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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAnti-Vax Radio Hosts Keep Dying From COVID
(Vanity Fair) Conservative radio hosts all across America are losing their lives for the cause. In the past month alone, five talk radio personalities who were vocal COVID-19-deniers, anti-vaxxers, or anti-maskers have all died after contracting the virus. Most recently was WNDBs Marc Bernier, a late Daytona, Florida, talk radio host who dubbed himself Mr. Anti-Vax in December while assuring his listeners Im not taking it. True to his word, Bernier contracted COVID-19 roughly three weeks ago and his death was announced over the weekend by his radio stationwhich had awkwardly acknowledged his on-air anti-vaccine commentary just before his passing. (WNDB was contacted for clarification regarding its COVID-19 safety policies but the station did not respond.)
Though it might be assumed some right-wing media figures are simply feeding into the anti-vax frenzy to gin up outrage and ratings, the spate of recent deaths makes clear that, for a number of them, opposition to safe, effective vaccines and other pandemic mitigation efforts isnt just talk. Such radio rants against efforts to stop the pandemic come as Republican men, a large segment of the talk radio audience, have been shown to be particularly resistant to getting vaccinated.
On August 4, Newsmax fill-in host and longtime conservative talker Dick Farrel died from a severe damage from COVID-19 after spending the last weeks of his life claiming that the vaccine is Bogus Bull [Shit], referring to the pandemic as a SCAM DEMIC, and suggesting that the delta variant is an elaborate ruse orchestrated by Anthony Fauci to keep Americans fearing for their lives. Why take a vax promoted by people who lied [to you] all along about masks, where the virus came from and the death toll? he wrote in a July 3 Facebook post. Upon contracting the virus, Farrel was suddenly not willing to die for his previously held convictions, as one of his close friends, Amy Leigh Hair, claimed that he encouraged her to get the shot shortly before his death, saying that COVID-19 is no joke and then he said: I wish I had gotten [vaccinated]!
But instead of taking scientifically backed precautions beforehand, Farrel opted to ask his Facebook followers if hydroxychloroquine from Canada is safe in early July after stating, When a gubberment denies u access to HCQ [its] obvious they want you dead. It appears that Farrel was convinced that masks and vaccines werent saving Democratic politiciansor dummy craps, as he called themfrom COVID-19, but rather that they had access to hydroxychloroquine while banning others from taking it. In a statement to the Post, a Newsmax spokesperson noted that Farrel was a popular radio host in Florida and always a friend of Newsmax. We mourn his passing and hope everyone can learn from his unnecessary death the importance of getting vaccinated. ...............(more)
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/09/anti-vax-radio-hosts-dying-covid
SergeStorms
(19,195 posts)Now keep it up, you anti-everything assholes. When there aren't enough of you to play a game of Checkers, you will have officially won the anti-vax war.
samnsara
(17,619 posts)dalton99a
(81,455 posts)Elessar Zappa
(13,964 posts)May the culling of evil continue.
tanyev
(42,552 posts)NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)NOT FAST ENOUGH!!!
Midnight Writer
(21,745 posts)central scrutinizer
(11,648 posts)andym
(5,443 posts)they really believe the BS they talk about-- they are basically "useful idiots" for the right-wing. Not sure that Rush Limbaugh really believed-- he seemed to be consciously manipulating people for personal gain and political influence, but many of the newly deceased talk radio hosts show the power of the right-wing propaganda they help to spread-- they believe it themselves and are literally dying for the cause.
SWBTATTReg
(22,112 posts)How ironic is it that the disease that they all thoroughly mocked ends up killing them? Is it Karma or what?
aggiesal
(8,911 posts)about all the good and bad stories that came out of.this.
This might be a multi part mini-series or maybe a 26-week series
over multiple years.
John Ludi
(589 posts)Crunchy Frog
(26,579 posts)kairos12
(12,852 posts)With these assholes, I'm pulling for COVID.
Noodleboy13
(422 posts)Seriously folks. Look at what and where. We're not trying to be subtle. Plagues, severe storms, huge wildfires, crazy weather....we even did the bald eagle attack just to see if you're paying attention. All this crazy Naturally Occurring Phenomena isn't a mistake. We're pissed. Ya done pissed off the big boss and CEO, and she's normally pretty chill. Gaia has a wickedly dry sense of irony I've just discovered. And Covid?,hooboy are y'all fucked. I remember when Mr. Mortis, VP of operations, introduced this grinning snarling, tentacled little fucker. It got off leash and it took like 20 of us to contain this gibbering freak from trashing the place. You guys are barely trying to fight it. It's like a kid loose in a themepark down there.
I try not to gloat, but sometimes it's just so funny.
Also, if they let me offleash, this autumn in the upper rural midwest could be..........interesting? Fun?
Good luck
peace,
Noodleboy