Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney on Friday tweeted out a photo of her Dad, former Vice President Dick Cheney, wearing a mask and the outcome was predictably explosive on social media.
“Dick Cheney says WEAR A MASK,” she tweeted along with the hashtag #RealMenWearMasks.
Criticism and praise came from all over the spectrum of the political universe as the wearing of a mask has become a political football.
Including a photo of Darth Vader, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, a frequent critic of both Cheneys, tweeted: “I liked your Dad’s original mask better!”
Receiving rare praise from the opinion pages of the Washington Post, columnist Monica Heese wrote, “Cheney showed up this week demonstrating that he respected public health. He understood that masks are both the best way to protect other people from your germs, and also one of the few reliable means of slowing the spread of the virus. He was humble enough to do what doctors and epidemiologists recommend. Thank you, Dick Cheney.”
In also agreeing with the former VP, a surprised doctor attributed it all to the weirdness of the year.
“Truly did not expect to ever say this but, hey, it’s 2020 and you never know what’ll come next: I agree with Dick Cheney,” Dr. Kristy Schwartz tweeted.
The left-leaning New York Daily News noted how the vice president’s stance doesn’t line-up with many who might normally agree with him.
“Both Cheneys are conservative hawks, though their support of face masks puts them at odds with hard-core right-wingers like Trump,” the tweeted.
Most would disagree that the president is a “hard-core right-winger” but the observation is noteworthy in that many in the more conservative wing of the Republican Party aren’t big fans of the mask-movement.
Meanwhile, the reaction on Rep. Cheney’s Facebook page ranged from surprised to disappointment to bombastic to supportive.
“I absolutely can’t stand you but I believe in giving credit where it’s due so thanks for getting behind this. Have a good weekend!,” wrote one commenter.
