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GOP Sen. Ron Johnson Praises Prolific Anti-Vaxxer Alex Berenson As ‘Courageous Voice Of Reason’

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This article is more than 2 years old.
Updated Aug 2, 2021, 04:11pm EDT

Topline

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) on Monday heaped praise upon former New York Times reporter and Covid-19 vaccine skeptic Alex Berenson, and urged his supporters to subscribe to Berenson’s newsletter as he becomes increasingly alienated him from his party’s leadership, which overwhelmingly supports the vaccine.

Key Facts

Johnson tweeted that Berenson has been a “courageous voice of reason throughout the pandemic,” telling followers to subscribe to Berenson’s Substack to get a “valuable counter perspective to the group-think mainstream media” following Berenson’s suspension from Twitter

Just in recent days, Berenson, who also opposes masks and lockdowns, has argued people should contract coronavirus rather than take the vaccine and earned a rebuke from the Auschwitz Memorial for comparing vaccines to the Holocaust.

Berenson took to Tucker Carlson Tonight on Saturday to rail against his Twitter suspension – the frequent Fox News guest has found a home for his rhetoric in some right-wing circles, revving up the crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference last month by celebrating underwhelming vaccination rates.

Johnson is rapidly positioning himself as one of the GOP’s most vocal coronavirus vaccine skeptics, criticizing the “big push” to get everyone vaccinated in April, and holding an event in June to highlight severe adverse reactions to the vaccines, which are rare.

Johnson’s stance on the vaccines puts him in line with a handful of House Republicans, such as Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), but out of step with the Senate GOP – Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has been one of the loudest GOP voices promoting the shots.

Key Background 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found the three vaccines authorized for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration are “safe and effective,” with nearly 350 million doses administered in the U.S. as of late July.

Crucial Quote

“I don’t encourage, I don’t discourage. I’m trying to provide accurate information… I supported Operation Warp Speed. I’m not an anti-vaxxer. I’ve gotten every other vaccination since the swine flu,” Johnson, who has said he won’t take the coronavirus vaccine due to a prior coronavirus infection, told Forbes last month.

Big Number

48%. That’s the share of the vote Democrat Tom Nelson, a county executive, garnered in a Change Research poll conducted for his campaign in March. Johnson, who has not yet said if he will run, garnered 44% in the survey.

Chief Critic

“Time and again, Ron Johnson has spread dangerous conspiracy theories and put Wisconsinites in harm's way by downplaying the severity of COVID-19. His blatant disregard for public health is exactly why we need to change the game in the United States Senate and send new leadership to Washingnton, DC,” Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who is also running for Johnson’s seat, told Forbes in a statement.

What To Watch For

Johnson has signaled he may hold off on announcing his reelection intentions until well into 2022 despite being up for reelection that November, freezing a prospective GOP primary field that would have likely already taken shape had he opted out early. Democrats have expressed a desire to face off against Johnson, who they see as a uniquely vulnerable incumbent.

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