HPV Vaccine: Rick Perry Befriended Dying Woman After Mandate
Email
Photo courtesy: The Wilson family
Since the first day of his presidential campaign, Texas Gov. Rick Perry has cast his executive order requiring young girls receive the HPV vaccine as a mistake, but this newfound admittance of wrongdoing is a stark contrast from his strict commitment to having made the right choice in the years following the decision.
Months after the Texas state legislature revoked the executive decision, Perry expressed in very personal terms the potential the HPV vaccine holds for preventing cervical cancer in young women. Perry spoke of the missed opportunity of the Texas government at a memorial service for Heather Burcham, a 31-year-old woman who died from cervical cancer after contracting HPV.
“Though some could not see the benefits of the HPV vaccine through the prism of politics, some day they will,” Perry said in July 2007. “Someday they will recognize that this could happen to anyone’s daughter, even their own. Someday they will respond with compassion when they once responded with ignorance. And, someday, they will come to a place where they recognize the paramount issue is whether we will choose life, and protect life, without regard to what mistakes, if any, have been made in the past.”
Learn more about Heather Burcham.
Read more about politics and the HPV vaccine.
Perry and Burcham, a teacher from Houston, Texas, struck up an unusual friendship in the months after he issued his executive order. While the Texas legislature was working to revoke the mandate, Burcham traveled to Austin to testify about her personal experience with cervical cancer and how the HPV vaccine might help spare other young women from suffering a fate similar to her own. Burcham was misdiagnosed by doctors when she was 26. Five years later, Doctors detected her cervical cancer when it was too advanced for treatment to be effective.
Ted Oberg from ABC’s Houston affiliate KTRK reported first Burcham and Perry.
Months later, she died in July of 2007, but she used the final months of her life to fight for the potential effectiveness of the HPV vaccine in preventing cervical cancer in young girls. Despite the legislature’s decision to revoke the executive order, Perry befriended Burcham. In the final months of her life, the two took a motorcycle ride together and spent a weekend at a ranch with her friends at the governor’s invitation.
In the final days before her death, Perry even sat at her deathbed, a moment he has described on the campaign trail. ”I sat on the side of a bed of a young lady, and she was dying from cervical cancer, and it had an impact on me.”
“When you meet someone like Heather, your first reaction is this is not supposed to happen. Mothers were not meant to bury their daughters. Young women in the prime of their lives, who have not lived their dreams like getting married and having children, are not supposed to die,” Perry said at her memorial service in July 2007. “Her suffering had a purpose, and that purpose was to shine light on a groundbreaking vaccine that can protect our wives, sisters and daughters from a deadly cancer. And even though her voice has been silenced by cancer, her spirit echoes from the grave to parents and families across Texas urging them to inoculate their daughters and protect them from the harm that could come to them even if they make right decisions.”
While Perry has admitted making a mistake in not consulting the legislature on the HPV vaccine, he has continued to say that he made the decision based on one factor – fighting cancer. But Republican rivals have hammered Rick Perry for engaging in “crony capitalism,” basing his decision to mandate the HPV vaccine for young girls on political and financial gain for himself, aides close to him, and the drug company manufacturing the drug.
At the debate Monday night, Rep. Michele Bachmann accused Perry of basing his decision to mandate the HPV vaccine for young girls political benefits and donations from Merck, the pharmaceutical company manufacturing the vaccine called Gardasil.
“It was a $5,000 contribution that I had received from them. I raise about $30 million. And if you’re saying that I can be bought for $5,000, I’m offended,” Perry said in defense Monday night. But the $5,000 Perry referenced was only the amount Merck donated the year before he issued the executive order.
In fact, the $5,000 was donated on the same day members of Perry’s staff met for an HPV vaccine briefing, according to documents obtained by several news organizations. Perry’s office began meeting with Merck lobbyists as early as mid-August of 2006, according to the AP.
CBS News obtained internal government e-mails detailing meetings and lunches between Perry’s staff and lobbyists for Merck that began two months after Gardasil was approved and continued through Perry’s executive order in February 2007. In Perry’s ten years as governor, Merck donated $29,500 to the governor’s campaigns, and one of Merck’s chief lobbyists, Mike Toomey, was a former chief of staff to Perry. Merck has paid Toomey over $300,000 in the past ten years to lobby for the pharmaceutical company.
Note: This post has been changed.
Best Commencement Speeches of 2012 
Joe Biden Recalls Death of Wife, Daughter
Gov. Perry is an honorable man who has served this country honorably in the military and also as the Governor of Texas. It is clear that the Liberal Media wants to make an issue out of this vaccine to try an paint Gov. Perry in a negative light, to shield Obama from any criticism. ABC News never did any stories on Obama and his pushing to have babies killed after they were born alive after botched abortions, when he was a back bench senator in Illinois that vote over 100 times present except for pushing a state bill to have babies killed after botch abortions. America see how ABC News covers for Obama and it will not work in 2012.
Posted by: Bob | September 15, 2011, 3:19 pm 3:19 pm
Wow! Our idiot governor wants to tell everyone to take a HPV shot to save lives, but he rides a motorcycle without a helmet!
Posted by: OnTheRoad | September 15, 2011, 3:34 pm 3:34 pm
“It was a $5,000 contribution that I had received from them. I raise about $30 million. And if you’re saying that I can be bought for $5,000, I’m offended,” Perry said in defense…..
Yeah, everyone around the Capitol building in Texas knows you need at least $200 grand to buy Perry. However, he lies when he claims Merck only gave him $5 grand. Officially they’ve given him nearly $30 grand. Plus, they ‘donated’ well over $300 grand to the Republican Governors Fund, which Perry was in charge of for a few years and which subsequently gave HIM a boat load of cash………
Posted by: Searambler | September 15, 2011, 3:57 pm 3:57 pm
Bob —- This story has nothing to do with Obama. Honest. Read it yourself, you will see that that is true. So why on earth do you feel it’s necessary to defend Perry by attacking Obama? In your mind, do 2 wrongs make a right? Seriously – what were you thinking?!?!?
Posted by: Searambler | September 15, 2011, 4:00 pm 4:00 pm
Bob said, “ABC News never did any stories on Obama and his pushing to have babies killed after they were born alive after botched abortions”
Bob, defending Perry by telling lies about the president is immature and dishonest. Really. It is……..
Posted by: Searambler | September 15, 2011, 4:03 pm 4:03 pm
Such a beautifly woven, heavenly painted inspirational tapestry, like that of Monet. And what does Arlette do up to the final last 2 paragraphs? Wham, slams of destroying it, like that of Pollock!
Can you be more sinister of sensitive then insensitive liberal left campaign mud-slinging behind the double standard and title with your article, Arlette??!!
Posted by: Jawilli31 | September 15, 2011, 4:24 pm 4:24 pm
@ontheroad, It doesn’t look like he is going for a long ride. It looks like he is just riding around a very limited area so her family could take a picture. I am sure he rides with a helmet when he is going on any sort of trip or errand. There is always someone out there trying to spin and twist information in order to try to tear down someone else. Well, it is not working.
Posted by: JBC | September 15, 2011, 4:28 pm 4:28 pm
Well if nothing else you fools trying to bash Perry now know what HPV is and are aware of it. At least something good has come of this.
Posted by: billy bob | September 15, 2011, 5:26 pm 5:26 pm
@Bob
“It’s clear the liberal media wants to paint Perry as a…”
What are you talking about? The people challenging Perry’s decision here are his Republican opponents for 2012, you moron.
Posted by: Dan | September 15, 2011, 5:26 pm 5:26 pm
Arlette should be ashamed of the end of this article. Instead of writing a piece that could truly inform the public of simply what motivated Gov. Perry to push for this vaccine to save the lives and suffering of women from a HORRIBLE cancer, she turned this into a political bashing at the end. While he admits that he pushed it through the wrong way, the end is what is important and his heart. One day this vaccine will be as common as Polio or Measles. Nearly 60% of women have been exposed to this virus without knowing it and the link to cancer is scientifically proven. Instead of Gov. Perry being praised for trying to prevent or at least limit this cancer, he is being made to look like BHO and the current govt. that wants to take every right we have away from us. This is not a parental rights issue. If you do not vaccinate your children under the laws today you can be held accountable. This is no different. My daughters will receive this vaccination and I wish the media would prop up the scientists and medical professionals that will educate the idiot masses how serious and undetected HPV is.
Posted by: RtWngConspirator | September 15, 2011, 5:27 pm 5:27 pm
Those of us here in Texas know that Perry was not motivated out of compassion and a desire to prevent cancer. His wife worked for Merck early in his political career and his relationship with Merck has increased in value since then.
Also if he is so compassionate why does he keep squeezingthe gov’t so that Texas can continue to have the worst air quality do to ccancer causing agents being released from the refineries here.
Please the man is a smooth politician, he doesn’t do anything unless it will advance his political ambitions his pocket , or his religous values. First he changes from Dem to Rep when the political tides turn in this state and it contues from there.
Posted by: bashaperl | September 15, 2011, 6:00 pm 6:00 pm
Perry may have had good intentions,but his connections to merck were flawed. He should of told public from beginning his connections to this drug company. Cancer is worst thing that can happen to anyone. The parents should have the right,not the government. We want lower taxes but many want the government to say when and when not to do something. Responsibility belongs to we the people not the arrogant and dictorship in Austin or Washington.
Posted by: Lawrence Brown | September 15, 2011, 6:01 pm 6:01 pm
ahh politics…always bringing out the best in people…isn’t it great that it’s now 24/7/365/infinity in our lives? /s Everyday it’s people’s disdain for each other when really we are pretty much the same. We want what is good for everyone.But we listen to different outlets to what is happening. & some outlets are just so lopsided it’s ridiculous (foxNews) Leading us to believe we are the only few that know what’s going on & everyone else is a moron. That within itself is moronic. We need politics , but we need it in the background & with people working with one another. This isn’t the SuperBowl. Although politics is now played like it’s a game. One side wins or the other & now we are in just a spiteful mess.
Posted by: hhh | September 15, 2011, 6:02 pm 6:02 pm
Rick Perry is pro-life. That’s one reason the libs will always hate him.
Posted by: smartcookie | September 15, 2011, 8:43 pm 8:43 pm
So, because a young woman couldn’t practice safe sex every young girl should be forced to take this horrible vaccine?
take the money for the program to vaccinate and educate instead.
I would also question which strain of HPV this woman had, and is it a strain that supposedly would have been helped by the vaccine?
Posted by: stargazingmommy | September 15, 2011, 9:02 pm 9:02 pm
I’ll give Perry the benefit of the doubt and assume the connection to Merck is onconsequential, but his decision to write this exectuvie order is absurd. If anyone is to push an edict that requires vaccination, shouldn’t it be the CDC, the American Medical Association, the FDA or some organization of independant doctors and scientist? You know, the peopld that actually spend their lives practicing and understanding medicine and science. Do we really want a career politician deciding on his own what the best medical treatment is for our children? Sorry, but that is just absurd whether his intentions were good or not.
Posted by: G Newton | September 15, 2011, 9:14 pm 9:14 pm
You know, not everyone who has been diagnosed with HPV has unprotected sex with multiple partners. I was diagnosed with HPV this summer, and had cancerous cells removed from my cervix. I have been married for 12 years, been with my husband for 17 years since we were 16. My sexual history before him was 1 person, 1 time (not consensual). He was a virgin. So, how on earth did I get HPV? I don’t know, but I would love to have been vaccinated against this. I will no longer be able to have children now, and I’m only 34.
Posted by: Jen | September 15, 2011, 9:42 pm 9:42 pm
Bob | September 15, 2011, 3:19 pm:
“It is clear that the Liberal Media wants to make an issue out of this vaccine to try an paint Gov. Perry in a negative light,… (whine, whine, whine)”.
=========================================================
Aah yes… the normal right-whiner cry: “It’s the liberal media’s fault”.
LOL! Give me a break.
Posted by: Georgie_Bushie | September 16, 2011, 7:49 am 7:49 am
“Perry has authorized more executions than any governor in the history of the United States.” He clearly has NO respect for human life.
Posted by: GaryJohnsonSupporter | September 16, 2011, 8:19 am 8:19 am
Perry made a deal to mandate the vaccinations (which I feel the decision should be between the girls and their moms) to receive donations! That’s that! Some people are just gulible and will believe anything this man says… he’s a creep that uses his “Christian” status to make him seem like he cares. Christians don’t behave the way he does. He may care about the woman in this article, but screw the rest of the citizens of the U.S. Since he was called out about this situation with Merck, he has a interview talking about why he mandated the shots! LOL… BS!!
Posted by: Lorrie | September 16, 2011, 9:30 am 9:30 am
@ GARYJOHNSONSUPPORTER ————————–I agree with you there. He was excited and boastful during the debate when it was brought up that he executed over 200 people in Texas. He was absolutely glowing! SICKENING!
Posted by: Lorrie | September 16, 2011, 9:40 am 9:40 am
Whoa!! Rick Perry is such a moron! Here is the one thing I approve of him doing–this executive order for HPV vaccine, with a parental opt-out (dumbass parents those would but, but that’s another matter)–and he’s trying to write it off as a foolish mistake he made in the past! What an utter moron. This is something he should be proud of! This is something good he’s done for Texas. This is something that, were I a Republican, would make me consider voting for him in the primary. But instead he’s trying to bury it. Idiot!
Posted by: JMW | September 18, 2011, 10:44 pm 10:44 pm
Rick Perry is a TRAITOR, he was chiefly responsible for killing the TSA Anti-Groping Bill in Texas. Do your homework people!!!
Posted by: LGore | September 20, 2011, 12:57 pm 12:57 pm
to: stargazing mommy : you wrote “So, because a young woman couldn’t practice safe sex every young girl should be forced to take this horrible vaccine?” That is a cruel statement on your part.
Sex is not always consentual. Girls are molested, many in their own homes. Women are raped. Then there’s date rape. All it takes is skin to skin contact to get HPV..so the next time you kiss someone, look in his mouth first.
Posted by: nancynurse | September 23, 2011, 1:28 am 1:28 am