Brain injuries, although a rare side effect with the vaccine, can and do cause “mental retardation.”
Everybody seems to be missing Mrs. Bachmann’s big-picture point here, which is that the state shouldn’t be putting its coercive power behind the administration of a medication intended to protect against the consequences of behavior that is voluntary (for the most part, victims of rapes excepted) and which has a host of controversial risks.
She could well stand to concede the technical point that the particular side effect she mentioned was rare, even though she had just met the upset parent of a girl who was unfortunately thus afflicted. Other side effects are argued to be much less rare. The major point is there isn’t any compelling reason for the state to be putting its weight behind this needle. Mrs. Bachmann is jealous, like a true American mother, for your freedom, for my freedom. It is a long way to the conventions yet. She should not be ruled out as a formidable force with a place in the coming GOP administration, if not nominated for president or vice president.
Ron Paul also gets the big picture right on many issues but all it takes is one little bit of total insanity to sink your campaign.