(VIDEO) Bachmann stands firm on HPV comments

Republican presidential candidate and U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann stood firm on statements she made that linked the HPV vaccine to “mental retardation,” which experts say is wrong.

Asked whether she would apologize, Bachmann refused to answer, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

“During the debate, I didn’t make any statements that would indicate I’m a doctor, I’m a scientist, or making any conclusions about the drug one way or the other,” Bachmann said.

She said she was trying to articulate the “abuse of power” and “crony capitalism” by Texas Gov. Rick Perry when he attempted to mandate the vaccine.

Ed Rollins, Bachmann’s former campaign manager told MSNBC Thursday that Bachmann needs to move on.

“She made a mistake,” Rollins said. “The quicker she admits she made a mistake and moves on, the better she is.”

Her former chief of staff, Ron Carey was less optimistic Wednesday, according to the Los Angeles Times.

“She reads an awful lot of information, but sometimes I’m afraid that she reads maybe 80 or 90 percent and leaves out or forgets the 10 or 20 percent that can change the outcome, “ Carey said. “So her impulsive nature coupled with the fact that she sometimes doesn’t digest information as carefully as she should leads to these kinds of impulsive statements that sometimes are just off the mark enough that it makes her into more of a provocative, controversial figure.”