[Lakeshark]

He made an executive order saying all Texas girls needed to be vaccinated, if the parents didn't want it, they had to go sign something or the girls would be vaccinated.

That's a mandate, you can explain it away all you want.........

[TigersEye]

...if the parents didn't want it, they had to go sign something or the girls would be vaccinated. That's a mandate,...

I guess words don't mean anything in the English language anymore.

[xjcsa]

He made an executive order saying all Texas girls needed to be vaccinated, if the parents didn't want it, they had to go sign something or the girls would be vaccinated.

That's a mandate, you can explain it away all you want.........

Right, a "mandate" you can opt out of.

Listen, I don't think it was good policy. But the legitimate line of argument isn't to call it a "mandate" when, frankly, that's not what mandate means. The legitimate argument is one Rick Santorum used last night: that if Perry wanted to promote Gardasil vaccinations, he should have educated Texans about its benefits and made it an opt-in instead of an opt-out.

Perry was clearly in the wrong, both in terms of how he made the policy and the merits of the policy himself. But overstating the argument doesn't help your case.

[prof.h.mandingo]

I can’t sign a paper if I want to drive without a license. I must obtain a license to drive. I cannot opt out. If you can opt out it is not really a mandate. It is not even required.