In the continued effort to dismiss the severity of the virus that's killed over 700 thousand Americans and to politicize lifesaving vaccines which have proven to be safe and effective at dramatically reducing transmission, Republicans across the country are railing against private businesses and government sectors for requiring vaccinations.
Though vaccine mandates for other viruses are commonplace and were supported by the likes of George Washington himself, Republican elected officials have near-universally opposed companies requiring their workers to be vaccinated.
Most recently, Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order this week banning all COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
Another Republican elected official from Texas—Senator Ted Cruz—slammed the Biden administration for ordering the Labor Department to require vaccinations for businesses with more than 100 employees.
Cruz claimed the mandates were burdensome to the work force, writing:
"The federal government has no authority to force businesses in Texas and across the country to mandate their employees get vaccinated. American businesses are still recovering from this past year and a half. It is cruel and burdensome to impose this authoritarian mandate."
White House press secretary Jen Psaki was asked about similar claims that vaccine mandates jeopardize worker supply, and she took a shot at Cruz in her response.
Watch below.
Psaki said:
"I know world renowned business, travel, and health expert Senator Ted Cruz has made that point, but I wouldn't say that that is widely acknowledged or echoed by business leaders who have implemented these mandates, by health experts who've conveyed the way to get out of the pandemic is to ensure that we're doing exactly the steps the President has announced and we're working to implement. ... Ultimately, the job of the President of the United States is to lead."
Social media users supported her subtle jab at Cruz.
Others joined her in dunking on Cruz.
Ouch.
