We’ve had a spurt of mask theater from the Biden team over the last few days, since Biden came down with COVID.
Biden released a picture on Thursday after his diagnosis had been announced and the word came out that he was isolating himself from other people.
Folks, I'm doing great. Thanks for your concern. Just called Senator Casey, Congressman Cartwright, and Mayor Cognetti (and my Scranton cousins!) to send my regrets for missing our event today.
Keeping busy! pic.twitter.com/uf7AsOg571
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 21, 2022
Except as we noted, he wasn’t quite isolating, since at least one person was there (who took the picture). Also, where was his mask? He wasn’t acting in accordance with CDC guidance. “Wear a well-fitting mask if you must be around others in your home,” the guidance says.
When reporters grilled White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on what was going on here — why wasn’t Biden wearing a mask, she said that “he took off his mask so that the American people could see him and see directly that work he is doing.” Oh. Must be that “the American people have to see me” exception to the guidelines. Makes perfect sense.
Meanwhile, Jill Biden was wearing a surgical mask (well, she is a doctor) while she was outside. Even Dr. Zeke Emanuel didn’t think that fit the mask theater guidelines and called her out on that.
With @POTUS testing positive, it highlights how contagious BA5 is. Yet, appears @FLOTUS and @VP and their staff are wearing surgical masks. These only stop exhalation, not prevent inhalation. They need to be in N95 masks! It's way overdue and need them to set the example! pic.twitter.com/24inWUIMe7
— Zeke Emanuel (@ZekeEmanuel) July 21, 2022
So, she wears a mask–that’s not effective anyway–outdoors, but Biden doesn’t wear one indoors around at least one other person. That makes a lot of sense. Not.
Then there was this little moment of CDC-guidance flouting from Kamala Harris. This was after Joe Biden’s diagnosis and after she was defined as a “close contact” of Biden. First, she hugs one person, then takes off her mask and hugs another person.
Kamala Harris — who the White House said yesterday was a "close contact" with Biden and his COVID diagnosis — walks on stage, immediately removes her mask, and hugs the moderator. pic.twitter.com/4eBTxSDq4M
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 22, 2022
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and White House coronavirus coordinator Ashish Jha were asked about this, but they weren’t able to explain it away.
Did Kamala Harris follow proper CDC guidance by not wearing a mask and hugging people today despite being defined as a "close contact" of Biden?
Biden COVID Coordinator Ashish Jha: Uh….. pic.twitter.com/VV2pOvfaSt
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 22, 2022
You would think that after all that “wrong” mask theater this week — with them receiving criticism on the issue and the media even questioning them about their contradictory actions and failure to follow the CDC guidelines — that they might now be paying attention to do the proper mask theater.
Except we now have this picture on Friday afternoon, with Biden bragging about the gas price decline. Notice, once again — no mask. Must be that same exception again. Yet another “rules for thee” moment. Guess the photographer is expendable. Not to mention that while Biden blamed Vladimir Putin for the rise in gas prices, he wants to take credit for a 50-cent fall when it isn’t due to him, but to the drop in demand. Nope, not buying it and I don’t think anyone else is buying it either.
Gas prices are declining at one of the fastest rates we have seen in over a decade – we’re not letting up on our work to lower costs even further. pic.twitter.com/suEKuKXyKP
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 22, 2022
But he was so focused on the gas price lie, that he forgot he was blowing off the mask theater lie. Hard to keep all the lies straight — when you’re Joe Biden.
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