Blake Hounshell edits the “On Politics” newsletter at the New York Times, so you think he’d be pretty clued in, but it seems he’s just putting the pieces together a couple of months after Glenn Youngkin won the gubernatorial race in Virginia. Youngkin, you see, has defined the “new” mainstream Republican position regarding the COVID-19 vaccine: Republicans are pro-vaccine, but anti-mandate.
Governors like Ron DeSantis made this pretty clear well before Youngkin was elected, and anyone who encountered Republicans in real life already knew this.
The occasion? Youngkin got his booster shot:
I received my COVID-19 booster vaccine this morning. It’s YOUR decision, but I encourage every Virginian to join me. Together, we can help keep our communities safe.
— Glenn Youngkin (@GlennYoungkin) December 3, 2021
Youngkin has defined the new Republican mainstream position: for vaccines, but against mandates https://t.co/PgRq2aExHk
— Blake Hounshell (@blakehounshell) December 3, 2021
Lol this position is not new
— Megan Bush (@MeganLBush) December 3, 2021
This has always been the mainstream position.
— Jacob Airey (@realJacobAirey) December 3, 2021
DeSantis has been saying it for the entire year. They only see what they want to see.
— Robert (@Ruhroe) December 3, 2021
"New York Times". 🙄
— End Of Quote Kang 🙄 (@KangofSeattle) December 3, 2021
Do you know what “new” means?
— Pete D’Abrosca (King of Substack) (@pdabrosca) December 4, 2021
New York Times writer doesn’t know what the word “new” means
— Christina Pushaw 🐊 (@ChristinaPushaw) December 4, 2021
This has always been the Republican position
— Fully Vexed Gwendolyn Sims (@scvbuckeye) December 4, 2021
That stance has been around forever. Same here. Fully vaccinated, against government mandates.
— Josh (@audrum1) December 3, 2021
This is new how?
— Ed Smallwood (@EASmallwood) December 3, 2021
Lol. This isn’t new.
— Eric (@ufotofu617) December 3, 2021
So he has restated the mainstream position that has been a constant since the start.
— Howard Wall 💰📈📝 (@HJWallEcon) December 3, 2021
This was literally always the mainstream position.
— Bryson Appel (@BrysonAppel) December 4, 2021
Welcome to the present where this has been long true
— Andy Bax (@blknaab) December 3, 2021
Where have you been? 😂
— Shapoopy (@Shapoop63245953) December 3, 2021
This has always been the Republican position.
— Kevin Mace, NBCT (@kevinmace) December 3, 2021
If your publication did honest journalism you would know this is not a new position.
— Subash Jawahar 💉💉💉💉 (@suubz) December 3, 2021
@GovRonDeSantis and @GregAbbott_TX have both had the same message for months
— Doug Miller (@MillerforKeller) December 3, 2021
Literally the opinion of every Republican I know.
— Dan Chomicz (@DChomicz) December 3, 2021
I think that's been the position throughout. Everyone from Trump to Hannity to all the Republican governors have encouraged vaccines but oppose mandates.
— Tad (@TadBril) December 4, 2021
Is this new? What’s been “defined?”
— craasch – author of "Imperfect Union" (@craasch) December 4, 2021
When was this not the position?
— nate (@nate24783789) December 3, 2021
How is this your job?
— KareBearScare (@KareBearScare) December 4, 2021
Have you checked out the replies to his tweet? FFS, Blake.
— KellyNeedsHolidayCheer (@Kel_MoonFace) December 4, 2021
It figures; Joe Lockhart can’t even see all of the other replies to the same tweet.
How are you defining mainstream? Most of the Republicans I’ve seen commenting are not saying this. Doesn’t mainstream imply a majority or bear majority?
— Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) December 4, 2021
The “mainstream” of the GOP endorsed Donald Trump
— Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) December 4, 2021
Trump … drink!
Related:
Merriam-Webster defines ‘anti-vaxxer’ as someone who opposes laws that mandate vaccination https://t.co/RMn5gAWICi
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) September 7, 2021
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