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Wolf Calls For Diamond To Be Censured After ‘Unmasked Community’ Letter

“Abhorrent, disrespectful, dangerous.”

Those three words led Gov. Tom Wolf’s press release on Thursday morning slamming state Rep. Russ Diamond’s press release about “hateful comments towards the unmasked community.”

Wolf is calling for the Lebanon County Republican to be censured by his colleagues over the press release, which he described as “nothing more than a thinly veiled attack on the LGBTQ community” and Health Sec. Dr. Rachel Levine, a transgender woman. 

“Rep. Diamond’s press release is nothing more than a thinly veiled attack on the LGBTQ community and the commonwealth’s Secretary of Health, Dr. Rachel Levine, a transgender woman, and a nationally respected leader in public health, whose bravery and resolve in the face of constant attacks is laudable,” Wolf said in the release. 

“Virtually no thinking person disputes mask-wearing as an effective means to stop the spread of COVID,” Wolf continued. “Proud non-mask-wearers such as Rep. Diamond are not displaying their freedom, but rather their ignorance and lack of respect for themselves, their families, neighbors and communities when they don’t wear a mask, and are likely leading to more spread of this dangerous virus.”

Diamond claimed in the release he sent out on the “unmasked community” on Wednesday that he was receiving “hateful and intolerant” comments for his decision to not wear a mask on social media. He also called for not only an apology on those who have criticized him and others who don’t wear a mask, but asked Pennsylvanians to “work towards a spirit of acceptance and welcoming towards unmasked individuals.”

Wolf continued in his release to say that Diamond was equating the way those without a mask are being treated to those in the LGBTQ community. 

“To equate any disrespect for those not wearing masks to the decades of disrespect, threats and violence against our LGBTQ community goes far beyond the hallmarks of a decent society,” Wolf said. “For these actions to come from a legislator elected to fairly represent all his constituents is simply unforgivable.”

“I am calling on Republican House leadership to introduce a resolution to censure the representative immediately,” Wolf continued. “We need the Republicans to stop spreading misinformation to the general public, and we badly need them to be more responsible and more responsive to the health and wellbeing of all Pennsylvanians. This dangerous, reckless behavior is not welcome in Pennsylvania.”

On Tuesday, Levine addressed and denounced a series of transphobic attacks against her. On Wednesday, Diamond used similar language in his letter about the “unmasked community.”

Diamond upped the ante in a press release on Thursday afternoon mirroring the words used by Wolf to call on him to fire Levine and immediately resign from office. 

“I call on the governor to immediately resign, right after he dismisses Dr. Rachel Levine as secretary of Health for her horrendous performance as the top health official in the state, and her actions to rescue her own mother from the deadly setting of a personal care home without informing the rest of Pennsylvania of the dangers within,” Diamond said in a press release. 

Diamond began the release by saying Wolf’s actions throughout the COVID-19 disaster emergency were “abhorrent, unlawful, political and deadly.” 

His response letter points to Levine’s denouncement of transphobia, but he said he was condemning “all hatred and intolerance” in his comments about the “unmasked community.” 

Diamond also claimed that universal masking is “not effective in stopping the spread of COVID-19” and said that Wolf’s “failed policies contributed” to the deaths of over 4,800 Pennsylvanians in nursing homes and said the governor’s call to censure him is “despicable.”

Diamond concluded his response letter by seemingly likening his decision to not wear a mask to Levine being a transgender woman. 

“Levine may live as she wishes, as I have always firmly believed any American has the right to, including those who desire the freedom to make their own personal safety decisions,” Diamond said.

14 Responses

  1. Corners across Pennsylvania have as for Levine to step down . They said the Covid numbers didn’t match , probable cause was cases as a confirmed cause. The Democrats want you to stay inside for ballot
    voting . They know Trump can’t be beat , this is the only way. Joe Biden has dementia and they know it .

    1. Where has Fetterman been ? He opened the pool and will close it soon at the Lt Govs manson . I don’t blame him from staying away from Harrisburg . Ranked one of the worst crime towns in America . Bedrock is his safe place .

  2. Diamond was having a moment of flippant satire. People need to stop being so defensive of the way Levine chooses to dress and instead defend free speech and the rights of PA businesses. Impeach Wolf

  3. Good for Diamond. The mask tyranny must end. Any thinking person who has looked at the evidence (see for example Sweden) knows cloth masks at best do nothing. And good for calling out Levine and Wolf, who’s policies helped kill so many vulnerable people in nursing homes.

    Wolf and Levine must resign for their failures.

    1. “The mask tyranny” LOL

      Definition of Tyranny
      (Noun)

      An oppressive or severe form of government.
      An unrestrained use of authority or power.
      A state ruled by, or government of, an absolute ruler.
      Excessive severity.
      Cruel and unfair treatment by someone in authority.

      Nope. Nothing about masks.

      From the Declaration of Independence (nothing about the British making people wear masks during a pandemic).

      “The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.”

      “He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.”

      “In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.”

  4. That little man is an embarrassment. How do you go from a great guy like Pete Zug to RoseMary Swanger and now a bully like Rusty? Dr. Levine is doing a good job and her updates are reassuring. If he has better ideas on how to keep everyone safe and get the economy going again then let’s hear them but sacrificing my aging parents ain’t it.

  5. Russ is treated for being unmasked the way he would be treated for being without pants in public.

    “those who desire the freedom to make their own personal safety decisions”

    Russ:
    1) it’s making a patriotic (and just plain decent) decision for the health of those around you

    2) Please feel free to make a personal safety decision not to wear a seat-belt.

    3) why should people accept unmasked people putting them at risk? Is it okay for people to use their 2nd amendment right to shoot unmasked people for endangering them?

    4) You seem insecure about your own masculinity, with these rants to appear “tough and manly”.

    Are you having your own gender identity issues and jealous/resentful of Dr. Levine for resolving hers?

    5) Herman Cain is saving you a seat by the fire.

  6. Been a good day of heavy drinking and slapping woman around

  7. Is there a more vile piece of scum sucking excrement than LGBTQ basher Russ Diamond?

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