CNN host Don Lemon, who finds himself caught in the midst of the unfolding Jussie Smollett trial, said that unvaccinated Americans should “face some consequences” for their actions during last Thursday’s show, inspiring a former Biden advisor to say the problem is “that about 20% of the public really doesn’t believe in science or institutions or the Establishment.”
Lemon, who hosts CNN’s 10 p.m. program “Don Lemon Tonight,” heavily implied that it was mostly Republicans and other Trump voters who refuse to be vaccinated against COVID-19, choosing instead to brave the novel coronavirus’ survivability rates.
“I want to talk to you about this new CNN analysis showing that since the vaccines have … become widely available, the risk of dying from COVID is more than 50% higher in states that voted for Donald Trump than in states that voted for Biden,” Lemon told Andy Slavitt, the Biden administration’s White House senior advisor for COVID response.
Slavitt said that “what President Biden does” through vaccine mandates “is continually [call] for everyone to pull together, make this not political.”
Lemon, who has supported punishing unvaccinated Americans for months, said he felt it was wrong that people “who are doing the right thing” had “to face the dire consequences of the people who are doing the wrong thing.” He then asked regarding those he believes are in the wrong, “Shouldn’t they face some consequences for that?”
Slavitt replied, “Look, the elephant in the room here is that about 20% of the public really doesn’t believe in science or institutions or the Establishment.”
“And you won’t be able to convince them,” responded Lemon, stoking support for mandates or other punitive measures. “They’re not convincible.”
Lemon has made his antipathy for unvaccinated Americans known for some time. In August, Lemon told those who have not been fully-vaccinated:
…don’t go to the hospital then when you get sick! Don’t take up the resources from other people who are playing by the rules, getting vaccinated, social distancing, and putting their lives on the line to try to take care of the people who are there. That’s all I’m saying. That’s how I feel.
At that time, fully-vaccinated meant receiving two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, not three.
In mid-September, Lemon said “it’s time to start shaming” the “stupid” unvaccinated population. He exploded, “I think we have to stop coddling people when it comes to this and the vaccine, saying, ‘Oh, you can’t shame them. You can’t call them stupid. You can’t call them [silly].’ Yes, they are!”
Numerous foreign nations inflict draconian punishments on their unvaccinated citizens. Australia’s military rounds up patients who test positive for COVID-19, as well as those who test negative but have been in close contact with those who have tested positive, and places them in a guarded compound. Greece has announced that it intends to fine those aged 60 or older €100 of their monthly €730 if they are not vaccinated by January 16.
Lemon did not specify which level of “consequences” he would impose on his fellow U.S. citizens.
Lemon became a footnote in Jussie Smollett’s trial, as the “Empire” star said he did not turn over his cell phone because the CNN host had tipped Smollett off that police did not believe his story about being assaulted by two white assailants screaming, “This is MAGA country!”
As of this writing, no verdict has been returned in the Smollett case.
On November 4, The Daily Wire sued the federal government over the OSHA mandate for private businesses. The Daily Wire also launched a petition for signees to express support for its lawsuit against the mandate.
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.