'Grotesque hypocrisy': Texas governor slammed for signing law that bans businesses from asking for 'vaccine i​nfo'

'Grotesque hypocrisy': Texas governor slammed for signing law that bans businesses from asking for 'vaccine i​nfo'
Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and his Democratic challenger, Lupe Valdez, during their gubernatorial debate at the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, Texas, Friday evening, Sept. 28, 2018. // LBJ Library photo by Jay Godwin 09/28/2018
David Badash
and
The New Civil Rights Movement
June 08, 2021Bank

Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott is being highly criticized after promising to sign a law to ban businesses from asking for any "vaccine information," including banning "vaccine passports."

Abbott, who is running for re-election, facing a possible primary challenge from the state GOP chairman, is underwater in his favorability ratings: 45% unfavorable to 43% favorable.

On Monday, attacked by an editor at Glenn Beck's The Blaze for allowing Carnival Cruise Lines "to sail out of Galveston and push vaccine passports," Abbott replied less than two hours later: "I'm signing a law today that prohibits any business operating in Texas from requiring vaccine passports or any vaccine information."

"Texas is open 100% without any restrictions or limitations or requirements," he bragged.

Many pointed out that banning vaccine passports or even asking about inoculation status is a governmental restriction or requirement, and businesses have a right to protect their employees.

"Grotesque hypocrisy," is how former New Yorker writer James Surowiecki characterized Abbott's move.


Many, like this University of Houston professor, invoked comparisons to anti-gay bakeries.


Here's what some others are saying:













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