At the end of her Monday show on MSNBC, Andrea Mitchell condemned Republicans for daring to criticize Dr. Anthony Fauci ahead of the 2022 midterms and Dr. Peter Hotez claimed the existence of criticism towards him and Fauci provide evidence that it is "a tough time to be a scientist."
Mitchell could not understand why anyone would be critical of Fauci, the only possible explanation is politics. "And the New York Times has focused on the continuing threats that the Republicans in an almost in an organized way, Republicans running for office, turning Dr. Fauci into some type of boogeyman or enemy," she said.
"Is this their way to try to woo Trump voters? I mean, I know you don’t delve into politics, but what kind of crisis is this for people in public health," she wondered.
The idea that Hotez does not "delve into politics" is laughable. He does not take criticism, including criticism from NewsBusters, well and has portrayed himself and Fauci as the very definition of science.
So, it was not surprising when Hotez got political: "It's, it’s awful and, you know, I had Fox News target me for two nights last week and it's, it’s very scary when that happens because there’s a lot of followers who then send you threats and you have to bring in security and it, it causes a lot of disruption and fear."
Hotez naturally omitted that he was criticized for urging the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security to do more on the "anti-science empire," among other things.
Adding to his sense of martyrdom on behalf of science, Hotez declared: "I understand what Tony’s going through and so this has become part of the new, new aspect of what the far-right has been doing, not only working to discredit the scientists, the science, but actually discrediting individual scientists and, and going after them so this is, it’s a tough time to be a scientist, as we say."
Mitchell wrapped up the segment and the show by agreeing, "Which is why we’re all so grateful to you and to Dr. Fauci as well for just putting up with this."
Hotez may wish to be considered above political criticism, but when you claim that you are and that the government should go after your critics, you are going to be criticized because you deserve it.
This segment was sponsored by Subway.
Here is a transcript of the February 7 show:
MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell Reports
2/7/2022
12:55 PM ETANDREA MITCHELL: And the New York Times has focused on the continuing threats that the Republicans in an almost in an organized way, Republicans running for office, turning Dr. Fauci into some type of boogeyman or enemy. Is this their way to try to woo Trump voters? I mean, I know you don’t delve into politics, but what kind of crisis is this for people in public health.
PETER HOTEZ: Yeah, well. Yeah no, it's, it’s awful and, you know, I had Fox News target me for two nights last week and it's, it’s very scary when that happens because there’s a lot of followers who then send you threats and you have to bring in security and it, it causes a lot of disruption and fear. So, I, I understand what Tony’s going through and so this has become part of the new, new aspect of what the far-right has been doing, not only working to discredit the scientists, the science, but actually discrediting individual scientists and, and going after them so this is, it’s a tough time to be a scientist, as we say.
MITCHELL: Which is why we’re all so grateful to you and to Dr. Fauci as well …
HOTEZ: Thank you
MITCHELL: … for just putting up with this.
