Charlie Sykes conserves conservatism by invoking Donald Trump in straw man defense of vaccine passports

Sarah D | 2:29 PM on March 30, 2021

It’s been nothing short of fascinating to watch self-appointed conservative bulwarks like Charlie Sykes redefine conservatism over the past several years. He seemed pretty solid back in the day, but he’s constantly finding new ways to remind us that it was ultimately all just an act.

Like his take on the notion of government-mandated “vaccine passports,” for example.

He seems to be receptive to the idea, and he’s using Donald Trump to justify it:

If Trump had proposed requiring all Muslims and Mexicans to have vaccine passports… the Right would have embraced it totally.

— Charlie Sykes (@SykesCharlie) March 30, 2021

Show your work, Charlie.

As a conservative, you should question this idea on the merits. There wasn’t even a discussion about this as it relates to privacy and liberty, before charging ahead. Not to mention the implicit class system it could create.

But go ahead and beat that Trump drum. https://t.co/4qQ86FD12E

— Jay Caruso (@JayCaruso) March 30, 2021

He's not a conservative, Jay.

— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) March 30, 2021

If Charlie Sykes were an actual conservative, he’d never play such a stupid game.

Ahh the old “if we were in an alternate reality” argument to justify actions of those you agree with… real schmuck move

— Zombie Day Trader (@ZombieDayTrader) March 30, 2021

"Sure it's bad that Democrats are actually doing this but let's focus on this fantasy world I just created instead" https://t.co/kU2Zt0JEFF

— Sunny McSunnyface (@sunnyright) March 30, 2021

Let the record show that Charlie Sykes’ life has no meaning without Donald Trump in it.

Try facing reality. Trump DIDN'T do this but the left IS doing this.

— Silence and Frost (@secjr112) March 30, 2021

As conservatives, we should discuss this on the merits. Trump's gone.

— Hank (@The_Real_Hank_) March 30, 2021

And the left would have become instant anti-vaxxers. See how that works? These takes are stupid and unhelpful. Trump is gone. Let him go and find a new obsession. If you even can.

— Holly Thornton (@beachmamax2) March 30, 2021

Spoiler alert: he can’t.