There are two separate issues. The first one is whether or not it is appropriate to vaccinate school children against a sexually transmitted disease, requiring a parental opt-out to prevent the vaccination. On that issue, I agree that such a vaccination would only be appropriate as a parental opt-in. I think it was a bad decision by Governor Perry.
The second, and more serious issue, imo, is the one Bachmann raised implying that Perry made this bad decision because of some kind of quid pro quo with Merck (for the $5,000 campaign donation), or out of some sense of cronyism with his former chief of staff.
On the second issue, imo, Bachmann was way out of line. She skirts along the edge of directly accusing Perry of criminal conduct, and without sufficient basis for such a serious allegation.
I just heard her on Hannity, and she’s not backing off from either of those two issues. She apparently believes this is a winning strategy for her. She’s wrong. Plus, she doubled up on her wrongness by telling Greta that ridiculous story about someone’s child becoming “mentally retarded” from this vaccine.
I’m disappointed in Bachmann.
I’m disappointed in both Bachman and Palin on this issue because they are simply ensuring that Romney will get the nomination. I’d like to ask Bachman during the debate, which she thinks was a more serious mistake, Gardisil or Obamneycare?
I have read that the vaccine was made an opt out as opposed to an opt in because that is the only way that private insurance would pay for the vaccine.
I agree. It's a shame that Sarah Palin decided to echo the charge on Greta as well.