The far-right has introduced a host of deranged conspiracy theories regarding the lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines, which have proven to be safe and effective at slowing the spread of the virus that's killed over 700 thousand Americans.
From elected officials to private citizens at city council meetings, conspiracy theorists have claimed the vaccines are magnetized, that they contain microchips, and even that they're the biblical "mark of the beast."
But few of these conspiracy theories were more delusional than one mentioned in a so-called "vaccine death report" promoted by far right state Representative Ken Weyler of New Hampshire. The report absurdly claimed the vaccines contain "self-aware" creatures with tentacles.
The state's Republican governor, Chris Sununu, denounced the erroneous claim to CNN"s Erin Burnett—and he didn't mince words.
Watch below.
"When crazy comes knocking at the door, you've got to slam it shut, that's all there is to it, I don't care what party you are from," says New Hampshire's Republican Gov. Chris Sununu responding to lawmakers spreading wild conspiracy theories about the vaccine.pic.twitter.com/X0SkrLBx2j— OutFrontCNN (@OutFrontCNN) 1634860404
The governor said:
"Look, Erin, when crazy comes knocking at the door, you've got to slam it shut. That's all there is to it. I don't care what party you're from. ... There's just absolutely no place for the misinformation, the crazy conspiracy theories, all that kind of nonsense, I don't care what party you're from. We're gonna push back on it every time, because we've still got a big job to do. ... I got a lot on my plate, I don't need that kind of crazy getting in the way."
Others agreed, but many accused Sununu of initially tolerating these same conspiracy theories.
It's hard to slam the door after you already invited them to come in and make themselves comfortable, @GovChrisSununu.\n@ErinBurnett @OutFrontCNN please come to NH for the real story. See how #ComplicitChris has courted the extreme-right that he now claims to disavow. #NHPoliticshttps://twitter.com/OutFrontCNN/status/1451335842811858957\u00a0\u2026— Louise Spencer (@Louise Spencer) 1634908567
Sununu made this bed, he can now lie in it.— Rani Yachts\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@Rani Yachts\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1634899865
Which "conspiracy theories" does he classify as "wild", & which ones does he believe, himself?— Truth Ombudsman (@Truth Ombudsman) 1634873548
Regardless, Sununu is far from the only one acknowledging that vaccine conspiracy theories are a threat to public health and, sadly, far too widespread.
Start holding these people civilly and criminally liable for spreading this bulls**t and see how quickly it stops.https://twitter.com/rightwingwatch/status/1450849899478765570\u00a0\u2026— Patrick Sheldon (@Patrick Sheldon) 1634828328
The latest anti-vax conspiracy being propped up by Fox? Vaccines contain fetal tissue (they don't)pic.twitter.com/cqAzVHbJDd— nikki mccann scream\u00edrez \ud83d\udc7b (@nikki mccann scream\u00edrez \ud83d\udc7b) 1634074105
Shouldn't be overlooked from today's press conference. The Governor played into a conspiracy theory that the vaccine causes infertility, referring to women in their "child bearing years" before saying "we're going to find out more stuff" as the years go on. Absolutely dangerous.— Anders Croy (@Anders Croy) 1634845747
I don\u2019t talk about the vaccine with anyone dawg. Once y\u2019all started making up conspiracy theories and other nonsense it was a wrap. The internet really is dangerous with the spread of misinformation— Cole (@Cole) 1634138667
We've all seen how @Facebook can be used to spread misinformation, conspiracy theories, anti-vaccine info, and other dangerous ideas. \n\nNow, I'm pushing Facebook to disclose whether members of the so-called \u201cDisinformation Dozen\u201d were granted protections to evade enforcement.— Mark Herring (@Mark Herring) 1634226662
This is unbelievably paranoid behavior fed by conspiracy theories. Who knew this country had so many dangerous kooks?https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jeffrey-burnham-killed-pharmacist-brother-covid-vaccine-shots-poisoning/\u00a0\u2026— Mo Ray (@Mo Ray) 1634727694
Attended workshop on vaccination with local community at Chungi Amar Saddu, Lahore. Large number of ppl believe vaccine is harmful. Fake videos on WhatsApp fuel conspiracy theories. Public figures must prioritize vaccine awareness or the virus will stay with us for a long time.— Ammar Ali Jan (@Ammar Ali Jan) 1619629766
Around 67 percent of Americans have gotten their first dose of the vaccine.
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