So now the Republicans are telling their people to get vaccinated.
Why the change?
For about a year and a half now, Republicans have been hesitant, denying the efficacy of the vaccine, denying even that the virus exists.
Why?
At first it was Trump’s anti-vaccine machismo. His bravado in “beating” the virus through his sheer manly manhood.
Then it was his nervousness that “shutting down” the country because of a virus would tube the economy. When he lost the election (which his followers also deny), he did nothing about the virus for the remainder of his term. Nothing.
Yet his followers still control the party … and the anti-vaxx mentality remains.
Or it did. Until now.
What changed? What gives?
My theory:
Republicans at first had to buy into Trump’s strategy. No other choice there. After Trump, Republicans (though still beholden to him) are still in the camp of COVID being a hoax or overblown. Or thinking the vaccine being too dangerous or not yet “approved” by the FDA.
The apparent recovery of the economy after Trump and after the virus seemed to subside after February 2021 made a great talking point for the GOP.
“See? We told you. It was overblown. It’s just like the flu. Fauci is the devil and wants to have a socialist takeover of the country. We were tough and didn’t need to shut everything down or wear masks like California and all the ‘blue’ states did. This is all a left-wing conspiracy to take away your rights!”
Now…the virus is back. With a vengeance. And who is it hitting? The unvaccinated.
All those unvaccinated folks have been taking their cues from the Republican leaders – Trump, McCarthy, DeSantis, Marjorie Taylor Greene.
Now the unvaccinated are dead or have a good chance of being.
The GOP gamble did not pay off. The virus returned with a vengeance.
And now it’s going to kill off their constituents…their voters…the very people who trusted them and who they need to continue to support them to stay in office.
It’s all politics. That’s what’s so sad. The GOP has used the virus as a political tool at the expense of their own base.
McCarthy had put all his money on Trump-led issues, including anti-vaccine stances. To stay in power. To win the Speakership.
Now he’s going to either have to change his tune and advocate for the vaccine…or watch his constituents and Speakership dreams die.
They gambled and lost. The reckoning is coming. GOP voters may have been ignorant or sheltered or pig-headed and stubborn. But ultimately they’re not stupid.
It’s inevitable that, one day, they will realize they’ve been lied to. They just haven’t been aware that believing the GOP lies would come at the cost of their lives.