[HerrBlucher]

Still, this was a clear example of crony capitalism by Perry

What evidence do you have to support that allegation other than "after the 6k donation therefore because of the 6k donation." Do you really believe that if Perry had not gotten the 6k from Merck that he would have not gone with the mandate, and that there was no other reason to do the mandate other than "crony capitalism"?

[Cboldt]

FWIW, in addition to the campaign contribution, the "crony capitalism" charge also has as components that Merck lobbied the states to have the vaccine mandated, by law; that Perry's chief of staff went on to work for Merck; and that the vaccine was made mandatory (to the same extent most "mandatory" vaccines are mandatory) by an executive order.

As a view of the operation of government, it's hard to argue that there isn't some crony capitalism going on there. How much, if any of it attaches to Perry, personally, is a slightly different issue.