When Republicans Will Suddenly Care About Coronavirus.
By: Lauren Elizabeth
Tags: Politics, Democrats, Republican Party, Government, Donald Trump

Believe it or not the GOP might actually begin to take notice of what’s going on, but only when it’s convenient for them.

McCarthy with Trump in 2017. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

It’s difficult to even know where to begin when considering everything the American people have been subjected to over the course of the past year. As a pandemic continues to rage and leave untold amounts of pain, stress, trauma, and economic uncertainty in its wake with over 300,000 lives lost and tens of millions of jobs lost, there’s no denying that the government has failed the people of this country in every conceivable way. Whether it be the miles long bread lines outside food banks, or hospitals in California being forced to contemplate rationing care as the virus surges out of control, on every level the American government has let us down. While of course there is certainly no substantive praise to be had for politicians like Nancy Pelosi or Chuck Schumer, the Republican Party’s response to this pandemic and their overall indifference has been particularly jarring. Though with the election now behind us it feels safe to assume that in the coming weeks, Republican politicians might suddenly be concerned with the way the pandemic is affecting the nation.

After Joe Biden is sworn in as President on January 20th, one can probably expect that within two or three weeks, suddenly Republican Congressmen like House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, or Senators like Ted Cruz will find themselves appalled at the idea that so many people are dying. Perhaps we might even find them on FOX News, feigning concern about the overrun hospitals and the tens of millions of people left jobless through no fault of their own with the ‘Fox and Friends’ hosts. The moment they determine a sufficient amount of time has gone by after Donald Trump left office, Republican leadership might pretend to be bothered by the fact that thousands of people a day are dying.

Frankly, it’s sobering and exhausting to even have to consider this all too predictable tactic they’ll pull out of their playbook. The idea that these circumstances could be viewed as a political game by our lawmakers among either party, while people are resorting to stealing baby formula and bread as the ultra-rich nearly double their wealth should sicken each and every one of us. But can we really expect any less, when money has corrupted our government to its core, and robbed it of any semblance of a conscience or ability to act in the best interest of the American people?

For nearly ten months, we have been nothing more than collateral damage. For ten months average Americans have had everything from their overall stability, jobs and health insurance right down to the ability to travel and see grandparents robbed from them. Hundreds of thousands if not millions have said goodbye to loved ones over Facetime, subjected to not only the pain of losing a loved one but the grief that comes with not even being able to hold their hands and comfort them as they take their final breaths. And now, after all this trauma we have been forced to endure at the hands of our government, the very same politicians who have spoken at super-spreader events on behalf of Donald Trump will suddenly feign concern.

The thing is, Republican lawmakers are entirely aware that we see through the callousness. They understand that in the age of the internet, all it’s going to take is a google search and a tweeted screenshot of a past tweet for the American public to be reminded of what their stances were just months if not weeks earlier. But, as was the case during the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, the hypocrisy — much like the cruelty — is the point. They do not care. This is the type of behavior we can expect from Republicans because it’s this type of behavior that has gotten them into power in the first place, so why would we expect them to change it?

Unfortunately, since he has no intention of shutting down schools or implementing a nationwide stay at home order, Joe Biden’s plans to combat coronavirus seem lackluster to say the least. All we can do is wonder who the first Republican to feign outrage will be.

If he does indeed plan on running in 2024, my bet’s on Donald Trump himself.