The French concept, however does think that freedom is about authority, specifically that freedom flows from government.
The American concept: "We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness -- That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed."
Without the authority granted by us to the government, and the government's ability to exercise said authority, there could be no freedom. The authority granted to the government by the people secures our rights, and in effect our freedoms.
What is freedom without the presence of authority?
Somalia.
The Founder's own words prove the fact that freedom is not secure without the presence of authority..."to secure these rights..." If there were no "authorities", the strong could kill the weak to steal their possessions, the many could subjugate the few, the young abuse the old, and the mature the immature.
In the Founder's own words...governments are instituted among men to secure rights; we agree as a society to grant the power to an authoritative presence to do whatever we deem necessary to protect our rights, and to punish those who violate them.
There's nothing dark or scary about Rudy's words.