Controversial US senator Rand Paul has been blasted after insisting Americans should reject government-mandated regulations, including wearing masks, in a âdangerousâ anti-Covid rant.
In a 3 minute and 37-second long clip posted on his Twitter, the Republican senator, who represents the state of Kentucky, delivered a long and rambling speech encouraging people to ignore rules brought in to restrict the spread of the coronavirus.
Paul posted the video on 8 August with the caption: âWe 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.â
Standing alone in front of a dark blue background, Paul addressed the camera giving a pre-prepared speech.
The Republican says: âItâs time for us to resist. They canât arrest all of us. They canât keep all of your kids home from school. They canât keep every government building closed.â
We are at a moment of truth and a crossroads. Will we allow these people to use fear and propaganda to do further h⦠https://t.co/qyKqZWNVvFâ Senator Rand Paul (@Senator Rand Paul) 1628438227
Without presenting any evidence, Paul then described the CDCâs mask mandate as âanti-scienceâ and said no one should follow it. He also called those bringing in the rules âpetty tyrants and bureaucratsâ.
In a section of speech directed at the speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Paul said: âWe 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.â
His speech has been slammed as âdamagingâ.
Someone on Twitter responded: âIn other words, you choose your own selfish ambition ahead of loving and serving your neighbor. Get your vaccine and wear your mask.â
Another said that Paul should face legal action if people die after listening to his rhetoric.
@RandPaul @SenRandPaul should face legal consequences for every single person who dies of covid because they believed this.â Patricia âï¸âï¸âï¸âï¸âï¸ (@Patricia âï¸âï¸âï¸âï¸âï¸) 1628441616
Some also called on him to be censured â a formal statement of disapproval from Congress â for the comments.
Rand Paul should at the very least be censured for this. https://t.co/1bw7uNIS7Hâ Phil Plait (@Phil Plait) 1628484465
Here are some of the other reactions:
Rand Paul is barely a doctor and barely a Senator. DON'T LISTEN TO HIM. https://t.co/xqPQrzxVoPâ BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@BrooklynDad_Defiant!) 1628487322
This is so damaging to public health. I personally know so many people who have died from Covid. And some who are n⦠https://t.co/s8sYt5fss1â Rex Chapmanðð¼ (@Rex Chapmanðð¼) 1628476586
@RexChapman Rand Paul is a danger to public health, to American national security, to democracy, and he is an embar⦠https://t.co/UhsIa2MXVeâ Norman Ornstein (@Norman Ornstein) 1628479676
It comes days after the senator was slammed for blatant disinformation after claiming the Democrats were âpluckingâ children from the border with Covid to âseed the country with a new variantâ.
The comments were made during an interview on Fox News during which he also told Americans who support mandatory vaccinations to mind their own business.