Connecticut’s Democrat governor Monday made an awkward visit to meet and greet high school students after they finished their first day of classes wherein COVID-19 masks were optional.
“I’m doing good, I wanted to see what this first day was like,” Governor Ned Lamont (D) told one Glastonbury High School student as they shook hands.
“What was it like today? Do you feel okay?” he asked another student who nodded as she walked by.
“You’re staying safe,” he said to a third student who was wearing a mask, implying that students who were not wearing masks were unsafe.
NOW: @GovNedLamont greets students outside Glastonbury High School on this — the first day of a ‘mask optional’ policy. @FOX61News pic.twitter.com/kb9TfK3qS4
— Matt Caron (@MattCaronTV) February 28, 2022
The bizarre video caught some attention on Twitter, where users remarked about the strangeness of the interactions.
“This maybe [sic] the most awkward and unnecessary field trip @GovNedLamont has taken to date,” one user said.
This maybe the most awkward and unnecessary field trip @GovNedLamont has taken to date. https://t.co/YjPiQOel1d
— Patrick Sasser (@PatrickSasser5) February 28, 2022
Others accused the governor of pandering during an election year.
“[C]onfirmation the only reason they’re dropping mask mandates is because it’s an election year,” a user said.
https://twitter.com/shann1a_/status/1498642202809057282
Another user simply described the interactions with one word – “performative.”
The Connecticut GOP weighed in, too, saying that the school mask mandates should have been dropped a long time ago.
Is #KingNed trying to get kudos for relinquishing his statewide school mask mandate… after 2 years?
How about districts still requiring forced masking? Will you condemn it?
The kids have been ready for a while, @GovNedLamont. This should have been done a long time ago. https://t.co/USECaNh2ty
— CTGOP (@CTGOP) March 1, 2022
Lamont, who was a strong proponent of statewide mask mandates for two years, announced on February 7 that those mandates would be lifted.
“Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is endorsing a plan developed in consultation with Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani and Connecticut State Department of Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker to eliminate the statewide requirement that is in effect as part of Connecticut’s COVID-19 safety protocols for masks to be worn in all schools and childcare centers effective Monday, February 28, 2022, and on that date allow the determination on whether to require masks in these locations to be made at the local level,” his office said in a statement that day.
Just months ago, he mockingly referred to those seeking medical exemptions from the COVID-19 vaccine as “Mother Teresas.”
“Let’s see if people try and exploit it or are these really deeply-held faith reasons they put forward … First of all, it would be the numbers. Is this something that is being exploited, or is this a very small group of Mother Teresas who come forward and feel deeply? I really want people vaccinated,” he said in October.
Lamont’s office could not be reached for comment.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Connecticut Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Lamont visits school” by Matt Caron.
