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CNN’s politics reporter and editor-at-large Chris Cillizza posted a photo on Twitter of a “post-Christmas gift” of COVID tests he bought himself which prompted the former co-host of “The View,” Meghan McCain, to accuse him of “hoarding” tests while others had to wait for them on Tuesday.
“I know mothers of young children who have been waiting in long lines for hours in the cold to get tested but please hoard these for yourself Chris,” McCain tweeted.
“1. There are 8 total tests. 2. They are for my family of 4, my mom and the family we are spending New Year’s with. That is not hoarding. But why ask or give the benefit of the doubt? That’s not what you do,” Cillizza shot back.
Cillizza had evidently bought eight hard-to-obtain BinaxNOW rapid COVID tests for his family but tweeted that he got them for himself instead. He was dragged on social media for the move during the holiday Omicron surge but McCain’s attack took it up a notch.
Post-Christmas gift to myself pic.twitter.com/BiDmAu6sCI
— Chris Cillizza (@ChrisCillizza) December 29, 2021
The Daily Beast pointed out that most people are waiting for the “more broadly accurate PCR tests that cannot be self-administered.”
The tests that Cillizza purchased are the more expensive at-home tests. It is puzzling why he felt the need to show them off on social media but to many, McCain’s attack against Cillizza didn’t make much sense either.
“I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt when you start giving conservatives the benefit of the doubt,” McCain added, making it clear she didn’t believe his assertions.
“Right. That’s what this is about. Nice try,” Cillizza clapped back.
McCain then wrote, “Wanna know how many Covid tests I have at home with my 15 month old? Zero.”
In the end, McCain confusingly deleted the tweets attacking Cillizza. Instead, she replaced them with a New Year’s resolution to “stop engaging in twitter fights with media dumbf**ks.”
Actually – my 2022 New Years resolution is to stop engaging in twitter fights with media dumbfucks.
Happy Holidays!
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) December 29, 2021
McCain wasn’t the only one to go after the CNN commentator. Fox News meteorologist Janice Dean slammed Chris Cillizza, writing, “People are fighting on streets of New York to get these tests but this guy shows off. Gross.”
She added, “It reminds me of Andrew Cuomo giving out VIP (and very rare) Covid tests to his friends and family (who also worked at CNN) while prohibiting nursing homes to test Covid patients. It’s unbelievably awful.”
It reminds me of Andrew Cuomo giving out VIP (and very rare) Covid tests to his friends and family (who also worked at CNN) while prohibiting nursing homes to test Covid patients. It’s unbelievably awful.
— Janice Dean (@JaniceDean) December 29, 2021
He didn’t reply to Dean, but Cillizza did get his hackles up over being attacked concerning the tests.
“The idea, which has flooded my Twitter feed over the past 12 hours, that testing for Covid-19 or taking actions to avoid getting it is somehow unmanly is absolutely appalling. Also, idiotic,” he wrote.
The idea, which has flooded my Twitter feed over the past 12 hours, that testing for Covid-19 or taking actions to avoid getting it is somehow unmanly is absolutely appalling. Also, idiotic.
— Chris Cillizza (@ChrisCillizza) December 29, 2021
One critic mockingly compared Cillizza to “Seinfeld” character Elaine Benes, who in one episode hoarded “contraceptive sponges” that had been taken off the market, buying tons of them from a pharmacy amid the fictional shortage.
He’s Elaine Benes with the Today sponge https://t.co/xsLbiwZavz
— Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) December 29, 2021
This is the same guy who tweeted a request to the “doctors of Twitter” for advice on whether he should go bowling where there would be masks “most of the time.”
*Sigh*
This is not a question for doctors. It's a question you ask yourself based on how far you have come in accepting the reality of Covid-19 as endemic.
It appears there is plenty more work to do: https://t.co/HCLfPdnzcg https://t.co/1AZ12n1SEh
— AG (@AGHamilton29) December 29, 2021
Cillizza also stated earlier this month, according to Fox News, that he was dejected over another surge of the virus. He said he had been “fooling” himself for the past 18 months.
Others dogpiled Cillizza mercilessly over his tweet:
did you get a box of Kotex free for the purchase of a case?
— Tony FJB Bruno (@TonyBrunoShow) December 29, 2021
Hoarding tests amid nation-wide shortage? Not very diverse, equitable or inclusive, @ChrisChilliza https://t.co/lp27bnGin5
— Bruce Hooley (@BHOOLZ) December 29, 2021
You are a terrible gift-giver https://t.co/dEzg9YSffV
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) December 29, 2021
i got a Christmas gift for you, Chris. pic.twitter.com/QQRJ4a6Tqd
— Siraj Hashmi (@SirajAHashmi) December 29, 2021
Just stay home, all the time. Never leave it and don't ever have visitors. It's just safer that way. https://t.co/MB7nw7kzwN
— Nan Hayworth, M.D. (@NanHayworth) December 29, 2021
The perfect gift for the godless fear-based man @ChrisCillizza https://t.co/R7Um8fo31Z
— Nick Searcy, INSURRECTIONAL FILM & TELEVISION STAR (@yesnicksearcy) December 29, 2021
A panicked CNN writer is boasting of his hoarded stack of COVID tests (retail price $24 each).
Big Pharma could not be happier.💰 https://t.co/ScLL9CAwdd
— BDW (@BryanDeanWright) December 29, 2021
Can I give you some unsolicited advice and recommend you, ummmm, delete this tweet? https://t.co/NeCk1Eu8Rk
— David L. Bahnsen (@DavidBahnsen) December 29, 2021
There's currently a test shortage in NYC/DC https://t.co/dhUQXTxUnY
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) December 29, 2021
Holy shit 😳 this is virtue signaling nowadays
— Anarcho-Troglodyte 🚁 (@juarezhoracio) December 29, 2021
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