Editorial: Pols should be transparent about getting vaccine

Election season is never really over in America. Many have already hinted at or declared their intention to seek office or re-election in the 2022 midterms.

And, in the spirit of transparency, all those who throw their hat in the ring for local, state or national office should answer two questions at the outset of their campaign: When were you vaccinated? When did your family get the shot?

Because all the photo ops of masked officials doling out food boxes to jobless families count for little if they wangled special treatment for themselves and their family members in getting tested and vaccinated for COVID-19.

As more and more people get their shot and the country ramps up the reopening process, the political default is all too likely to emphasize how diligently pols worked to find funding, juice the stimulus and file legislation in their constituents’ best interests.

It will be easy to forget that many of these same leaders cut the line to protect themselves from the coronavirus before the most vulnerable.

The most glaring example is that of embattled New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

According to the Albany Times Union, Cuomo’s family and others with ties to his administration received priority COVID-19 testing last year.

Three people with direct knowledge of the matter told the Times Union that Cuomo and Health Commissioner Howard Zucker instructed high-level officials at the New York State Department of Health to conduct prioritized testing for these individuals. Cuomo’s brother, mother and at least one of his sisters were among those tested by the officials.

The health department officials would travel to private residences to complete the testing. These “sampling missions” had upset some of the officials, who were sometimes taken away from their work for the tests, according to one source.

Gov. Cuomo got the vaccine last week.

Many members of Congress and their staffers were vaccinated months ago — well ahead of  eligibility guidelines.

Their weak tea excuse was that they were doing it so the government could carry on. Sen. Elizabeth Warren said she took the shot “for the continuity of government.” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez asserted her shot was “part of a continuity of governance plan.”

Sen. Ed Markey rolled up his sleeve in December, as did Rep. Ayanna Pressley.

It’s March, and people are repeatedly hitting the refresh button on their computers to find an open slot at a vaccine site, and driving several towns over when one becomes available. Why shouldn’t our elected leaders share the same frustrations and tedium that their constituents do?

Legislators shouldn’t live in a rarified world, elevated from the hoi polloi by dint of access to superlative health care, generous pensions and other perks most taxpayers do without.

The pandemic has been an excellent litmus test of those who walk the talk, and those who don’t. As the midterm campaigns get underway, many will take credit for doing yeoman’s work for the people. Some have, impressively.

Memories are too often short, and political line-jumping may not be top of mind by time the office-seekers start the rounds of community listening sessions and meet-and-greets in earnest.

Which makes it that much more important for campaigners to announce their vax dates. It’s not the be-all and end-all of character assessment, but it does give voters a chance to see just how important their well-being is to the candidate in question.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3rq7soI