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With global vaccinations against COVID-19 still too low for herd immunity, a new variant of the virus that's killed over 750 thousand Americans was recently discovered by South African scientists, and is quickly sprouting up across the globe.
There's still a lot to learn about what's being called the Omicron variant, especially regarding its transmission rate, its severity, and its ability to evade vaccines.
There are some certainties though: It's real and it'll be here real soon.
That hasn't stopped Republican Congressman Ronny Jackson of Texas from promoting right-wing delusions that the Omicron variant is an invention of Democrats in order to "steal" elections through mail-in ballots.
He said as much in a recent tweet.
Here comes the MEV - the Midterm Election Variant! They NEED a reason to push unsolicited nationwide mail-in ballots. Democrats will do anything to CHEAT during an election - but we're not going to let them!
— Ronny Jackson (@RonnyJacksonTX) November 27, 2021
Before his ascent to the House of Representatives, Jackson was a White House physician, serving multiple Presidents of both parties. A major supporter of former President Donald Trump, Jackson faced scrutiny in 2018 for his assessment of Trump's health, which many critics speculated to be at odds with reality, praising Trump for his "incredible genes" and claiming the six foot three inch Trump weighed only 239 pounds.
Also in 2018, Trump nominated Jackson to Secretary of Veterans Affairs, but Jackson eventually withdrew himself from consideration after emerging reports of his misconduct as Physician to the President—misconduct a Defense Department Inspector General report later confirmed.
Now serving in Congress, Jackson's latest (and false) medical take was deeply concerning to social media users.
Its incredible that this guy was giving medical advice to anyone, let alone multiple Presidents. \n\nReminder that Trump wanted to put him in charge of Veterans Affairs, including Veteran's Health Administration.https://twitter.com/RonnyJacksonTX/status/1464697497042006024\u00a0\u2026— Don Moynihan (@Don Moynihan) 1638123229
How in God's name did you get a license to practice medicine?? https://t.co/zKMTCjYltH
— Barbed Wires 🇺🇲 (@BBbmarsh) November 29, 2021
Consider the continued mixing of two deeply damaging lies here: that the pandemic isn’t real and that the election was fraudulent - and from a sitting congressman, physician and retired admiral. https://t.co/2fHYYmniPV
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) November 28, 2021
I can't imagine being this stupid. https://t.co/a6kHg0zt7F
— Ⲧⲟⲙ ⲓ⳽ Ⲧⲏⲇⲛⲕ⳨ⳙⳑ 🏠 🌊 (@TLWellborn3rd) November 28, 2021
We need a vaccine against sheer stupidity.https://twitter.com/ronnyjacksontx/status/1464697497042006024\u00a0\u2026— Judith Enck (@Judith Enck) 1638153871
Former White House physician. Either wildly unqualified to hold that position, a sad statement on current GOP political incentives, or some combination of the two. https://t.co/wqh7W5jG65
— Brendan Nyhan (@BrendanNyhan) November 29, 2021
These people are breathtakingly stupid. This theory holds that 1) scientists in literally every other country on the planet are part of a Democratic midterm election plot; and 2) that Democrats believe they’d benefit from a surge of Covid cases while Biden is in the White House. https://t.co/etYUcrVAXD
— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) November 28, 2021
People also hadn't forgotten about his questionable assessment of Trump's health.
Remember that @RonnyJacksonTX served as the top White House physician, who in 2018 gushed about then-President Trump's “good genes” and “excellent” health. https://t.co/H8ozjBcDQQ
— Michael Biesecker (@mbieseck) November 29, 2021
This nut job was WH doctor. Clearly everything he said about Trump’s health was a lie. https://t.co/v1u2GdUdCa
— Jon Seff (@jonseff) November 28, 2021
This coming from the jackass who claimed Fat Nixon was a pillar of health.
Disgrace to the uniform.
Disgrace to the medical profession.
Disgrace to the oath of his office. https://t.co/XMyS2Hhwao
— American Resurrection (@CreedRhys) November 29, 2021