These Republicans have duty to quarantine
Call him a walking COVID-19 spreader. David Bossie, the adviser leading President Trump’s baseless vote fraud claims, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus after he went maskless all over Phoenix.
And now the Phoenix co-conspirators fanning Trump’s absurd refusal to accept the fact that the American people voted him out of the White House may have been exposed to COVID-19.
That may be just fine with them since they, too, have been publicly intermingling without wearing a mask, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says helps stop the spread of the deadly virus.
But as elected officials and leaders, they have a responsibility to the public. So, will the following Republicans who stood with Bossie without wearing a mask at a Phoenix press conference immediately quarantine?
U.S. Reps. Debbie Lesko and Paul Gosar.
Arizona Republican Party Chairwoman Kelli Ward.
Former Arizona Treasurer Jeff DeWit.
● Former U.S. Rep. John Shadegg. They must quarantine for14 days, per CDC guidelines. All of them were potentially exposed to COVID-19 since they stood with Bossie without wearing a mask just days after he tested positive.
It’s the right thing to do. It’s their duty. They owe it to the public not to take any chances.
Will they do it?
Don’t bet on it. They are anti-mask warriors who view the mask recommendation as a government infringement on their personal freedom.
Replying to the online version of this column, Lesko on Tuesday said in an email: “I contacted the Office of the Attending Physician of the United States Congress immediately after hearing that Mr. Bossie tested positive and the physician told me that I did not need to quarantine or take a COVID-19 test.”
There you have it. At least she was worried enough to contact the attending doctor for congressional members.
How about the rest of them? Let’s hope they are at least a bit concerned to do the same.
If not, well, they’re free to catch it. But they have no right to expose others to the deadly virus, which is spreading like wildfire at the White House and across the nation.
A staggering 10 million COVID-19 cases have been reported in the United States, including more than 265,000 in Arizona. The virus has killed more than 239,000 people in the country.
All these Republicans say they’re pro life, ready to do anything and everything possible to protect the unborn. But protecting the lives of fellow humans by wearing a mask and quarantining isn’t their thing, you know.