It’s a good thing Ronald Reagan ran in 1980 instead of 2012. Obviously, after being a democrat most of his life and a union boss, he would have been ripped to shreds by internet purists.
Perry isn’t perfect but I’m not a purist. I think a Perry/Kasich ticket would have the best chance of getting a 60 seat majority in the senate and increasing the Republican majority in the house. No Republican president is going to change Washington much without 60 votes in the senate.
Actually, Reagan was attacked in his first two serious runs for potus. In 1976 Reagan took on Pres Ford and was lambasted as a hardcore rightwinger and a political cowboy by the Rockefeller Republicans. At the same time the hardcore rightwingers called him a sellout for choosing Richard Schweiker as his running mate. In 1980, some of the same hardcore rightwingers blasted Reagan for his choice of GHW Bush for VP.
Nothing new for Reagan. He was criticized and attacked by the left and the right during his entire political career.
After he was elected President in 1980, Libertarians like Ron Paul, Murry Rothbard and others rejected Reagan. Paul called Reagan a "dramatic failure" as President. Rothbard called Reagan a "cretin".
There have always been purists in the GOP and loudmouth know-nothings. Best to ignore them. Republican primary voters will choose the best man or woman to take on Obama. Hopefully they won't be swayed by the liberal media this time around. Getting stuck with Romney as the nominee would be the worst of all. Willard was a loser in 2008 and he'd be a losing proposition once again.