On Monday, it was revealed that more hypocrisy just oozed from the Michigan governor’s office – and this time it flowed straight from the top.
On two occasions earlier this month, senior aides to Michigan’s Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer violated her own recommendations against interstate travel.
One of them, Tricia Foster, the state’s chief operations officer, posted photos of herself and her daughter and her daughter’s friends on the beach in Florida while not wearing masks. Foster went to the Sunshine State after Whitmer cautioned against out-of-state travel, especially for spring break.
In the other instance, Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services Director Elizabeth Hertel, a Whitmer appointee, visited Gulf Shores, Alabama, which TripAdvisor.com describes as a “resort community … known for its bright white beaches and soothing warm water.”
Now, it’s Whitmer herself.
According to the Detroit News, an independent news service reported on Monday that Whitmer traveled to Florida to visit her father, who lives in West Palm Beach.
The News noted that the trip occurred at least four weeks ago before COVID infections in Michigan really began to skyrocket.
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Whitmer on Sunday was on “Meet the Press,” and discussed the hazards of her constituents returning from the Sunshine State.
“Michigan and Florida are not next to each other. But this is the time of the year that snowbirds come home from Florida, where people are going on spring break, and all of these things can contribute to spread,” said Whitmer. “That’s why we’re imploring people to take this seriously, mask up, get tested.”
Whitmer has reportedly received the first of two vaccinations.
But Republicans suggested she’s not immune from scandal on this issue.
State House Appropriations Chairman Thomas Albert asserted Whitmer operates by her own set of rules.
“I understand the desire to visit an ill relative, and I hope for good health for the governor’s family — but I have heard countless stories of heartbroken Michiganders who wanted to visit sick family members during this pandemic and haven’t been able to do so,” Albert told the News.
“I don’t understand how the governor thinks it’s OK for her and members of her administration to travel out-of-state while issuing recommendations to the rest of us that we stay home.”
“Gretchen Whitmer’s blatant display of hypocrisy is an insult to every single Michigander impacted by her lockdown orders and travel warnings,” said Ted Goodman, spokesman for the Michigan Republican Party.
During the pandemic, Democratic politicians have proven adept at getting snared in controversy after violating lockdown or masking rules they mandated or advocated.