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Democratic lobbyist under fire for tweet about hoping Lindsey Graham dies of Covid

State Democratic party swiftly condemns remarks from consultant

Josh Marcus
San Francisco
Tuesday 03 August 2021 20:30 BST
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Dr Fauci says ‘things are going to get worse’ as Covid cases surge

A top Democratic consultant is under fire for now-deleted tweets in which she said she wished Republican senator Lindsey Graham would die from his recently announced case of Covid-19.

On Monday, the South Carolina conservative announced he had a case of the coronavirus, and soon afterwards, Rhode Island-based lobbyist Kate Coyne McCoy remarked about the top GOP leader dying.

“It’s wrong to hope he dies from Covid right?” she wrote. “Asking for a friend. #COVIDIsNotOver #Lindsey Graham.”

The Rhode Island Democratic Party strongly condemned Ms McCoy’s statement.

“The state Democratic party does not wish ill will on anyone and her statement does not reflect, in any way, the values of the Democratic Party. It was a stupid thing to do,” party chair Joe McNamara told radio host Gene Valicenti.

“It’s a horrible thing to say. Especially in light of the fact that we have lost so many loved ones to this pandemic. It’s very, very hurtful.”

The lobbyist, who has worked on behalf of high-profile organisations like Harvard and Brown University, apologised on Tuesday.

“I made a mistake,” she wrote on Twitter. “I used poor judgement which I obviously regret.”

Earlier this week, Mr Graham sent waves through Washington when he announced that he tested positive for Covid, even though he had been vaccinated already, the latest so-called “breakthrough” case of the resurgent pandemic.

“I was just informed by the House physician I have tested positive for #Covid19 even after being vaccinated,” he wrote on Twitter, adding that he was starting to have “flu-like symptoms” and felt like he had a “sinus infection”.

He took the moment to emphasise how grateful he was for the Covid vaccine.

“I am very glad I was vaccinated because without vaccination I am certain I would not feel as well as I do now,” he said in his statement. “My symptoms would be far worse.”

Mr Graham reportedly attended a party on West Virginia senator Joe Manchin’s house boat over the weekend with other vaccinated lawmakers. Mr Manchin has said he has since tested negative. Senators Mark Kelley, Jacky Rosen, Chris Coons, John Thune, and Maria Cantwell were also in attendance.

Last week, Mr Graham seemed to mock the idea of mask wearing, calling on Democrats to focusing on making migrants “mask up”, a seeming reaction to the recently changed CDC guidance suggesting vaccinated people start wearing masks again in high-transmission areas.

Public health officials are warning that even fully vaccinated people can still contract the coronavirus, though only a tiny fraction of the more than 164 million people who are vaccinated should expect a breakthrough case, which almost always have mild to zero symptoms and don’t lead to hospitalisations.

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