Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) tried to split the difference on COVID-19 vaccines -- and she was hit with backlash.
The Colorado Republican published an op-ed on the Fox News website arguing that vaccinations were a personal choice that should be free of government involvement, saying that precautionary measures such as business closures and masking mandates were "anti-American bullcrap."
"For those that want the vaccine and believe it works, take it and don't be so concerned about those who made the decision not to," she wrote. "For those choosing not to, make sure it is an informed decision with your doctor."
"For those deemed most at-risk, please seek medical advice from a doctor on how best to protect yourself," Boebert continued. "That does not mean forcing the rest of us from living our lives, shutting down our businesses, closing our schools or forcing us to wear masks and stripping away our right to health care privacy."
"So far," she added, "my family and I have personally experienced all of that and think it is anti-American bullcrap."
But readers pointed out that infected individuals passed the virus along to others, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, and the government has previously required vaccines for other illnesses and the U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly found those orders to be constitutional -- including as recently as Thursday, when Justice Amy Coney Barrett denied a request to block Indiana University's mandate.
@laurenboebert You don't have to get the vax. But you CAN be barred from participating in society if you choose n… https://t.co/36jX2qZrcu— MT Greene's Llama 🇺🇲🦙 (@MT Greene's Llama 🇺🇲🦙) 1628859264.0
@laurenboebert That's not true. We regularly require kids to be vaxxed before attending school or our soldiers bein… https://t.co/6iejTVPQBm— Norrin Radd - Intergalactic Man of Mystery! (@Norrin Radd - Intergalactic Man of Mystery!) 1628859180.0
@laurenboebert The SCOTUS has a different precedent apparently your freedom comes with little sacrifice and little… https://t.co/mOKH4dc8Lx— Pissed Off Vet 🌊 (@Pissed Off Vet 🌊) 1628859440.0
@laurenboebert So you agree that the government shouldn’t tell you what to do with your body? Even with abortion? O… https://t.co/7s8km6JcDA— RazzLi (@RazzLi) 1628860273.0
@laurenboebert Glad to hear you and your family are vaccinated. Sorry it’s taken you this long to admit it.— Leland Hermit (@Leland Hermit) 1628859885.0
@laurenboebert Good I hope more resturants and bars and stores require vaccine passports. Your choice not to take… https://t.co/2vTZ2YSIpd— Judy LaTorre (@Judy LaTorre) 1628860281.0
@laurenboebert The success or failure of any government in the final analysis must be measured by the well-being of… https://t.co/hoMItIz4LI— Kevin (@Kevin) 1628861637.0
@laurenboebert Why would we listen to someone who mishandled food and didn't get the proper permits and ended up gi… https://t.co/4GMfA1cI9V— Jonathan P. Thayer (@Jonathan P. Thayer) 1628859730.0
@laurenboebert So, what exactly is your plan to reduce COVID cases in the US. If you choose to endanger others by n… https://t.co/Pg8Xoq5Blc— Mark Holt (@Mark Holt) 1628860408.0
@laurenboebert 1905 Jacobson v Massachusetts https://t.co/OIb1uxQ4j4— VirginiaMom (@VirginiaMom) 1628859391.0
@laurenboebert You don't have the freedom to make other people sick.— SpecialMomentsDecor (@SpecialMomentsDecor) 1628859432.0
@laurenboebert Fine but it is govt’s right to exclude you from restaurants, bars, concerts etc because you are enda… https://t.co/rXpbA8elCT— Richinnj (@Richinnj) 1628860942.0
