Since the pandemic that's killed over 600 thousand people began, the Republican party—led by former President Donald Trump—repeatedly downplayed the effects of the virus and decried basic safety precautions designed to slow its spread.
As stronger, deadlier variants of the virus continue to emerge, cases are rising across the country and vaccination rates are lagging. Even so, Republican lawmakers and media personalities have spread conspiracy theories and disinformation designed to discourage viewers from potentially saving their lives.
Sadly, the politicization of the virus has disproportionately led to rising cases and low vaccination rates in majority-red states, prompting Republican governors—who once gleefully echoed Trump's conspiracy theories regarding the virus—are now pleading with their constituents to get vaccinated.
Republican Governor of Alabama, Kay Ivey, became the latest to express her frustration and placed the blame on unvaccinated people, many of whom are hers and Trump's voters.
Watch below.
Alabama\u2019s Republican Governor @kayiveyforgov has had enough with unvaccinated people in her state:\n\u201cIt\u2019s time to start blaming the unvaccinated folks, not the regular folks. It\u2019s the unvaccinated folks that are letting us down.\u201dpic.twitter.com/MCLRJr5GQn— David Begnaud (@David Begnaud) 1627010153
When asked what more she could do to encourage vaccination rates, a visibly annoyed Ivey said:
"I don't know. You tell me," Ivey said. "Folks supposed to have common sense. But it's time to start blaming the unvaccinated folks, not the regular folks. It's the unvaccinated folks that are letting us down."
The forceful condemnation of unvaccinated people was surprising, coming from a pro-Trump Republican, especially considering the disproportionate amount of conservatives making up the voluntarily unvaccinated population.
Though some were glad to see the rebuke...
I was told that we should not be accusatory about the stubbornness of unvaccinated people, but if Governor Ivey - the GOP governor of Alabama - wants to do it and note that "you're supposed to have common sense," I'm good with that.https://twitter.com/DavidBegnaud/status/1418409503578632195\u00a0\u2026— Tom Nichols (@Tom Nichols) 1627011694
Wow! GOOD!!!https://twitter.com/DavidBegnaud/status/1418409503578632195\u00a0\u2026— Grandma Josie (@Grandma Josie) 1627017761
Glad to see @kayiveyforgov say #GetVaccinatedNow .The science has always been the science, the facts about covid transmission.\nThis should have happened at the beginning, before politics were put above the well being of constituents. \nWhatever it takes, better late than never.https://twitter.com/davidbegnaud/status/1418409503578632195\u00a0\u2026— CaroleJMcCoyArtist\ud83c\udfa8\ud83d\udd8c (@CaroleJMcCoyArtist\ud83c\udfa8\ud83d\udd8c) 1627055753
I feel the exasperation, I applaud the message and I love the expressive aide in the background.https://twitter.com/DavidBegnaud/status/1418409503578632195\u00a0\u2026— Crista Hogan (@Crista Hogan) 1627046819
...It's important to note, that Governor Ivey's own response impacted the low vaccination rates. In addition to her refusal to consider further mask mandates for Alabama, Ivey has banned the implementation of vaccine verification for private businesses and vowed to fight the Biden administration's efforts to have volunteers go door-to-door in under-vaccinated communities with information on how to get the shot. Just over a week ago, she dismissed the need for vaccine incentives in the state.
Social media users didn't let her forget it.
Y\u2019all this woman said no to mask mandates, masks in schools, vaccine passports, and refused federal aid to get people vaccinated. Stop applauding her for one press conference.https://twitter.com/DavidBegnaud/status/1418409503578632195\u00a0\u2026— Emma Davis (@Emma Davis) 1627048597
She also said she has no plans to implement a mask mandate again.https://twitter.com/davidbegnaud/status/1418409503578632195\u00a0\u2026— Marisa Kabas (@Marisa Kabas) 1627014708
REALLY? You're blaming children too young for the vaxx? The immunocompromised?\n\nYou're not blaming yourself and the federal government for literally doing NOTHING to mitigate the spread of this virus?https://twitter.com/DavidBegnaud/status/1418409503578632195\u00a0\u2026— Ronni Ron the Bonbon (@Ronni Ron the Bonbon) 1627022566
Governor Kay Ivey has spent the past year alternating between grandstanding about banning abortion; pushing through executions; and letting her constituents die of COVID.\n\nNow she\u2019s pretending she didn\u2019t actively foment the vaccine resistance killing Alabamans.https://twitter.com/davidbegnaud/status/1418409503578632195\u00a0\u2026— The Hoarse Whisperer (@The Hoarse Whisperer) 1627045153
How about adding a school mask mandate meemaw iveyhttps://twitter.com/davidbegnaud/status/1418409503578632195\u00a0\u2026— not almost a med student (@not almost a med student) 1627057175
Alabama is among the lowest vaccination rates in the nation.
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