House Republican Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney defended Republican members who chose not to wear a face mask at an outdoor press conference on Wednesday.
“I don’t think it ought to be a partisan issue, and many of us are wearing masks. I’m wearing a mask, and I think, when you’re at the podium speaking, you’re socially distanced, you’re outside, and you’re taking precautions. I think that’s important,” Cheney said.
The wearing of face masks appears to be split along party lines, with Democrats criticizing President Trump for not wearing a face mask at events, such as the laying of the wreath at Arlington Cemetery and a tour of a Ford Motor Co. plant, while Republicans mocked former Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden for wearing face masks outdoors in Delaware, noting that both are quarantining with each other.
“This should not be a partisan issue. I think that’s one of the worst situations that we’ve come to is the issues surrounding the health of the nation, and what we need to do is keep the pandemic from becoming so partisan,” Cheney added.
A number of states and municipalities have made mask-wearing mandatory, including localities in California and Virginia.
