Rex Huppke: I will not coddle Trump supporters who refuse to get vaccinated...

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

Unrolled thread here
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1419690153367556096.html

1/ I will not coddle Trump supporters who refuse to get vaccinated and I won’t bear the burden of “listening to Trump supporters” to better understand them. Why, you ask?

2/ Regarding the unvaccinated, they’re prolonging the pandemic, costing us a fortune when they end up hospitalized, increasing the odds a vaccine-evading variant will develop AND they made life hell for many by refusing to wear masks and mocking those who do.

3/ I'm not going to be polite in the hope they'll do the right thing. They’re not children. They’re grown-ass adults who are willfully putting me, my family and the rest of the country at risk.

4/ There should be vaccine mandates in place to make it damn near impossible to function unless you’ve been vaccinated or have a medical condition that prevents you from getting vaccinated. That’s the only thing that’s going to work.

5/ Regarding “understanding Trump supporters,” I’ve done that, over and over and over again. Yet I’ve never, not once, seen a Trump supporter try to understand my views. Or seek middle ground. I’ve seen them cheer violence against those who disagree with them.

6/ I’ve been threatened by them, over and over and over again. They don’t want understanding. They'll accept nothing short of full acquiescence to their view of the world, a view shaped by the most fundamentally dishonest narcissist I’ve ever seen in public life.

7/ It’s not on me, or anyone else, to understand Trump supporters. They’re not complicated. And ignorance doesn’t win you a participation trophy.

8/ So no, I won’t carry that burden. I’m done. And everyone else should be too. You only need to spit in a fan a time or two to figure out what’ll happen if you do it again. END

[WA-03 Democrat]

1. Hell Yeah! n/t

[3catwoman3]

2. ITA on all 8 points.

Well said!

[Docreed2003]

3. K&R

[Martin Eden]

4. "the most fundamentally dishonest narcissist I've ever seen in public life"

AND ignorance doesn’t win you a participation trophy

[Ferrets are Cool]

5. I don't know who Rex is, but I applaud his views

and agree.

[tblue37]

27. Tribune columnist.

[YoshidaYui]

6. Damn straight

[AnotherMother4Peace]

7. Reminder: Ask BEFORE you make a dentist, hair cut, manicure, doctor

appointment if the office has effective covid19 safety protocols & that personnel have been vaccinated. Hopefully they will be truthful.

This is a cautionary tale. I found out my hair dresser was not vaccinated while she was cutting my hair, and she put on her mask after she saw I had my mask on. AND she attends a mega church.

I like her a lot, & always do what I can to support her business, BUT not enough to catch covid. She did sound sheepish about not being vaccinated, and asked about my symptoms/experience. She said she did not want the Johnson & Johnson. I don't know, maybe she might be reconsidering. She's in her 70's.

[Horse with no Name]

9. I am an RN

And my granddaughter got the J&J vaccine.
However, I honestly would get the other vaccine and wouldn’t recommend any of my friends or family get it.
Just my opinion but her point is valid.

[AnotherMother4Peace]

11. It sounds like my hair dresser is thinking about it, & doing some

research - which is great. I suspect she's a trumper & perhaps she'll question some of his bullshit. We're here in SoCal and all the different vaccines are available. I told her I got the Moderna and got fever with the second dose, but it was no big deal, and that it was a lot better than dying a horrible covid death. BUT I won't be seeing her again unless she gets her vaccine.

[Tadpole Raisin]

8. Yah we are pretty much there

Talk to a trumper and if they say anything not an insult they may say with great certainty “do your research.”

Ok. Now tell me
1. Why didn’t smallpox or polio develop herd immunity?
2. How many people did smallpox kill before the vaccine? 3. Adjusted for population and a more urban environment
what would those numbers be now?
4. What is post polio syndrome, the symptoms, and what
Percentage of those with a mild case of polio get this
and when?
5. Tell me about the great flu epidemic of 1918? How
many people died? Symptoms, where did it begin?
6. Tell me about the other childhood diseases for which
there are now vaccines?


Tons of other questions (structure of the virus, immune response) but it doesn’t matter. They would just walk away.

Another thing I would like to do is ask them what they did for a living (say car mechanic or electrician) and tell them a lot of what they do is fake news and you could do it just as easily if the deep state government didn’t make stupid rules for licensing and regulations. I’ve done research!

When they say go and try to wire your own house - that’s crazy and you’ll probably burn the house down. You don’t know what your talking about.

You just say “BINGO”

I actually did that with a mechanic. You should have seen the light bulb go off on his face. Unfortunately it went out a few minutes later.

Sigh!!

[fierywoman]

19. Tell them to do their research on Black Death herd immunity.

Mortality rate 30-75%.

[Red Pest]

28. I agree with all of this! I am tired of the bullshit

from the these malignant fools. As suggested, there was no obvious herd immunity to plague, smallpox, polio, measles, chickenpox, influenza, etc. The only herd immunity must be actively maintained by vaccination of the population. In the case of smallpox, vaccination led to its extinction. Polio could be next if the virulent jihadists would stop killing vaccination teams.

In any case, why should those of us that actively work to stop the pandemic be punished because fools are too stubborn to learn to do the right thing? It is time to mandate vaccinations for all (who are eligible - 12 yr old and up; soon younger, too). In Rhode Island, all the colleges and universities are requiring students to be vaccinated by the start of the Fall 2021 semester. Biden should mandate that all military personnel are vaccinated and all federal other workers be vaccinated.

[Grokenstein]

30. Hit them on conspiracy nuttery

1. A worldwide conspiracy involving every legitimate medical body on the face of the planet? Seriously?

2. And our only salvation being proven con men, known liars and FOXNews "entertainers"? I wonder how they found out! And why they weren't immediately "eliminated." Isn't that how conspiracies work in the movies?

3. What's the goal of said conspiracy? Capitulation? HA! Apple gets that every time the wave the newest iPhone under people's noses. Try again.

4. Nanotech tracking devices? Magnetism? Whatever blip blap blop is being pushed this week? Why would anyone attach any of these things (most of which currently do not even exist, outside of movies) to a vaccine that was already politically controversial before it was even created? Especially when more efficient means of distribution already exist?

5. Since y'all are so "DO TEH REESURCH, I DUN DIDDED IT," read up on the way cult leaders maintain control of their cults. There's some research you might actually benefit from.

At some point, you will have hurt their fee-fees (I'm sure someone's already wagging their finger at the monitor, preparing a scathing critique of my incivility) and you will see it in their eyes as they tune you out and revert to smirking "Fools! Fools!! I'M the only one who sees the truth!" mode--or gets violent with you for suggesting God Emperor Donald is a mere mortal. But at least you tried, eh? Wash your hands of them (literally and figuratively) and move on.

[Hulk]

10. Been saying this for MONTHS!!

These damned media whores who keep dragging these dim witted morons on the air to show us how g'damned stupid they are. We already know. I don't want to hear any more "stupid". Put these idiots back in their closets where they belong.

I am already plenty ashamed of a large portion of my country...as well as a large portion of our history.

UNCLE !!

[Paladin]

12. +1000.

Democrats must lose all remaining charity and understanding for the trump-addled disease spreaders. Immediately.

[BlueJac]

13. Agree 100%

[Maru Kitteh]

14. I'm with Rex. Been there for a while now. As a nurse, I'm exhausted of assholes who

believe their willful ignorance and anti-social freedoms entitle them to endanger my life and and lives of my family. Dear public, let me give you a newsflash - we are ALL exhausted. So many are leaving healthcare, and the attitudes of the unvaccinated and even the vaccinated members of the public that think we should just continue caring for these reprobates with a smile on our face and the heart of Florence Nightingale are the reason why.

[Nevilledog]

15. ...

[Texaswitchy]

22. Yes.

What you said.

These people are destroying us with their stupidity.

I am staying home so I will not get into a accident because there might not be a hospital bed.

Selfish people.

[roamer65]

16. I look at them as volunteers for population reduction.

👍👍

Perfect candidates for the job.

[calimary]

17. Why, you ask?

Because maybe it takes just too much effort that winds up wasting precious time, coddling unreachable fools and willful idiots.

These are the very horses you can lead to water but they’ll refuse to drink.

[Raven]

18. It's time, past time!

[madville]

20. What about minorities that are refusing vaccination at high rates?

The theme lately is that the unvaccinated are all Trump loving right wingers but looking at the FL numbers yesterday only 26% of Black people in Florida are vaccinated, compared to 51% of white people. Since around 90% of Black people in FL vote for Democrats, that's a bunch of unvaccinated folks who are also on our side politically. The vaccine hesitancy in those minority communities is really getting forgotten about and overlooked with everyone trying to align it on the political spectrum.

[Tree Lady]

25. I have 4 family members in early 20's

Who won't get it, one was pregnant before vaccine and now is nursing, I get that but rest of them are worried vaccine will affect their body in the future. They are assuming they get a future.

[ShazzieB]

31. Yes, it's important to remember that the unvaccinated aren't a monolith.

Hard as it is for some of us to understand, there are actually multiple reasons why people don't get vaccinated. The world is not neatly divided into "vaccinated people" and "Trump loving loonies." There are a lot of people who don't fit into either of those categories and are either misinformed or just plain mixed up.

There is a ton of misinformation and disinformation out there, and not everyone has the critical thinking skills or knowledge base needed to sift through it without getting confused. (Don't even get me started on what that probably says about our educational system!)

It's true that those who aren't getting vaccinated for any reason other than medical necessity ARE unwittingly contributing to the problem of containing the spread of covid and serving as human petri dishes for the development of vaccine resistant variants. That is a harsh fact, and it's infuriating, especially to those that live in areas where those people make up a sizeable portion of the population. But it's not fair to tar all of them with "Trumpster cultists" brush.

Some reading this are probably saying "So what? All unvaccinated people (except those who are unvaccinated for legitimate medical reasons) are part of the problem, so who cares what their excuse is?" I get that. But I believe that some of these people are salvageable and can be educated if people like us are willing to listen to them and address their concerns without being judgmental and putting them on the defensive. Hard to do? Yes, of course. But every vaccine hesitant person who decides to get vaccinated puts us a tiny bit closer to getting under control, and that seems like a worthy goal to me.

[wnylib]

35. Agree. I managed to convince

at least one person to get vaccinated by answering her questions about the vaccine side effects and dangers of delta. Since she is a CVS cashier, in touch with the public daily, her vaccination will help to protect many more people than her alone. (Yeah, I couldn't understand her hesitancy, either, since all her coworkers are vaccinated and she could have talked to the pharmacist.)

[COL Mustard]

32. I Empathize With The African American Community Not Wanting The Vaccine

The medical community and their churches/civic leaders could do a lot to convince people that it's not the Tuskegee experiment. I was a kid when that story broke. It's shameful if you don't know about it. But the situation now is much different than it was then. Get vaxxed, people!!!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuskegee_Syphilis_Study

[catrose]

29. I'm sorry it's not clear that she's one that we're trying to protect (and not condemning)

My child couldn't take the DPT vaccine (the P part). When I expressed concern that pertussis was dangerous too, the pediatrician told me that everybody else taking the vaccine would protect him. Today that wouldn't comfort me.

My son-in-law has cancer, and although he's had the vaccine, his doctors don't think it "took." He has two children under age 12 who can't be vaccinated yet. I don't see how they can go to school this fall and bring home all the viruses every day to Daddy.

So if no one else says it, I know your wife can't take the vaccine, and it's my job to protect both me and her (and those in her situation).

[LiberalLovinLug]

23. I hope this is the issue that will win us the House and Senate in 2022

As Trump continues chasing windmills, looking more delusional daily.

More cultists will see unvaxed friends and relatives come down with COVID. It will get harder and harder for the red hats to deny reality, and enough will slowly realize they have been lied to. And at the very least, stay home on voting day.

[COL Mustard]

33. Unfortunately He Takes A Lot Of People Into LaLaLand With Him

They go willingly into the land of funhouse mirrors and are destined to Pwn the Libs.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

24. "Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig likes it." George Bernard Shaw n/t

[Blue Owl]

26. K&R

[KY_EnviroGuy]

34. I would like for Mr. Huppke to attack with equal animosity....

those multitudes of evil beings behind that dark right-wing curtain who perpetrate and spread the lies and deceptions relating not only to the pandemic but also to our government, to racism, religion and many other social and political issues. They're doing so with anonymity by abusing public and social media, and at very low cost and with no consequences - quite different from the general public who are suffering sickness and death from COVID and who are living in fear of their fellow citizens each day.

In my recollection, beginning after the Nixon era, far too many of our citizens have been brainwashed in a multitude of ways relating to COVID, voting and general trust of government at all levels, yet little or no attention is paid to from where these false notions originate, to exposing those responsible and executing consequences for their actions.

They are succeeding in dividing our general population to the point where neighbors don't talk to neighbors, workers avoid co-workers and brothers and sisters turn against one another. We cannot continue this way.

Whether it be coming from Russia and/or China, from the multitude of right-wing think tanks and media organizations, I hold that our nation will never heal and once again be able to unify to attack serious issues like climate change, infrastructure issues and global pandemics until this evil fascist empire of underground miscreants is identified, exposed and destroyed.

As a retired scientist, I am baffled each day at the depth and breadth of this brainwashing even in normally intelligent and responsible people, but we're not going to fix this by shaking our fist at fellow everyday working citizens.

KY rant done......

Thanks for the post, Nevilledog.

[wnylib]

36. A lot of the mistrust of government

under Nixon was on the left and was well founded regarding Vietnam policies, government infiltration of civil rights and anti war protests. The left worked to make changes by getting elected into positions where they could do something. Congressman Lewis is a good example.

But when Reagan spoke of government being the problem and not the solution, he was speaking to the people who opposed the changes and wanted to maintain segregation, halt women's progress, and promote white evangelicalism.

[SallyHemmings]

37. Enough Already!!

[Faux pas]

38. Kickin' with gusto!

[dalton99a]

39. Fuck them. Let them find out for themselves.

[uponit7771]

40. THIS !!!! ☝🏾☝🏾☝🏾 I'm not going to wear two seatbelts cause other drives don't want to wear one

[dchill]

41. I understand Trump supporters. They're assholes.