Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey has struggled to get people to take seriously his potential run for the governorship of his home state of Texas.
But after sending a message to current Republican Governor Greg Abbott during his recovery from the virus, McConaughey just might have coined himself a catchy new campaign slogan perfect for our times.
The actor tweeted at the governor to wish him well after his announcement to wish him well, and the message is absolute vintage McConaughey.
Glad you\u2019re now testing negative for Covid Governor Abbott. Thank you for mentioning that \u201cthe vaccination you received made your infection brief and mild.\u201d Health to you, Cecilia, Texas, and beyond. mask, vax and just keep livin, mcconaugheyhttps://twitter.com/gregabbott_tx/status/1429199733336248327\u00a0\u2026— Matthew McConaughey (@Matthew McConaughey) 1629587227
Abbott announced August 21st that he had officially tested negative for the virus after initially testing positive four days prior and immediately quarantining. Abbott, who is not only fully vaccinated but has also reportedly received a third booster dose, credited the his vaccination for his "brief & mild" case of the virus.
McConaughey referenced this in his tweet, thanking Abbott for lauding the vaccine's efficacy.
"Glad you're now testing negative for Covid Governor Abbott. Thank you for mentioning that "the vaccination you received made your infection brief and mild." Health to you, Cecilia, Texas, and beyond."
McConaughey then closed his tweet with slogan that is so vintage McConaughey it almost seems like it has to be a joke.
"mask, vax and just keep livin, mcconaughey"
"Just keep livin," one of McConaughey's signature mottos and the name of his foundation, comes from his earliest film roles in Richard Linklater's Dazed and Confused. Mashed together with solid advice for avoiding the virus, and you have the kind of timely and quotable slogan politicians dream of.
It was the subtext of McConaughey's tweet, though, that struck many people as most significant in regards to his potential political ambitions. Abbott has repeatedly downplayed both the pandemic and the vaccines, and has blocked even the most basic preventative measures against the virus in Texas, such as school mask mandates.
He even signed an illegal executive order blaming Texas's skyrocketing virus rates not on mask refusal and vaccine hesitancy, but on "illegal immigrants" bringing the virus over the border, an accusation with no basis in fact.
Is "Max, vax and just keep livin" McConaughey's first shot fired at his would-be political opponent, or just another folksy McConaughey-ism? Who knows.
Either way, McConaughey's tweet had people on Twitter feeling "alright, alright, alright."
'Mask, vax and just keep livin'. \n\nI am loving McConaughey handing Abbott his arse on a plate with true Texas charm.https://twitter.com/McConaughey/status/1429218537000751104\u00a0\u2026— Gr\u00e1inne Vedamanikam (@Gr\u00e1inne Vedamanikam) 1629842554
New email sign off:\n\n\u201cmask, vax and just keep livin, mcconaughey\u201dhttps://twitter.com/McConaughey/status/1429218537000751104\u00a0\u2026— M\u03b1tt Thom\u03b1s (@M\u03b1tt Thom\u03b1s) 1629749954
It is beyond refreshing to see someone like Matt McConaughey using his voice to say and do the right things.— Kris (@Kris) 1629597497
Ok @McConaughey, now take his house away from him. Sincerely, #Texas— Ruben From Deep (@Ruben From Deep) 1629587348
I would vote for a Governor McConaughey— Hey! It's Amy! (@Hey! It's Amy!) 1629598154
Matthew for Governor of Texas.https://twitter.com/McConaughey/status/1429218537000751104\u00a0\u2026— Jeff Thomson (@Jeff Thomson) 1629587479
My new motto is mask, vax and just keep livin. https://twitter.com/McConaughey/status/1429218537000751104\u00a0\u2026— \ud835\udc0b\ud835\udc22\ud835\udc2c\ud835\udc1a \u2728 (@\ud835\udc0b\ud835\udc22\ud835\udc2c\ud835\udc1a \u2728) 1629749622
Others used McConaughey's good wishes to highlight the dire need for virus prevention in Texas.
Our son Luke got Covid from his TXPS classroom-He struggled to breathe for 24 hours also fighting fever. Scary time for him and us\n\nHe\u2019s better now, he\u2019s tough, he\u2019s going to recover- but I hope @GregAbbott_TX will consider him and the other children of TX moving forwardpic.twitter.com/miJYCsH7M5— Daniel G. Killian (@Daniel G. Killian) 1629648825
Now challenge him to do the right thing and fight for our children to be protected from COVID19— Val Santos (@Val Santos) 1629589551
My cousin is a Nurse who got COVID from caring for those with it; she is very frustrated with people not masking and not getting the vaccine. I am glad to see someone from Texas (you) supporting masking/vaccination and pls don't go to huge crowded events!— AskMrFrisky.org (@AskMrFrisky.org) 1629750158
Yet while he\u2019s gloating about being vaccinated, he\u2019s doing everything he can to ensure my two children (who can\u2019t be vaccinated) get COVID.— ChemE Mommy (@ChemE Mommy) 1629642042
Despite his experience with the virus, Abbott has continued his fight against preventing its spread, renewing a previous executive order ban on vaccine mandates. Your move, prospective-governor McConaughey.
@sama/X
