Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted defends "Wuhan virus" tweet seen as insensitive

[left-of-center2012]

Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted on Saturday defended his tweet referring to the “Wuhan virus,” which health officials and Asian Americans have urged against using because of stigma and discrimination against people of Asian descent. Husted shared an article in which the ex-director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Robert Redfield said he believed the virus originated in a lab in China.

“So it appears it was the Wuhan Virus after all?” Husted tweeted Friday with an Axios story titled, “Ex-CDC director says he believes coronavirus originated in Wuhan lab.”

Husted was criticized in hundreds of comments on the tweet, many calling it racist and tone deaf in the light of recent attacks on Asian Americans and reports of increased harassment and discrimination. About 17 hours later, Husted tweeted: “To be clear, the tweet above referred only to the Chinese GOVERNMENT.”

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/politics/2021/03/28/coronavirus-ohio-lt-gov-jon-husted-defends-wuhan-virus-tweet/7029999002/

[marble falls]

1. Apparently being smart is not a requirement to be a GOP Lt Gov in Ohio.

[Alliepoo]

2. Uh huh. Sure Jon.

Gotta pander to the ignorant knuckle draggers here in Ohio to curry favor with them so they’ll vote for you when you run against no spine Dewine next election. The Chinese government (wink wink) riiiiiiight.