One of the dumbest things I heard recently was Michelle Bachmann's explanation about her statement that the HPV vaccine causes mental retardation.

She said a woman told her that her daughter became mentally retarded after having the shot. I was skeptical when I heard it. I figured it was just another sound bite to file under the heading "I'll say anything to get free airtime."
But Bachmann's explanation of the statement is just plain idiotic. I can only conclude that someone was playing her. She appeared on Jay Leno's show and told him that a woman came up to her after one of her speeches and told her the story. She didn't get the woman's name or try to verify it before she told the press.

My mom has cable TV and I rely on rabbit ears. Since I've been staying with her, I've been watching much too much TV. This is going to be a long campaign season...