This list of unanswered questions proves MIGOP cannot be trusted on COVID-19
LANSING — For Michigan Republicans, there’s nothing more important than the partisan crusade to undermine Governor Whitmer’s leadership. Today, instead of working to rebuild Michigan’s economy, they are once again attempting to spread lies about how nursing homes functioned at the height of the pandemic.
This should come as no surprise considering that yesterday — in a move that signaled they either forgot or aren’t concerned with the coordinated plot to kidnap and kill the governor — state Senate Republicans rammed through a bill requiring legislative leaders be informed of her whereabouts when outside Michigan. Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, who would have to be made aware of the Governor’s location under this legislation, didn’t think twice about smiling alongside a militia member implicated in the plot and bragged about hosting a meeting with militia leaders in Lansing.
Michigan State Police aired their “serious concerns” with this latest partisan game: “The more people who know or have access to her movements, the higher the risk level for both her and her executive protection detail.”
This is just one of the countless ways GOP criticisms regarding COVID-19 have lost all credibility. These attacks shouldn’t be evaluated as anything but naked partisan obstruction to kneecap Governor Whitmer during an election cycle before Republicans address the following:
- Why they put all Michiganders but especially seniors at risk as they denied science, turned down federal aid to secure more PPE sooner, and refused to wear masks
- Why State House Speaker Jason Wentworth won’t confirm whether he’s vaccinated
- Why Mike Shirkey is allowed to keep spewing anti-vaxx trutherisms and say that he and “millions” of other Michiganders “developed natural immunity” to COVID-19 and therefore don’t need to get vaccinated
- Why party leadership hasn’t condemned gubernatorial candidate Garrett Soldano, a literal snake oil salesman that pushed juicing as an alternative to seeking medical treatment for coronavirus and was banned by Facebook for ‘advocating the spread of COVID-19’’
- Why party leadership hasn’t condemned gubernatorial candidate and insurrectionist Ryan Kelly for saying that COVID-19 is manufactured mind-control “so you believe Joe Biden won the election“
- Why not a single Republican called MIGOP co-chair Meshawn Maddock out for saying Michigan should secede over Whitmer’s public health protocols
- Why state Sen. Steve Johnson willingly invited known conspiracy theorist Naomi Wolf to testify against vaccines and allege that “vaccine applications on cellphones are tracking people”
- Why a local MIGOP chapter thought it necessary to vote unanimously to eject its treasurer after he spoke publicly about his bout with COVID-19 — believed to be contracted at a committee meeting — and called out committee meetings for being maskless and over social distancing capacity
- Why, what was the nature, and who funded Shirkey’s April 2021 spring break travel to Hilton Head, South Carolina and May 2021 travel to Florida, Speaker Wentworth’s April 2021 Florida travel, and GOP House Rep. Matt Maddock and MI GOP co-chair Meshawn Maddock’s travel to Texas in April 2021
- Why Republicans made no attempt to correct Fox News’ baseless allegation that nursing home deaths in Michigan were “100% higher” than what has been reported
“The Michigan Republicans pushing partisan attacks against Governor Whitmer have proven they are hypocrites who absolutely cannot be trusted when it comes to COVID-19. This list is just a small sampling of the many ways they have projected faux outrage over Whitmer’s handling of the pandemic while simultaneously doing everything in their personal and legislative capacities to set Michigan backwards, spread the virus, and make it harder for our economy to recover,” said Rodericka Applewhaite, MDP spokesperson. “The fact of the matter is Republicans know Whitmer has led from the front this entire pandemic. Thanks to her Vacc to Normal program, there are nearly 8.5 million shots in arms, businesses are poised to reopen with no restrictions, and our economy is being revitalized at a rapid clip. It’s unfortunate that GOP lawmakers have put up roadblocks to this success story, but that’s what happens when a party prioritizes cheap political shots over the health and well-being of Michiganders.”
