Following Hugh Hewitt’s interview with Dr. Anthony Fauci last week, in which he publicly confronted the NIAID director over waning public trust in him, the Salem radio host penned an op-ed addressing many of the same concerns in a Washington Post op-ed.
The column, published Wednesday, is titled, "Is it time for Anthony Fauci to step aside?"
Last week, Hewitt asked Fauci whether he should resign, but Fauci was adamant that such a suggestion was absurd: “No. Absolutely unequivocally no, Hugh. Sorry.”
With Fauci’s boss, Francis Collins, head of the National Institutes of Health, announcing his resignation this week, however, it was a good opportunity for Hewitt to address the issue again.
“My conversation with Fauci last week revealed that the good doctor is now embattled: He does not understand that he has become a polarizing figure. He rejects most every criticism, believes all the backing and forthing is the consequence of changing data. He struggles, as far as I can tell, to admit error,” Hewitt wrote.
“The portion of the country that has resisted his prescriptions and admonitions isn’t going to change its mind about him now. It is time for a reset. The first step to conquering such a problem: Admit that it exists,” he added.
While Hewitt brought up valid points, that didn’t stop the left from having a complete meltdown over his column and that WaPo would dare publish the conservative radio host.
Stop it.
— Mary L Trump (@MaryLTrump) October 7, 2021
I can't believe WaPo has followed suit with @NYT and editorials can be hit jobs without a shred of truth.
— JES (@1liners) October 6, 2021
I can't believe WaPo has followed suit with @NYT and editorials can be hit jobs without a shred of truth.
— JES (@1liners) October 6, 2021
Hugh Hewitt?? You’re giving Hugh Hewitt a platform? Give me a break.
— lecavanaugh (@lecavanaugh) October 6, 2021
Good morning, everyone.
— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) October 7, 2021
Go back to bed.
The day is lost already. https://t.co/5s72v7rDpY
This is by Hugh Hewitt. Saved you a click. https://t.co/it29qdyZlT
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) October 7, 2021
The great thing about headlines with a question mark:
— Jesse Vincent (@obra) October 7, 2021
It's easy to know that the answer is "No"
Also, I want to subscribe to the WaPo so that I can unsubscribe in disgust. https://t.co/3OuKWaDEni
Hewitt acknowledged the backlash Thursday morning.
The reactions to my new @washingtonpost column asking if Dr. Fauci should step aside have been as extreme as the arguments his most ferocious critics level at him. My main point: PolarizIng figures cannot lead public health agencies that must persuade to be effective.
— Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) October 7, 2021
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