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Rick Perry's HPV Stance Grounded in Case of Heather Burcham, Who Died of Cervical Cancer
ABC News ^ | September 15, 2011 | GINA SUNSERI

Posted on 09/15/2011 9:55:39 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

Heather Burcham died in 2007 when she was 31. Cervical cancer killed her. She was misdiagnosed at age 26, and by the time she knew she had cancer, it was too late for effective treatment.

But she changed lives by living hers so passionately.

She was deeply religious, quick-witted, loving, with a quirky sense of humor; and she was determined to save other young women. Her passion for a cause made her a "Person of the Week" on ABC's "World News" program in 2007. Heather likely would have been shouting from the rooftops in frustration, listening to the current political debate about the HPV vaccine.

For her, the HPV vaccine was about saving lives, not politics, not campaign donations. She probably would have been heartbroken to hear Texas Gov. Rick Perry backtrack from his commitment to have girls vaccinated against cervical cancer.

Perry made her the poster child for his HPV executive decision, and spoke eloquently at her funeral. What a difference four years later as he debates the topic with other Republican candidates.

Her words to ABC News in 2007 still resonate, in light of the current debate in which this one face of the disease has been lost amid the political rhetoric.

"I don't want to have died in vain," she said. "I don't want my life to have no purpose whatsoever, and if I can help spread the word about cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine, then I haven't lived in vain."

(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: cancervaccine; cervicalcancer; gardasil; govmandates; perry; perry2012
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To: so_real

I am sorry, but anyone would half a brain would be or SHOULD be skeptical of such a wild claim. You dont need to be an MD to know retardation doesnt just ‘happen’ in teenagers, let alone from a vaccine. anti-vaccine claims have been debunked.

For her to repeat it publically shows either a disregard for truth (in her desperation to attack Perry) or a severe gullibility on this. Not being expert is all the more reason to not speak out without first getting facts in line. She should never have repeated it publically without getting more facts. Either way, it smacks of non-POTUS-ready behavior.

“She has been a powerful voice for us a considerable amount of time”
I agree, so its a travesty when she harms her credibility like this. Completely unnecessary too; just stick with the parental rights concern. This is the kind of stuff that makes MSNBC go wild with glee and call all Republicans ignoramuses.


281 posted on 09/15/2011 2:27:58 PM PDT by WOSG
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To: WOSG

let alone from a vaccine. anti-vaccine claims have been debunked

I agree with some of your comment, but not in its entirety. I think this statement above goes too far. The negative side effects reported after HPV vaccination are numerous and serious. This issue has been alive since 2007 -- it didn't materialize during the debate. Here's a newswire clip from 2007 : Event Reports Obtained from FDA Detail 1,637 Adverse Reactions to Gardasil

... Three deaths were related to the vaccine. One physician's assistant reported that a female patient "died of a blood clot three hours after getting the Gardasil vaccine." Two other reports, on girls 12 and 19, reported deaths relating to heart problems and/or blood clotting.

As of May 11, 2007, the 1,637 adverse vaccination reactions reported to the FDA via the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) included 371 serious reactions. Of the 42 women who received the vaccine while pregnant, 18 experienced side effects ranging from spontaneous abortion to fetal abnormities.

Side effects published by Merck & Co. warn the public about potential pain, fever, nausea, dizziness and itching after receiving the vaccine. Indeed, 77% of the adverse reactions reported are typical side effects to vaccinations. But other more serious side effects reported include paralysis, Bells Palsy, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, and seizures.

The statement that Bachmann made of her own in the post debate interview was there "are very dangerous consequences". I think these side effects qualify. Knowing, as I do, that cervical cancer incidents declined 74% between 1955 and 1992 (long before Gardasil) and have continued to decline roughly 4% every year since ... I certainly would not risk vaccination myself. Especially considering that HPV incidents during the same time frame have been on the rise. Do you remember the 1976 swine flu scare and 60 Minutes episode of the Guillain Barre cases that erupted from those vaccinations? It's just no way to live.


282 posted on 09/15/2011 3:33:12 PM PDT by so_real ( "The Congress of the United States recommends and approves the Holy Bible for use in all schools.")
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To: indylindy

“Rick Huckaperry, compassionate republican.”

Now I know I’ve been transported to the twightlight zone. I’m LOL at you satire.


283 posted on 09/15/2011 3:42:16 PM PDT by Clyde5445 (Gov. Sarah Palin:"You have to sacrifice to win. That's my philosophy in 6 words.")
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To: Cboldt

Right you are.


284 posted on 09/15/2011 3:52:13 PM PDT by jwalsh07 (.)
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To: Grunthor
You know what I love most about you Palin supporters?

Well I must be the exception to that theory because I don't support a Palin run for POTUS.

You consistently exhibit a level of class that your (non) candidate has never and could never exhibit herself.

I respond in kind. Funny you didn't quote the sentence I replied to which implied that I thought all women were sluts. However, I won't paint with a wide brush because I'm an individual responsibility kind of guy. I'll just hold you responsible for the dissembling left wing type of bs. Fair enough?

Thanks for your example of how to win supporters and influence people. By the way, did you learn at the feet of Paul supporters, because you are almost THAT classy.

Not a Paulite either. Did you learn at the feet of Alinsky? Half the story all the time?

285 posted on 09/15/2011 3:59:27 PM PDT by jwalsh07 (.)
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To: Grunthor

I don’t have a candidate, non or otherwise. Your candidate backed Al Gore, which is really creepy.


286 posted on 09/15/2011 4:05:02 PM PDT by beandog (You can't elevate Perry by tearing down Palin)
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To: beandog

Al Gore wasn’t Algore at the time.Rick Perry wasn’t the same either. I dare say that you aren’t the same person today that you were 30 years ago either.


287 posted on 09/15/2011 4:10:56 PM PDT by Grunthor (Almost any republican currently running for POTUS would be light years better than Obama)
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To: Grunthor

I can honestly say I have never voted for or supported a democrat. Al Gore has always been Al Gore, a creep.


288 posted on 09/15/2011 4:16:44 PM PDT by beandog (You can't elevate Perry by tearing down Palin)
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To: TheThirdRuffian
Your post is ugly.

If you bother to understand the issue at all, it's about parental rights over executive mandate by Govenor Perry.....

..his attempts to override many parent's wishes or wills.

289 posted on 09/15/2011 5:20:52 PM PDT by Guenevere (....)
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To: beandog

Your avoidance of the question was well done and artistic.


290 posted on 09/15/2011 5:23:50 PM PDT by Grunthor (Almost any republican currently running for POTUS would be light years better than Obama)
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To: Clyde5445

This would make me roar.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2778626/posts?page=33#33


291 posted on 09/15/2011 5:32:34 PM PDT by dforest
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

So what are the Perry haters going to say now?


292 posted on 09/15/2011 8:25:08 PM PDT by Borough Park
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To: Borough Park

I *WANT* to like Perry, but I can’t vote for a man I wouldn’t *TRUST* around my *DAUGHTER*!


293 posted on 09/15/2011 11:40:33 PM PDT by Sir Valentino
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To: Sir Valentino

Yeah, being concerned about cancer makes Perry a pedophile.

Buy a clue.


294 posted on 09/16/2011 7:25:46 AM PDT by TheThirdRuffian (Nothing to see here. Move along.)
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To: Guenevere
it's about parental rights over executive mandate by Govenor Perry

The exact language form the executive order:

Parents’ Rights. The Department of State Health Services will, in order to protect the right of parents to be the final authority on their children’s health care, modify the current process in order to allow parents to submit a request for a conscientious objection affidavit form via the Internet while maintaining privacy safeguards under current law.

http://governor.state.tx.us/news/executive-order/3455/

295 posted on 09/16/2011 7:54:33 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: thackney
But it's backwards!.....It should have been an 'opt-in' clause for those parents who wished to have it for their children...

..rather than an 'opt-out' for conscientious parents who felt their rights were being assaulted!

There's power in the way ideas are presented.....!

296 posted on 09/16/2011 8:42:24 AM PDT by Guenevere (....)
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To: Guenevere
It should have been an 'opt-in' clause for those parents who wished to have it for their children

None of our other required vaccines are done that way, why is this one required to be different?

How would an opt-in work? How is it different than no requirement at all, just as it is today or before?

297 posted on 09/16/2011 8:47:47 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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