Rumors, untruths find a friend in Michele Bachmann

St. Petersburg Times-Tampa Tribune ^ | September 18, 2011

[Cincinatus' Wife]

It's one thing to have a philosophical disagreement with the Texas governor on whether he should have mandated a vaccine for girls against a sexually transmitted virus. But it's an entirely different matter to spread false rumors about the vaccine, hoping to leverage parental fears for political gain. That's the depths to which Minnesota's Michele Bachmann has sunk in her bid to counter Rick Perry's surge in polls. It's conduct unbecoming a member of Congress, much less a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination.

Bachmann used the issue last week at the CNN/Tea Party Express debate in Tampa to land her most memorable jab at Perry. "I'm offended for all the little girls and the parents who didn't have a choice," she said, referencing Perry's 2007 executive order requiring sixth-grade girls to receive the three-shot vaccine against the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus, or HPV, that can lead to cervical cancer.

Whether Texas and other states should require the vaccine has been the subject of much note in political and medical circles. That's in part because the push for the mandates was partially funded by Merck, maker of one version of the vaccine, Gardasil. An effort to require the vaccine in Florida died in the 2007 legislative session. And Bachmann could suggest Perry ignored the conservative mantra of less government or sought to please a campaign contributor. The Texas legislature, citing similar criticisms, ultimately repealed Perry's order.

But where Bachmann crossed the line came Tuesday on NBC's Today show when she claimed the vaccine "can have very dangerous side effects." She said a woman approached her after Monday's debate and claimed her daughter had suffered "mental retardation" after receiving the vaccine. Bachmann echoed other irresponsible claims — repeatedly debunked by scientists — that other childhood vaccines can cause autism.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

GOP opponents are hitting Perry where it helps as well as driving Democrats into Perry's camp.

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…….”The Gardasil vaccine was recommended the FDA’s vaccine approval committee, more than 6 months before Governor Perry’s Executive Order. All girls who qualified for the Federal Vaccines for Children program were eligible to receive the vaccine free of charge: Medicaid, CHIPs, and uninsured or those with insurance that won’t pay for vaccines. The Texas Legislature had previously delegated unconditional authority to mandate new vaccines to the Department of State Health Services, which is under Governor Perry and the Executive Branch.” Source

The Governor’s Executive Order (RP 65) that caused all the controversy also ordered the director of DSHS to make it easier for parents to opt out of vaccines. The Legislature had changed the law from “opt in” to a requirement to “opt out” once for all the school years. Next, they changed to a two year limit on the opt out, and then in 2005, the Legislature restricted the period to one year and required a new State form bearing a “seal.” Parents had to go to Austin or start early in the summer. There were bureaucrats who maintained that the only way to get the form with the seal was to go to Austin, find the right office and make the request in person. Perry used his EO to tell the Director of DSHS to make the request (and the seal) available on-line, making it easier to “opt out.” Source

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Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann – Minneapolis Convention Center – April 7, 2010

Palin on HPV vaccine and crony capitalism -- Video -- "On the Record" FOX News September 12, 2011

(just prior to Greta's interview with Michele Bachmann on HPV vaccine and crony capitalism).

I dare you to watch/listen to those two interviews (and I you can bear it the "Today Show" and the "Tonight Show") and not be ready for a padded cell from the shrill non-stop talking.

[CynicalBear]

Wasn’t there a report out yesterday or the day before that there was new information that there were more affects and even more deaths from the vaccine? Seems Judicial Watch reported that. Seems we don’t know the full truth yet.

[gusopol3]

It's conduct unbecoming a member of Congress

Gosh, I didn't think it was possible to sink to a standard that low.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Good one.

[83Vet4Life]

All the lib papers are pushing Perry now.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

This article hardly is pushing Perry. But like me and a lot of other VOTERS, they find Michele Bachmann's behavior calculating, self-serving, dishonest and repulsive.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

And dangerous.

[sockmonkey]

There have been postings from a group called nvic.org put up on FR, and quoted other places. From reading their FAQ page, they even urge caution with getting pet vaccinations.

I think they are the vaccine version of Center for Science in the Public Interest..aka, the anything that tastes good at McDonald’s will kill you crowd.

[shield]

Perry Ping....

IF you'd rather NOT be pinged FReepmail me.

IF you'd like to be added FReepmail me. Thanks.

[John D]

Wasn’t there a report out yesterday or the day before that there was new information that there were more affects and even more deaths from the vaccine?

Even if there was, it is the credibility that some lady (unknown) ran up to Bachmann and said the vaccine caused her daughter to become retarded. The retarded thing was that (if this actually happened) Bachmann did not verify that the story was true.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Yes - and in the U.S. alone, over 400 people a year die from an allergic reaction to penicillin.

Will Rep. Bachmann tell people not to take penicillin now?

I wonder how many people die in automobile accidents.

[newzjunkey]

They think she didn't cross the line until she said it was dangerous?

I say she crossed the line back here: "I'm offended for all the little girls and the parents who didn't have a choice… since the order protected parent's right to say, "no."

I say she crossed the line by using the word "choice" with "little girls" like some abortion rights demagogue. It's shameless.

That's in part because the push for the mandates was partially funded by Merck, maker of one version of the vaccine, Gardasil.

Technically accurate but misleading since it suggests there may have been more than one vaccine source when Perry signed the order.

At the time, 2007, there was only one such vaccine, Gardasil. Merck is not a Bachmann donor. GlaxoSmithKline, a Bachmann campaign donor, have their own version which was approved in 2009.

[jakerobins]

Well they have done a good hatchet job using her misstatements to slap her down......... To bad she isn’t a black democrat she could say the craziest things and the media would cover it endlessly(Ala...Obama/Jackson-Lee)

[algernonpj]

You can find links to Judicial Watch’s reports on Gardasil at:

http://www.judicialwatch.org/gardasil

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Well they have done a good hatchet job using her misstatements to slap her down.....

One time a "misstatement" (?)....but she repeated it in the debate, then she went on to repeat it several times for CNN in a post-debate interview, then on to "On the Record" with Greta to repeat it again and again, and then she went on the "Today Show" to say it again, and then to the "Tonight Show" and say it again.......

[Marty62]

“Bachmann: It’s ok to spread lies about vaccines because I never said I’m a doctor”

http://www.salon.com/news/michele_bachmann/index.html?story=/politics/war_room/2011/09/16/bachmann_not_doctor