'Mayo Clinic blew a major opportunity,' says Pulitzer-winning columnist
Mayo Clinic was a national trending topic on Twitter and Reddit on Tuesday… for all the wrong reasons.
You probably know most of the story by now, but let’s run it back anyway: Vice President Mike Pence visited Rochester on Tuesday to learn more about Mayo’s response to Covid-19. While advancements on testing, treatments, and telehealth were brought up in a roundtable with Pence, Mayo CEO Dr. Gianrico Farrugia, and other high-ranking Mayo staff, one detail of Pence’s visit has proven to overshadow any of the science.
The vice president, head of the White House coronavirus task force and second-in-command of the United States, did not wear a face mask during his visit to the Clinic, an institution that requires all employees and visitors to wear a mask. Pence was the only person not to wear a mask on-site — Dr. Farrugia, Gov. Tim Walz, FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn, and all other dignitaries and employees followed protocol.
Reaction to Pence’s safety snub has since prompted responses from prominent columnists, politicians and late-night comedians. Below is a curated rundown of some notable responses to #maskgate.
‘What were they thinking?’: One of the most damning responses came from Los Angeles Times Pulitzer Prize-winning business columnist Michael Hiltzik, who skewered the Clinic for what he perceived as cowering to Pence and the Trump administration.
“The fact is that the Mayo Clinic is perhaps the most respected medical institution in the country,” wrote Hiltzik. “By reputation, at least, it sets nationwide standards for the practice of medicine. If it rolls over for anyone, vice president or otherwise, what’s its reputation worth going forward? Short answer: Nothing.
“The Mayo Clinic blew a major opportunity to communicate proper anti-virus hygiene to the public. Instead, it communicated just the opposite — that it’s not serious about its rules, that wearing face masks is just theater anyway and not really necessary, and that it will allow big shots to get away with anything. None of that is cause for pride.”
Late-nighters tee off: Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel and Trevor Noah all made time for Pence and Mayo in their late-night monologues last night.
“Maybe Mike Pence just wants to catch it already and be put out of his misery,” quipped Kimmel.
“Hold on, I’ve got a mask for you right here,” said Colbert, while holding up one specific finger under his face mask.
The Daily Show’s Trevor Noah reserved the final minute of his monologue for a Pence-exclusive roast, finishing off with his Mayo visit.
“I guess he was just like, ‘it’s okay, I don’t believe in science,’”joked Noah.
Mayo’s response: Mayo Clinic posted a tweet mere minutes after the incident saying they had informed Pence of their mask policy, but quickly deleted it. Hours later, a more generic response appeared.
This time, there was no mention of the mask controversy, but the replies under the tweet are incredulous.
Just like the late-night hosts, Twitter did not pull any punches.
‘Look them in the eye’: When Vice President Pence was asked about his decision to remain maskless, he defended his actions by saying he is tested for Covid-19 on a “regular basis” and wanted to “meet these incredible healthcare personnel, look them in the eye and say thank you.”
Needless to say, masks don’t cover the eyes.
International news: News of the mask dust-up eventually reached legacy publications like the Washington Post and New York Times.
From Post opinion columnist Karen Tumulty: “A mask has become both a vital tool in the fight against the coronavirus and a powerful symbol that we are all in this together and need to watch out for one another. It is less about protecting yourself than caring about those around you. The next time the vice president goes out among a vulnerable population, perhaps he should keep that in mind.”
Mayo has not commented on the mask situation beyond its confirmation that the vice president’s office was informed of the campus policy. Pence’s wife, Second Lady Karen Pence, has since said her husband did not find out about Mayo’s mask policy until after he had left the Clinic.
Isaac Jahns is a Rochester native and a 2019 graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism. He reports on politics, business and music for Med City Beat.
