“I’ve been covering state government and politics for about 20 years, I can’t ever remember a more disingenuous statement…”
LANSING — On the most recent episode of Off the Record, Gongwer reporter Zach Gorchow gave a clear-eyed analysis of the exact brand of brazen hypocrisy and kneejerk obstruction the MIGOP has approached COVID-19 with since day one. Last week, they reached a new low, issuing a “disingenuous” statement critical of every life-saving action Governor Whitmer has taken to keep Michigan safe throughout the pandemic.
Under her leadership, Michigan not only achieved but surpassed its goal of getting 70% of residents vaccinated. Rather than join this major effort, Republicans at all levels continued to reject science, push anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, and “[slam] every single thing that she has done to try to slow the spread of the virus.”
Read Gorchow’s full reaction below to MIGOP blasting the governor for stepping up to make tough but critical decisions that saved lives only to now attack her for the consequences of rejecting science and pushing anti-vaxx conspiracy theories.
TIM SKUBICK: The Republican Party took note of the fact that the Governor as they described her was crickets on these new numbers. Is that a fair shot or not?
ZACH GORCHOW: No, it’s not a fair shot. I mean, honestly, I’ve been covering state government and politics for about 20 years, I can’t ever remember a more disingenuous statement that’s been issued by an elected official or a political party in that entire time than what the Republican Party put out, in which it basically blamed the governor for the recent surge, which conveniently ignores that up until now, I guess, the state Republican Party has slammed every single thing that she has done to try to slow the spread of the virus.
Now, one could argue, at least they had been consistent in arguing no restrictions, let you know, basically let people decide what to do and decide how much risk they’re comfortable with. And that was their position. But then all of a sudden, they’re saying the governor’s to blame for that. You just can’t have it both ways.
Either you favor measures that the government installs like requiring masks, limiting gatherings, even requiring a vaccine or something like that, or you don’t and you say, personal liberty trumps everything, let people work, gather, not wear a mask and so forth.
So I thought that shot came, you know, basically out of nowhere out of left field, I sent them a message asking them to explain the complete contradiction. And you said they talked about crickets. Guess what response? I got crickets, nothing.
