Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

misterwinters — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:15:23 GMT

The guy at Skeptical Hypochondriac (who often writes about the intersection of media and health) had an excellent take as well. Is Oprah Killing Us?

http://skepticalhypochondriac.com/2009/06/oprah-killing/

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

Bobnathans — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:22:02 GMT

Out of all the super powerful people doing unethical things, you choose to attack the richest & most influential black woman in the world, right after she helped elect the first black president...interesting...

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

MaryShomon — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:09:22 GMT

I blogged the Newsweek piece when it came out -- http://thyroid.about.com/b/2009/05/30/oprah-thyroid-newsweek.htm -- and as a thyroid patient advocate, I've been talking about Oprah's strange and tortured relationship with her thyroid -- and the resulting "Medical Misinformation" -- for years, including:

"Thyroid Problems In Women Are Due to Inability to Express Pain?"

http://thyroid.about.com/b/2008/12/11/thyroid-shame-pain.htm

"The Six Reasons Why Oprah Winfrey Doesn't Have to Weigh 200 Pounds"

http://thyroid.about.com/b/a/257719.htm

"An Open Letter to Oprah's Viewers: Thyroid Disease is NOT Your Fault"

http://thyroid.about.com/b/a/257479.htm

Oprah has a right to do what she wants with her own health, but I'm concerned for the viewers who might actually believe, like Oprah does, that marinating in soy, iodine and bioidentical estrogen and progesterone -- and learning how to stop "swallowing one's words" -- will somehow resolve an autoimmune thyroid problem...

Mary Shomon

Thyroid Patient Advocate/Activist/Author

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

pipermaru — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:09:59 GMT

oprah follows the "Secret"....'nuf said

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

meli312 — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:07:01 GMT

Bobnathans, You completely avoided addressing any of the points of the article and instead pulled out the race card? This has nothing to do with race. It is about a very influential person endorsing quackery that can potentially hurt millions of people.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

starri98@yahoo.com — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:53:15 GMT

i told all my friends that i didn't know how or who BUT that once OBAMA won the election that there would be an outcry that oprah has far too much power and that she could no longer be allowed to exercise her rights as an american to speak her mind without an all out assault on all things oprah even though she is only doing her business as usual. they said i was paranoid and i laughed and told them to just watch and see. your article newsweek is just what i meant, as you brought up how bad her advice experts have been all the way back to 2003 at least. where were you then to warn if you really were doing a public service?? the first action related to the election was the furor with all the hate spewed when she didn't have palin on but i KNEW it would continue.

anyone who is actually taking medical advice from oprah or anyone includiing the supposed professionals on her show, gets exactly what they deserve for being iirresponsibile enough to follow the advice. i watched the show with somers and thought ingesting all that stuff she did was insane

but i also heard oprah say the standard "check with your own physician" numerous times throughout the show. is that so unexpected for a person in her position?? i think not. but i'll tell you one thing, i've had the same primary physician for FIFTEEN YEARS and hedoes not know my body better than i do!! thus i assist him in providing me medical care by being responsible for my own health by asking questions and seeking answers no matter what before i blindly follow his advice. so i definitely would never follow something i saw on television by anyone without doing my own research first.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

HypnotiqOne — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:02:07 GMT

That article was unfair. Every news program promotes "health advice" and are not held to the same type of accountability as Newsweek suggests Oprah should. The journalists are really attempting to attack Oprah's influence, not the advice given on her show. And they should have a created a more critical argument in that regard.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

shancasey — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:31:25 GMT

This pair of so-called journalists have no basis for their research or comments in the real world. They obviously don't know a damn thing about women's health or they would never have included a comment by some idiot md who said most women don't suffer from hot flashes. This is a slam to womens health issues and the real symptoms of menopause.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

Maxim — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:56:46 GMT

I thought the article was balanced and very well-written. I'm Black and in no way found the article to be racist, just informative. I commend Newsweek. Good job!

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

MrWesley — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 01:23:06 GMT

Fortunately, most of my female friends know better than to watch Oprah. I've been worried about her increasing influence, and her increasing comfort about her influence, among the female demographic. The media watchdogs should watch her very closely.

I agree with the sentiment that anyone who takes serious any medical advice espoused by Oprah deserves what they get.

And anyone who actually believes that she is being unfairly targeted is either racist or sexist themselves, because they don't think blacks or women should be treated with the same scrutiny as everyone else.

And I wouldn't worry too much about Bobnathans because he obviously has no grip on reality.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

RnGibson — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 02:47:31 GMT

Newsweek "took on" Oprah? It sure didn't seem like it. As a matter of fact, the whole article seemed rather sophmorish. You have done exactly what you accuse Oprah of doing, that is being irresponsible, uninformed and one-sided. I would encourage the authors to take a moment to look very, very deeply inside, away from the blogs and comments of their readers, and see why it is they are so threatened by a television show. I would be much more interested in that story.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

pencilcase — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 06:57:15 GMT

I agree that the Newsweek article was racist & sexist; probably motivated by resentment that a black woman from outside the establishment has achieved so much influence, even influencing the election of Obama. I don't recall Newsweek attacking white male Jon McCain when he suggested a link between autism & vaccines, yet Oprah is attacked for having a guest (jenny McCarthy) who has that view. Meanwhile white male Larry King is allowed to give Jenny McCarthy a forum without being attacked in a cover story by Newsweek. As another poster said, this is a witch hunt against a black woman who dared to get too rich and too influential. Notice how all the Oprah guests this article attacks are women, even women who are doctors; only the male guests (Dr. Oz) are not attacked so they can pretend they are balanced.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

derik — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:46:10 GMT

oprah and her "friends" will surely pay the grand piper of nature. After all, she messed up my spouse's body and mind with her quakery. Now, I have a spouse who is a cancer survivor, runs around freaked out about her weight (she isn't even overweight) and generally thinks I am a bad guy for being critical of oprah. The way I look at it is that oprah will evolve somewhere while in the long haul we will all evolve into something better. In the short haul, some of us will suffer. Thank goodness for evolution.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

bam294 — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:50:03 GMT

As a scientist and a mom I'm tremendously grateful for Newsweek for turning the spotlight on the quackery that passes as medical information on Oprah. Every year I have to review a new batch of redundant grants on autism and vaccination when the case should be closed and money directed to essential research programs. Every Oprah show where 'cures' go unchecked by balanced scientific discussion erodes public confidence, promotes fear mongering and diminishes my opinion of the show. I wonder if Ms. Winfrey has become so sequestered from her staff and producers that they can't check her off the wall assertions and endorsements. All this being said, the last paragraph and photos of Ms. Winfrey in curlers were, in my opinion, unnecessarily snarky and give critics far too much traction to deride the authors motives.

Stephen Colbert To Save Print Media, One Guest Editorship At A Time

Anonymous — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:26:09 GMT

PingBack from http://lolfed.com/2009/06/03/stephen-colbert-to-save-print-media-one-guest-editorship-at-a-time/

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

DrVal — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:33:00 GMT

I applaud Newsweek for having the courage to shine a light on Oprah's pseudoscience - she is a beloved TV icon, with many fans who will defend her regardless of the validity of criticisms. Yet, it is incredibly important for Newsweek (and other responsible news organizations) to speak out - because the public's health is at stake.

People are free to follow dubious "medical" advice and experience the consequences - but when children (who aren't able to make an educated decision about vaccines) are put at risk, we are ethically compelled to speak out against Oprah's misinformation.

I would like to see a much stronger "counter-point" movement develop to balance Oprah's false health information - the trick is to present science in an entertaining, human, and compassionate manner. I hope someone will figure out how to do that ASAP.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

starri98@yahoo.com — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:10:08 GMT

bam294,

i hear what you are saying but as a common citizen of the non scientist variety, i don't get how you can state that "newsweek put a spotlight on quackery that passes for medical information on oprah" as if that is the only place when every day there are scientific discussions among scientists who cannot agree on some of the most basic information medical or otherwise. you presented your objections as if oprah is dispensing the only misinformation because her show isn't full of "scientists". the FDA has plenty of them as does the CDC and i am not impressed with the amount of changes/restatements in some of their "scientific information" that comes too late or is simply wrong at some future date!!! to imply that scientists know everything and never make mistakes is QUACKERY in it's highest form. unlike oprah scientists have the benefit of anonymity and therefore avoid the same exposure to ridicule and judgement when their mistakes happen. as for who diseminates the information, all one has to do is know they should use common sense in any medical endeavor is watch a commercial from the latest, greatest cure being advertised on television ANYWHERE by the sponsor, to come to the conclusion that the attitude of beware and use at YOUR own risk is the only real answer to the question. i'm positive that there aren't any medications/treatments developed without "scientists or scientific" information. thus the question to you is have you seen any of the advertisements to contact attorneys for information on the adverse effects of some drug,procedure, or another? this statement is a fact and includes even doctors about your health, that's why there is such a need for malpractice insurance. in the end, you are your own best advocate and research is the key for answers about what YOU decide is best for YOU. in reality, no matter the source it's possible mistakes will happen. so why only highlight oprah, her show and her guests? misinformation and difference of opinion is everywhere.

IsThe Oprah Influence Dangerous Or Just A Fun Distraction? | That Black Girl Site

Anonymous — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:31:40 GMT

PingBack from http://www.thatblackgirlsite.com/thatblackgirlblogs/isthe-oprah-influence-dangerous-or-just-a-fun-distraction

Oprah and the Power to Persuade | World of Psychology

Anonymous — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:41:19 GMT

PingBack from http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2009/06/03/oprah-and-the-power-to-persuade/

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

Eponymous coward — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:24:05 GMT

I read some of these comments, and I cannot help but wonder why some are so offended by this criticism of Oprah. As some commenters point out, Oprah is extremely powerful and influential. The fact that she uses her show as a means to influence the public at large makes her, in my book, a perfectly reasonable target for some criticism, especially if she misleads, misinforms, or otherwise uses that influence in a way that could be detrimental to her public.

I get that many people adore her, and want to direct a bit of commentary toward those who fall solidly in Oprah's camp: It is important to remember that a viewpoint that cannot stand a bit of criticism is not a very worthwhile viewpoint. I'll concede that Oprah does a great deal of good, but in turn I think that you must also concede that not everything she says or does is gospel truth. Allow her to be human, allow her to make a mistake and be called on it. I guarantee you that she will survive this, and will use this minor trial to imrove herself. I feel fairly certain that she, not being one to glorify victims or look for persons on whom to cast blame, will not cry racism, sexism, or any other -ism as a result of this article. She may, however, bump up the amount of contrary viewpoints when she presents a story/treatment/life strategy that could have unintended consequences with her audience.

In closing, calling someone an -ist of any sort doesn't win the argument, it simply starts a new argument. In reality, resorting to name calling normally shows your position to be the weaker, as you have to resort to distraction from the topic at hand. Debate and argument are like a game of chicken, and the first person to cry foul normally loses.

Good day, all.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

gratenurse — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:42:11 GMT

I am a practicing family nurse practitioner in the great state of Alabama. I have never before been moved to posting a comment on any articles before now. Let me start by saying I am an Oprah fan, somewhat. The trouble with Oprah and others like her is the sharing of misinformation that can have negative outcomes for those who are less medical savvy. It is the same with internet information. Patients that are suffering or hoping for healthier longer lives will grasp on to any information and run with it.

Let me start with what I truly feel passionate about, childhood immunizations. Parents who refuse to have children immunized unless contraindicated should be punished in a court of law for child endangerment. For those who are concerned about the side effects of immunizations look to less fortunate countries and compare the over all health and longevity of children in America who are immunized. There have been no scientific studies that lind autism to MMR. For Oprah to let Jenny voice such propaganda is outragious. To link increases in autism to the increase of MMR vaccination is outragous. That would be no different from saying that global warming has increased autism or the increase of drinking bottled water is linked to autism. There are millions of children who are otherwise healthy that received all immunizations that may otherwise have died of measles, polio, flu, or a multitude of other diseased.

The Suzanne Somers show is just as obsurd. Think of all the time this lovely lady has wasted taking her potions and lotions to live to be 110.So what if she does live to be 110. You can still subtract approx 10 -15 years off for the time she spends swallowing,injecting and measuring. My wise mother once told me it is not the quanity of life, but the quality. I will stick to a healthy diet and exercise thanks anyway,.

May postive thinking will direct postive energy to stop such trivial bunk from being broadcast to millions. Stick to what you know Oprah- childrens rights, education, you 100 favorite things and leave medical care to those who are properly trained such as Dr. Oz and thousands of others trained in the medical field.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

mwoman — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:21:45 GMT

I think Oprah is amazing. She is a woman of wide influence. Rich, rich, rich. Beautiful. Highly charismatic. A real queen. But the message she sends to other women especially seems filtered through several visual effect lenses, that soften things, not just the lines around the face, but of ideas as well. This partnered with "romantic" music, whatever that means, well, it's all a bit too dramatic for me to actually be attracted to it, not even for entertainment purposes.. It seems artificial. Fantasies made of feathers.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

Elaina Dodd — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 03:17:11 GMT

I hear fear and ignorance coming from people who don't understand why and how vaccines can harm.

How can anyone accuse Jenny McCarthy of being a "baby-killing nut"? I'm embarrassed to be American. Parents of vaccine-injured children watch their children decline in health, right before their eyes. Unless you have walked in their shoes, dare not judge.

Did you know how many doctors do not vaccinate their own children?! You don't want to know, do you. You want to believe that no vaccine can harm. You want to believe that the FDA would not put a vaccine on the market unless it was 100% sure that damage would not occur to a child's nervous and immune systems. Well, educate yourself. Before you lambast Jenny McCarthy, or Oprah for having her on Oprah's show. Read Healing the New Childhood Epidemics by Kenneth Bock, M.D. Then try to belittle and mock Jenny McCarthy and Oprah. Go ahead, Newsweek writers! Take the chance to learn more than you care to. To finally understand that Defeat Austism Now doctors are on to something BIG, REAL, and life changing for autistic kids. Get the facts before you write an entirely one-sided article!

Oprah and the Power to Persuade | Mental Health Blogs

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 05:27:43 GMT

PingBack from http://www.mentalhealthblogs.com/oprah-and-the-power-to-persuade/

Oprah Responds to Claims She Offers Dangerous Medical Advice | Celebrity News Feed

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:44:20 GMT

PingBack from http://www.celebritydictionary.net/2009/06/04/oprah-responds-to-claims-she-offers-dangerous-medical-advice/

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

logicwithhumor — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:41:23 GMT

I appreciated the critical analysis of the authors, but what they fail to understand is the "why" component. Women have learned through long experience that what the medical establishment "knows" and what we later discover to be true are not always identical. When we had bad cramps in the 1960's, the medical books said it was because we were afraid of sex! Our mother's had scared us in some way. The discovery about prostaglandins was many years away. When a dear friend was diagnosed with schizophrenia, the medical establishment blamed it on poor parenting (on his mother's part, of course). When I developed severe gallstones three months after the birth of my first child, I was told it wasn't "normal," according to the medical community. I was supposed to be fat, fertile, female, and forty to have gall bladder problems. It wasn't until I started doing my own surveying that I discovered that many women had experienced gallstones following a pregnancy. It took the medical profession a few more years to figure out what many of us women already knew.

I could offer more examples, but those are sufficient to illustrate my point. While I agree with the authors regarding the analysis of the dubious medical advice, there is a long history of women having to find their own answers when conventional medical wisdom has let us down. Oprah is simply speaking into that void.

Oprah Winfrey Responds to Report She Gives Dangerous Medical Advice | Celebrity News Feed

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:42:46 GMT

PingBack from http://www.celebritydictionary.net/2009/06/04/oprah-winfrey-responds-to-report-she-gives-dangerous-medical-advice/

Oprah Fires Back | GossipO

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:17:18 GMT

PingBack from http://www.gossipo.com/?p=21885

Oprah Fires Back |

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:27:50 GMT

PingBack from http://celebrityforus.com/?p=11655

Oprah Fires Back | Stacy Steele

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:28:25 GMT

PingBack from http://www.stacysteele.com/2009/06/featured/oprah-fires-back/

Best HollyWood News » Blog Archive » Oprah Fires Back

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:30:03 GMT

PingBack from http://www.besthollywoodnews.com/?p=25022

Oprah Fires Back | Celebrity News Feed

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:44:20 GMT

PingBack from http://www.celebritydictionary.net/2009/06/04/oprah-fires-back/

Oprah Fires Back

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:56:01 GMT

PingBack from http://onair.osa.pl/2009/06/04/oprah-fires-back/

Oprah Fires Back |

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 22:10:20 GMT

PingBack from http://www.vipgossipnow.com/?p=32067

Oprah Fires Back - Ill Famed

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 22:20:34 GMT

PingBack from http://www.illfamed.com/?p=11515

Oprah Winfrey Responds To Newsweek Article | The Celebrity Truth

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 22:30:12 GMT

PingBack from http://www.thecelebritytruth.com/oprah-winfrey-responds-newsweek-article/007204

IS OPRAH “ABUSING HER INFLUENCE?” SHE SAYS “HELL NO!” « Horiwood’s Blog

Anonymous — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 23:26:54 GMT

PingBack from http://horiwood.com/2009/06/04/is-oprah-abusing-her-influence-she-says-hell-no/

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

earthorbitsthesun — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 01:15:54 GMT

Yes folks, proof positive; we have a winner Oprah (oops!) I mean "Anonymous" has psychotic tendencies!

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

starri98@yahoo.com — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:35:17 GMT

i don't have a problem with anyone criticizing oprah and have done it many times myself!! but i personally have a serious problem with her being criticized for doing the usual--discussing a topic of HER choice. larry king, dr phil, and all in the media generally do it EVERY DAY!! why is it that only oprah is diseminating misinformation and deserves to be on the cover for it? i have a subscription to many magazines including newsweek and i simply don't appreciate the one sided viewpoint towards her, when it is all over the place on television and print. NOT ONE TIME have i ever heard oprah insist that everyone follow the information dispensed from her show or guests. again i am of the opinion that anyone who blindly believes/follows what the experts, government, media, scientists, AND/OR physicians let alone oprah/talk shows tells them DESERVES EXACTLY WHAT THEY GET as a result. responsibility to yourself is paramount and mandatory AT ALL TIMES!!

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

texgirl — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:00:40 GMT

Since she owns a big pharmacuetical company, she is taking advantage of getting millions of dollars of free medical feedback from her audience. She does not but, her company and their sales staff visit a lot of doctors offices across this country and I can guarantee you the information she receives from this show has a major influence with her pharma company.

Good for Opra.

Glossy Wire » Oprah Responds To Health Claims

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:02:12 GMT

PingBack from http://glossywire.politicsandthecity.com/2009/06/05/oprah-responds-to-health-claims/

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

SrAN — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:25:45 GMT

Once again, for all those raising the race issue this is not at all what this article is about. None of you would have raised the race flag if it had been against John McCain, Larry King, Dr Phil or Dr Oz. So, to all you who feel that this is just another way for racists to spread their hate agenda please take a look in the mirror, I think you will be surprised with what you find.

Now to all those out there who believe that Suzanne Somers has a valid point, look at some facts. Estrogen is produced in both men and women. It is found in higher levels of women who are in the reproductive stages of life and helps to do things such as regulate a womans menstrual cycle. Once a woman hits menopause there is no need for this elevated estrogen level so the body naturally starts producing less. Hormone therapy is generally used to help ease the side effects (hot flashes, vaginal dryness and problems urinating). Then in 2002 the Womens Health Initiative discovered that these treatments also had many health risks such as blood clots, stroke, breast cancer and heart disease. The doctors still agreed that this treatment could help with many of the problems women face with old age but they also agreed that the benefits did not out weigh the risks. Therefore, as I have stated in the original article, what may work for Ms Somers may not work for everyone.

Finally onto everyone's favorite topic, autism and vaccines. First, because many health insurance agencies now regulate which doctors you can see and for only a short period of time, parents have now been left with interpreting advice on their own. With the world wide web available to almost anybody some information is purely opinion based with little to no facts to back it up. Becuase of this, finding reliable information is hard. Pinpoiting the cause of autism seems easy to parents since both vaccines and the signs of autism seem to come at the same time. The only problem with this outlook is how many things in todays environment have the potential to harm. Our food has growth hormones to make the strawberry bigger or the beef more lean. Everything is sprayed with pesticides, several drugs do not list all of their ingredients. Instead of focusing on one thing, such as the MMR vaccine, science should be taking a broader approach to something that they know little to nothing about. Once again, what may affect one child may not affect another in the same way. Educating yourself on the risks and benefits of vaccination is the key, a key that Oprah doesnt stress as much as the subject she is promoting with her show.

Simply put, because of Oprah's prestige and her ability to reach every home in America, she has a responsibility to give information that she has studied thoroughly and that is not one sided. She uses subliminal messages (such as seating professionals in the audience on a lower seat than the people that she is promoting) that tell people that certain opinions or facts are not as important as the one that she is supporting with her show. Just because the article pointed out that Oprah is indeed human and prone to be wrong doesnt mean that it was one sided.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

OedipaMaas — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 23:03:18 GMT

To Elaina Dodd: I actually would like to know how many doctors do not vaccinate there own children. I do want to know. And I would like you to site your sources. Thanks.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

ideash@comcast.net — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 01:37:56 GMT

I would like to thank Oprah, Suzanne Sommers and Jenny McCarthy for having the courage to challenge the system and the powers that be! It is about time that we had some options available for us to consider, other than blindly following the direction of the powerful pharmaceutical industry and the doctors who are getting paid to promote their toxins.

I am the mother of a grown child that was damaged by their precious vacinations. She was a beautiful, perfect, healthy, bright and bubbly baby girl. Then they gave her the first dose of DPT. She stopped breathing. We went through months of testing of every kind at Children's Hospital. All were negative and normal. Oddly enough they immediately started giving her just the DT portion of this vaccination. Though they still professed that their drugs were safe.

Over the last twenty years, we have done extensive research on vaccinations, the ingredients in the vaccinations and the possible side effects. How many of you are aware that there is a special agency in Washington called the "Vaccination Compensation Fund"? They know exactly what they are doing to our children. But as long as it isn't their chidren they don't care. This is a huge money making operation. The big drug companies are out of control. Just listen to the side effects of the drugs they are advertising on television every day.

I know there are a lot of people out their that think this is a safe risk to take. Until it is your child laying in your arms, turning blue. Until it is your child hooked up to breathing monitors and machines. Until it is your daughter that is permanently disabled because of their drugs. She now has Cerebral Palsy. She is twenty years old and can't communicate her thoughts or feelings. She can't walk unassisted, She can't drive, date, learn, sing or dance. Before you blindly follow anyones advice. Do your homework. Doctors are still hunam. They make mistakes. Not all of them graduated at the top of their class. Ask questions and don't be afraid to refuse the treatment they are advising until you have the opportunity to seek second and third opinions. They are not Gods! They destroyed my childs life. And turned my world up-side-down! I now work 16 hrs. a day, seven days a week to try to take care of her and make sure she has what she needs.

As far as the bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, I welcome this as an option over what the drug companies have to offer. It is all natural and has NOT been linked to any of the negative side effects such as, breast cancer, blood clots, etc. And the Dr. that I am seeing for this is an MD. Not an herbal "quack".

Be fair to all sides of these issues instead of attacking one person.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

OedipaMaas — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 11:39:29 GMT

I am aware that there is a "Vaccine Compensation Fund". The average payout if $900k. So a parent with a sick child has a huge insentive to try to convince people that the vaccine was the culprit. That does not neccesarily make it so.

And again we accuse doctors and pharmacuetical companies of greed. There is a lot of money to be made by injury lawyers, alternative medicine practicioners and yes, pharmacutical companies. Those supplements and home remedies the anti-vaxxers promote are manufactured by companies in which "Big Pharma" owns stakes as well. So they actually win either way.

One of the basic principles of science is that correlation does not always mean causation. But there will never be enough scientific evidence to convince a conspiracy theorist that doctors and the government are not out to get them.

We all like the idea of taking control of our lives. But I wouldn't take my own appendix out by reading instructions from the internet. And Google University is not the place for getting real information. Especially when the lives of children are at stake.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

pencilcase — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 12:37:17 GMT

It's true that Oprah sometimes presents information in an unbalanced way, but the Newsweek article was far worse. According to Suzanne Somers, Newsweek asked her if she had any evidence to back up her claims. She sent them more than half a dozen scientific articles published in academic journals but Newsweek chose to ignore them. She lists these on her blog:

http://www.suzannesomers.com/Blog/post/Two-Scariest-Women-on-the-Planet.aspx

I'm not saying Newsweek must agree with all the studies Somers sent them, but to completely ignore them is withholding scientific information from their readers, the very thing they attack Oprah for doing. That's completely hypocritical.

But even worse they portrayed Somers as a pornographic nutcase by claiming she injects stuff into her vagina. According to Somers, these claims are false.

Oprah, medical advice and Newsweek « Theory of Knowledge @ BCA

Anonymous — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 18:43:24 GMT

PingBack from http://bcatok.wordpress.com/2009/06/06/oprah-medical-advice-and-newsweek/

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

OedipaMaas — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 19:21:32 GMT

Pencilcase: If you actually read any of the articles that Chrissy cited on her website you would see that they do not directly support her claims. They only say things like - is a basis to justify a study or does no significant harm. Also, they are all like 20 years old.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

Dr. Jennifer Nordstrom — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 20:40:08 GMT

This article motivated me to actually register for this website.

I'd just like to thank Newsweek for running this story. Over the past several years, I've had more and more mothers (and fathers) come into my office with progressively wilder and wilder ideas about vaccines, supplements, and "alternative cures" for a variety of ills. People are increasingly hostile to my judgment, and increasingly likely to spend their medical budget on snake oil.

But that isn't the hard part. The hard part is the people who think I'm part of a conspiracy because an actor or public figure said so. That really hurts, when the only reason you joined the profession in the first place was to help people.

Stories like this need to become more common, to keep me sane. People think they're being critical and discerning by questioning their doctors. It's true, you should question your doctor!

But I hope people will also question those who stand to gain from "alternative cures" with equal fervor. Just because medical industries are large does not necessarily make them wrong.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

sodisgusted — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 20:54:45 GMT

I just checked out the studies on Somer's blog and they're not all 20 years old. Some are from the 2000s. Keep in mind there's a lot of corporate opposition to this research so the fact that Somers was able to flood Newsweek with dozens of studies (she only listed a sample) AT THEIR REQUEST is impressive, and the fact that they could not find space in a SIX PAGE article to comment on even one of them shows a complete lack of balance (they very thing they attack Oprah for). The goal of this article was to trash Oprah and Somers. I believe this was MALICOUS. How many times did Somers have to tell Newsweek that she does not inject stuff into her vagina and they printed it anyway? Why couldn't they quote a single expert in support of Somers when she can fill a whole book with such doctors? Why was the image of Oprah's face distorted on the cover to look as ghoulish as possible? Anyone who can't see th transparent bias and agenda in this article is a moron straight up.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

PsiCop — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 21:13:07 GMT

Kudos to Newsweek for daring to take on an icon of the mass media! Contrary to what many believe, that Oprah is popular, successful, and wealthy does NOT mean she is right to espouse the positions she takes. Given her influence, she bears the responsibility of having to choose her words and her causes carefully. It is clear she does not do this, but rather, gravitates to whatever feels right to her. When it comes to things like vaccines, lives are at stake, and they are far too precious to be wasted on Oprah's personal emotional satisfaction. For years the other mass media have not dared critique her, for fear of alienating her millions of sheep. Well, too bad. They aren't worth pandering to. Hopefully this will open the way for other journalistic outlets to continue exposing her.

Miscellanea Agnostica » The Problem With Oprah

Anonymous — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 21:18:05 GMT

PingBack from http://www.agnostic-library.com/ma/2009/06/06/the-problem-with-oprah/

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

PsiCop — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 21:19:26 GMT

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

sodisgusted — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 21:44:56 GMT

PsiCop Oprah almost never takes a position on her show. She is being attacked for interviewing the same guests that appear on countless other shows. Newsweek has no quotes of Oprah endorsing anything. They rely on the tin foil theory that Oprah is trying to send subliminal messages based on letting the celebrity sit on stage while the doctor sits in the audience. Of course the celebrity is on stage because they draw bigger ratings. And the fact that Oprah had more than one doctor to counter claims made by Somers is completely ignored by Newsweek. But Newsweek isn't interested in being objective. If they were they wouldn't have ignored the dozens of studies Somers sent them and they wouldn't have claimed Somers injects stuff in her vagina even after Somers told them this was false.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

mgreen_9 — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 03:14:25 GMT

Oh, so you are publishing accounts of bloggers who agree with you. How fair and unbiased. It was a stupid cover story that lacked substance. Most of the Oprah guests mentioned are popular in the media. And who can possibly claim that Dr. M. Oz isn't an accomplished surgeon who has practical, professional advice.

Should Oprah be more like Newsweek or The Today Show and only have mainstream, Western doctors and therapists? What a shame to promote an isolated =, singular perspective. Readers should follow the wisdom of the two writers and do what they say. Hmmm, that's smart. Newsweek readers and Oprah viewers are too dumn to think for themselves.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

jes'fine — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 05:18:12 GMT

"The darkness is vast and the campfire is small." But , then we have never really moved all that far from the fire.

It is a tragedy that Ms Winfrey has not used her unmatched influence for the forces of light ; for knowledge and truth.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

gimp — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 08:08:51 GMT

I have enjoyed many of Oprah's shows for their entertainment value. As I read the Newsweek article, though, I couldn't help but think of President Obama and the contribution she made to getting him elected. When the Newsweek writer said: "Because the truth is, some of what Oprah promotes isn't good . . . " this would be a prime example. The United States of America may not survive!

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

PsiCop — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 13:45:00 GMT

Sodigusted, perhaps you missed the part about how Oprah staged the doctors contradicting Somers so as to make them appear less credible. Perhaps you missed the part where Oprah defended Somers' defiance of science and called her a "pioneer."

You say that Oprah "never takes a position on her show." That is patently untrue. By having Somers up on the stage WITH her, AND by ACTIVELY defending her from any and all criticism, she IS, in fact, "taking a position." It is CLEAR, unambiguous, and undeniable. She is not doing it verbally, that's true, but she IS doing so very obviously. That you -- and she -- can say that she didn't do so in words, is a cowardly evasion.

That's right. "Cowardly." If she had any real courage, she would admit -- clearly, in words and deed, and without ambuguity or qualification -- that some of her guests are not experts whose advice is to be taken literally, admit that she is either unwilling or unable to vet them all properly, and apologize for possibly leading people into dangerous practices. She would, in sum, take responsibility for choosing her guests and for how she stages them.

But she has no such courage, at least not that I've ever seen. Rather she uses dodges such as were cited in the article, or repeated by you (i.e. "Oprah takes no position").

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

pencilcase — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 13:59:29 GMT

PsiCop the very fact that Oprah has such controversial people on in the first place demonstrates courage. It takes courage to give a voice to those outside the medical establishment. You did not even see the episode of Oprah where Somers appeared. You are going by Newsweek's interpretation, but Newsweek's article was biased as evidenced by the fact that, according to Somer's blog, they ignored the dozens of studies Somers sent them & claimed she injects stuff in her vagina even after Somers told them this was false. Oprah did not set up the doctors to have less credibility. First of all there was more than one doctor so that alone gave them an advantage. Yes Somers got to sit on stage with Oprah because she was the guest the audience were there to see. Somers is always the centre of attention when she goes on TV because she's a celebrity, not because TV shows are endorsing her views.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

lmb1964 — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:26:20 GMT

As a parent of a 17 year ol child with autism. I keep my mouth shut about the vaccine issue because of publications like yours that try to make us look like we are nuts if we think there are any corololation between the MMR vaccine and autism. I know when my daughters personality started to change and we started seeing symptoms in her. I, as a parent are not suggesting that we all stop getting are children vaccinated but why so many? I just went to her pediatrician they other day with my other daughter and now they are suggesting a vaccine for Hep A, because she said since hurricane Katrina some new viruses have been "stirred up" and "our" children could get really ill and die) Sounds very scary , but when was the last time you heard of somebody with Hep A, who has not traveled out of the country? So now Hep A vaccines are now being added to a one year olds vaccine schedule. Perhaps we should look at HOW MANY vaccines our children are having injected into their little bodies and how frequently and wonder what that AMOUNT could do to there growing bodies.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

sflyin — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:49:47 GMT

I have never had any respect for Newsweek, and this "story" reaffirms my stance. I have never heard Oprah do anything but "question" and offer alternatives . . . the AMA at this point, in my opinion, should definitely be questioned. And Oprah should not be held to task for exploring "alternatives," when traditional medicine and the medical profession in general is on the "hot seat" as far as its methods and methodoligies are concerned. Anyway, again, I have never had any respect for Newsweek, and this just confirms why. If you want real information, buy "Time."

Too bad you are still in business.

Sarah Flynn

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

sull765 — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:01:32 GMT

Another desperate attempt by Newsweek to create buzz. I applaud Oprah and her willingness to let people thinking outside of the establishment discuss what has worked for them. There are many, many people, children, who have benefited from the treatment protocol discussed by Jenny McCarthy, and many, many children who have been affected by the vaccine schedule in the U.S. Newsweek, rather than delve into these issues, takes a shot at them in hopes of generating some interest as it crashes and burns, along with the rest of the print media. I remember when this rag had some credibility.

Oprah: Shame on you. | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine

Anonymous — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:41:36 GMT

PingBack from http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/06/07/oprah-shame-on-you/

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

logicalTruth — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 01:23:38 GMT

Newsweek you have given our society a glimmer of hope finally for main stream media! This is what a news reporting organization should be about! For too long have this sort of critical analysis been missing from our media; Exposing the truth unapologetically and help properly educate the masses.

I sincerely hope all the other major news agencies would see the lead that you have taken and finally wake up. Articles such as this have been long over due and desperately needed in America.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

Subhi — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 01:29:59 GMT

Looks like the big pharmaceutical companies have reared their ugly heads.

So predictable.

Well, if anyone is powerful enough to take on Oprah...it's them.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

herbprof — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 01:39:33 GMT

Newsweek should be examining medical science, we are 37 in the world in medical treatment, we have an obesity epidemic and an autoimmune disease epidemic. Medicare cannot handle the costs and will be out of funds by around 2014, try those as some topics if you need suggestions? Here is another topic they keep asking for money to find the cure and they have received billions from the good people of America and what have we got for all those billions in the last 60 years, zero cures. Medical science loves you because you are in lock step right with them. At least Oprah is showing America that health care is not one dimensional as medical science would have us believe. If the world was that way there would be only one choice of car, house, style of clothing etc. wake-up news week!

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

logicalTruth — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 02:21:02 GMT

right herbprof, and the so-called "alternative" medical industries are given out "treatments" for free right? Your methods of argument and logic leaves much to be desired. Compared to science-based medicine, "alternative" medicine have much more efficient business model. No budget needed for R&D because there is no R&D. No budget needed for getting FDA approval, because they do no clinical trials. Hell they don't even need budget for acquire advance equipment, personnel, or ingredient since they are just selling sugar pills, magic, or existing treatments for completely unrelated conditions such as Kelation Therapy.

conspiracy theory fails as an argument. Just as always. -.-

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

aparris — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 02:36:32 GMT

I was shocked by your recent cover story on Oprah Winfrey. You seem to be blatantly trying to make Oprah look looney and dangerous. Your use of unflattering photographs and rude, mocking, and derogatory comments about Oprah and her guests absolutely floored me and made me wonder what kind of magazine has Newsweek become? I notice that Newsweek gets a lot of ad revenue from pharmaceutical companies, and have to wonder if this article was truly written from a balanced perspective.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

Clay2000 — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 03:25:53 GMT

Yes you did "take" on Oprah. But why? Did Oprah not donate enough money to a cause you were endorsing, so you decided to "take her on." I eagerly look forward to every Tuesday when my new Newsweek comes in the mail but this story left me disgusted with your writers and editors. You depicted people who enjoy watching her show out to be mindless sheep who will take every word that is broadcasted from her show as the holy grail. Your bias, slanted reporting not only slammed Oprah but every person who enjoys listening to her. I held your publication and reporting to a higher standard. You can do better than this.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

b1nf0rmed — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 03:36:44 GMT

I have long been concerned about the 'Oprah Effect' and the seeming mindlessness that we seem to display when it comes to Oprah. The weight her opinions carry in this country is concerning; and, frankly, I appreciate this article because, instead of being swept up in Oprah-mania, these authors seem to be the first who have chosen to stop and question her power and the wisdom of the information presented on her show... I do think the pictures chosen of her were unnecessarily unflattering and aimed at insulting..

After all this, one has to ask:

Is it Oprah's fault or the fault of her viewers? If we as viewers fail to critically assess the information presented on her show, that is our fault and, franjly, our laziness.. not hers... Let's not forget... she is an entertainer and her job, first and foremost, is to retain an audience... and, as this article points out, she does this very intelligently -- by empathizing with her audience and calling on them to join her in her quest for hope, solutions, and an abundant life.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

logicalTruth — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 03:39:13 GMT

http://shirleywho.wordpress.com/2009/05/11/an-open-letter-to-oprah/

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

logicalTruth — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 03:42:46 GMT

btw in case people forgot, Andrew Wakefield, THE doctor that started MMR vaccine scare in regards to autism have been shown to have falsified his data.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article5683671.ece

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

OedipaMaas — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:08:13 GMT

The anti-vaccine debate is the science vs. religion debate of our century.

Urban Media News Report: 6.8.09 – Foxxology Report

Anonymous — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:00:46 GMT

PingBack from http://www.foxxology.com/?p=572

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

Love2Auties — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:32:07 GMT

The most interesting thing that I found in this TMZ like "new" magazine is the number of pharmaceutical ads.......now it is clear what the motivation was in writing the Oprah article (the term is used lightly.)

If you want to learn something about autism and vaccines please read http://fourteenstudies.org/

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

OedipaMaas — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:57:34 GMT

Love2Auties - Conspiracy theories have no place in science and real medicine. Wooooooo Big Pharma - Scary. What exactly have they done? Saved the lives of millions of people? Show me the evidence that B12 and spelt bread can cure autism.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

justkeepingitreal — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:19:57 GMT

I had a full hysterectomy with the removal of my ovaries at the age of 47. I can ASSURE you that BHRT saved my life. When patches, pills, creams, didn't work I had no other choice but to go a more alternative route. I used a compounded cream and I will tell you if you have not walked in the shoes of a woman induced into menopause over night, vs. a 10-15 year transition then "please sit down and shut up." Menopause is easy for some women and for others it's an utter nightmare. To each their own. I for one will say for me that this is not some "snake oil"....there is something about a compounded estrogen that worked for me that the giant Drug Companies were not able to reestablish with their patches and pills in my body. We are all made differently, we are all chemically different....ALL OF US. What is made for the masses doesn't always work. Can we please stop discrediting what works for some and not for other? I am also a breast cancer survivor. I should be the last person on hormones, but with out them I would most likely be in a mental house. Hormones are powerful, menopause is a terrible time for many women, and we just never came out and talked about it like it was discussed on the Oprah show. Women KNOW when they feel good and when they don't. I don't care if I look like I'm in my 20-30 again. I just want my MIND and a compounded estrogen worked more for me than a patch, pill, or ointment that was approved by the FDA. Just because the FDA has its stamp on it doesn't mean it works or is safe. WAKE UP AMERICA....we are all different and we all have to find our way. If we have to step outside of the box to find something that works for us....then "LET IT BE". I don't watch Oprah, but I THANK GOD she brought menopause into the light, I just wish now someone would talk about what removing OVARIES does to a woman and her body....can we talk about that next? There would be thousands of women telling their nightmare stories. We need a revolution in this country to LEAVE women's bodies alone and let us decide what helps us to feel better.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

Starrydr — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:42:58 GMT

As a pediatrician I say 'Hallelujah' to Newsweek for having the 'balls' to take on Oprah! leaving all the other issues aside I personally am tired of seeing children sick from disesases that are preventable ( by vaccines) and while I will never turn away a mother who has unvaccinated children from my care, it breaks my heart everytime those children get ill from a vaccine preventable disease. And for the record no 'clinical' doctor is likely not to vaccinate their children ( Re: Ms Dodd's comment)...not with what we deal with every day. I can't speak for my non-clinical colleagues. I have also heard medical doctor that was invited on to Oprah's show speak of his experience and Newsweek captured his feeling.... He was put in the front row to speak only when spoken to and not given a chance to debate his side, he came off the show feeling belittled and feeling like he let down his peers. So Bravo Newsweek from me!

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

Liz-Wilson — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:58:25 GMT

I am a degreed engineer from one of the top schools in the nation, and I happen to be one of Oprah Winfrey’s greatest fans.

Do you seriously think that her advocates go along blindly trying every product and technique that is discussed or reviewed in her presence?

Since when is it “Crazy” to allow individuals the freedom to express their opinions?

I admire Oprah because she is willing to question the conventional. She encourages people to think for themselves, and she lives her philosophy by thinking outside of the box.

I’ve been an avid reader of Newsweek for many years and quite frankly, I am disappointed with the tone of this article as it’s riddled with skepticism & sarcasm.

Albert Einstein, one of the greatest minds in history once said “There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

It’s too bad you cannot recognize and honor an incredible woman who is “Living Her Best Life”, and having an incredibly positive impact on our society in the process.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

urimidden — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:23:52 GMT

Why on Earth would anybody take dietary advice from Oprah Winfrey, especially when she is attempting to sell a single dimension “cure-all” called the Acai Diet? Oprah is like a psychological yo-yo. It appears she is mostly addicted to the self gratifying feeling of rehabilitation, in her case…losing the weight and getting back into shape. However, why is she being touted as some sort of success story merely for infecting the rest of society with her mental disease?

What is truly incredible, in many ways, is the incessant denial by this society, enabled by protagonistic purveyers of pedantically prissy prosaic palatibility like Oprah Winfrey, of proper bodily requirements in the area of nutrition and sustenance; an "anti-Oprahesque" knowledge which is critical for the continued regeneration and healing of all portions of the human biological species. From the skin to the bones--and all of the organs that constantly need to be healed in order to prevent inert scar tissue from eventually causing them to fail--there are many long-term established abuses people refuse to address, or even regard as contestable, which are a part of an extremely pervasive illogical theatre of activity which is literally creating incrementally obtruded levels of inculpable suicide.

Truly, if anyone wants to learn from Oprah in the arena of obesity and weight loss, it would be very wise to concentrate on just what it is she does to get so fat. As far as anything she has to say in the many other areas of life she attempts to advise people on, I don’t care to watch her shows since…88?…well regardless, anyone, even miss decadent Oprah "I need my own magazine" Winfrey, who says to the 2008 Stanford graduating class “if it feels good do it”, and “if you hit a brick wall in life, it is telling you to change directions”, loses all veracity and legitimacy in my book, and I could not in good conscience vouch for anything that lady says. If one hits a brick wall, they may very well need to knock a hole in it, or maybe even climb over it. But the very first thing one must do if "it feels good", is find out why, and just what might be the limits and liabilities.

One must eat for sustenance and healing, as far as the pleasure one expects from their food…get over it! What one will find then, is the very wise reality that palatability has much higher realms when one finally allows their tastes to return to normal. Much of peoples “delicious” foods are anything but, when one learns to listen to their body.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

nattyone — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:34:34 GMT

Well done "Newsweek" once again Oprah appears to have been carried away with hype. It gives pause to question how much research is done before her shows? There is a dangerous tend developing as she shifts focus to try and maintain ratings = smacks of hype and sensationalism.

With all due respect Liz-Wilson Oprah "Living Her Best Life," is right out of her shows ; take a step back and truly analyze what you're seeing; question and research what you are being told - be you own person. More power to you Newsweek.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

amysidea — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 23:01:37 GMT

I would like to comment that the idea of bioidentical hormone replacement has been a topic on Oprah, with other guests, whom Newsweek magazine did not choose to discredit in this article. Earlier this year, Robin McGraw, Dr. Phil's wife, shared the stage on Oprah with Dr. Christiane Northrup, to discuss the use of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. The medical practice that Dr. Northrup founded in Yarmouth, Maine, Women to Women, has used bioidentical hormones for 20 years and a visit to their website will mention Suzanne's books about the subject.

It is not unbiased journalism to chose one celebrity, whom they have branded as a nutjob, and then imply that Oprah is irresponsible for giving her a forum to discuss her very well researched books. It is neither dangerous or crazy for Oprah to devote some of her tv shows to a therapy that is an alternative for pharmaceutical drugs prescribed every day in this country that mask sypmtoms. Ms Somers claims that she complied with this journalist's request for information to back up her beliefs, but they are not listed in this article. If the intention of this writer was to discredit this type of therapy as medically unsound and unproven, why not mention all the guests on Oprah who have had positive, and similar views on this "controversial therapy?".

I do know that it's nice in this country, for a change, for women to have someone show them an alternative to the almost certain antidepressant or birth control pill that their physician is going to recommend for them when they begin menopause. It was not fair to throw Suzanne Somers under the bus, in the interest of making Oprah seem uninformed. Nicely done though.

I hope this article stirs up enough controversy so that many more women research bioidentical hormone therapy as a possible treatment for their symptoms, and that the backlash will draw attention to the very well written material out there in books by Suzanne Somers, Robin McGraw and T.S. Wiley, about bioidentical hormones. Thanks Pat. You may have done us women a favor.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

PAJOSIA — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:26:55 GMT

Hooray for Oprah! Where do I live? Is this not he land of the free? Are we robots? Can we not have different views? The last time I was spoken too, by one of my professors, I was told to think out of the box. Be inquisitive. There is always more than one way to skin a cat. That's what Oprah is allowing her audience to see. Different views. I have not seen her put gun to anyone and say you have too do this or else. We are all thinking beings, I hope!

It appears that when someone as well known as Oprah is on top, there sits little people (yes that's what I called the authors of the Newsweek article) showing their jealousy of someone more notable

than they. It's pure jealousy. What I got out of the entire article is that the journalists were calling, the Oprah's viewers, "idiots." We don't think! We just say "wow Oprah said its good, so it must be!'

I happened to enjoy watching people speak on various subjects. Whether they be professional, non professional or a known celebrity. It's their right to speak. It's also our responsibility to know and choose what is best for ourselves. So what if Oprah is fascinated with new ideas. If she helps people get a head. Is it a crime? It's her show! If you don't like it, watch something else and leave those of us who enjoy her, alone!

My hat is off to Oprah for allowing others to have opinions and voices. I asked earlier is this the land of the free? I say yes, when it comes to Oprah.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

lbaniqued49 — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:42:32 GMT

It's up to the people who watch Oprah's show to believe or not. Different people have different views and it's up to them to take it seriously. Only the rich people can do all those stuff, it's expensive. Lucky me, I don't have that kind of problem. At my age nearly 60, no wrinkles. Before doing anything, evaluate the advantages and disadvanatages, you have to be careful, our body is a very complicated system.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

lovemycats — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:25:57 GMT

OPRAH is as close to a demigog as we have in the United States. Supposedly unassailable because of her millions in both dollars and doting viewers. But...she does them all disservice. My personal gripe is her public praise for the HSUS' Wayne Parcell. To praise an organization that raises millions to "help" animals, but actually spends it on lobbying efforts to end ALL pet ownership is madness. When given the truty...Oprah simply does not respond and moves on to the next tear jerking fanatic.

Sign me NO FAN

lovemycats

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

katstone — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:44:51 GMT

I'm so proud of Newsweek for being tough enough to point out what should have been obvious all along.

I've been dealing with the exact same sort of situation when it comes to trying to get the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act passed to fund increased research into the causes of postpartum depression and an awareness campaign. Just like the anti-vaccine folks, a contingent of very vocal people, including the Scientologists who are vehemently anti-psychiatry, are telling everyone that this federal legislation will ensure that all childbearing women are drugged with antidepressants, which of course couldn't be further from the truth. They highlight in particular one woman who has a very heart-wrenching story about having a baby with a heart defect while she was on a certain antidepressant. This is then extrapolated out to the idea that all women on antidepressants will bear children with birth defects. Evidence-based research does not bear this out, of course, and no one ever mentions that the likelihood of having a child with a heart defect is almost the same for women on no medication as it is for women that are on it. This is not to say that taking medication during pregnancy is without risk, but the writing I see is not based on real numbers and no one ever discusses the risks of not being treated for postpartum depression on mothers and children, which are plentiful. I'm quite sure if the controversy over this bill was brought to Oprah's stage, no one would ask the real questions and everyone would be moved by the few times something bad has happened and you'd never get to the truth that nearly a million women will be devastated by postpartum depression and related illnesses each year, and that they and their children can be negatively affected if they go untreated. But it's not just Oprah -- stories like this appear all over, on blogs and in newspapers and magazines. It gets frustrating when non-science-based sensational claims are given such credence by the media

Katherine Stone

http://postpartumprogress.typepad.com

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

jcham — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:54:17 GMT

As a subscriber for twenty-plus years, I thought your story on Oprah's misguided/unproven medical shows was thought-provoking, which I expect from Newsweek. However, I did not think the cover photo was worthy of you. There was also a lack of contrary opinions in your article, which I also expect from your magazine. Many people question traditional Western medicine, dependent as it is on pills or surgery. I have to admit, as a fan of both Oprah and Newsweek, that I never take as seriously anything I see on Oprah as compared to what I read in Newsweek. It does look like you used Oprah's image to sell magazines and that's what I regret for you. Maybe you can atone by interviewing medical professionals who see Oprah's show as beneficial. Focusing on her shows on The Secret, which most of her viewers see as more of her exploration of personal empowerment, discounted the many shows which provide viewers with important issues to think about, medical and otherwise. While Newsweek got lots of press for its story and I respect your courage for taking on such a powerful voice in America, you would gain a lot more respect from long-time subscribers if you had the courage to offer your readers contrary opinions.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

coolhandluc07 — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:44:18 GMT

Let's say tomorrow we wake up in an alternate universe. Let's say in this parallel reality Oprah is nowhere to be found. If this debate raged on without her, what would we be forced to face? Maybe the problem isn't Oprah, or bioidentical hormones, or MMR vaccinations. Perhaps the problem is that as a society we are no longer willing (or capable) to find out the truth on our own, and can only rely on the information provided (spoon-fed) from our doctors, politicians and celebrities. The problem is not where we get our information. Our problem is that we no longer find it necessary to find this information out for ourselves. It doesn't matter who is right, whether it is Suzanne Sommers or the pharmaceutical companies, Jenny McCarthy or the doctors, or even Oprah vs. Newsweek. The only thing that matters is finding the truth out ourselves instead of hoping to hear it on the Evening News with Katie Couric. By the time we hear it, it could already be too late. At a time in our country when we've lost so much already, we can't afford to remain silent or passive any longer. Think. It won't kill you. I'm not a doctor, but Erin Brockovich wasn't a lawyer...

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

pam12007 — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:54:49 GMT

I thought we were to grow old gracefully, people are putting so much crap into there system it amazes me. My doctor would not subscribe hormones, well guess what, I am healthy and had my out of rage hot flashes which did subsize by the time I was 55. Please just stop trying to overcome mother nature. Heck, I am now 58 and people thing I look 45. Oh buy the way I smoke and (shame on me). What can I say, 5'7 and 130 lbs. and play sports. I think it is all in the mind, how you eat and not the drugs/herbals/god knows what. Sorry thats how I feel.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

pam12007 — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 05:00:07 GMT

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

claudette_smoot — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 05:34:30 GMT

I have to state Ohpra saved my life! She is in the entertainment business. I believe she trys to explore all types of new medical advice some (ok maybe some is kooky) but as crazy as it sounds she had some neurologist on there some 18 yrs ago, who said that he believed bilingual people with head injurys could regain brain activity and body funtions thru talking their birth language. I thought it was crazy. But being paralized and unable to speak for 4 years I had nothing else to do but try it. And to my AMAZEMENT!!! was forming words within 24 hrs!! with this technique I was able to self therapy myself to 90% recovery. I have the medical records to prove it. I never have known how to contact such a big tv personality, but if I could I would Thank her from the deepest part of my heart and my 3 childrens graditude is never ending as well. so If you guys prefer spongebob then change the chanel. OHPRA THANK YOU WHERE EVER YOU ARE!

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

Patient-focused — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 08:13:16 GMT

I would suggest Newsweek to conduct an investigation within the hospitals and nursing homes that kill people with their awful managed care instead of taking on Oprah. Those are some assignments to Newsweek: pick up those without a license that kill people and write a news article about how to fix the problem. Walk to the institutions and find equipments that are defectives as you, your mother, your father, your child or grand child could be a victim one day. recall products that cause harm to consumers as there are many in the markets.

Oprah is not the problem at all, but she goes beyond her skills to help the general public and invites experts on board to elaborate on the disease process or topic she cannot understand.

Where was Newsweek when nurses, doctors, and pharmaceutical companies killed my loved one? Where was newsweek when some of our pharmaceutical companies overcharged consumers with drugs that lose their patents and the pharmaceutical companies renamed them to full consumers? these drugs are still in the market today and causes some people to have heart attack, hip fracture, and etc.

the people that want to put Oprah down are not in the position to face the truth of what patients are going through at the institutions and under close supervision.

Save it for yourself because I believe Oprah can handle this fight.

Well, some people may disagree with some guest like I disagreed with Suzanne Somers in some aspect, but a show needs to have balance (pro and con). That's what makes the discussion going.

Why do you keep blaming Oprah who's not a license doctor while the license doctor himself/herself tells some of his/her patient the wrong information-They know a medication is not good for you and they prescribe it anyways or the medications have severe side effects that are detrimental to health, they prescribe refills even though the patient alert of the warning problems on the label. As a family victim, Newsweek comes too late with his stories. Say thank you to Oprah because she saves not only the lives of some of the general public, but the lives of some doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals.

If she didn't target health issues on her show some patients may make headlines news. Oprah is one of the people on TV that builds people's confidence and self-esteem.

I get her advices everyday for free while I pay doctors for loved one's treatment, but receive lies and bad medicines for my money.

I believe a team of health care professionals and pharmaceutical companies may be behind this because some of them get cut, but where were you Newsweek when tainted drugs were prescribed as candy worldwide? I don't want you to take on Oprah because she has done anything wrong compared to the evil doers that tainted our drugs, live materials inside the body, know of a defective device that are detrimental to the general public, but didn't report them, and dilute cancer drugs for profit and etc.

This is health care professionals with their awful medical practice that opens the door for a non license person to fix the problem. I believe Oprah Winfrey performs a good job and deserves to have recognition for her achievement.

Google the short film,"Invisible Negligence" and on the right hand side of the description click on more information to see "Silent Killing" to get a great picture.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

Patient-focused — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 08:27:42 GMT

The entire health care system needs to be transformed to better medicine. google the short film, "Invisible Negligence" and on the right hand side of the description click on "more info to see a link. click on it to see "Silent Killing" another short film about health care.

Oprah Winfrey, I believe, would love to work with Newsweek to improve the health care System.

see link below:

"Invisible negligence":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0QryNjVqtA

"Silent Killing"

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=58459240

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

Patient-focused — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:46:43 GMT

Where was Newsweek before these newborns become infected with pseudomonas at the hospital? Newsweek could have sent someone in room 2 to save these babies' lives and write an article about hospital sanitation. Taking on Oprah will get you nowhere.

For 4 years the VA gets nothing from Newsweek? Newsweek should investigate the endoscopic tube, feeding tubes that clog during managed care, and respiratory breathing that pump air out instead of the patient's lung.

Oprah did what best for the general public. She advises us to know our own body and there's nothing wrong with that.

see this: visit your loved one as they may face ordeal in a hospital or nursing home

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0QryNjVqtA

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=58459240

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

Patient-focused — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:05:28 GMT

When I read your article, I found it to be very controversial. Watch more Oprah shows to learn from her better. there was balance in her show.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

paints2009 — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:45:13 GMT

Indeed, Oprah is correct to call attention to things that help or cure conditions that main stream medicine does not address. If you did you homework, you'd know this. go read Dr Russel Blaylock, board certified neuro surgeon and find out the facts which you deny in this piece. Why should we die or get sick from chemicals in the food and water? We can eat organic.Why should we allow ourselves to get sick from nutritional deficiences? We MUST take supplements to bring our deficiencies up to optimum. I cured my hypoglecemia by bringing my LOW Vit D 3 from 25 up to 60 (close to optimum where 50 is normal.) Go read the facts and then do a reetraction and an accurate report.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

paints2009 — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:47:37 GMT

50% of americans are deficient in at least one vitamin or mineral which causes them to have conditions (diseases to you) that can be cured by bringing this/these deficiences up to "normal" ranges. Mainstream doctors do not believe in vitamins as their medical schools do not teach "vitamins" and drug companies do not make vitamins. Where is the link there? That might be a good story, or are you afraid of the AMA and the Drug companies? after all, they run big ads in your magazine.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

paints2009 — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:54:56 GMT

Yes, Oprah helps us all (even you). How odd that you are doing exactly what you accuse her of doing: using your national venue to further your personal views upon the American masses. Shame on you! You are a hypocrite at best, and a liar at worst.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

paints2009 — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:55:59 GMT

Your sophormic renderings against Oprah, only make us love HER more and look askance at your poorly chosen words and lact of nutritonal information. Grow up and read the facts.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

MollySea — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 05:42:58 GMT

Oprah is the invincible and invisible bandage to cover the ignorance and illiteracy of her audience. It's painfully disturbing that her show is where so many people get their education - ever so scary. Wake up people, she is an entertainer at best. Unfortunately, when reading some of these comments from her supporters it gives me an eerie cult feeling. Wow. It's very sad, indeed, to see so many walking zombies blindly following their leader.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

Phobos — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:50:17 GMT

Kudos on the Oprah article! Long overdue dose of reality.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

uforia — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:10:37 GMT

This is an article I found that mirrors my feelings on this issue. Please take it to heart and try to see that we are all in this together and need as much knowledge as possible to take care of ourselves. K

Newsweek's attack on Oprah isn't helpful to women

Tuesday, June 16, 2009 1:22 PM

From:

"Women to Women Personal Program" <Newsletter@WomenToWomen.info>

Add sender to Contacts

To:

kaysaf@yahoo.com

Women to Women's press release

Newsweek's attack on Oprah isn't helpful to women

Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP

Women to Women, one of the pioneers in providing healthcare by women, for women, denounced the recent article by Newsweek on the health advice given on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Marcelle Pick, NP and co-founder of Women to Women, said "I am disappointed by the coverage in Newsweek because it only adds to the impasse between alternative and conventional medicine -- and leaves women not knowing whom to trust. This sensationalistic article takes a few sound bites, out of context, and turns them into an argument of fear-based messages that don't help women understand the choices they have when determining what is best for their own wellness."

"The thing that is most upsetting to me about the recent attempt to undermine Oprah's approach," says Pick, "is that it doesn't present a balanced perspective on alternative therapies and the role they play in our wellness. There is a substantial body of scientific literature supporting alternative approaches, which is why more and more Americans are choosing to include an alternative perspective when considering their health. Much of what is considered as alternative in our country is part of the conventional standard of care in Europe and Asia, where alternative therapies have been helping people for centuries."

At Women to Women the standard practice of care is helping a woman understand the spectrum of choices that are available to her, ranging from alternative to conventional. By helping women understand their choices, they are empowered to make better decisions about managing their health. The practitioners at Women to Women further go on to criticize the article for ignoring the role that factors like nutrition and emotions play in wellness and healing.

"It is unfortunate that often the media relies on selling fear to make a profit," concludes Pick, "And that some reporters don't spend more time helping women understand the science behind the many choices they have in maintaining and restoring their health and wellbeing. With a little balanced reporting they could have told the whole story."

About Women to Women

Women to Women is America's leading medical practice devoted to health care for women, by women. Founded over 25 years ago, it has always advocated an approach to women's health that combines the best of alternative and conventional medicine. Through its practice, website, and publications, Women to Women supports millions of women a year in their efforts to create health and well-being in their lives. How we can help you;

* Learn more about the health issues that matter to you.

* Discover how The Personal Program can restore your vitality at home.

* Take a free, on-line health assessment.

* Book an appointment at our clinic.

Please review our Privacy & Legal Terms. Your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

alread40 — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:22:31 GMT

Clearly these authors have an agenda. It even states in the article that one of them is writing a book on menopause. These two authors are not true journalists (although I'm not sure they ever claimed to be), as they pick and choose whatever suits their anti-alternative medicine stance. I'm no Oprah fan, but Newsweek certainly has proven how unethical and one-sided it is with this article.

I'm sure you expected to get lots of letters and media attention for "taking on Oprah". It seems as if you are all proud to be doing so. Two questions: how are these authors getting paid, and by whom? Newsweek is clearly another arm of Big Pharma, and they are being paid by Newsweek. I guess Oprah is an easy target because a majority of her viewers are women. It would have been more credible had you cited real evidence and used real information, instead of using a clearly biased approach.

And the photos of Oprah? That is extremely unethical and beneath Newsweek. I would expect this article and the accompanying photos of maybe The Inquirer or some other tabloid magazine, but Newsweek? I am disappointed. Not that I ever thought Newsweek was a bastion of intellectualism.

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

tilliesmom — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 19:30:34 GMT

I like Oprah as a person, though I don't watch her show. I think very highly of Dr. Christiana Northrup and rely on her books and website. I don't think Newsweek would have taken on Oprah if she hadn't taken a stand against vaccines. No one can say for sure that there is absolutely no connection between autism and vaccines, as is reported here by Newsweek and in at least one prior Newsweek article. They can only say that to date research has not established--to the satisfaction of the medical establishment--that link (if that be true). Science is about searching for the truth, not stating you have found it. Remember Galileo? As for the Guardasil vaccine, you can read the clinical trials for yourself at http://www.fda.gov/cber/products/gardasil.htm. Read what Dr. Richard Sears says in Mothering magazine about why he has concerns about vaccines, including Guardasil. Here's another point: when I was 13, my family doctor refused to give me a measles vaccine simply because I "might" be pregnant. He was not willing to take that chance with a vaccine which was known to cause birth defects in pregnant females. The Guardasil vaccine states it should not be given to anyone who is pregnant, yet it is being targeted at a child-bearing population. How far we have come in the name of truth and science!

re: Hey, Did You Hear We Took on Oprah? The Blog-o-sphere Reacts

waterkeeper — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:05:37 GMT

The fact that Newsweek is owned by big Pharma explains the awful coverage and injustice done by your story. I will not be renewing my subscription - nor will many others. Why dont you properly research a story that is worth reading - for example on how many lives are saved by alt medicine annually....YOU should be ashamed !

Oprah Winfrey Defends Her Medical Advice | Fancast News

Anonymous — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 02:35:54 GMT

PingBack from http://fc-blogs.qa.cim.comcast.net/blogs/tv-news/oprah-winfrey-defends-her-medical-advice/

Oprah Winfrey Defends Her Medical Advice

Anonymous — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 12:41:39 GMT

PingBack from http://www.fancast.com/blogs/tv-news/oprah-winfrey-defends-her-medical-advice/