Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said Friday her organization planned to file suit against the administration after President Joe Biden issued a sweeping COVID-19 vaccine mandate a day earlier, claiming that he “lied” about his intentions when he addressed the subject shortly after winning the election.
“Joe Biden told Americans when he was elected that he would not impose vaccine mandates. He lied,” McDaniel said Friday.
“Now small businesses, workers, and families across the country will pay the price,” she added.
“Like many Americans, I am pro-vaccine and anti-mandate,” the chairwoman continued.
“Many small businesses and workers do not have the money or legal resources to fight Biden’s unconstitutional actions and authoritarian decrees, but when his decree goes into effect, the RNC will sue the administration to protect Americans and their liberties,” noted McDaniel.
During an address to the country Thursday, Biden blamed the ongoing pandemic on roughly 80 million Americans who have yet to get the vaccine.
He also said the issue isn’t one of “freedom.”
“This is not about freedom or personal choice,” Biden said. “It’s about protecting yourself and those around you, the people you work with, the people you care about, the people you love. My job as president is to protect all Americans.”
“We’ve been patient but our patience is wearing thin and your refusal has cost all of us,” he added.
Several Republican governors and state officials have also vowed to legally push back on the mandate, including Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor.
He released a statement announcing that he and his team are “preparing litigation” to defend state residents from “overreach of the federal government.”
We respect the right of Oklahoma businesses and individuals to make healthcare decisions for themselves and their families,” O’Connor said.
“My office will vigorously oppose any attempt by the federal government to mandate vaccines. We are preparing litigation to stand up for our rights and defend the rule of law against the overreach of the federal government,” he added.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem also joined the fray, saying her state would challenge the mandate legally as well.
“My legal team is standing by ready to file our lawsuit the minute @joebiden files his unconstitutional rule. This gross example of federal intrusion will not stand,” she tweeted.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also announced Thursday that he intends to “fight” Biden’s sweeping mandates.
“How could we get to the point in the country where you would want to have someone lose their job because of their choice about the vaccine or not? I mean, look, some folks have reasons to do — maybe they’re making the wrong decision — but to put them out of work and not let them earn a living because of this, I just think that that’s fundamentally wrong,” DeSantis said.
“I do not believe that people should lose their jobs over this issue, and we will fight that. If they try to do that through a rule like the Department of Labor, I don’t think they have the legal authority to do that, but we obviously would want to support protections for people who are just trying to earn a living,” he added.
Syndicated with permission from USA Features News.
