- Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn defended the Neanderthals after Biden called the decisions of some states to suspend the masks’ “Neanderthal thinking” mandates.
- “Neanderthals are hunter-gatherers, they are protectors of their families, they are resilient, they are resourceful and they take care of their own children,” said Blackburn.
- Lawmakers and members of the public scoffed at Blackburn, pointing out that Neanderthals are extinct.
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Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee defended the Neanderthals after President Joe Biden criticized Texas and Mississippi for suspending their mask mandates and called the decision “Neanderthal thinking”.
“I hope that now everyone has realized that these masks make a difference,” Biden told reporters on Wednesday. “The last thing we need is for the Neanderthal to think that while it’s okay, take off your mask, forget it. It still matters.”
In an interview with Fox Business Thursday morning, Blackburn suggested it was a really good thing to be called a Neanderthal.
“Neanderthals are hunter-gatherers, they are protectors of their families, they are resistant, they are resourceful, they take care of their own,” said the Republican senator said. “So, I think Joe Biden needs to rethink what he’s saying.”
Shortly after she made the comment, other lawmakers and members of the public scoffed at Blackburn and pointed out that the use of her present time was incorrect, since the Neanderthals are extinct.
—Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) March 4, 2021
—Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla) March 4, 2021
—Susan J. Demas 🏔 (@sjdemas) March 4, 2021
—Emily C. Singer (@CahnEmily) March 4, 2021
The president emphasized on Wednesday that it is “critical” for officials to “follow science”.
“Wash your hands – hot water, do it often – wear a mask and stay socially at a distance,” he told reporters. “I know you all know that. I would like to know that some of our elected officials knew this.”
States across the country have begun to ease their COVID-19 restrictions as the country continues to see a drop in new cases and hospitalizations. Biden also announced earlier this week that Johnson & Johnson is collaborating with rival pharmaceutical giant Merck to expand production of the J&J vaccine.
As a result of the partnership, Biden said, the United States is on track to have enough vaccine doses for every American adult by the end of May.
Biden added that he expects the country to return to normal “around next year”. But he emphasized that Americans must “continue to be smart” by following COVID-19 guidelines.