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.
... 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.