To the United States, where Dr Anthony Fauci had an unfortunate ‘hot mic’ moment when his take on a Republican senator’s questioning became rather more public than he thought it would.
Well, it was unfortunate for him and supremely satisfying for everyone else.
Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, had just had a heated exchange with senator Roger Marshall who appeared to be alluding to some sort of cover-up.
Here’s the hot mic moment.
HOT MIC MOMENT: After clashing with GOP Sen. Roger Marshall, Dr. Fauci was caught muttering, “what a moron,” followed by “Jesus Christ.” pic.twitter.com/merKU3BGAJ
— Mediaite (@Mediaite) January 11, 2022
Oof.
This is the exchange which led up to it.
“You’re so misinformed, it’s extraordinary … what are you talking about” — Fauci to Roger Marshall pic.twitter.com/mKsrUUfUdx
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 11, 2022
And here’s an edited highlight or two.
Roger Marshall: ‘Where would we find it?
Anthony Fauci: ‘All you have to do is ask for it. You’re so misinformed it’s extraordinary.
RM: ‘There’s an air of appearance that maybe some shenanigans are going on …’
AF: ‘What are you talking about? My financial disclosures are public knowledge and have been so … you are getting amazingly wrong information.’
RM: ‘I cannot find them, our office cannot find them. Where would they be if they were public knowledge?’
AF: ‘It is totally accessible to you if you want it.’
RM: ‘To the public?’
AF: ‘To the public. You are totally incorrect.’
It prompted no end of responses on Twitter. Here are our favourites.
1.
We are all Dr. Fauci. https://t.co/A05KuGCA0P
— Katie S. Phang (@KatiePhang) January 11, 2022
2.
This truly captures how all of medicine is feeling right now https://t.co/icAJgru1Xa
— Jack Turban MD (@jack_turban) January 12, 2022
3.
No fucks left Fauci is my favorite Fauci. https://t.co/OpbsLm7fPd
— Dan Savage (@fakedansavage) January 11, 2022
4.
Fauci is just following the science here. https://t.co/QCRhERbXaz
— Michelangelo Signorile (@MSignorile) January 12, 2022
5.
The quiet part many of us have wanted to say out loud at congressional hearings… https://t.co/zc1IB1I4Cs
— Prof Michael E. Mann (@MichaelEMann) January 12, 2022
6.
Sometimes the hot mic is what we need. https://t.co/xVkS77kveG
— Peter Gleick (@PeterGleick) January 12, 2022
Here’s what Marshall had to say later.
Calling me a moron during a Senate hearing may have alleviated the stress of the least trusted bureaucrat in America, but it didn’t take away from the facts. We need the truth Dr. Fauci! pic.twitter.com/GyfdppfNgn
— Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) January 11, 2022
And this was the winning response.
You have aptly proven that the truth does nothing but offend you.
— Geiiga (@anyone_famous) January 11, 2022
Source: ThePoke