Did FOX Hosts Suggest Omicron Covid-19 Coronavirus Variant Is Made Up?

You may’t make these things up. On Saturday, Fox & Mates hosts Rachel Campos-Duffy, Pete Hegseth, and Will Cain mentioned the brand new Omicron variant of the Covid-19 coronavirus. And Ken Meyer writing for Mediaite covered this discussion with a chunk entitled, “Fox & Mates Weekend Hosts Recommend Democrats Are Making Up New Variants to Assist Biden.”

Huh? What was that within the headline? Making up new variants to assist U.S. President Joe Biden?

Holy politicization, Batman. Did the Fox & Mates hosts really counsel that a world state of affairs, the emergence of the Omicron variant, was by some means merely a results of U.S.-based politics? Are the nation of South Africa, the World Well being Group (WHO), the U.S. Democratic Occasion, all of the international locations which have lately declared journey restrictions such because the U.Okay., France, Germany, Italy, and Israel, all of the scientists who’ve been investigating the Omicron variant, public well being specialists, and even perhaps Massive Hen by some means concerned in a large, large conspiracy?

Effectively, Campos-Duffy began the Fox & Mates section by speaking about Pete Buttigieg, the Secretary of Transportation, describing him as “doubtlessly our new president in 2024, or so the Democrats need.” She continued with “[Buttigieg] has stated we will’t repair the provision chain drawback till the pandemic is over, till Covid is over. And now we see these new variants.” The video accompanying the next tweet confirmed what the three hosts stated subsequent:

As you possibly can see, Campos-Duffy stated, “In order that’s the reply: extra lockdowns, extra lockdowns, extra concern and subsequently he doesn’t should do his job of fixing the provision chain as a result of ‘we’ll simply hold this complete factor going.’”

Cain added, “It’s at all times a brand new variant.” To which Hegseth threw in, “rely on a variant about each October, each two years.”

Cain then responded, “You already know you’re in all probability proper. Nevertheless, they may velocity up, the variants might come extra rapidly.” The video section concluded with Hegseth elevating his proper hand to his face as if he had been holding a cellphone and saying, “We’re going to wish a brand new variant right here.”

And right here you thought it was all about that bass when it might have been all about that Buttigieg, proper?

The Fox & Mates hosts didn’t appear to preface or end this dialogue by saying “we’re joking” or “what if?” This wasn’t the stand-up comedy portion of Fox & Mates both. So, no matter what the hosts’ true intent could have been, somebody watching might have simply thought they had been severe about what they had been saying.

Plus this might additional feed to the “Omicron variant is made up” narrative that’s already circulating on social media. As you possibly can see within the tweets above, Consultant Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), who was additionally beforehand the White Home doctor, tweeted Sunday morning, “Right here comes the MEV – the Midterm Election Variant! They NEED a cause to push unsolicited nationwide mail-in ballots. Democrats will do something to CHEAT throughout an election – however we’re not going to allow them to!” Within the tweet, Jackson didn’t reference the Omicron variant or the Covid-19 coronavirus particularly. However with the Omicron variant dominating the headlines, many could assume that he was referring to this extreme acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant moderately than scorching canine variants.

Then there was this tweet from Liz Wheeler, who’s described as “unapologetically one of many conservative motion’s boldest voices” on the “The Liz Wheeler Present” web site:

So was Wheeler suggesting that the Omicron variant was by some means tied to efforts to get children vaccinated in opposition to Covid-19?

Looking for the phrases “omicron variant made up” will already return quite a few social media posts. And most of those don’t present the Covid-19 coronavirus in mascara and highlighter with a elaborate spike-cut. No, as an alternative they embrace statements like “They planned [made up] this new omicron variant so they could blame it for all the vaccine deaths and adverse illnesses,” and “There’s no such thing as an omicron variant, they made it up. Just like they made up SarsCov2 and the whole #coronavirushoax. Stop this madness.”

They? Who the hay are they? Is saying “they made it up” like saying “they left the bathroom seat up” or “they left their underwear within the fridge” to your own home mates? Is everybody alleged to know who “they” are? Who precisely could be planning and concerned in such a large conspiracy?

Umm, what do folks assume actual scientists and public well being specialists around the globe are doing proper now? You’ve bought scientists speeding to raised characterize this new variant, making an attempt to find out whether or not it’s extra transmissible or extra virulent than the earlier variations of the virus, as I’ve coated for Forbes. You’ve bought actual medical medical doctors, epidemiologists, and different researchers working time beyond regulation to determine how a lot safety the present Covid-19 vaccines and immunity from pure an infection will supply in opposition to the Omicron variant. You’ve bought every kind of individuals around the globe, lots of whom don’t even know who or what a Buttigieg is, making ready for the doable unfold of this new variant in addition to different variants which will emerge. And individuals are really hinting, suggesting, or claiming that the emergence of the Omicron variant is being “made up” for political causes.

You already know all these conspiracy theories being flung round all through the pandemic like cow dung in a sprinkler? Effectively, this “variant-made-up” declare is sort of a new extremely mutated conspiracy idea variant. It additional undermines science and fact. It makes it all of the tougher for public well being authorities to manage the unfold of the variant and defend the general public.

With so many actual scientists around the globe carefully watching the pandemic proper now, it might be robust to make up a brand new Covid-19 coronavirus variant with out sufficient folks calling bull dung on it. However apparently it’s not too tough to make up claims that one thing actual is being made up.