Even as stronger, deadlier variants of the virus that's killed over 600 thousand Americans continue to emerge, right-wing media outlets have repeatedly undermined the Biden Administration's efforts to ramp up vaccinations.
Hosts on the conservative Fox News network have alleged that the vaccines don't actually work, or that the effort to get as many Americans vaccinated as possible is a federal overreach. On the far-right disinformation outlet Newsmax, one host said the vaccines even went "against nature."
That's why people were surprised when Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy published an op-ed praising President Joe Biden's initiative to rollout the vaccines, all the while crediting former President and GOP figurehead, Donald Trump, for its creation.
Ruddy wrote:
"Six months into his administration, President Joe Biden should be applauded for making a huge dent in the COVID pandemic.
He inherited an effective vaccine from President Donald Trump, took it into his arms, and ran with it.
The success of this approach has been obvious. Serious deaths and hospitalizations (the most important COVID data) have collapsed"
Then, Ruddy began doing damage control for his own network:
"At Newsmax, we have strongly advocated for the public to be vaccinated.
The many medical experts who have appeared on our network have been near unanimous in support of the vaccine."
This is, of course, demonstrably false.
Ruddy's comments come just one day after far-right Fox News host Sean Hannity —with other Fox News hosts—also urged his viewers to get vaccinated, despite his own network's months-long campaign of disinformation regarding the pandemic.
People were confused by the sudden about-face, and some offered speculation as to what motivated it.
I think this (potential) pivot is only happening because 1) they finally realized it might negatively affect their stock portfolios 2) class action lawsuits and libel cases brought by the vaccine companies may not be far off.— The Astral Rascal (@The Astral Rascal) 1626802401
Something drastic happened in the past 24-48 hrs. Something happened!!! Did Biden have a one-to-one phone call with all the news station CEOs??? It\u2019s quite possible\u2026.— Ibe (@Ibe) 1626802365
Man, the right-wing mediasphere is spooked.— A Concerned Citizen (@A Concerned Citizen) 1626802263
Makes me wonder what these news organizations are fearing. I\u2019m all for it, but there\u2019s no way this is self-prompted.— Alethea Veritas (@Alethea Veritas) 1626802771
I imagine that a few letters were received by @newsmax and @FoxNews threatening lawsuits. Big dollar lawsuits. What other reason could there possibly be for this 180 degree spin?— John McClain (@John McClain) 1626802798
My first thought: they\u2019re starting to see poll data that the suburban voters GOP needs to win in \u201922 are horrified by this anti-vaccine nonsense.— Matt Kelly (@Matt Kelly) 1626805568
But regardless of the intentions, the urgency of increasing vaccinations to outpace future variants is crucial enough that people were relieved to see the statement from an unexpected messenger.
It took too long, but most conservative thought process is driven by self interest and only that. Realizing that they're going to lose power if their supporters don't survive is depressing. But the Vax Signal has been lit. I'm glad because I don't want people to die.https://twitter.com/justinbaragona/status/1417536541770063876\u00a0\u2026— The Vote Ain't No Joke Peleo-Lazar (@The Vote Ain't No Joke Peleo-Lazar) 1626802162
Ass-covering pivot...\n\nStill commendable though. I guess.— El RAYO X (@El RAYO X) 1626806249
It took too long, but most conservative thought process is driven by self interest and only that. Realizing that they're going to lose power if their supporters don't survive is depressing. But the Vax Signal has been lit. I'm glad because I don't want people to die.https://twitter.com/justinbaragona/status/1417536541770063876\u00a0\u2026— The Vote Ain't No Joke Peleo-Lazar (@The Vote Ain't No Joke Peleo-Lazar) 1626802162
At the op-ed's conclusion, Ruddy says the vaccine "is saving countless lives – and that is a good thing."
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