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Swine Flu Skeptic: The Sky Is Not Falling

April 30, 2009 1:36 PM

Karl_2ABC News' Jonathan Karl reports: In Texas, state officials have shut down all high school sporting events.  In Washington, Vice President Biden says he's advised family members not to fly in airplanes.  But at least one member of Congress has a different message on the swine flu: Don't worry about it.

Congressman Ron Paul, R-Tex., is a committed libertarian who is skeptical of government action of any kind.  He is also one of the few medical doctors in Congress and he may have a point.  Maybe, just maybe, swine flu fears have been blown out of proportion.

As ABC's Z. Byron Wolf reported earlier this week, Dr. Paul was a freshman Congressman in 1976, during the last swine flu panic.  He says he was one of just two members of the House who voted against the emergency swine flu vaccination program ordered by President Ford.  An extreme position?  Not really.  Only one person died from the swine flu then, but at least 25 people died because of the vaccine.

We caught up with Dr. Paul in his Congressional office and talked about this latest swine flu scare.  Listen carefully: He might be as correct on this one as he was in 1976.

April 30, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (79)

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Ron is right, heck even if he is wrong there is pretty much nothing the government can actually do at this point now anyways. Worse if folks overreact the economy will get even worse.

Posted by: Ivan | Apr 30, 2009 2:14:06 PM

Dr. Paul is right about everything on this one. Seasonal influenza sickens millions and kill thousands in the U.S. each year, and no one even flinches. The world will never be free of emerging diseases. We need to learn to live our lives, use common sense with regard to illness, and learn to adapt to an ever-changing disease world.

Posted by: dlh | Apr 30, 2009 2:17:45 PM

He is right on this one and pretty much everything else. Just deal with the folks that have extreme cases. There is no way you can stop these types of things from spreading so trying to do so is a waste of money.

Posted by: Huh | Apr 30, 2009 2:24:28 PM

People love to panic they get themselves all worked up over nothing. Your chances of catching swine flu are about as good as your chances of being killed by terrorists...very unlikely. Please worry about jobs, healthcare and consumer rights lack of those really is a serious concern.

Posted by: Hege321 | Apr 30, 2009 2:25:15 PM

Dr. Paul is always right about everything. Why are there so few intelligent, sane people representing us in Washington?

Posted by: Susiejoe | Apr 30, 2009 2:27:31 PM

Why not take on our toxic food supply. Then you would have a healthier populace that can overcome the flu. Besides we wouldn't be so fat and maybe the healthcare crisis would start to subside. Go Dr. Paul!

Posted by: Huh | Apr 30, 2009 2:28:10 PM

They arent closing the Mexican border to stop it from spreading here, but the President himself encouraged us all to wash our hands, blow off work and not send our kids to school instead. What great leadership! I weep that more people didnt vote for Ron Paul every day.

Posted by: obamaisbad4u | Apr 30, 2009 2:28:32 PM

The good doctor has spoken.

Posted by: antenian | Apr 30, 2009 2:30:46 PM

I'm pretty sure Dr. Paul is not right about everything, being human and all that. You Ron Paul supporters need to get a grip and not idolize anyone so much.

However, he is definitely right about the flu scare (that's probably all it is), torture, civil liberties, staying out of wars, and more. He was the only decent Republican to run for President. But he's just a man, not a god, and reasonable persons can disagree with some of his positions.

Posted by: Mad Farmer | Apr 30, 2009 2:33:12 PM

FINALLY! A voice of reason amidst the screaming hysterics!

Posted by: Lee | Apr 30, 2009 2:33:46 PM

Ron Paul is right on this one. This story is WAY overblown by the media.

Posted by: leftyintexas | Apr 30, 2009 2:33:54 PM

You people are missing the point... This is a flu that our body systems do not recognize... in return your antibodies can turn on you and attack... then you die.

Stop trying to make this out to be just another flu, Vice President Biden knows better and should to.

Posted by: insight | Apr 30, 2009 2:34:12 PM

Mad Farmer - He isn't perfect, but I challenge you to tell me where he is wrong.

Posted by: Huh | Apr 30, 2009 2:34:33 PM

insight - If it kills more in a year than traffic fatalities in a day, I would be surprised. It may kill but that is life. We don't need to shut the country down. Besides those who survive will be stronger as will their offspring.

Posted by: Huh | Apr 30, 2009 2:36:44 PM

strange I am sure I posted a comment here?

New virus will turn and attack your system. You should be worried.

Posted by: insight | Apr 30, 2009 2:39:55 PM

I wish he were our President.

Posted by: Notthatgullible | Apr 30, 2009 2:40:09 PM

Huh - Must not be a parent with children.

Posted by: insight | Apr 30, 2009 2:40:50 PM

When Ron Paul agrees with the Obama Administration, I generally feel pretty confident that the actions being taken aren't only correct, but obvious to the pros.

Posted by: jhw539 | Apr 30, 2009 2:41:28 PM

Yeah, the news is getting pretty tiring with all of the "probable" reports.

Why not wait until confirmed, to report?

Posted by: Phil | Apr 30, 2009 2:43:30 PM

insight - Not to worried. Got my elderberry ready just in case. If it is like the Spanish flu of 1918 no amount quarantining will stop it. Los Alamos just did a simulation showing that it will spread no matter what we try to do.

Posted by: Huh | Apr 30, 2009 2:46:12 PM

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