Right Wing Tweeters Livid Over White House’s New Disease Control Daddy

Monkeypox is at present spreading throughout the nation (and the world at giant), with over 21,000 cases reported within the United States, in line with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as of August 22. After a faltering preliminary response, the White House has taken a extra aggressive strategy in its response and outreach relating to the outbreak, which included the Aug. 2 appointment of a brand new Monkeypox Response Deputy Coordinator: Demetre Daskalakis. Daskalakis has a protracted resume of high-level public well being expertise—he served as covid incident commander for New York City and led the CDC’s HIV prevention division—however he additionally occurs to be every thing conservatives hate: scorching, homosexual, and sometimes shirtless.

Noted fool and serial plagiarist Benny Johnson tweeted Thursday, “Meet Demetre Daskalakis. Demetre was just appointed by Joe Biden to be the official White House National Monkeypox Response Deputy Coordinator. Demetre proudly wears the official symbol of the Church of Satan: The Pentagram. Joe Biden appointed a Satanist to the White House.” Johnson’s use of “just” is doing a whole lot of work, as Daskalakis’ appointment occurred a month in the past. Keep up, Benny.

Daily Caller author Dylan Housman wrote, “Meet Joe Biden’s monkeypox czar: a ‘progressive, radical gay’ doctor who performs HIV screenings in sex clubs and gives meningitis shots in drag. Now he’s in the White House.” Housman wrote an entire story about Daskalakis’ “suggestive clothing” and “dozens, if not hundreds, of shirtless photos showcasing the doctor’s physique.”

Right-wingers like Johnson and Housman are having a field day with Daskalakis’ Instagram, with a whole lot of emphasis on the truth that Daskalakis has worn shirts and leather-based harnesses with designs that resemble pentagrams, which in flip confirms their beliefs that President Biden’s administration is dwelling to Satanists (the submit hoc propter hoc fallacy). While the great physician could generally sport a menacing leather-based star, he balances the unholy vibes out with a large tattoo of Jesus on his abdomen, amongst a number of different items of ink.

Disparaging feedback have flooded Daskalakis’ Instagram for the reason that harassment in opposition to him started this week, and he has taken his profile non-public. The White House didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

What’s fully unsurprising is how the conservative response to Daskalakis’ appointment includes criticism about his expression of sexuality, with little to say about how certified he could also be for this public well being place—he has levels from Columbia and Harvard, expertise as a director of Mount Sinai Health System, and a protracted stint with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Before becoming a member of the White House, he was recognized to have a singular strategy to public well being, particularly in his quest to cater to the LGBTQ+ group. A profile within the Atlantic in 2014 quotes Daskalakis because the “gay health warrior” who gave HIV and Hepatitis C screenings at a Manhattan S&M membership known as Paddles as patrons partied the night time away. Similarly, NBC News beforehand reported that Daskalakis would dress in drag as a nurse to provide meningitis vaccines at intercourse golf equipment.

While the right-wing rage in opposition to Daskalakis seems to be drowning out his infectious illness expertise and inventive strategy to public well being, many had been fast to come to his defense.

After conservative radio character Tim Young wrote of Daskalakis’ appointment, “I’m not making this up,” David Holland, a professor of infectious illnesses at Emory University, responded, “No, you’re not. He’s a brilliant scientist, tireless public servant, and has always worked right on the front lines, including this amazing ad campaign. My friend and my hero. Don’t be jealous because he also looks better than you with his shirt off.”