Posted on 02/24/2007 7:40:00 PM PST by Paleo Conservative
I wonder how many people actually believe it when the governor's office says it was just a coincidence that the drug company Merck donated $5,000 to Rick Perry's campaign on the same day Perry's people discussed Merck's HPV vaccine.Hey, it could happen. Coincidences happen all the time, like when an 18-wheeler jackknifes on Interstate 35, and a traffic jam follows. Or, Dick Cheney shows up, and a protest breaks out. Or Christmas is coming comes, and Santa appears at the mall.
Coincidence or not, what I can't figure out is why the governor only got $5,000. That's chicken scratch for a drug deal. I'll bet we have punks in this town who make more on crack on a Saturday night. I hope the governor at least got a free Merck ball cap or mouse pad.
Early this month, "King Rick the First" Perry ordered that all girls in Texas entering sixth grade next year be given the HPV vaccine, Gardasil, which helps prevent cervical cancer. I call him King Rick the First because he keeps issuing all these executive orders without consulting the Legislature, which is starting to honk the Legislature off.
I think some of Perry's fellow Republicans were upset with him on this one because they thought giving girls this drug would be perceived as encouraging sex among kids. Like kids are going to decide to have sex because they're getting shots. From what I remember about being a kid, it doesn't work that way. I swear I don't remember ever asking, "Have you had all of your shots?" Heck, I didn't even ask that in college.
Anyway, let us return now to Oct. 16, a day spookily like many others, until two things happened: 1) New Jersey-based Merck coincidentally gave Perry's campaign $5,000, and 2) Perry's chief of staff, Deirdre Delisi, coincidentally met with the governor's budget director and three members of his office for an "HPV Vaccine for Children Briefing."
I suppose it's also coincidental that Mike Toomey, Perry's former chief of staff, is a Merck lobbyist. Merck rhymes with perk. So if you see a truck dolly full of boxes of Merck pill samples being wheeled into the governor's office, it's just a coincidence.
All of this stuff coming together at the same time is so eerily supernatural and almost creepy that it just gives me the heebie-jeebies.
You know, when you stop and think about it, maybe this Merck thing was just a coincidence.
When I think of Perry, instead of big business, I immediately think of his concern for young girls. This is why you see Perry on Oprah's couch all the time, wringing his hands over our youth. Fat chance of that, huh?
But this world is just full of coincidences, so maybe this Merck incident is just one of them. Like when, you know, money changes hands and bills get passed.
Sounds like bribery and corruption to me. DOJ will want a look into this.
If you want on or off my Gardasil ping list, please contact me by Freep mail.
I think Perry may be more like Dan Morales than anyone thought.
Can't stand him. He gave in-state tuition to aliens. That's all I need to know.
Rick Perry loves Texas Politics, it is a make $ for his family and friends. Just doing doing what good ol boys have done since 1846.
I wonder if it is a coincidence that Merck is one of the elite corporate members (only 30) on the North American Competitiveness Council of the SPP? I guess this is how these socialists corporations compete. Free Trade anyone?"
This is called mandating or forcing. This is totally un American.
Perry simply does not have the constitutional authority to do what he tried to do. He will rescind the EO. He has no choice.Something smelled from the very beginning about this. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I always though the Texas Governor was more a figurehead whose only "real" power was appointing all those board members that run the state. And, aren't Texas Gov's Executive Orders usually of the "Be Kind to Animals Week" type thing?
He got almost 40% of the vote! That's a mandate! The public has spoken.;)
EVERYTHING Perry has tried to do is tainted.
For him to gain my respect he would have to change Parties, then resign.
I Thank God he is a figurehead
TT
What's eerie about it? Did you think politicians didn't do this sort of thing?
Perry's political career is over - he's toast. I'm extremely happy I didn't vote for this RINO clown this last election.
Just as suspected Merck's fingerprints are all over this one.
Whats even more downright eerie is how much King Rick's voice sounds exactly like GWB.
Another one of Rick's out of place wild hairs is showing and it ain't pretty.
Okay, let's see. Someone comes to the Governor's office --- Nope, he'd have to bring the money off Capitol grounds.
Okay, the Merck lobbyist comes to the campaign headquarters with a $5000 check for the likely incumbent - who does have 4 opponents. He mentions that the State will be buying a lot of Merck's new vaccine for the Medicaid and Vaccines for Children (including CHIP, the uninsured and Native Americans), by federal law.
Here's one Texas county's note on what vaccines the State plans pay for.
Then, the Merck rep mentions that privately insured families are having a much harder time affording the vaccine, since the insurance companies won't pay until the vaccine is mandatory.
Is it really surprising that there would be interest in discussing the costs to the State in the increased vaccines due to a mandate vs. voluntarily taking the vaccine that's offered for free to Medicaid and uninsured kids?
Or in helping the insured families?
The Governor did what he's supposed to do - he acted as the head of the Executive Branch. From what I've read, he could have just sent a note over to the DSHS. Instead, he made sure more people heard about the mandate and the opt out clause.
The Legislature passed that law - HB 1403 in 2001
Oh yes the "opt out clause". Parents can "opt out". Of course there will be a list of all the parents who "opt out". I'm sure CPS will have it.
Then they can be easily charged with something like *child abuse*, *neglect*, or *endangering the welfare of a minor*. Lots of material there.
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