On Fri, 21 Jan 2000, S.B. Feldman wrote:

> In a message dated 1/21/00 7:51:03 AM Eastern Standard Time,
> [log in to unmask] writes:
>
> << There may be something to the claim that there's no such thing as
>  bad publicity, but I have to agree with Ken that they basically
>  used you as comic relief. >>
> I think that the idea of a caveman &c. and having the hawk as a central
> figure in the presentation automatically lends itself to comic relief and
> that Todd's statement that any publicity is good is more accurate than the
> disaster prediction.

Well, first there is the problem of context.  The rest of the
program was about obesity, and mostly about morbidly obese
people and what they may do to lose weight.  So, with the stomach
bypass and Xenical segments we got to know some people with
obesity problems and got to see how they did with their
approaches.  Although CBS was careful to put in comments to the
effect that the long-term consequences of these treatments are
still unknown, the general impression left with the viewer is
that they work.

In contrast, in the Neanderthin segment we got to see or hear
from *nobody* with an obesity problem, and nobody who lost
weight on Neanderthin.  Instead, we got an image of Ray munching
on a bacon strip saying that the more fat we eat, the thinner we
get.  We get an image of his book positioned next to Atkins, who
is unfortunately already regarded as a crank.  We get a few
sound bites about sharp sticks and primates, but no real
statement of why these things matter.  Compare that to the
careful presentation, with diagrams, of the "Fobi pouch" stomach
bypass procedure.

If CBS had had even a remote intention of a serious discussion of
Neanderthin, they would have interviewed at least one person who
has used it successfully for obesity.  They would have
interviewed a scientist with something intelligent to say about
it.  Instead, they reminded viewers that Ray is not a scientist,
but is an former computer salesman.  That they would then turn to
Ornish and ask him "Will this diet kill people?" for a quick
condemnation and plug for *his* book pretty much seals the deal.

The clear message delivered to viewers was this: Neanderthin is a
dangerous load of crap, and its author is an unqualified nutjob
who hopes to strike it rich.

Even though I have my share of criticisms of Neanderthin, I have
to say that this was one of the more appalling pieces of hatchet
journalism that I have seen in a while.

And I agree that Ray's lab values, whatever they might be, would
not have made much of a difference.

Todd Moody
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