On Thursday, physician and Republican Sen. Rand Paul and Dr. Anthony Fauci came to verbal blows during a HELP hearing on coronavirus.
Paul, in a nutshell, called out Fauci for advocating mask-wearing even amongst individuals who have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Paul stated that wearing a mask even after vaccination is merely for theater since there are no studies that show vaccinated individuals can spread the virus.
Fauci, on the other hand, responded by asserting that masks are protective and not for theater; he also argued that various strains of the virus post a threat.
This morning, Sen. Paul spoke with Fox News about his back-and-forth with Fauci yesterday. The Kentucky Republican also claimed that little evidence proves the effectiveness of shutdowns or mask-wearing, as Breitbart News documents.
Sen. Paul on Fauci, Masks, and Shutdowns
During a Fox News interview this morning, Paul explained that the science does not, in fact, show that a person can suffer from COVID-19 infection after being vaccinated; the GOP senator also pointed this out to Fauci yesterday, hence the assertion that mask-wearing is more about theater, rather than scientific effectiveness.
Paul then stated that the true effectiveness of mask-wearing is ultimately reliant upon the risk factor. In other words, since children are highly unlikely to contract COVID-19 and die from the virus, there’s no real science that supports mandatory masking for children.
ICYMI today I questioned Dr. Fauci in the HELP hearing on covid.
"What proof is there that there are significant reinfections with hospitalizations and death from the variants?
None in our country. Zero…
You're making a policy based on conjecture!" pic.twitter.com/ouzgN7v2Ds
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 18, 2021
The Kentucky Republican also stated during his interview this morning that the science hasn’t proven mask mandates and lockdowns as effective mitigation measures. In fact, mask mandates and widespread usage of face coverings are directly correlated to higher infection rates and more COVID-19 cases.
Ultimately, Sen. Paul explained that while the coronavirus vaccine is “the answer,” masks are not, and Americans shouldn’t be conned into believing otherwise.
A Pattern of Clashes
This past Thursday did not mark the first time that Paul and Fauci have butted heads during congressional hearings.
Sen. @RandPaul questions Dr. Fauci on requiring vaccinated Americans to continue wearing masks:
“What studies do you have that people who have had the vaccine are spreading the infection? If we’re not spreading the infection, isn’t it just theater?”
pic.twitter.com/1Pk1HmKq0I— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) March 18, 2021
As a matter of fact, Sen. Paul, who is also a doctor himself, has repeatedly called out Fauci for his inconsistencies and statements that lack scientific support or merit. Last year, Fauci openly declared that the American public should consider wearing goggles to stop COVID-19 from getting in the eyes.
Needless to say, this isn’t supported by science and neither are many other claims espoused by Fauci.
What did you think about Sen. Rand Paul’s clash with Fauci on mask-wearing, particularly after vaccination against coronavirus? Let us know in the comments section below.
