Steve Doocy along with his other Fox and Friends hosts and many others over at Fox generally, hardly deserve any credit for suddenly “getting religion” on the vaccine and encouraging their audience to get vaccinated, though the Fox and Friends show has been more pro-vaccine than many others. This message needed to start in January. But back in January, many MAGA politicians were reluctant to come out in full force for vaccinations because it would be seen as a “win” for Joe Biden. It took seven months and a disease that is now almost solely confined to the religious Right political movement to shake up Right-wing news to suddenly get behind vaccinations.
The ever-growing threat of lawsuits and liability over false information is also surely contributing to this newfound message. Still, it doesn’t make Doocy and Fox “wrong” to come out now with their message:
“The disinformation is online. The vaccine is killing lots and lots of people. Or it changes your DNA. Or their little microchips. None of that is true. If you have the chance, get the shot, it will save your life.”
The comment about disinformation is particularly “hurtful” to Fox viewers due to the fact that one of their primary conspiracy theories of late is that the administration is targeting “free speech” by “spying” on people’s Facebook pages. It is impossible to “spy” on something that is done in broad daylight – social media, and the administration does nothing more than “identify and flag” misinformation that Facebook then evaluates whether the posts should be tossed or not.
All @FoxNews [1] anchors should be repeatedly imploring their viewers to get #vaccinated [2]. Every one of them-Regardless of their own #vaccination [3] status. It’s a massive platform & it could be used for real positive #publichealth [4] impact! https://t.co/ReHpX7oo69 [5]
— Dr. Beth S. Linas(she/her) (@bethlinas) July 19, 2021 [6]
Doocy citing online misinformation is akin to backing up the Biden administration (which we suppose it is) and that wasn’t tolerated by Fox viewers:
@kilmeade [7] what the is @SteveDoocy [8] talking about ! “THE RULE” So out of hand no NORMAL minded person will listen to this INSANE BS no one tells us what to do w our bodies /health this is #USA [9]! #NOMASKSEVER [10] where hell are we living! You want VAX good for you! Stay out of my life!
— SAVE AMERICA VOTE #RED (@Cer11Lori) July 19, 2021 [11]
@foxandfriends [12] get rid of @SteveDoocy [8]
Covid crazy idiot who thinks everyone should get jabbed.@kilmeade [7]
— BobSacameno123 (@bobsacameno123) July 19, 2021 [13]
@pdoocy [14] could you please ask the @POTUS [15] or a member of his Administration to give us an idea when formal FDA approval for the Covid vaccines will take place? What's the hold up? @FoxNews [1] @foxandfriends [12] @TomiLahren [16] @seanhannity [17] @TuckerCarlson [18] @CNN [19] @OANN [20] @ABC [21] @NBCNews [22] @CBSNews [23] TY! pic.twitter.com/dxwAqdqWhk [24]
— Bill Moore (@BillMooreORL) July 16, 2021 [25]
@SteveDoocy [8] STOP pushing the vaccine; just Stop!!!! We will make up our own minds. GEEEZ
— Jeany Kingsman (@JeanyKingsman) July 19, 2021 [26]
@kilmeade [7] what the is @SteveDoocy [8] talking about ! “THE RULE” So out of hand no NORMAL minded person will listen to this INSANE BS no one tells us what to do w our bodies /health this is #USA [9]! #NOMASKSEVER [10] where hell are we living! You want VAX good for you! Stay out of my life!
— SAVE AMERICA VOTE #RED (@Cer11Lori) July 19, 2021 [11]
****
Peace, y’all
Jason
[email protected] and on Twitter @JasonMiciak