The new coronavirus variant, Omicron—which was first detected by virologists in South Africa—has sparked concerns among public health experts. The United States quickly imposed travel restrictions on certain African countries. Scientists say that much about the new variant remains unknown. But it’s apparently not too soon for members of the US Congress to begin spouting ridiculous conspiracy theories about it.
In a tweet Saturday, Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), who served as White House physician for Barack Obama and Donald Trump before running for office on a hard-MAGA platform, dubbed the new strain “the Midterm Election Variant.”
According to this latest crackpot theory, Democrats are going to use Omicron to “push” mail-in ballots during the midterm elections, which will supposedly enable massive amounts of cheating. Jackson’s tweet manages to hit on two conspiracy theories popular among far right: that the pandemic is somehow being manipulated by Democrats for political gain, and that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. It should go without saying that both of these theories are false. But as we approach the two-year mark in the pandemic, much of the world remains unvaccinated and patience is wearing thin. Ignorant tweets like Jackson’s will only fuel more conspiracy theories about the virus and endanger more lives.
Since there are almost as many “news articles” about b.1.1.529 on Yahoo sports and Faux as anywhere else maybe, just maybe it would be a good idea to see what the medical and scientific research communities have to say about it before jumping to any conclusions.
In the meanwhile, get vaccinated and keep up with the vaccine second shots & boosters. Those have proven to lessen the effects of different strains if not to not greatly reduce the spread, especially if b.1.617.2 (Delta) which is still the most threatening. Wear masks, keep distant, and wash your hands and face often.
Want proof that works? Flu cases are down in most states that practice those simple steps.
Get your ass vaccinated or run the risk, just don’t affect me. I am so tired of governments trying to protect morons by hurting those that do the right thing.
With new Omicron variant looming, Republicans are now bribing people to avoid vaccination
As Axios reported Monday morning, the concerted efforts to keep shots from going in arms have escalated in red states, with Republican politicians now openly bribing constituents not to get vaccinated. “Republican officials around the country are testing a creative mechanism to build loyalty with unvaccinated Americans while undermining Biden administration mandates: unemployment benefits,” the short piece explains. “Florida, Iowa, Kansas and Tennessee have changed their unemployment insurance rules to allow workers who are fired or quit over vaccine mandates to receive benefits.”
Since early spring, a number of commentators — including myself — have been pointing out that Republican politicians and media are deliberately undermining Biden’s pandemic response by convincing their base to reject the vaccines. The reason isn’t particularly mysterious. Republicans understand that if death rates remain high, the economic recovery remains stagnant, and unpleasant mitigation measures like mask mandates and school shutdowns continue into 2022, a pandemic-weary public is going to start blaming the guy in charge for not doing more to fix the situation.
https://www.rawstory.com/republican-anti-vaxxers/
Republicans are killing their base, I wish them success.
Now there’s a scary new variant that could prolong the pandemic, and many Republicans can barely hide their glee.
Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas continues to bash Dr. Fauci, tweeting on Sunday that he’s “an unelected technocrat who has distorted science and facts in order to exercise authoritarian control over millions of Americans,” and spreading a repulsive conspiracy theory insinuating that Fauci somehow had a hand in creating the virus. “I’m just going to do my job and I’m going to be saving lives and they’re going to be lying,” Dr. Fauci said in response to GOP conspiracy theories about him — theories clearly meant to undermine his authority when he continues to advocate for vaccination.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia also doubled down on vaccine discouragement in response to the Omicron variant, insisting that the horse deworming drug ivermectin is the real solution. She even encouraged her followers to sue hospitals for COVID-19 deaths because doctors won’t prescribe this useless drug. That’s the modern GOP in a nutshell: First, get people killed by telling them to refuse vaccines, and then blame the only people who actually tried to save those lives for the deaths.
Concretionist over 2 years ago
Omicron is already ’round the world. But it cheated by being already there by the time it was noticed.
Daeder over 2 years ago
I read on the internet that you can keep yourself safe from the new variant by reciting verses from the NecronOmicron.
sevaar777 over 2 years ago
At least the elf has the right idea.
Masterskrain Premium Member over 2 years ago
The new coronavirus variant, Omicron—which was first detected by virologists in South Africa—has sparked concerns among public health experts. The United States quickly imposed travel restrictions on certain African countries. Scientists say that much about the new variant remains unknown. But it’s apparently not too soon for members of the US Congress to begin spouting ridiculous conspiracy theories about it.
In a tweet Saturday, Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), who served as White House physician for Barack Obama and Donald Trump before running for office on a hard-MAGA platform, dubbed the new strain “the Midterm Election Variant.”
According to this latest crackpot theory, Democrats are going to use Omicron to “push” mail-in ballots during the midterm elections, which will supposedly enable massive amounts of cheating. Jackson’s tweet manages to hit on two conspiracy theories popular among far right: that the pandemic is somehow being manipulated by Democrats for political gain, and that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. It should go without saying that both of these theories are false. But as we approach the two-year mark in the pandemic, much of the world remains unvaccinated and patience is wearing thin. Ignorant tweets like Jackson’s will only fuel more conspiracy theories about the virus and endanger more lives.
Display over 2 years ago
Since there are almost as many “news articles” about b.1.1.529 on Yahoo sports and Faux as anywhere else maybe, just maybe it would be a good idea to see what the medical and scientific research communities have to say about it before jumping to any conclusions.
In the meanwhile, get vaccinated and keep up with the vaccine second shots & boosters. Those have proven to lessen the effects of different strains if not to not greatly reduce the spread, especially if b.1.617.2 (Delta) which is still the most threatening. Wear masks, keep distant, and wash your hands and face often.
Want proof that works? Flu cases are down in most states that practice those simple steps.
rossevrymn over 2 years ago
Especially with the assistance of the anti-vaxxers……………………………right-wing populists?:
BB71 over 2 years ago
The Doctor that discovered it said it is has mild effects. Sore muscles and loss of taste and smell. Why all the panicing?
RonnieAThompson Premium Member over 2 years ago
Have a Covid free life my friends.
BeniHanna6 Premium Member over 2 years ago
Get your ass vaccinated or run the risk, just don’t affect me. I am so tired of governments trying to protect morons by hurting those that do the right thing.
Walter Kocker Premium Member over 2 years ago
If you want to know how your state’s doing vis à vis vaccination rates, check out this Mayo Clinic website:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/coronavirus-covid-19/vaccine-tracker/The first paragraph shows the Actual Data Sources.
If you disagree with the Actual Data Sources . . .
SHOW US YOUR DATA SOURCES
(If you can’t or don’t, then kindly sit down and shut up).
Radish the wordsmith over 2 years ago
Fauci says he will continue to do his job and republicans will continue to lie.
Radish the wordsmith over 2 years ago
Don Jr says dems are lying about the new covid to influence the election.
Anti public health Republican liars are insanely vicious these days.
Radish the wordsmith over 2 years ago
With new Omicron variant looming, Republicans are now bribing people to avoid vaccination
As Axios reported Monday morning, the concerted efforts to keep shots from going in arms have escalated in red states, with Republican politicians now openly bribing constituents not to get vaccinated. “Republican officials around the country are testing a creative mechanism to build loyalty with unvaccinated Americans while undermining Biden administration mandates: unemployment benefits,” the short piece explains. “Florida, Iowa, Kansas and Tennessee have changed their unemployment insurance rules to allow workers who are fired or quit over vaccine mandates to receive benefits.”
Since early spring, a number of commentators — including myself — have been pointing out that Republican politicians and media are deliberately undermining Biden’s pandemic response by convincing their base to reject the vaccines. The reason isn’t particularly mysterious. Republicans understand that if death rates remain high, the economic recovery remains stagnant, and unpleasant mitigation measures like mask mandates and school shutdowns continue into 2022, a pandemic-weary public is going to start blaming the guy in charge for not doing more to fix the situation.
https://www.rawstory.com/republican-anti-vaxxers/
Republicans are killing their base, I wish them success.
Radish the wordsmith over 2 years ago
Now there’s a scary new variant that could prolong the pandemic, and many Republicans can barely hide their glee.
Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas continues to bash Dr. Fauci, tweeting on Sunday that he’s “an unelected technocrat who has distorted science and facts in order to exercise authoritarian control over millions of Americans,” and spreading a repulsive conspiracy theory insinuating that Fauci somehow had a hand in creating the virus. “I’m just going to do my job and I’m going to be saving lives and they’re going to be lying,” Dr. Fauci said in response to GOP conspiracy theories about him — theories clearly meant to undermine his authority when he continues to advocate for vaccination.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia also doubled down on vaccine discouragement in response to the Omicron variant, insisting that the horse deworming drug ivermectin is the real solution. She even encouraged her followers to sue hospitals for COVID-19 deaths because doctors won’t prescribe this useless drug. That’s the modern GOP in a nutshell: First, get people killed by telling them to refuse vaccines, and then blame the only people who actually tried to save those lives for the deaths.