Senator Tom Cotton, a possible Republican presidential candidate, says, “Inflation is definitely hurting Granite Staters, and it’s the direct result of Joe Biden and Maggie Hassan supporting Joe Biden 100% of the time to print and tax and spend trillions of dollars this year with money that we don’t have on programs that we don’t need.”
In a lively interview with WGIR’s Chris Ryan, Senator Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas and possible 2024 presidential candidate, discusses the chances of a government shutdown caused by GOP Senators forcing a vote on President Biden’s vaccine mandates; debates with the host about comparing COVID mandates to George Washington’s ordering the Continental Army to get inoculated against smallpox; gives his takeaways on the Supreme Court hearing oral arguments about the Mississippi abortion case; assesses the causes of inflation and labor shortages; and describes his busy itinerary for his visit to New Hampshire on Friday, December 3.
Senator Cotton states unequivocally that he is in favor of vaccines and has been vaccinated, but he believes strongly that the government doesn’t have the right to mandate that a person get a vaccination.
“There is no part of our Constitution which gives the federal government the power to dictate that someone take a vaccine.”
The Senator maintains that this is a personal health decision which an individual should make after consulting with their doctor. Senator Cotton thinks that it is unfair and foolish to force frontline workers like nurses and EMTs, military personnel and supply chain workers to get a COVID shot or be fired at this critical time.
“I don’t want to see a government shutdown. The Democrats simply need to provide us with an opportunity to vote; and, if they support these unlawful, overreaching vaccine mandates, then they should be willing to go on the record and say so.”
The host and the Senator had a lively back and forth discussion where they compared and contrasted George Washington’s order that the Continental Army be inoculated for smallpox and the current COVID mandates.
Senator Cotton, who served with distinction in combat as an officer in Iraq with the 101st Airborne and in Afghanistan with TAAC-Train Advise Assist Command, a NATO counterinsurgency operation, considers ordering members of the military to be vaccinated to be lawful and prudent.
The Senator objects to forcing military personnel and private citizens to be vaccinated against their will and without exceptions for medical reasons or religious objections. Senator Cotton believes that vaccinations were on the rise prior to President Biden’s mandate.
“Unfortunately, I think that these mandates had the effect of putting the brakes on the increased vaccination rate. Many Arkansans, who were going to get vaccinated, decided not to after Joe Biden imposed these mandates. I suspect that many Granite Staters, with their fierce independent streak, had the same reaction.”
Senator Cotton, who also has a law degree from Harvard, discusses the Supreme Court considering the Mississippi abortion law from which challenges Roe v. Wade. The Senator believes that it is too soon to predict which way that the High Court will rule.
The Senator makes several arguments supporting the possibility that the Supreme Court will rule to overturn Roe v. Wade and have abortion laws decided in state legislatures or by Congress.
On the economic problems facing the country, Senator Cotton said, “Inflation is definitely hurting the people of Arkansas and Granite Staters, and it’s the direct result of Joe Biden and Maggie Hassan supporting Joe Biden 100% of the time to print and tax and spend trillions of dollars this year with money that we don’t have on programs that we don’t need.”
Senator Cotton also blames the Federal Reserve for failing in its mission to control inflation and will not vote to confirm Chairman Powell when his term expires.
The people of New Hampshire will many opportunities to meet Senator Tom Cotton today. The Senator will be meeting with law enforcement officials at St. Anselm’s this morning, a manufacturing plant in Milford this afternoon to discuss supply chain issues, and meeting with Republicans in Cheshire County.
“Cheshire County, or as Joe Biden would say, ‘Vermont’”.