Perry Got at Least $30,000 in Contributions from Merck

[mello]

hxxp://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2011/09/13/2011-09-13_rick_perry_got_at_least_30000_in_contributions_ from_maker_of_hpv_vaccine_report.html

[Todd]

so he can be bought....but it takes 30K.

[brushfire]

So he was what, 6X off, based on what his response was at the debates? What's 25k these days, anyway?

[satchelmcqueen]

paul or bachmann should say this next debate

[PastaRocket848]

...and the link is broken. hmmm...?

[mello]

I think he received those donations a couple days before he signed that executive order.

[Bruno]

And around $400,000 to the governor's association.

[Ronulus]

Did that web page just get removed?

[Bruno]

Did that web page just get removed?

Yes, it appears that it did, or the link in the OP was incorrect.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2011/09/13/2011-09-13_rick_perry_got_at_least_30000_in_contributions_ from_maker_of_hpv_vaccine_report.html

Rick Perry has pocketed more than $30,000 in campaign cash from Merck, the company that makes the HPV vaccine he tried to push on Texas schoolgirls, the Washington Post reported.

Most of the drug company's dough came prior to Perry's 2007 attempt to mandate that all school girls over the age of 12 receive the vaccine.

Since announcing his run for President, Perry has sought to down play his support for the vaccine - even admitting his failed mandate effort was a mistake during a Tea Party debate Monday.

Perry insists he pushed for the vaccinations out of concern for young girls - "I hate cancer."

The human papillomavirus can increase the risks of cervical cancer.

During Monday's debate, Tea Party darling Michele Bachmann accused Perry of trying to force the vaccine on schoolgirls because of his cozy financial relationship with Merck.

"It was a $5,000 contribution that I had received from them," Perry countered.

"I raised about $30 million. And if you're saying that I can be bought for $5,000, I'm offended."

Bachmann then went on to charge that the vaccine could cause mental retardation - a claim which has no scientific merit.

MORE: BACHMANN RIPPED FOR SUGGESTING VACCINE CAUSES 'RETARDATION'

Perry's ties with Merck go beyond campaign cash: His former chief of staff, Mike Toomey, worked as a lobbyist for the company, Slate.com reported.

Many conservatives have bashed Perry for overstepping his bounds in trying to force the vaccine on girls - a "Big Government" action that many on the right condemn.

And in Perry's successful 2010 reelection race, Democrats used it as a campaign issue and filmed a commercial showing a needle about to go into the arm of a young girl, Politico reported.

"We polled and focus grouped this. The focus groups really showed that this hurt Perry among conservatives," Democratic Governors Association Political Director Raymond Glendening told Politico.

"It had a libertarian infringement on personal rights feeling to it for them. They believed he was moving government into a personal family decision. It resonated at the abortion/euthanasia level."

Perry isn't the only Republican to take money from the HPV vaccine makers.

Merck has given more than $355,000 in donations to the Republican Governors Association since 2006, Slate reported.

[dannno]

hxxp://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2011/09/13/2011-09-13_rick_perry_got_at_least_30000_in_contributions_ from_maker_of_hpv_vaccine_report.html


There's also a poll question.

[Bruno]

Sent it to Drudge. I would not be surprised to see this or a simliar story up there soon.