Thank you to United States Senate candidate Bill Hagerty‘s spokesperson for explaining why many attendees at last Friday’s Republican fundraising dinner at the Convention Center were shipped in from other Tennessee counties.
Specifically, candidate Hagerty‘s spokesperson explained that most similar events were already canceled; and that the Hamilton County fundraiser was “like the only one” in East Tennessee.
Apparently because all of the other events had been canceled due to Covid-19 concerns and associated common sense.
First things first, obviously. “There are tables to fill,” she added.
Perfect. Ship people in from around the state, put them all together without masks or social distancing, in a county under a legal mask mandate, and then send them back to their home cities, where they can put their own local friends, family and neighbors at risk.
And leave the hard-working, local wait staff and servers wondering if they were exposed or will be exposing their families.
As a life-long Republican, this behavior concerns me. We are electing a candidate who we want to go to Washington to use good judgment and to make decisions which are in our best interest.
The wisest Republicans are the ones who chose to stay home last Friday night.
P.S.
The Hamilton County Health Department announced a COVID-19 exposure at the Lincoln Day Dinner event held Friday at the Convention Center, 1150 Carter St.
Officials said, "Case investigations revealed that a person attended the event while in their infectious period. It is recommended that anyone who attended this event get tested and monitor their symptoms.
What were the chances? 100 percent.
Our inability to grasp the obvious is uncanny.
Michael Mallen, health, safety and environmental attorney
* * *
I am rather offended and take exception to Mr. Mallen’s assertion that the “legal mask mandate” regarding the edict delivered by the Hamilton County medical officer, aided and abetted by the Hamilton County Mayor, was “legal" in the strictest definition of the word. I base this on two particulars:
1) The edict makes reference to a misdemeanor for non-compliance with a penalty of a $50 fine or 30 days in jail. There is no legal channel to plead “Not Guilty”, no trial judge to hear that plea, and no appeal. Thirty days in jail is probably a death sentence in today’s toxic jail environment. How many homeless people can afford to pay $50? So it’s pay up or die...
2) There is no police officers’ discretion allowed. Case in point - under the edict as written, I (and probably countless others) am exempt from meeting the mask-wearing for at least two reasons - I am hearing impaired and suffer from asthma; I have VA issued hearing aids and use prescription meds for the latter. I refuse to bother a doctor in these difficult times and waste his time just to provide a letter saying I need those to live/survive. The mere fact I wear hearing aids and have a prescription inhaler with me should be sufficient proof of my need. And yet……..and yet, under the edict I am guilty as charged. Except there is no charge, no plea, no judge, and no appeal.
The Wall Street Journal this week printed an article about the complete failure of about 70 percent of the imported Chinese-made face masks to protect against anything smaller that a dust particle - that means the WuHan virus would pass through with ease. Seventy percent failure. They are produced in China by about 220 companies (all controlled by the Chinese government) and are labeled KN95, in an attempt to gain respectability.
None of the foregoing reasons meets the “legal mask mandate” smell-test.
Roland Smith