Joe Biden admitted on Monday that his own proposed national mask mandate is unconstitutional.
Biden has repeatedly called for a federal mandate, often using it as an example of what he would do differently about the coronavirus than President Trump, whom Biden claims “failed to act.”
But he told CBS 5 in Arizona, “There’s a constitutional issue whether the federal government can issue such a mandate.”
Biden now says a national mask mandate is probably unconstitutional and he wouldn’t do it.
This is a full 180-degree reversal. pic.twitter.com/cSxo6Q5LCD
— Alex Marlow (@AlexMarlow) September 7, 2020
He added, “I don’t think constitutionally they could, so I wouldn’t issue a mandate.”
On Wednesday, he denied ever calling for a mandate and claimed he was a “constitutionalist.”
C-SPAN
He said he would ask governors, mayors, county executives — anyone in authority — to impose one.
“I’m a constitutionalist,” Biden declared. “You can’t do things the Constitution does not allow you the power to do.”
During the Democratic National Convention, Biden explicitly called for a national mask mandate.
“We’ll have a national mandate to wear a mask,” he said.
Biden even linked wearing a mask to being patriotic.
The week prior, Biden called for mask-wearing while Americans are “outside.”
“Let’s institute a mask mandate nationwide,” he said.
“Every single American should be wearing a mask when they are outside for the next three months at a minimum,” Biden said.
He did not exempt any age group.
Biden said such a rule has nothing to do with rights, but was “your responsibility as an American.”
Kyle Olson is a reporter for Breitbart News. He is also host of “The Kyle Olson Show,” syndicated on Michigan radio stations on Saturdays. Listen to segments on YouTube or download full podcast episodes. Follow him on Twitter, like him on Facebook, and follow him on Parler.
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