Of course Gardner voted like he was told.  That is how repubs get anything done.  Not by persuasion of others but with threats (to primary them when they run for re-election), bribes (trying to give your state money so that you will vote for a stinker of a bill), or just for naked power (offer you a great job in Congress is you do what they tell you to do).

That is the "moral courage" of repubs nowadays.  They vote to take away your health care and then try to lie to you that they did not.