Reality Check: Bachmann Gets Aggressive In GOP Debate
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann got aggressive in the latest Republican presidential debate on CNN on Monday night.
Bachmann took tough shots at Texas Gov. Rick Perry and seemed more at home during this "official" Tea Party event, repeating many of her standard campaign claims against the new federal health care law.
But a review of fact-check websites shows some of the evidence to support it is flimsy.
"Obamacare is killing jobs," said Bachmann, the three-term GOP Congresswoman.
"We know that from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, but I know it firsthand from speaking to people. We see it this summer. There are 47 percent of African-American youth that are currently without jobs, 36 percent of Hispanic youth."
That's FALSE.
The CBO didn't say that. It said that fewer people might choose to work if they have access to health care.
There's no evidence minority unemployment is linked. In fact, most of the health care law isn't in effect and it won't be until 2014.
Bachmann also said, in response to a question on Medicare, "We know President Obama stole over $500 billion out of Medicare to switch it over to Obamacare."
The law peels away roughly $500 billion in savings from Medicare over 10 years from inefficient programs. It uses the money for the uninsured.
But -- stole the money? Even Republicans put it in their budget this year.
Bachmann saved her sharpest zingers during the debate for Perry, accusing him of profiting from "forced government injections" of pre-teen girls; a vaccine against cervical cancer.
"The drug company gave thousands of dollars in political donations to the governor, and this is just flat out wrong," said Bachmann.
This is TRUE.
By executive order, Perry mandated the vaccine. The pharmaceutical company Merck made and distributed the vaccine and gave $30,000 to Perry's campaign.
Perry's chief of staff got a high level job with the firm.
On Tuesday morning, Bachmann did not back down from her political attack on Perry. In fact, she took it to another level.
On NBC's Today Show, Bachmann falsely claimed the cervical cancer vaccine can lead to "mental retardation."
The American Academy of Pediatrics responded today by issuing the following statement:
"The American Academy of Pediatrics would like to correct false statements made in the Republican presidential campaign that HPV vaccine is dangerous and can cause mental retardation. There is absolutely no scientific validity to this statement. Since the vaccine has been introduced, more than 35 million doses have been administered, and it has an excellent safety record.
"The American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Academy of Family Physicians all recommend that girls receive HPV vaccine around age 11 or 12. That's because this is the age at which the vaccine produces the best immune response in the body, and because it's important to protect girls well before the onset of sexual activity. In the U.S., about 6 million people, including teens, become infected with HPV each year, and 4,000 women die from cervical cancer. This is a life-saving vaccine that can protect girls from cervical cancer."
To check the resources for Pat Kessler's Reality Check, click on the links below.
Michele Bachmann says Obamacare will kill 800,000 jobs
FACT CHECK: Perry, Romney twist records in debate
Fact Check: Social Security, Health Care and More
Did President Barack Obama "steal" $500 billion from Medicare?
GOP candidates stumble on facts in Florida debate
Crony Capitalism: The Republican Governors Association in the Perry Years
