Tuesday afternoon, it was announced that Greg Abbott has joined the long list of Republicans who dedicated themselves to downplaying or outright denying the severity of COVID-19, only to go and catch the virus themselves.
While Abbott is fully vaccinated and has urged Texans to get the vaccine, he’s also prohibited schools and businesses from mandating masks or vaccines and has repeatedly downplayed the danger of the virus while also politicizing the hell out of it.
So when it was announced that Abbott tested positive for COVID-19, well, let’s just say a lot of people were less than sympathetic.
Breaking: Gov. Greg Abbott has tested positive for Covid-19. pic.twitter.com/111xyBIfsd
— Jesus Jiménez (@jesus_jimz) August 17, 2021
Did I mention he tested positive right after attending a crowded, maskless Republican Club meeting? I’m sure this will be fine for everyone involved.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has reportedly tested positive for COVID-19. Last night he was maskless in a room full of maskless people at a Republican Club meeting. pic.twitter.com/9HNWAhYPec
— Caroline Orr Bueno, Ph.D (@RVAwonk) August 17, 2021
Another standing room only event in Collin County tonight.
Thank y’all for the enthusiastic reception.
Let’s keep this energy up and send a message that Texas values are NOT up for grabs in 2022. pic.twitter.com/wlPZyrHpx3
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) August 17, 2021
Following his positive test, Abbott entered an isolated quarantine. It must be nice to be able to do so without having to worry about his finances, especially since he lives in a state whose governor—one Greg Abbott—cut off federal unemployment assistance for residents back in June.
He’s also started on a regimen of Regeneron, the experimental monoclonal antibody drug recently peddled by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
The fact that Abbott is taking this expensive, experimental, and highly limited drug despite being fully vaccinated and asymptomatic definitely raises some questions. Is this just a bit of PR for the drug, and if so, why?
Is it another attempt to further politicize the pandemic response? (Fox News is now trying to push Regeneron as being “basically” the same as getting vaccinated, which is—this shouldn’t need to be said—not true.) Or is this perhaps yet another instance of politicians trying to personally profit off of COVID-19?
Either way, it’s pretty vexing to see the governor of a state leading the way in COVID-19 cases and deaths, who has done so much to downplay concern and increase risks, now receive such extravagant care.
Quickly getting access to monoclonal antibody therapy when you’re the fully vaccinated, asymptomatic Governor of Texas shows just how anxious and scared @GregAbbott_TX actually is of a virus that he constantly downplays.
Hope Texans take note.
— Dr. Vin Gupta (@VinGuptaMD) August 17, 2021
TX GOV: don’t worry about me, I got three vaccine doses and the best taxpayer-funded healthcare available
MOMS: but what are you doing to protect our chil-
TX GOV: I said I’m fine
— Jake Maccoby (@jdmaccoby) August 18, 2021
(image: Montinique Monroe/Getty)
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