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http://lubbockonline.com/stories/022207/sta_022207070.shtml

Gov. Rick Perry’s chief of staff met with key aides about the human papillomavirus vaccine the same day its manufacturer donated money to his campaign, documents obtained by The Associated Press show.

Sycophant.

$6000?

Ha! That’s not even enough to tempt me to do something wrong!

You’re a moron.

Gov. Rick Perry’s chief of staff met with key aides about the human papillomavirus vaccine the same day its manufacturer donated money to his campaign,

So what you are pitching is that Perry sold his soul for six grand in campaign contributions.

You also have to sell the idea that the vaccine is totally useless, if not downright harmful. Then you also have to tell us that Perry has sacrificed his political career for every campaign contribution of $6000 or more or that his campaign is running on sofa cushion money.

Did it ever occur to you that Perry honestly thought that the vaccine to prevent cervical cancer might be a good idea for the millions of sexually active kids who, in the event of getting the cancer would demand the State of Texas pay for their expensive treatment?

I suppose if Perry said "no" to the vaccinations, you would turn around and say that Rick hates women and hopes they get cervical cancer.

Come on. I read the link. They'd had meetings on HPV since August. This meeting of staff came in October before the November election.

The donation also came before the November election. Scandalous!

Merck's total donation amounted 0.05% of the money Perry raised for reelection. The executive order came the following year.

In the debate, Perry brought up a point I hadn't heard, that there had been a bill passed aimed at cancers. Curious I went looking and found that was absolutely true. I did more research.

In 2005, HB 2475 said, "This bill requires the Department of State Health Services to develop a strategic plan to eliminate mortality from cervical cancer by the year 2015…" "The strategic plan must be developed and delivered to the governor and legislature no later than December 31, 2006."

Was the plan delivered to Perry? Yes it was.

A 47 page report (Acrobat PDF) called "Texas Cervical Cancer Strategic Plan," December 2006, by Texas Department of State Health Services in collaboration with The Texas Cancer Council was delivered.

Page 8, "Executive summary" Armed with this new HPV vaccine, we can achieve the moment when we know our goal — eliminating cervical cancer death and suffering — is in reach.

Page 20, "Access to Care" - "Women must have access to cervical cancer screening to eliminate cervical cancer in Texas. The National Cancer Institute reports that groups of women with high cervical cancer mortality:...

Tend not to have a usual source of health care, such as a family physician;
Have low income and education levels;
Are less likely to participate in regular cancer screenings and receive other preventive

… "Widespread vaccination is a key to reducing cervical cancer incidence in Texas"

The people who think this was something Perry cooked up in secret for crony capitalist pals at Merck in exchange for $6,000 in campaign donations are demented.

He acted in the furtherance of the legislature's public health goals by ensuring the widest dissemination of and coverage for the vaccine.

Romney had it right in the debate, Perry had the right intentions and he would do it differently if he could do it over.