Republicans urge the ignorant to ‘just say no’ to science

Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis shakes hands with fairgoers after taking part in a Fair-Side Chat with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds at the Iowa State Fair, Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa. Republicans are responding to a late summer spike in COVID-19 by raising familiar fears that government-issued lockdowns and mask mandates are on the horizon. GOP presidential hopefuls including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and former President Donald Trump have spread this narrative. (Jeff Roberson/AP)

At bottom, Trumpism is about resentment. In large part, it’s the lower half of the high school class rebelling against the honor students: the ones with all the fancy degrees who can’t change a tire. The girly men and the homely women. The ones who think they’re better than you.

So it should come as no surprise to learn that only a bare majority of Republicans told a Politico poll that they think the COVID vaccine is safe and effective — 52%, to be precise. Fully 48% believe that it’s dangerous and useless. Unsurprising, but shocking nevertheless.