Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte of Montana is fine with being called Neanderthal by President Biden. “If making data-driven decisions to reopen, loving freedom and trying to get back to normal is what a Neanderthal would do, then well, I guess you can count me as one,” he said.
Biden made the remark earlier this week in response to several states reopening from the pandemic.
“I think it’s a big mistake,” Biden said. “The last thing, the last thing we need is Neanderthal thinking that in the meantime everything’s fine, take off your mask. Forget it. It’s still matters. And it’s critical, critical, critical, critical that they follow the science. Wash your hands, hot water, do it frequently. Wear a mask and stay socially distant. And I know you all know that I wish the heck some of our elected officials knew it.”
Republican Gov. Tate Reeves of Mississippi was the first to respond:
“President Biden said allowing Mississippians to decide how to protect themselves is ‘Neanderthal thinking,’” he tweeted “Mississippians don’t need handlers. As numbers drop, they can assess their choices and listen to experts. I guess I just think we should trust Americans, not insult them.”
Renae Eze, press secretary for Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas, also responded to Biden’s remarks.
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“The governor was clear in telling Texans that COVID hasn’t ended and that all Texans should follow medical advice and safe practices to continue containing COVID,” she said. “The fact is, Texas now has the tools and knowledge to combat COVID while also allowing Texans and small businesses to make their own decisions.
“It is clear from the recoveries, the vaccinations, the reduced hospitalizations and the safe practices that Texans are using that state mandates are no longer needed. We must now do more to restore livelihoods and normalcy for Texans. The governor’s focus has been, and always will be, protecting the lives and livelihoods of Texans.”
Abbott later took a direct shot at Biden in response to recent news reports that the Biden administration had allegedly released some asylum-seekers into the United States who, after being released, tested for positive for the coronavirus.
“The Biden Administration is recklessly releasing hundreds of illegal immigrants who have COVID into Texas communities,” Abbott tweeted. “The Biden Admin. must IMMEDIATELY end this callous act that exposes Texans & Americans to COVID.”
–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice
