GOP Senator Rand Paul, of Kentucky, sparked the ire of the internet on Monday after releasing a video urging Americans to ignore CDC coronavirus guidance by not getting vaccinated and not wearing masks, and for promoting his dangerous, life-threatening perspective as a patriotic act of civil disobedience. The Anti-vaxx Republican also dared House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to arrest him for not wearing a mask in Congress.
“It’s time for us to resist. They can’t arrest all of us,” Paul declared in the video.
“They can’t keep all your kids home from school,” he says in his video, which appeared originally in text form as an op-ed on Fox News but received little notice last week. “They can’t keep every government building closed – although I’ve got a long list of ones they should.”
Of course, the Kentucky Senator, who was the first Senator to contract COVID, is making things up. Children are returning to in-person classroom learning and the CDC fully supports this, as do the top teachers’ unions – despite the likelihood it will increase the rate of transmission and number of coronavirus cases.
“We don’t have to accept the mandates, lockdowns, and harmful policies of the petty tyrants and feckless bureaucrats. We can simply say no, not again,” Paul declares, ranting at policies that do not exist.
He then took aim at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi:
“Nancy Pelosi — you will not arrest or stop me or anyone on my staff from doing our jobs,” Paul threatens. “We have all either had COVID, had the vaccine, or been offered the vaccine. We will make our own health choices. We will not show you a passport, we will not wear a mask, we will not be forced into random screening and testing so you can continue your drunk with power rein over the Capitol.”
He never in the video says who “we” are.
Paul has consistently maintained that those who have had COVID-19 are immune to it and do not need to be vaccinated, but studies show those who have recovered but refuse to be vaccinated are more than twice as likely to contract the deadly disease again.
Paul’s video sparked immediate backlash after it was posted on social media:
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Covid-19) https://t.co/FpaKAd9ig4
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 9, 2021
It's beyond madness at this point. It's mass murder now.
— Todd Poirier (@todd_poirier) August 9, 2021
I'd argue it's been mass murder now it's just getting even worse in certain science fearing states.
— Ms. G (@GenevieveCocoa) August 9, 2021
@RandPaul You need to be arrested for your defiance and your refusal to adhere to public health emergency guidance and for endangering people with your MIS-INFORMATION. It is NOT free speech when you are holding a public position and use your position to endanger those you serve
— Sandy Stewart (@CoachSandyS) August 9, 2021
Why the fuck is Rand Paul telling parents to ignore the CDC, after children's COVID hospitalizations just jumped 118% in Kentucky?
— Jake Lobin (@JakeLobin) August 9, 2021
Rand Paul is a self-appointed ophthalmologist, supposedly. Not a real doctor in any fashion.
— Debby with a Y (yes a Y) Fully Moderna-nated (@sarah_b1999) August 9, 2021
Don't take medical advice from a "doctor" that is so incompetent that he was one of the first people in the country to contract Covid-19. pic.twitter.com/hEcssKy7eP
— Alt Spec (@SpecAlt) August 9, 2021
Sen Paul grew up in a family which made its living in the neo-nazi newsletter business. of course didn't fall far from the tree. https://t.co/nhCpE5TbLe
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) August 9, 2021
Rand Paul is saying this…
Ignore science, and doctors and just listen to me
I don't think so Paul. You are an idiot trumper who has eroded our democracy to fit your agenda of power, control, and money— More Or Les (@LesHailYes) August 9, 2021
— Kathryn (@GlobalToyBox) August 9, 2021
The senator from Kentucky now works for Vladimir Putin.
– Senator John McCain on the Senate floor.
— Democracy's my jam (@BlueGirlRules1) August 9, 2021
Here it ishttps://t.co/gmtaTMlYks
— Democracy's my jam (@BlueGirlRules1) August 9, 2021
This Rand Paul? pic.twitter.com/EgoF5b7625
— Chris B (@ChrisBEsq) August 9, 2021
.@RandPaul is a sociopath. https://t.co/08ziJ17Lks
— John Pavlovitz (@johnpavlovitz) August 9, 2021
