It seems to me the issue is deeper than this one instance.
Does Ricardo have statist tendencies?
Should the goobermint regulate business to save us from global warming, regulate salt and fast food to make us healthier, and otherwise nanny-state us?
Leftists don’t have a problem with the “individual mandate” in ObummerCare because they think having the government tell you what to do is O.K.
I don’t like mandates and I don’t like nannystaters.
I think it’s good that Perry says he was wrong on the Gardasil deal. But is he saying the reason he was wrong was because the power of government should not take away individual freedom and responsibility? Or that he was wrong because he didn’t “message” his action appropriately?
The Governor makes a clear distinction between the Federal and State government and their powers.
Here’s what the Governor said in “Fed Up!” (Kindle Edition)
“The statists believe in a powerful, activist central government that advances a radical secular agenda in the name of compassion. They hide behind misguided notions of empathy and push token talking points about fighting for the little guy, all the while empowering the federal government to coercively and blatantly undermine state-, local-, and self-governance.” p.13
“Republicans often aren’t on the right page - indeed, some aren’t even in the right chapter. But most are in the right book. Most Democrats today, on the other hand, can’t even find the library.” p. 14
“The truth is, I don’t care what party the statist is in. The fact of the matter is, it is the statist, and those who support or enable him, who is the problem. For too long he has undermined this country by empowering the national government at the expense of liberty. An America defined by the statist in Washington is an America doomed to fail.” location 338
“Our cause is simple: to restore the balance of power intended by our Founders but forsaken by secular progressives determined to say what government will do for the people rather than allowing people to do what they can do for themselves. Our goal is to take power away from Washington and instead empower states, communities, and individuals, because America’s future greatness is inextricably intertwined with states pushing back.” location 355
Quoting James Madison in the Federalist 45, “The powers reserved to the several states will extend to all the objects which in the ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties, and properties of the people, and the internal order, improvement and prosperity of the State.“ location 399