Here we go again, with the theater

Rand Paul is God's Own Disappointment™

Yesterday, in a U.S. Senate hearing meant to examine the country’s pandemic response, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul once again trotted out his personal feelings about masks, and clashed again with Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Paul suggested that Fauci’s wearing masks after being vaccinated is “theater.” Fauci then laid out the facts.

Paul, an ophthalmologist until he let his certification lapse, has been vocal in his discomfort with science. He tried to pick another fight with Fauci in May over lifting pandemic restrictions, and that didn’t go well, either. In September, he argued with Fauci about herd immunity, and short of interrupting Fauci a lot, Paul accomplished little but cementing his place in history as God’s Own Disappointment™.

In fact, Paul showed up at the other guy’s second impeachment trial without a mask. He also, after taking a COVID test that ended up positive, stopped off at the Senate pool and gym for a workout. Paul, who has consistently voted against any COVID relief bills, defended himself at the time by saying:

For those who want to criticize me for lack of quarantine, realize that if the rules on testing had been followed to a tee, I would never have been tested and would still be walking around the halls of the Capitol. The current guidelines would not have called for me to get tested nor quarantined. It was my extra precaution, out of concern for my damaged lung, that led me to get tested.

So Paul was expecting to be congratulated for getting tested — and then going out in public while he awaited results.

Some of us are vaccinated and some of us aren’t. As Sanjay Gupta said on CNN last night: Vaccinations are effective against people being hospitalized and dying from COVID-19. But even when you’re vaccinated, you can still carry the virus and transmit it to someone else. And vaccines aren’t 100% effective. The CDC says that even post-vaccination (or if you’ve been diagnosed with COVID), keep your distance and wear your damn mask.

I added the “damn.” Masks aren’t theater. They’re a way of showing concern and respect for your fellows.

Charles Booker, a Kentucky progressive, has suggested he might make a run for Paul’s seat next year. We wish Mr. Booker well and cheerfully promise to send a check his way, should his hat drop into the ring.