'Have at it. We're playing for real here': Biden takes on Republicans threatening to overturn his vaccine mandates and attacks them for being 'cavalier with kids' health' at school speech with Jill
President Joe Biden brushed back at Republicans who have vowed to go to court to overturn his 'unconstitutional' vaccine mandates, telling them: 'Have at it.'
Biden issued the taunt to his rivals while visiting a DC school, where he touted his plan to require school officials to get vaccinated if their school or district takes federal money, as part of a sweeping series of vaccine mandates that also includes all federal workers and contractors.
He was asked how he would respond to GOP governors and critics who have vowed to sue and accused him of 'overreach.'
'Have at it,' Biden responded, while touring a DC school that is educating masked students in a highly vaccinated environment. 'I am so disappointed that particularly some Republican governors have been so cavalier with the health of these kids, so cavalier with the health of their communities,' he said.
The Republican National Committee threatened to sue to roll back Biden's new vaccine orders within hours after he issued them Thursday, calling the effort 'unconstitutional.'
'Many small businesses and workers do not have the money or legal resources to fight Biden's unconstitutional actions and authoritarian decrees,' RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel. A number of GOP governors have also threatened to sue.
GOP lawmakers pointed to some of Biden and allies own past comments speaking to the limits of his authority.
Other Republican governors are also mounting a defense against Biden's aggressive new order and vowing to fight it through state laws and lawsuits.
'We're playing for real here. This isn't a game,' Biden told his GOP critics, a day after announcing new vaccine mandates
Arizona, Montana, Indiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Georgia and South Carolina were all among the Republican-led states that threatened legal action.
Biden told them: 'We're playing for real here. This isn't a game. And I don't know of any scientist, out there in this field but doesn't think it makes considerable sense to do the six things I've suggested.'
He made the comments during a visit to Brookland Middle School, a public school in the Northeast quadrant of Washington, D.C. Friday. He was accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden as he visited.
His comments elevated the charged legal dispute with Republicans, which comes amid a separate clash over abortion rights – with Biden's Justice Department announcing Thursday it will sue Texas over its restrictive law outlawing abortions at six weeks when a fetal heartbeat can be detected.
Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz claimed the administration 'knows' the new workplace vaccine rule is illegal but doesn't care.
Biden's order for businesses to require vaccines or testing rests on powers within OSHA's Temporary Standard Code.
It allows the Labor Department to enact a rule if 'workers are in grave danger due to exposure to toxic substances or agents determined to be toxic or physically harmful or to new hazards' – a standard the feds are applying to the pandemic.
Biden has gone after Republican governors who have used their powers to try to roll back mask mandates ordered by local school boards, and has offered to reimburse administrators' pay when governors try to dock it over mask mandates.
Then, Biden during his remarks pivoted to a critique of modern politics – at a time when he has been forcefully pushing back at critics following the chaotic troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. Some Republicans are demanding his resignation or impeachment, and former President Donald Trump continues to call the election 'rigged,' while also claiming a California recall and the Virginia governor's race won't be fair.
'Politics doesn’t have to be this way ... They’re growing up in an environment where they see it’s like a war. Like a bitter feud,' said Biden, speaking outdoors at the school.
'It’s not how we are. It’s not who we are as a nation. And it’s not how we beat every other crisis in our history.'
Jill Biden said she taught virtually last spring, then enthused: 'I'm so excited to be back in person.'
She told parents: 'This is hard, but you're doing your best.'
She said a cough 'can send your heart racing' and a quarantine 'could send your kids home and upend your life once again.'
At the event, student Elijah Pool spoke about getting an unexpected 'spring break' due to COVID that turned into an 18-month stint away from school with virtual learning.
'I'm not going to lie. That was really hard,' he said.
The initial burst of opposition to Biden's actions by conservative Republican governors got some support from the more centrist Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who Biden praised during the transition for his efforts against the coronavirus.
'I think the President made a mistake by announcing federal vaccine mandates,' DeWine tweeted Friday afternoon. 'We should be focused on the science of preventing virus spread - the vaccine is our best tool to stop COVID - but people and business owners should make their own decisions about vaccination.' Ohio has about 49 per cent of its population fully vaccinated.
Alabama Republican Gov. Kay Ivey, who has also earned backing from Biden for some of her actions on vaccination, also came out against the mandates.
A call w/ Republican Govs just wrapped up,' Ivey tweeted.
'@POTUS has overreached w/ these new mandates, & we’re united in fighting back. I’m partnering alongside my conservative colleagues in this fight. This is a fight for businesses, our hardworking men & women, & our American liberties.'
An AP-NORC Center of Public Affairs poll shows about half of Americans favor vaccine mandates in their own workplace.
It showed 59 percent of remote workers are for the vaccine requirements, versus 47 per cent of those who are working in person. But just a quarter, including in-person and remote workers, are opposed.
White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain is facing furious criticism for retweeting a post saying President Biden's sweeping new vaccine mandates are the 'ultimate work-around.'
Senator Ted Cruz slammed Klain after he shared MSNBC anchor Stephanie Ruhle's post saying: 'OSHA doing this vaxx [sic] mandate as an emergency workplace safety rule is the ultimate work-around for the Federal govt [sic] to require vaccinations.'
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden tour Brookland Middle School, Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 in Washington. Biden has encouraged every school district to promote vaccines, including with on-site clinics, to protect students as they return to school amid a resurgence of the coronavirus
Biden visited the school after announcing the sweeping orders in a speech Thursday
Biden said he was impressed by students who were working on a lunar lander
He was accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden, an educator who resumed teaching community college
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden, tour Brookland Middle School, Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 in Washington
Biden’s plan to Go around State Governors is Have Labor department Declare Workers are in Great Danger.
ReplyDeleteLAW suit will stop that immediately.
US Constitution was set up for States Rights.
I do not see him going around States Rights.
Looks like: Senile corrupt Biden thinking. Hunter must have helped w/ that one.
KILL COMMIE PED0 JOE! EXECUTE OR ASSASINATE! Its self defense.
ReplyDeleteCavalier, I bet one of his writers came up with that one.
ReplyDeleteThe roundhead army of parliament defeated the cavaliers and the king's head was cut off, Joe! While at the moment it's history from the 1930s repeating, the 1640s might like a replay too.
ReplyDelete