The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Malkin Not Keen on ‘Governor Gardasil’

Posted on | August 18, 2011 | 86 Comments

The Boss went after Rick Perry for imposing mandatory vaccination with Gardasil on 12-year-old girls. Gardasil protects against human pappiloma virus (HPV, genital warts) and, at the time of the 2007 decision, social conservatives were outraged by the idea of requiring that girls so young be vaccinated against a sexually transmitted disease. Libertarians were outraged at the mandatory aspect of the requirement. Perhaps the worst part was that it appeared Perry was acting corruptly, as a favor to lobbyists for the vaccine manufacturer, Merck.

In response to this criticism, Streiff at Red State wrote a post about “the bad faith and dishonest arguments being made in regards to this decision. Unfortunately, people I have previously had some respect for have checked their integrity and intellect at the door on this subject” — and linked Malkin, thus accusing her of a lack of “integrity and intellect”!

Dan Riehl demanded that Red State’s Erick Erickson apologize for that.

Amid all this friendly-fire action, The Right Perspective recalled my own gut-hunch reaction to the Perry campaign’s roll-out: “I felt a need to put on the record my instinctive sense that there’s something fundamentally wrong about the Perry campaign . . . . Some kind of catastrophe will result, one way or another.”

I took a lot of flak for saying that at the time, but if Perry is so self-evidently the GOP Dream Candidate for 2012, why are Jeb Bush, Bill Bennett and John Boehner urging Paul Ryan to get in the race? I don’t know.

What I do know is that a lot of conservatives seem to have doubts about Perry’s candidacy, and that these doubts aren’t getting much media notice amid all the hype about the alleged Dream Candidate.

Category: Dan Riehl, Election 2012, Michelle Malkin, Red State, Rick Perry, Texas

Comments

86 Responses to “Malkin Not Keen on ‘Governor Gardasil’”

  1. AngelaTC
    August 18th, 2011 @ 5:34 pm

    There is a method for getting legislation passed, and Perry bypassed it all. He didn’t simply sign a bill that the legislature passed – he anointed himself king and enacted this by executive order, even including a clause that tried to prohibit the legislature from overturning it.    

    My kids were young when the chicken pox vaccines were new. I got my kids the shots right away, but a lot of other Moms recoiled at the thought of being a guinea pig for a relatively new vaccine.

    However, I would never insist that a law should be passed to make them get shots. I minimized my own risk. Their decisions are really none of my business.

  2. Anonymous
    August 18th, 2011 @ 5:34 pm

    Perry rebutted the Al Gore most effectively: “That was before he invented the Internet and discovered Global Warming.”

    In all seriousness, if you were a politician in the South you pretty much supported Democrats. Of course, that was when there were Sam Nunn / Zell Miller Democrats still in the party.

  3. AngelaTC
    August 18th, 2011 @ 5:38 pm

    I’m so glad you said that.  Kids aren’t known for having great judgement, and  I can absolutely vouch that such harsh societal rhetoric directly influences the decision to abort.   

  4. AngelaTC
    August 18th, 2011 @ 5:42 pm

    At least Santorum managed to get in the debates. There are a couple of candidates, both former governors, who have been shut out completely by the party.  

  5. AngelaTC
    August 18th, 2011 @ 5:46 pm

    But he didn’t change parties because he had a philosophical epiphany.  He changed for political expediency –  the position he wanted to run for didn’t have a strong GOP candidate, while the Democrats did.  

    All the philosophical changes in the GOP that have happened in the last 20 years are the direct result of the influence the “reformed” Democrats have had on the party.  

  6. ThePaganTemple
    August 18th, 2011 @ 5:47 pm

    Some things just have to be pointed out to certain people, even if they should be painfully obvious. Glad to help.

  7. AngelaTC
    August 18th, 2011 @ 5:48 pm

    Did you guys read the WSJ article on Perry’s cronyism?  It seems to be a trend with him. (He’ll fit right in in D.C. I guess.)

  8. ThePaganTemple
    August 18th, 2011 @ 5:49 pm

    And if you’re being chased by a bear in the woods in Kentucky, thank a Democrat for making it illegal to shoot the goddamned thing. Just thought I’d throw that in there.

  9. AngelaTC
    August 18th, 2011 @ 5:50 pm

    Look what happens when we sacrifice discussions of fiscal conservatism and Dc corruption in the name of protecting a horrifically failed foreign policy- McCain.

  10. Zilla of the Resistance
    August 18th, 2011 @ 5:51 pm

    Can you tell me more?

  11. Dave C
    August 18th, 2011 @ 6:01 pm

    umm.. domestic oil?  

  12. ThePaganTemple
    August 18th, 2011 @ 6:21 pm

    She’s talking about Gary Johnson and, probably, Buddy Roehmer.

  13. ThePaganTemple
    August 18th, 2011 @ 6:26 pm

    By the way, I’m just curious as to who Malkin is supporting, if anybody. I find it hard to believe she’s supporting Romney. On the other hand I never would have guessed Ann Coulter would have fallen so completely head over heels in love with Chris Cristie, so who knows? Somebody needs to remind Michelle that she’s going to be searching in vain for THE perfect candidate. Nobody is that damn good.

  14. Peter Ingemi
    August 18th, 2011 @ 6:32 pm

    I’m not a big Perry guy in fact something about him rubs me the wrong way but he’s got all the right people on the left in a tizzy

  15. Adjoran
    August 18th, 2011 @ 6:38 pm

    The Hayes article has Jordan and Jeb Bush saying nice things about Ryan and that it isn’t too late for another entry in the race.  Neither comes anywhere near endorsing him.  Daniels comes very close to that, but he is alone.

    All we have from Boehner is third hand gossip from unnamed sources, so be sure and put all your money what they said, mmmkay?

    People want to make it sound as if all these folks are “urging” Ryan to run with the idea of endorsing him if he does, and there is no indication of that in any of the actual quotes, except for Daniels.

  16. Adjoran
    August 18th, 2011 @ 6:38 pm

    The Hayes article has Jordan and Jeb Bush saying nice things about Ryan and that it isn’t too late for another entry in the race.  Neither comes anywhere near endorsing him.  Daniels comes very close to that, but he is alone.

    All we have from Boehner is third hand gossip from unnamed sources, so be sure and put all your money what they said, mmmkay?

    People want to make it sound as if all these folks are “urging” Ryan to run with the idea of endorsing him if he does, and there is no indication of that in any of the actual quotes, except for Daniels.

  17. Anon Y. Mous
    August 18th, 2011 @ 7:29 pm

    The Boss

    I see them refer to Malkin that way over at Hot Air all the time, but then she used to own Hot Air, so she was The Boss (now they call her The Boss Emeritus). But, how is she The Boss around here? Did you use to work for her at some point?

  18. Anonymous
    August 18th, 2011 @ 7:35 pm

    No, I didn’t. I only read Malkin’s rant and her point about $6,000 in campaign contributions wasn’t compelling.

    In general, I tend not to worry so much about “special interests” and “influence” because they tend to cancel out.

    My concerns with “cronyism” usually relate to political philosophy: Does the politician support corporatist approaches to governance? Do they really understand what we mean by the free market, limited government, etc.?

  19. McGehee
    August 18th, 2011 @ 7:45 pm

    Domestic oil as in Texas oil would probably suit somebody from, you know, Texas.

    Just a thought.

  20. Dave C
    August 18th, 2011 @ 8:57 pm

    It’s a term of endearment…  that’s all.. 

  21. Dave C
    August 18th, 2011 @ 8:57 pm

    It’s a term of endearment…  that’s all.. 

  22. rosalie
    August 18th, 2011 @ 9:04 pm

    I thought I read somewhere that Jeb Bush endorsed Huntsman.   I couldn’t believe it.  

  23. ThePaganTemple
    August 18th, 2011 @ 9:18 pm

    Why would you find that so hard to believe? I’d find it hard not to believe. Why do you think the Bushies are spending so much time trashing Perry. He’s from the wrong side of the tracks. They want a candidate like Huntsman or Romney. You know, the “right kind” of Republican.

  24. Anonymous
    August 18th, 2011 @ 10:04 pm

    Well, if you like working for a group that’s REALLY working for the Gnomes of Zurich…or is that the Discordians? Need to get an update from Laika. *puts on tinfoil hat, adjusts antennae*

  25. rosalie
    August 18th, 2011 @ 10:23 pm

    “The right kind” who are doing us in.  I didn’t think they were that bad, but they have to be.  Huntsman and Romney are pretty much in the same category for sure.  I hope I don’t have to hold my nose when I vote.

  26. AngelaTC
    August 18th, 2011 @ 11:07 pm

    Here’s the article that I was referring to: http://on.wsj.com/r0t8HC

  27. Anonymous
    August 19th, 2011 @ 12:42 am

    Okay, I read the WSJ article and it is worrisome.

    However, I’m still not concerned about Perry having connections to entrepreneurs who received support from this Emerging Technology Fund. Perry knows a lot of people in Texas; big businesses and/or well connected persons/groups will donate to any and every politician; Perry very likely believed that the tech ideas floated by his acquaintances had potential (I don’t see him going out on a limb for a “crony” who he expected would fail).

    I am bothered, though, that in summer of 2011 Perry still remarked publicly that he believes in things like the Emerging Tech Fund – that it fits with the proper role of government and that government is any good at picking winners.

    Many of us were still susceptible to such thinking as recently as 5-10 years ago, but Perry should have been hit by a clue bat by now. I want to see that he’s advanced beyond that type of thinking, along with the rest of us recovering “good government,” “public-private partnership” conservatives.

    That said, it’s looking like a two horse race between Perry and Romney and the latter’s crony-streak is much starker than Perry’s, right? 

    The only other plausible candidates are Cain and Santorum, unless Palin jumps in. Cain constantly talks about “fixing things” when he gets to DC, which suggests technocratic “pro business” economic planning. Santorum, I’m not sure where he is philosophically these days, but I’ll need to see more momentum from him before I can just chuck Perry aside.  

  28. The Cob
    August 19th, 2011 @ 2:27 am

    Rick Perry and Paul Ryan are both Republican unity candidates. Neither will bring in many independents (Tea party and swing voters) except for those who will vote for anybody but Barack anyway.

    Both are better than Mitt Romney, but Bachmann, Cain, or Palin would be better conservative unity candidates because they’re farther removed from the good ol’ boy network that got the Republicans kicked out in ’06 & ’08.

  29. ThePaganTemple
    August 19th, 2011 @ 2:32 am

    These days I find myself attracted to The Flying Spaghetti Monster. Then again I’ve been eating a lot of bland food lately.

  30. ThePaganTemple
    August 19th, 2011 @ 2:33 am

    I heard he changed so he could run as George Bush’s running mate for Lieutenant Governor of Texas. Bush supposedly asked him to do it.

  31. McGehee
    August 19th, 2011 @ 3:22 am

    Only “damn near” unwatchable? I switch over once in a great while to one or another of the daytime news-headlines slots just to get a quick heads-up, but the “name” shows later in the day have been intolerable to me for years, especially since Brit Hume gave up “Special Report.” I respect Neil Cavuto but his show doesn’t really have anything for me these days, and Bret Baier is a nice guy but he couldn’t carry Hume’s spare shoelaces.

  32. Zilla of the Resistance
    August 19th, 2011 @ 10:24 am

    I like Cavuto, he’s probably the best they’ve got there. I don’t like “The Five” it belongs on MSNBC. Shep, Geraldo, O’Reilly, ick.

  33. Andrew Patrick
    August 19th, 2011 @ 10:34 am

    *sniff*

    I’m still waiting for Thomas Jefferson to announce his campaign. Everyone else is a RINO.

  34. Andrew Patrick
    August 19th, 2011 @ 10:38 am

    Yeah, because we all know Islam is a monolithic entity without any interior disagreements, and certainly no ways of interpreting the Koran in a way that precludes violence.

    And we  know this because our knowledge of this religion is broad and deep.

  35. ThePaganTemple
    August 19th, 2011 @ 12:01 pm

    How many times have you heard any Muslim criticize their religion? How many times have you heard one criticize the clerics? I’m not talking about Sunnis criticizing Shi’as and vice versa either. I’m talking about ones who criticize their own version of Islam, and their own clerics. If you can find any at all, I bet you can count them on the fingers of one hand. Bottom line, when an Islamic religious leader makes any kind of pronouncement or issues any kind of order, you have either one of two reactions. You have those who either do what they’re told, or you have those who shut the hell up.

  36. ThePaganTemple
    August 19th, 2011 @ 12:10 pm

    They need to get rid of the god damn Democrats. Why do they insist on giving those asswipes a forum? Don’t they have enough? The hell with them. CNN is mixed but slants heavily to the left. MSNBC is a leftist hell hole. So is Current. So is PBS. Why can’t there be a station that presents a uniquely conservative and libertarian point of view? The progressives get more than enough air time. On top of that, most of the “conservative” point of view presented on Fox is actually RINO. It pisses me off so much thinking about it I actually had to stop in the middle of this comment and have a smoke.