The right-wing reaction to and attempts to downplay the severity of the global pandemic has led to more than a little frustration.
But it’s also the cause of some truly outrageous takes.
Lavern Spicer, a Republican candidate who failed her run for Florida’s 24th congressional district in 2020, has tweeted about COVID before, though that was a strange comparison top HIV.
This time, it’s just a bonkers anagram.
FUN FACT: If you rearrange the letters of Delta and Omicron, you get MEDIA CONTROL 🤷🏾♀️
— Lavern Spicer (@lavern_spicer) December 2, 2021
In the tweet above, Spicer tries to imply some devious plot behind COVID, a favorite conspiracy theory of right-wing personalities.
She does this by pointing out that:
“FUN FACT: If you rearrange the letters of Delta and Omicron, you get MEDIA CONTROL”
If you’re unaware, the names ‘Delta’ and ‘Omicron’ are Greek letters used to help identify and differentiate different strains of the coronavirus that currently plague the world.
So unless the ancient Greeks and later scholars who Romanized the names of the letter somehow could predict the future, it’s unlikely these names have any meaning.
Maybe Spicer will consider that before tweeting next time.
And we would have got away with it too if it wasn’t for our love of anagrams https://t.co/YeEYAKUWCS
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) December 2, 2021
[media conspiracy department, head office] and you’re sure you haven’t snuck an anagram in there this time, Tom Marvolo, because - and I was waiting to tell you this in your annual review - because we are all sick of our plans being revealed in a fucking anagram
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) December 2, 2021
Do you think the world is run like a movie, with evil villains unable to resist leaving clues just easy enough for Nicholas Cage or Tom Hanks to solve?
— M.F. 🎗 (@MaracasFlute) December 2, 2021
Because that's exactly what would happen if there were a secretive worldwide media plot, they would make up a series of anagrams that would easily expose them.
— RGrichardgrant1 (@grichardgrant1) December 2, 2021
This is like when Jk tried to make an anagram of Voldemort https://t.co/UQ39cOlYpq
— Daniel (@Bobdog7drj) December 2, 2021
If you were going to try and hatch a plan to take over the world's media, wouldn't you hide it better?
— Stuart Kane 🏳️🌈🏴 (@StuartKane19) December 2, 2021
The delta variant of COVID-19 is the current predominant variant of the virus in the United States. It is believed to be twice as contagious as previous variants that ravaged the country in 2020.
By contrast, the omicron variant was first discovered in South Africa, but has since been discovered in several countries on five continents including Europe and North America. It has an elevated concern, with it possibly being more infectious than the standard COVID strain, but details aren’t sure at this time.
It’s possible that the omicron variant will end up being less important than people are treating it at the moment.
Basically, the fact that these versions of the virus are the talking points is little more than coincidence, and not a conspiracy.
FUN FACT: If you rearrange the letters of Lavern Spicer you get Revels In Crap.
— ⚙️Lori Alden Holuta⚙️ (@LoriAldenHoluta) December 2, 2021
'God Jesus' backwards sounds like sausage dog – WAKE UP SHEEPLE! https://t.co/e4gZ6knJTY
— Andy Ryan (@ItsAndyRyan) December 2, 2021
You also get EROTIC ALMOND, what's your point?
— Dan 🏴🇪🇺 (@swingdownbeat) December 2, 2021
That can’t be a coincidence!!
— Mitch Guerkung (@mchgerkin) December 5, 2021
Racecar? A Toyota racecar?
— Andy Ryan (@ItsAndyRyan) December 2, 2021
In English, no less. Using a different alphabet.
— Kevin Kehres (@kevin_kehres) December 5, 2021
The ongoing issue with the global pandemic might be better solved if more people were vaccinated. But even when a children’s show tries to promote this safe and effective form of medicine, the political right can’t stay silent.
They just have to bad mouth Big Bird.
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Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images