No apologies: Bachmann defends HPV remarks

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. -- Michele Bachmann is on the defensive about comments she made earlier this week suggesting that a vaccine against a virus linked to cervical cancer poses a danger to young girls.

"During the debate, I didn't make any statements that would indicate that I'm a doctor, I'm a scientist or that I'm making any conclusions about the drug one way or another," the GOP presidential hopeful told reporters here who questioned her about the story she told suggesting that the vaccine had caused mental retardation. Asked whether she would apologize for comments that outraged medical experts say will discourage parents from getting their children immunized, Bachmann said: "Oh, I'm not going to answer that."

During the Republican debate Bachmann attacked her rival Rick Perry for mandating vaccinations against the human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) for Texas school girls - a decision that the Texas legislature later overruled.

"To have innocent little 12-year-old girls be forced to have a government injection through an executive order is just flat out wrong," she said during the debate.

After the debate, Bachmann took her critique a step further, describing in several television interviews how a tearful mother had approached her after the debate saying that her daughter "suffered mental retardation" as a result of the vaccine.

Scientists have accused her of promulgating a flat Earth theory of medicine. At an appearance in Virginia on Wednesday, Perry told reporters that Bachmann's assertions had "no basis in fact." 

Talking to reporters here outside a breakfast meeting with Tea Party supporters, the Minnesota congresswoman tried to steer the conversation away from the science and back to Perry.

"I think if you look at the debate, my point was very clear and it's the fact that there was an abuse of power," she said. "And then secondary after that is the idea of crony capitalism." Merck, the pharmaceutical firm that manufactures the HPV vaccine, has been a major political contributor to Perry.  

[TParty4Ever]

To all you Tea Party haters out there. Give Michele a break. What Bachmann is doing is exactly what our founding fathers worked tirelessly to achieve. For example, one of our most beloved founding fathers, Paul Bunyan, devoted his lifetime fighting to stop government-mandated injections of human growth hormones to infants. Don't believe me? Check it out yourself in Michelle Bachmann's autobiography! Now there's a woman who has her facts straight. And you thought Sarah Palin owned the monopoly in giving inpromptu history lessons. With these two ladies forming the twin pillars, and the ever-so-adorable Christine O'Donnell serving as our PR manager, the Mad Tea Party is here to stay, and we will not stop fighting until every vaccination programs are banned, lies about the global warming and evolution are forbidden from being taught in classrooms, and every American citizen old enough to ride a tricycle owns a gun to defend her/his liberty!

[steeepe]

She's an idiot and a fool and keeps confirming that with her stupid statements. And an embarrassment to her constituents. Although they did vote for her...

[KQBlowguns]

Of course not. Admitting you were wrong is a sign of weakness.

[bobbyboobee]

Gee, the country's most self assuredly ignorant and arrogant woman won't apologize. Who woulda thunk it?

[mountainstates1]

What can you say about the Republican candidates? Every one of them tries to "out crazy" the other. Not one is qualified to be president. Looking at these T Party debates is like watching the casting call for "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest"... !

[BillKilpatrick]

There's a reason the Republicans are having an I'm-Crazier-Than-You contest. The interests most concerned about Obama's presidency are those who stand to lose from a policy shift. The biggest potential losers are the insurance companies whose stock value is affected by the specter of "Obamacare" and the corporate welfare recipients who who stand to lose their tax dodges. But who wants to hear a bunch of rich people whine? So, those interests seek out the social conservatives, bankrolling their operation. They let the crazies drone on about abortion, HPV vaccinations, God, guts and guns. The Crazies are a mask for the Smarties, who will take as we get closer to the nomination.

The last time out, McCain was the early odds-on favorite but dropped back while Romney (Mormon) duked it out with Huckabee (Baptist) for the heart and soul of the Crazy vote, which splintered just in time for McCain to float back to the top. He paid a speeding ticket by choosing Palin as his running mate, but that was before he had any idea how much damage she would do him in the general election. The Crazies can't seal the deal. The day they do, it won't be a Confederate flag that ends up on the flagpole. It'll be a swastika. We can't let the Crazies take over.

[Paul_I]

Bachmann is playing us all. Controversy garners headlines which creates an aura of importance which then leads to credibility by familiarity and ultimately a following. It works for Donald Trump. It works for Sarah Palin. It worked for Glen Beck...

[eye-c-it]

You guys are missing one very important point. The vaccine.

Is this new 'miracle vaccine' safe to give to young girls? For their children? For their children's children? NO ONE KNOWS! This vaccine hasn't gone a full round with a generation yet, much less with the next generation. Who knows what will happen in the long run?

Multitudes of 'miracle drugs' and 'curing vaccines' have been pulled from the market because of their side 'suddenly discovered' side effects- because of the damage they REALLY do. The damage the drug company KNEW it would do! And no government, city, state, or federal, has the right to MANDATE its' children be guinea pigs!!

As a mother, my hope is that the vaccine works. I would hope we have finally prevented a horrible tragedy from happening. My daughter refused the drug when it first came on the market. A grown woman, level headed, a very successful career with a beautiful family. The first thing she said to me was "I'm NOT taking it- I have too much to lose if it backfires!" I agree with her.

Think what you want but what if the mother claiming mental retardation of her child really is/was telling the truth? Do you honestly think the drug company is going to own up to it? Let them find a CURE FIRST. Only then will you really have the proof and research you need to produce a vaccine.

I agree with Michelle Bachmann and every other protective mother in Texas that forced the law to be repealed. It was horribly wrong for Rick Perry to mandate a law that our daughters and our granddaughters were to become his 'pocket liners' new lab rats.

[ge556]

"Let them find a CURE FIRST. Only then will you really have the proof and research you need to produce a vaccine."

Really? Do you know what a vaccine is? Do you know how it works? If so, what do you mean by, "a cure"? And how will that help to produce a vaccine?

[ge556]

Perry prayed for rain, and he got fire.

[P0ST1ING_AWAY]

The Tea-Bagger-Bozos have done more
to advance the cause of STUPID more than any other
group has done in the last 50 years.

[afmcalax]

When you have made your political career by living in the gutter, why change. The idiots that support her are not intelligent enough to change their minds. Her totally stupid comment could cost women's lives, but she does not care. To play to her base she would rather take the chance a women will die of cervical cancer -- she is actually a lower life form than a sewer rat. A totally disgusting human being.

[euge005]

So, the woman saya "To have innocent little 12-year-old girls be forced to have a government injection through an executive order is just flat out wrong," she said during the debate.

A President has to have the guts to do the right things, not just when some right wing whacko religious cult wants it. If she has not the guts to tell a 12 year old to do something she might not want to so because it is the right thing to do for her health, how can she be an effective mother, let alone being President? Answer she is not qualified.