Senator Rand Paul has made it clear since day one of the pandemic that he doesn’t support COVID precautions, and today he decided to challenge the nation’s top infectious disease doctor with his thoughts. CNBC writes:
In a fiery exchange during a Senate hearing examining the nation’s coronavirus response efforts, Paul told Fauci that Americans shouldn’t have to wear masks after getting vaccinated because there is “virtually 0% chance” they are going to get Covid-19.
“Isn’t it just theater?”the Kentucky junior senator, a physician, asked during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing.
Paul challenged him by saying, “You’ve been vaccinated and you parade around in two masks, isn’t it just for show.” While it seemed like Paul just wanted to hear himself speak, Dr. Fauci wasn’t going to let Paul get away with attacking him. He fired back, “Here we go again with the theater. Let’s get down to the facts.”
“Let me just state for the record that masks are not theater. Masks are protective… I totally disagree with you.”
Watch the exchange above.
Every day, Rand Paul says something stupid.
Please, keep wearing your mask. https://t.co/zosUeFrGI3
— Charles Booker (@Booker4KY) March 18, 2021
Rand Paul is attacking Dr. Fauci for "wearing a mask even though you have had the vaccine." When will this clown understand that those who get vaccines can still transmit COVID, & that we still need to model the practice of wearing masks for the others to emulate?
— Exploding Space Pillow Singh, MD ? (@labyrinthweaver) March 18, 2021
Just last week Paul also pushed this narrative on Twitter, telling vaccinated people to “trash your mask.”
Rather than listening to government scolds, look to the science of immunology: and once you’re 2 weeks out from the vaccine, or have recovered from the actual infection, trash your mask and live free again. https://t.co/ZegA9os9DN
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 8, 2021
Even before COVID vaccines were available, Paul thumbed his nose at mask-wearing. As far back as last May, he refused to wear a mask saying, “I have immunity. I’ve already had the virus, so I can’t get it again and I can’t give it to anybody.”
*This post contains opinion and analysis