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This morning, as reported earlier, Michele Bachmann went even further, lending credence to a notion that Gardasil -- used in vaccines to prevent HPV, which can cause cervical cancer -- can cause mental retardation.
“I had a mother last night come up to me here in Tampa, Florida, after the debate,” Bachmann said. “She told me that her little daughter took that vaccine, that injection, and she suffered from mental retardation thereafter.”
Bachmann was using this in an attack on Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who had signed an executive order mandating that girls get the vaccine. And there are certainly questions over why Perry signed the order. His former chief of staff Mike Toomey, as the Washington Post points out, "was working at the time as an Austin-based lobbyist for Merck, which was in the midst of a multimillion-dollar campaign to persuade states to make the vaccine mandatory."
But there’s no evidence to suggest the vaccine causes mental retardation.
The CDC directed First Read to the side effects page for Gardasil. They include pain, redness, or swelling in the arm where the shot was given, mild-to-moderate fever, headache, or fainting.
Not surprisingly, there was nothing on mental retardation.
CDC spokeswoman Rita Chappelle said in an email, “The Institute of Medicine released a report on August 25 looking at adverse events from vaccines, including HPV. Rare cases of anaphylaxis was the only type of adverse event seen with HPV vaccine.”
That's a severe allergic reaction.
And the Food and Drug Administration and CDC also reported: “Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) has also been reported in individuals following vaccination with Gardasil. GBS is a rare neurological disorder that causes muscle weakness. It occurs spontaneously in unvaccinated individuals after a variety of specific infections. FDA and CDC have reviewed the reports of GBS that have been submitted to VAERS. To date, there is no evidence that Gardasil has increased the rate of GBS above that expected in the population. While we continue to carefully analyze all reports of GBS submitted to VAERS, the data do not currently suggest an association between Gardasil and GBS.”
The left and right have taken shots at Bachmann for her comments.
That's quite the accusation, one that Ben Smith has already gotten a rebuttal to from the Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership. The CDC has recommended Gardisil, warning that the only verified side-effect has been rare cases of blood clots and an immune system disorder. I'm not doubting that a woman came up to Bachmann and said this. News flash: Vaccine luddism is rather widespread (especially so in some affluent areas where moms listen to Oprah, according to research I've seen from Seth Mnookin), and just because a mother might say something like this does not mean it reflects what actually happened. The fact that it's Bachmann embracing this -- Bachmann, who has a habit of endorsing or "just asking questions" about dark theories that she's overheard -- is totally unsurprising.
Even conservative blog Free Republic:
Huh? “Mental retardation” typically takes place in a pre- or neo-natal event. Autism becomes apparent in the first couple of years of life — and primarily affects boys. Gardasil vaccinations take place among girls between 9-12 years of age. Even assuming that this anecdote is arguably true, it wouldn’t be either “mental retardation” or autism, but brain damage. …
The “mental retardation” argument is a rehash of the thoroughly discredited notion that vaccines containing thimerasol caused a rapid increase in diagnosed autism cases. That started with a badly-botched report in Lancet that allowed one researcher to manipulate a ridiculously small sample of twelve cases in order to reach far-sweeping conclusions about thimerasol. That preservative hasn’t been included in vaccines for years, at least not in the US, and the rate of autism diagnoses remain unchanged.
The most charitable analysis that can be offered in this case for Bachmann is that she got duped into repeating a vaccine-scare urban legend on national television. It looks more like Bachmann sensed that she had won a point and wanted to go in for the kill, didn’t bother to check the facts, and didn’t care that she was stoking an anti-vaccination paranoid conspiracy theory, either. Neither shines a particularly favorable light on Bachmann.
Ironically, Rick Perry, who had been accused by Jon Huntsman of being “anti science” said this to NBC’s Carrie Dann today:
"You heard the same arguments about giving our children protections from some of the childhood diseases, and they were autism was part of that. Now we've subsequently found out that was generated and not true.” He added: “I would suggest to you that this issue about Gardasil and making it available was about saving people's lives.”
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Bachman should be held accountable for her lies. This time that lie could cause deaths.
Wait... someone thought there was ever any truth in anything Bachmann says?
I am a conservative Independent and she does not represent thinking conservatives. I admire her spunk, but she is to rigid in her ideology.
Mr. Montanaro doesn't have HIS facts straight. Michelle Bachman did not state that the vaccine causes mental retardation - she shared a story about a mother who believes her daugther's situation was caused by the vaccine. Fact Check should get it's facts straight!!
Once, my son came home upset because someone called him a retard (he lost oxygen at birth). I told him the next time someone calls you a retard, look them in the eye and say, "Yes, I am. What's your excuse?" It worked. They apologized and hopefully learned their lesson. When you call this woman retarded, you insult my son and those like him. No one of any consequence takes her seriously.
I saw the interview on the Today show. She claimed a woman came up to her whom she never met and said they lived in Texas and her child was forced to take medication that led to the child's mental retardation. Bachmann never checked out the story. It is simply outrageous for a presidential candidate to make such an unverified remark. She may well have caused unnecessary panic among parents and grandparents in Texas. Bachmann is not leadership material at any level. She needs to drop out of the race now.
But hey. There are a lot of things that cannot be backed up that is supported by mr grover & the gop, birthers, & teapot party. Like doing away with the federal reserve. How about social security is a ponzi scheme. Obama born in kenya. Mr grover is a pile of bs.
The Obama needs your money for entitlement programs.
The Obama needs revenue.
The Obama doesn't metion taxes though, so maybe The Obama will get a second job for extra revenue.
Bear Cat, try to follow the thread! Otherwise we will be wondering what immunization you had. Same as Bachman?
Another day, another chance for Michelle Bachmann to prove she's an imbecile.
Just when you think she's absolutely nuts, she says something that has validity. That's the diabolical temperament of her. No connection with autism or mental problems with vaccines. Follow the money and you'll find that big pharma funded the research. We the people will believe anything. Case in point: 9/11 – the day our government failed to protect us - and we say “it’s not their fault”. We get what we deserve.
There are numerous rigourous indepedent studies that have found no link from vaccines to Autism. The misinformation that Wakefield and his followers have swamped the poor parents of Autistic children with is shameful and you should be ashamed of yourself for perpetuating this myth. I know that pharmacetical companies have a very strong motive to generate biased data which is why so many independant players are needed to keep them in line but this witch hunt has gone on long enough and has been proven to be a blatant lie.
The real problem here is the idea that the governor made it a mandate that the vaccine be given. This vaccine is not given because the cancer can be given from one person to another so it should be a woman’s choice. By the time a girl is old enough for it they should be consulted and have a say in if she gets it or not. This is a fairly new vaccine so the long term effects are NOT known.
In short this is once again about control and the Republicans and the Tea Party want total control from conception to the grave UNLESS you are talking about the 2% at the top then it is hands OFF.
There are lotsa things that Bachmann says that have no evidence to back them up!! For her it seems what applies is :Damn the truth, full speed ahead! How the HELL does she keep getting re-elected?? Are the people in her district STOOOOPID?? Obviously!
Listening to Bachmann causes 'mental retardation'.
Nothing that Bachman can say will get her elected President! Her lies are coming to get her! She can not lie her way to the White HOUSE! Wish she would admit she just does not have what it takes to be President! GO HOME!
Some history about Perry and his wealthy donors and the benefits they received from my "honorable" Texas governor from an article in the LA Times.
Seems to me he gotmore than 5 grand. He ain't cheap!
Perry has received a total of $37 million over the last decade from just 150 individuals and couples, who are likely to form the backbone of his new effort to win the Republican presidential nomination. The tally represented more than a third of the $102 million he had raised as governor through December, according to data compiled by the watchdog group Texans for Public Justice.Nearly half of those mega-donors received hefty business contracts, tax breaks or appointments under Perry, according to a Los Angeles Times analysis
Perry, campaigning Monday at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, declined to comment when asked how he separated the interests of his donors from the needs of his state. His aides vigorously dispute that his contributors received any perks."They get the same thing that all Texans get," said spokesman Mark Miner.
Along with Simmons — who won permission to build a low-level radioactive waste disposal site in Texas, a project that promises to generate hundreds of millions of dollars — The Times found dozens of examples in which major donors to Perry have benefited during his tenure.
Auto magnate B.J. "Red" McCombs, who contributed nearly $400,000 to the governor, is the primary financial backer for a Formula One racetrack to be built near Austin. The state has pledged $25 million a year in subsidies to support the project.
The Houston-based engineering firm of James Dannenbaum, who gave more than $320,000 to Perry, received multiple transportation contracts from the state. In 2007, Perry appointed Dannenbaum to a coveted post on the University of Texas' board of regents.
A Mississippi-based poultry company run by Joe Sanderson, who gave $165,000 to Perry, received a $500,000 grant from a state business incentive fund championed by Perry to open a chicken hatchery and processing plant in Waco.
Who's Michelle Bachmann's medical fact checker --- Jenny McCarthy?
... although I'm always nervous when Rick Perry says I need an injection.
This is another case of "Bitchy Bachman" and the rest of the "Gross Odd People" suffering from mental retardation. The HPV vaccine is just another cause of the Cognitive Disabilities represented by the GOP/RNC. Now one has to wonder what the Tea Beggers have been putting in their tea?? Again! It is going to be scary watching Perry, and his radical religious beliefs that have no place in politics. "Scary Perry" is just another Texass Governor that is uneducated, and is very dangerous for our nation. That is fact America!
Why don't we raise the stakes on the HPV discussion? If there was a vaccine for HIV/AIDS -- one of the deadliest plagues in history, should we / or should we not make it part of routine immunizations for ALL people? I am not a fan of Perry or Bachmann, but we need an intelligent discussion about trying to prevent cancer and communicable diseases that does not involve moralizing. Note that people do not always get HIV/AIDS or HPV by choice or by being immoral, bad people. Many people have it given by their partners. We hope this is not intentional, but that happens too. Approx of 1/2 of all new HIV cases are women.
If we expel all the idiots from Congress there wouldn't be anyone left. Hmmm! Now there's an idea.
How the hell does someone draw a conclusion based on one piece of anecdotal information ?
And what makes it even worse is all the sheeplefolk out there who will believe it since she stridently blasts it out of her mouth -- how moronic.
How the hell are we going to advance and compete globally with the glorification of ignorance this presidential hopeful exudes. She's an embarassment to this country.....
Speaking of lies, what evidence do we have that Abraham Lincoln founded the Republican party as President Obama so brilliantly stated just a few days ago?
Is there ever an argument against a republican when it is not President Obama's fault?
Every time something is said, it turns into an Obama bashing. I've read the article again, and unless I'm really missing something, I can't find President Obamas' name anyplace in that article.
Didn't say anything was Obama's fault brain dead. Just trying to say that lies come from both sides of the aisle since the article was one-sided and biased to a T.
I've noticed "this woman" has not stepped forward to verify this lie, oops, I mean statement.
The real issue, however, is why Perry did it: not just for the $5,000 contribution from Merck that he admitted to in the debate, but for the $200,000 ( no on bothered to mention) that was paid to then-lobbyist Toomey (now the 55M pac organizer for Perry). It is clear that Perry is the worst and oiliest of the cronies we have seen in a long time.
Bachmann wasn't the only 1 using scare tactics and mis-information to attack Rick Perry. The liberal Lame Stream Media is always more than willing to help spread this kind of misinformative BS, so long as it negatively effects Conservatives or the GOP. You lameasses are all too willing to twist and contort any story so long as it helps take away or shade the negative publicity from your puppet boy, Obama, who's approval ratings are now in the low 40 percentile.
Don't get me wrong, I'm from Texas, and I can't stand Gov. Perry, but if he's the only choice there is to rid this country of the socialized desease that is Obama, then so be it.
Obama chiefly campaigned in 2008 on his ability to create jobs, well, they don't exist and we're still in a recession. Obama's only priortys immediately following his being sworn into office were Socialized Medicine, and out of control spending, while his starz were still in alignment.... enter election results of Nov. 2010.
Now he's a Lame Duck, and still asking to get his crappy legislation approved w/o reading the fine print. That's the CHANGE he bought to the American people. Passing unread legislation.... where was the bipartisan effort in that. 2 rouge conservatives, does not bipartisan make.
Seriously? Even when it is not in one of Palin's shrill rants, the term Lame Stream Media is still as lame as it gets.
For crying out loud--these are flat earthers, people who don't recognize global warming or evolution or habitat destruction!!
Stop giving these @!$%#s room in the press. They have nothing to add to any discussion.