GOP presidential hopefuls take renewed aim at efforts to combat covid
-19
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to surge throughout the United States, Republican presidential hopefuls are taking renewed aim at the measures being implemented by Democratic state and local officials to combat the virus, arguing that such efforts have gone too far and are infringing on individual liberties. In recent weeks, the Trump administration has criticized measures such as mask mandates and restrictions on businesses, while numerous Republican presidential candidates have echoed his sentiment, accusing Democrats of being overly harsh and palpable even when confronted with a virus that has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans.
However, in stark contrast, some Republican presidential hopefuls are calling for more stringent measures to be implemented, with former South Carolina governor and current GOP presidential candidate Mark Sanford going so far as to suggest the formation of a “national pandemic czar.” He and others, including former Massachusetts governor and current candidate Bill Weld, are pressing state and local governments to embrace more restrictive public health measures, such as mandatory mask laws, to control the spread of Covid-19.
At the same time, Republican candidates are charismatically pursuing an alternative approach in which individual liberty remains of primary importance. Candidates such as Florida governor Ron DeSantis, who maintains that Florida has struck the appropriate balance between public health and safety and individual liberty, are urging other states and localities to reject excess governmental control while placing emphasis on personal responsibility.
Regardless of where they stand on the matter, the Republican presidential hopefuls have made quite clear that combatting the coronavirus and protecting American lives will remain a top priority on the campaign trail.