What bothers me with Bachmann and Palin’s attacks on Perry on Gardasil is they they are questioning his motivation.
I believe that both of Perry’s parents are cancer survivors. Also, his wife is a nurse. Maybe she influenced him in talking of young women she had seen who had had this cancer. Could it be that he was just trying to prevent others from facing the horrors of cancer?
In the MSNBC debate, Perry spoke of a bill in Texas aimed at fighting cancers. This bill 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.”
This plan was delivered to Perry and is known as the “Texas Cervical Cancer Strategic Plan,” December 2006, by Texas Department of State Health Services in collaboration with The Texas Cancer Council.
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”
Notice it is this plan that is delivered to Perry that mentions the new HPV vaccine.
Perry’s EO was a response to the “Texas Cervical Cancer Strategic Plan.” His motivation was to prevent cervical cancer. To attach other motivations is just a smear campaign.
It was wrong to mandate Guardasil in the first place since cervical cancer (HPV) is caused by frequent sexual activity.
Mandating it for all 12-year old girls is like saying all 12-year old girls are going to become sluts, so they better get some protection.
Also, the lobbyist from Merck as a Perry aide and the campaign contribution from Merck laundered through a group called “Women In Politics” gives the clear appearance of Perry being bought.