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Tag: superspreaders
DeSantis Brings Cancer-Stricken Spouse to 'Super-Spreader' Worship Leader's Event

DeSantis Brings Cancer-Stricken Spouse to 'Super-Spreader' Worship Leader's Event

Reprinted with permission from DailyKos

For much of the latter part of December, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has been slammed for being missing in action as the state reels from a surge in COVID-19 cases fueled by the Omicron variant. Well, late on Friday, DeSantis tried to defend himself. He claimed that he was accompanying his wife, Casey, to a cancer treatment session.

But later on Friday, DeSantis attended an event sponsored by a Christianist worship leader whose events have been linked to numerous superspreaders. Never mind that his wife is presently at really high risk for COVID-19, even if she’s vaccinated.

In response to criticism from state and national Democrats about his apparent absence in the wake of record-breaking case counts in Florida, DeSantis—through his spokesmen—said that at the time, he was with his wife while she was undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

A DeSantis spokesperson said the governor accompanied wife Casey to cancer treatment Dec. 29, the day several left-wing critics accused the governor of "missing."
DeSantis' announced in October that his wife had been diagnosed with breast cancer, telling Fox News at the time that as "the mother of three young children, Casey is the centerpiece of our family and has made an impact on the lives of countless Floridians through her initiatives as first lady."

But later on Friday, Tampa NBC affiliate WFLA revealed that DeSantis was going to be on hand for the Orange Bowl that night—his first public appearance in two weeks. Before that night, he’d only been seen in public twice in the latter half of December—a press conference on December 17, and an interview with Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo on December 19.

That was problematic in and of itself, considering that as a cancer patient, Casey DeSantis is at particularly high risk for breaking bad if she catches COVID. But what DeSantis did next is particularly incomprehensible. It turned out that when DeSantis left Hard Rock Stadium, he and Casey headed over to Lifted Church (formerly Miami Baptist Church), where Christianist worship leader Sean Feucht was holding one of his “Let Us Worship” events.

Watch a recap here, from Feucht.


Tom Mountain

GOP Official Who Attended White House Party Infects Entire Family

Reprinted with permission from Alternet

Tom Mountain, the mask-denying vice chairman of the Massachusetts GOP's governing body who attended a largely maskless Hanukkah party at the White House on December 9, has since infected four of his family members with COVID-19.

Mountain's wife pleaded with him not to attend the party over fears that he'd get infected with the virus. He has since given her the virus as well as his son, his daughter-in-law, and his mother-in-law.

Regarding wearing face masks, Mountain said, "I was one of the naysayers," adding, "I am no longer a naysayer," and "My family tried to dissuade me. I didn't listen."

Mountain said he was "politically and morally obligated to go" to the party, but apparently didn't think he was morally obligated to wear a facemask to avoid infecting his wife and elderly mother-in law.

He said of his fellow partygoers, "People would just leisurely and gingerly take off their mask to mingle, to schmooze. I don't even think some people wore masks the entire time. And again, I was guilty as anyone else. I just wasn't wearing a mask."

The party also flouted COVID-19 prevention guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which encouraged small, limited gatherings rather than one with 100 or more people, like the White House's Hannukah party.

Thoughts and prayers.

Mike Pompeo waves with mask on.

Pompeo Quarantined After Superspreader Holiday Party Flops

Reprinted with permission from AlterNet

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's Christmas party at the State Department turned out to be an epic failure with less than 70 out of 900 guests attending. Now, Pompeo is under quarantine after coming in contact with someone who tested positive for the virus.

Of course, none of this was missed by Twitter users and now, many are having a field day trolling him over the failed event. According to the Washington Post, approximately 70 guests responded via RSVP but it is being reported that even fewer people actually attended the eventamid concerns from Trump's own administration officials regarding travel and large indoor gatherings during the pandemic.

In fact, the number of guests was so sparse, Pompeo reportedly opted not to deliver his speech. Twitter users have shared an array of responses to Pompeo's latest fiasco. While some find the failing event comical, others have noted how irresponsible it was for Pompeo to attempt holding such a large event in the middle of a raging pandemic.





The Washington Post reports that invitees were greatly disappointed in Pompeo's decision to hold the event. One invitee tolf the Post the party "put at risk diplomats, their families and the staff involved in putting on the event. One spouse of a diplomat said she declined the invitation because her husband was serving abroad and if she had attended and gotten sick, no one would have been able to take care of their children."The unnamed woman said, "It was a completely irresponsible party to throw."

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) also penned a letter to Pompeo earlier this month to voice his concerns about the event after reports confirmed the staggering number of invitations that had been sent out.

Menendez wrote, "I am concerned that these parties pose a significant health risk, not only to attendees, but to the employees and workers who must staff these events, as well as to State Department employees who may feel pressured to attend."

Shortly after the Christmas party, a spokesperson from Pompeo's office announced the secretary's plan to quarantine, according to CNBC. "Secretary Pompeo has been identified as having come into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID. For reasons of privacy we can't identify that individual," the spokesperson said in a statement.

"The Secretary has been tested and is negative. In accordance with CDC guidelines, he will be in quarantine. He is being closely monitored by the Department's medical team."

CNBC reached out to Pompeo's office with questions about whether or not COVID exposure was the reason he declined to give his speech. However, his office did not respond.

Rudy Giuliani

Did Rudy Giuliani Infect 30 People In the Michigan Statehouse?

Reprinted with permission from DailyKos

Despite the surge in COVID-19 cases across the United States, Donald Trump and his minions seem not to care how many more people are infected. In the latest of Trump infections, Trump's sidekick and personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Dec. 6. While allies of Giuliani maintain he tested negative days before meeting state officials in not one but three states last week, some states have reported infections within days after Giuliani's visit.

Nearly 30 staff members and lawmakers at the Michigan House tested positive for COVID-19 this year alone, a spokesperson told NBC News Wednesday. While the timing of the infections is not clear, the report comes just four days after Giuliani, who testified in the state House maskless, tested positive.

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