Sen. Rand Paul ridiculed President Joe Biden and other Democrats on Sunday for being “tyrants and bureaucrats,” floating further lockdowns and COVID-19 mask mandates ostensibly in response to the spread of the delta variant.
“It’s time for us to resist,” the Kentucky Republican said. “They can’t arrest all of us. They can’t keep all of your kids home from school. They can’t keep every government building closed. Although, I’ve got a long list of ones they might keep closed or might ought to keep closed.”
“Nancy Pelosi, you will not arrest or stop me or anyone on my staff from doing our jobs,” Paul continued. “We have either had COVID, had the vaccine, or been offered the vaccine. We will make our own health choices. We will not show you a passport. We will not wear a mask. We will not be forced into random screenings and testings, so you can continue your drunk-with-power reign over the Capitol.”
House Speaker Pelosi put in place a new mask policy two weeks ago, with House attending physician Brian P. Monahan caught maskless while lecturing Republicans on the new policy. Members of the GOP then took to the Senate floor on July 29 to demand Democrats cease the mandates.
We are at a moment of truth and a crossroads. Will we allow these people to use fear and propaganda to do further harm to our society, economy, and children?
Or will we stand together and say, absolutely not. Not this time. I choose freedom. pic.twitter.com/XrI2tjdAHW
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) August 8, 2021
Democrats have been floating the possibility of more lockdowns, with some states such as Nevada tightening restrictions. Democrat District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser issued a mask mandate in the capital in late July.
Mask requirements returned for federal agencies and their contractors after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidance, which said vaccinated people should wear a face-covering in some situations.
“President Biden: We will not accept your agency’s mandates or your reported moves toward a lockdown,” Paul stated. “No one should follow the CDC’s anti-science mask mandates. And if you want to shut down federal agencies again, some of which aren’t even back to work yet, I will stop every bill coming through the Senate with an amendment to cut their funding if they don’t come back to work in-person.”
