Intentions of kindness by presidential candidate Mitt Romney has turned quite ugly for the Lyme community over the past few days. In a misguided effort to detract from Romney's campaign and/or simply ridicule him for his choice of outreach, the Lyme community has come under heavy fire with many different news outlets and blogs attacking us.
From calling Lyme Disease "Lying Disease", a fake epidemic, a made-up plague and a conspiracy theory to referring to activists as anti-science zealots and patients as being confused victims of "medical quackery", who likely are suffering from depression or another mental illness and being taken advantage of by greedy doctors and opportunistic politicians.
None of this is being based on the available science either or in typical fashion is simply repeating the usual IDSA rundown of the "facts" or as we all know them: the lies!
From calling Lyme Disease "Lying Disease", a fake epidemic, a made-up plague and a conspiracy theory to referring to activists as anti-science zealots and patients as being confused victims of "medical quackery", who likely are suffering from depression or another mental illness and being taken advantage of by greedy doctors and opportunistic politicians.
None of this is being based on the available science either or in typical fashion is simply repeating the usual IDSA rundown of the "facts" or as we all know them: the lies!
(For those of you who wish to confront these "journalists" with the mountain of scientific evidence available, please go HERE for a list of references from a variety of different studies dealing with Chronic Lyme or persistent Lyme infection. Thank you to Saby Mo for putting together and providing us with this list. Your work is overwhelmingly appreciated!)
This sentiment has spread like wildfire and needs to be dealt with posthaste. We need to contact every news outlet we find that is jabbering on in this manner and taking advantage of our community as pawns for their own benefit.
This sentiment has spread like wildfire and needs to be dealt with posthaste. We need to contact every news outlet we find that is jabbering on in this manner and taking advantage of our community as pawns for their own benefit.
We need to contact the employers of these "journalists" who are spreading lies and demand apologies, corrections, investigations, and retractions. These self-minded individuals must be made to realize that they cannot publicly attack, demonize and ridicule an entire community of people and expect it to be overlooked. They must be held accountable for their actions. We did it with the Chicago Tribune and we can do it again!
Please keep your wits about you and try to stay as calm and collected as possible when you write your responses back to those on the list below. I know that is very hard, but please attempt to do so.
Below is a list of outlets that have jumped on this attack bandwagon with links to the articles they have written in regards to this issue and contact info. This list has been kindly provided by Lyme activist Lucretia "Creda" Perilli.
Slate (two headlines/same story):
Chronic Lyme disease delusion: Romney campaign pushes medical nonsense
Why Is Romney Campaigning on Medical Quackery?
Contact: corrections@slate.com
The New Yorker:
The New Yorker:
Mitt Romney Versus Lyme Disease and Science
Mitt Romney Targets the Lyme Disease Vote in Virginia
Contact:
http://www.usnews.com/info/features/contact
Mother Jones:
Romney's Plan to Win Virginia: Lyme Disease
See Article Here
Is Romney Using Lyme Disease to Win Swing State Votes?
See Article Here
Scroll down to form, select ‘Letter to the Editor’:
http://www.motherjones.com/about/contact
Mother Jones:
Romney's Plan to Win Virginia: Lyme Disease
See Article Here
Is Romney Using Lyme Disease to Win Swing State Votes?
See Article Here
Scroll down to form, select ‘Letter to the Editor’:
http://www.motherjones.com/about/contact
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/interactivity/corrections/
Washington Monthly:
Romney's Lyme Disease Mailer: A Play for the Christian Right?
See Article Here
Contact: editors@washingtonmonthly.com
Huffington Post:
Mitt Romney Pledges To Control Lyme
Washington Monthly:
Romney's Lyme Disease Mailer: A Play for the Christian Right?
See Article Here
Contact: editors@washingtonmonthly.com
Huffington Post:
Mitt Romney Pledges To Control Lyme
Disease Epidemic 'Wreaking Havoc' On Virginia In Mailer
See Article Here
Use corrections Form:
Contact: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/contact/
See Article Here
Use corrections Form:
Contact: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/contact/
The Daily Kos:
Romney campaign promises to fight Lyme Disease using 'synergy'
Romney campaign promises to fight Lyme Disease using 'synergy'
Contact: http://www.dailykos.com/contactus
The Daily Beast (Newsweek):
Mitt’s Bizarre Lyme Disease Offensive
See Article Here
Contact: contactletters@newsweek.com
Science Blogs:
Conspiracy-targeted Campaigning from Romney
See Article Here
Contact: editorial@scienceblogs.com
RealClearScience:
Romney Touts Lyme Disease Conspiracy Theory
See Article Here
Contact: sam@realclearpolitics.com
Little Green Footballs:
The Dangerous Conspiracy Theory Behind Romney's Lyme Disease Mailers
See Article Here
Use Contact Form that is located on the left column of the homepage.
The Week:
Mitt Romney's strategy to win Virginia: Lyme Disease?
See Article Here
Be sure to select ‘Website editors."
RealClearScience:
Romney Touts Lyme Disease Conspiracy Theory
See Article Here
Contact: sam@realclearpolitics.com
Little Green Footballs:
The Dangerous Conspiracy Theory Behind Romney's Lyme Disease Mailers
See Article Here
Use Contact Form that is located on the left column of the homepage.
The Week:
Mitt Romney's strategy to win Virginia: Lyme Disease?
See Article Here
Be sure to select ‘Website editors."
YAHOO ran this very same story (see below).
Contact: http://theweek.com/home/info/contact
The Wall:
The Dangerous Conspiracy Theory Behind Mitt Romney's Lyme Disease Mailers
See Article Here
The Wall ran the Think Progress article. Let them know that they should not be running articles that contain false information. Use their feedback link on the far left side of their homepage.
The Weekly Standard:
Campaign Mailer: Romney Vows to Fight the 'Epidemic' of Lyme
See Article Here
Contact: editor@weeklystandard.com
America Blog:
Romney's secret weapon: Lyme disease!
See Article Here
Contact: contact@americablog.com
Yahoo:
Mitt Romney's strategy to win Virginia: Lyme Disease?
See Article Here
Patch:
Romney Campaign Mailer Targets Lyme
See Article Here
Scroll down and click "Contact your local editor, Susan Larson":
The Wall:
The Dangerous Conspiracy Theory Behind Mitt Romney's Lyme Disease Mailers
See Article Here
The Wall ran the Think Progress article. Let them know that they should not be running articles that contain false information. Use their feedback link on the far left side of their homepage.
The Weekly Standard:
Campaign Mailer: Romney Vows to Fight the 'Epidemic' of Lyme
See Article Here
Contact: editor@weeklystandard.com
America Blog:
Romney's secret weapon: Lyme disease!
See Article Here
Contact: contact@americablog.com
Yahoo:
Mitt Romney's strategy to win Virginia: Lyme Disease?
See Article Here
Patch:
Romney Campaign Mailer Targets Lyme
See Article Here
Scroll down and click "Contact your local editor, Susan Larson":
Contact:
http://fredericksburg.patch.com/contact-us
Health News Review:
The Silly Season – tick, tick, tick in the
Health News Review:
The Silly Season – tick, tick, tick in the
http://www.healthnewsreview.org/contact/
MEDIAite
Mitt Romney Can’t Even Get Specific
MEDIAite
Mitt Romney Can’t Even Get Specific
When He’s Getting Overly-Specific On Lyme DiseaseSee Article Here
Contact: ads@mediaite.com OR tips@mediaite.com
Business Insider
Why Romney's Statements About
Chronic Lyme Disease Are Dangerous
See Article Here
Contact: ads@mediaite.com OR tips@mediaite.com
Business Insider
Why Romney's Statements About
Chronic Lyme Disease Are Dangerous
See Article Here
