Michele Bachmann is not apologizing for her just about universally criticized suggestion that Gardasil, the anti-HPV vaccine Rick Perry tried to mandate while governor of Texas, can cause mental retardation.
Bachmann made the accusation after Monday’s presidential debate, echoing something someone in the audience told her.
On Thursday, Bachmann said she never claimed to be making a medical diagnosis. How could she be? She’s just a candidate running for president.
“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,” Bachmann said in California, according to CBS News.
Medical doctors and Bachmann’s former campaign manager have said Bachmann veered far from the facts when she made the claim about Gardasil. But asked to apologize for the remark, she demurred.
“Oh, I’m not going to answer that,” she said.
