CBS This Morning co-host Gayle King, who is fully vaccinated, feels “guilty,” “judged,” nervous, and is uncomfortable with not wearing a mask while walking around New York City. Given that King is a Democratic donor, she doesn’t exactly sound like someone embracing the ideals of the so-called “party of science.” Talking to Dr. Anthony Fauci on Thursday, she lamented, “Dr. Fauci, please help us with the mask situation. I know we're told we don't have to wear it outside.”
Showcasing her science denial, King recounted an exchange on the street with another vaccinated, masked woman, telling Fauci: “I think we all feel guilty or feel it's not time or see everybody else doing it.... Do you really think it's okay? Because I still feel judged.”
The host described the “side eye” she senses anyone gets in New York for not wearing a mask: “I feel people are giving you the side eye. It's not comfortable, Dr. Fauci.” The government official firmly told King: “If you're vaccinated and you're outside, put aside your mask. You don't have to wear it.”
This didn’t seem to register for King as she just reiterated, “Okay. People are still judging.”
The CBS host also brought up Fauci and his constant squabbling with Senator Rand Paul (R-KY):
GAYLE KING: Okay. People are still judging. And could I just ask about you and Rand Paul. Does your body tense up every time — and by body you know what I mean.
ANTHONY FAUCI: You know, I don't want to get into that tit for tat. I don't understand what the problem is with him.
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A partial transcript is below. Click “expand” to read more.
CBS This Morning
5/13/2021
7:08
GAYLE KING: The CDC has cleared the way for all 12 to 15-year-olds to get Pfizer's Covid vaccine. So that means young adolescents will be able to get the shot nationwide starting today. Now in a recent poll, 30 percent of parents said they would get kids in this age group vaccinated right away, but 23 percent said they would definitely not get them inoculated. President Biden's chief medical advisor, Dr. Anthony Fauci, joins us. Dr. Fauci, we always love it when you're here. A lot of questions, a lot of concerns as always. Normally when you're here people got lots of questions, so here we go. You know, parents -- I've heard parents say, “Look, I'm willing to take a risk. I'm not willing to take a risk for my children.” So what do you say to them, for parents who are worried about the long-term effects? Everybody just says there's still so much unknown about this vaccination. What do you say?
...
KING: Dr. Fauci, please help us with the mask situation. I know we're told we don't have to wear it outside, but I'm telling you, I was in New York, where I live, walking down the street. I just stopped a random lady and I said “Have you been vaccinated,” she said “Yes, me, too.” I said, “Why are we wearing masks?” “I don't know.” I think we all feel — and I said, “Me too, ma’am. Me too!” I think we all feel guilty or feel it's not time or see everybody else doing it. It's monkey see, monkey do. Is it — do you really think it's okay? Because I still feel judged. I feel people are giving you the side eye. It's not comfortable, Dr. Fauci.
ANTHONY FAUCI: I know, Gayle. We've got to make that transition. If you were vaccinated, you don't have to wear a mask outside. We have a very unusual situation. If you were going into a completely crowded situation where people are essentially falling all over each other, then you wear a mask. But any other time, if you're vaccinated and you're outside, put aside your mask. You don't have to wear it.
KING: Okay. People are still judging. And could I just ask about you and Rand Paul. Does your body tense up every time — and by body you know what I mean.
FAUCI: You know, I don't want to get into that tit for tat. I don't understand what the problem is with him.
KING: Yeah.
FAUCI: You know — I’m just going to do my job, and he can do what he wants to do, and we'll see what happens.
