientific evidence is clear.

Tom Coburn may want to keep his manly bits protected. You never know when an angry bald eagle is going to be in the neighborhood. Rachel Carson is a hero to the bald eagles.

[MountainLaurel]

12. I know there are a couple of bald eagle pairs in DC

Manly bits indeed!

:evilgrin:

[phantom power]

2. Debunked?

Debunked??

:puke:

[MethuenProgressive]

3. "the now-debunked Silent Spring"??

Tell that to the eagles and songbirds, Sen. Coburn.

[BOSSHOG]

4. DDT stigmatized.. Imagine. That coburn is a great representative

of the grand old party.

[KT2000]

5. Yeah right -

her warnings about hormone mimicing chemicals was spot on.

[Red Zelda]

6. Lifesaving pesticides????

The real joke is that these people don't give one shit about poor people's lives.

[Shoelace]

9. here's a link to contact Sen. Coburn, give him a piece of your mind

frigging SOB! Let him know how we feel about his sabotaging that bill. :mad: :grr: :banghead:


http://coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactSenatorCoburn.Home

[MethuenProgressive]

10. Please "R" this topic!

:kick:

[Mabus]

13. You've got to be kidding me

:banghead:

[struggle4progress]

14. Toxicological Profile for DDT, DDE, and DDD (ASTDR / Sep 02)

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp35.html

[struggle4progress]

15. Environmental Effects of DDT

http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=645&page=358