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Bachmann, Perry Spar Over HPV Vaccine

Reut Cohen |
September 22, 2011 | 8:22 p.m. PDT

Executive Producer

Texas Gov. Rick Perry (Gage Skidmore, Creative Commons)
Texas Gov. Rick Perry (Gage Skidmore, Creative Commons)
Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann and Texas Gov. Rick Perry had a chance to clarify their views on the HPV vaccine Thursday night at the Fox News/Google presidential debate in Florida.

The GOP contenders last sparred over the issue during the last presidential debate when Bachmann attacked Perry for trying to make the vaccine mandatory for teen girls.

"Gov. Perry made a decision where he gave parental rights to a big drug company," said Bachmann.

Perry appeared ready for the attack.

"I got lobbied by a 31-year-old young lady who had stage 4 cervical cancer," said Perry. "The fact is, I erred on the side of life and I will always err on the side of life."

Bachmann denied that she said the HPV vaccine is linked to mental retardation, a claim that medical experts say is false.

She said she "only related" a story a "tearful" mother had told her.

 

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