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Home  >  United Airlines  >  “MillionMiler” Ted Cruz Lambasts United Airlines CEO
United Airlines

“MillionMiler” Ted Cruz Lambasts United Airlines CEO

Matthew Klint Posted onDecember 18, 2021December 18, 2021 85 Comments

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R – TX) and Scott Kirby, the CEO of United Airlines, had a testy exchange during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing this week concerning employee vaccine mandates.

Ted Cruz Vs. Scott Kirby

Cruz lambasted Kirby for United’s vaccine mandate, noting he over a million miles on United.

“I’m proud to say the two airlines based in Texas, Mr. Kelly’s airline and Mr. Parker’s airline, I think had been exemplary, particularly concerning vaccine mandates, both of you have made public commitments that you will not be firing your employees because of failure to comply with the vaccine mandate. I thank you for that. Mr. Bastian has likewise made that commitment at Delta.

“The outlier here is United. Mr. Kirby, United’s behavior on this issue, I have to say, has been deeply disturbing. I’m a frequent customer of United. I live in Houston, I’ve got over a million miles on United. There are over 14,000 United employees in the state of Texas. The way United has treated its employees is in marked contrast to your competitors sitting here. Your competitors have said they will stand with their employees. United has not made that same commitment.”

Kirby responded:

“We did this for safety. We believe it saved lives. We don’t compromise on safety.”

Cruz then asked United how many pilots were fired for not complying with the vaccine mandate. Kirby responded that six were, adding only about 200 employees in total were fired for refusing to be vaccinated or seek an exemption on religious or medical grounds.

“Just recently, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge James Ho, someone I know very well, an exemplary jurist, wrote an opinion in which he described the likelihood of your employees succeeding on the merits as the claims against you ‘appear compelling and convincing at this stage.’ I want to read what Judge Ho wrote about United.

“Title Seven forbids employers from retaliating against employees who attempt to exercise their statutory rights. Yet, United CEO Scott Kirby told employees at a company town hall meeting that, ‘very few religious exemptions to the vaccine mandate would be granted.’ Then, and that anyone who even attempted to request one would be, ‘putting their job on the line.’ I saw that video, and it’s a disturbing video.”

Cruz is referring to the leaked video below. Although Kirby initially warned employees against “getting religious” it is my understanding that no religious exemption requests were ultimately rejected:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Ted Cruz (@sentedcruz)

Sticking to script, Kirby again framed United’s employee vaccine mandate, which came before the federal requirement, as an issue of safety:

“Again, we did this for safety. We believe it saved lives. I think that’s my number one obligation, safety, particularly running an airline.”

Cruz interrupted and asked if United’s competitors are unsafe for not forcing employees to get a vaccine. Kirby responded:

“I think that the world is safer. For us, I made the decision at United, and I’ll let my competitors speak for themselves, but for United getting everyone vaccinated would save lives and create a safer environment for all the other workers.”

Cruz responded that he flies United every week and is “almost always” stopped by pilots and flight attendants thanking him for standing up to the vaccine mandate.

“Your company is better than this and what you are doing is wrong.”

You can watch the exchange here:

CONCLUSION

Two politicians going at it, one running an airline, one representing Texas. Whether Cruz is right or wrong, the grandstanding is why I left my life of politics…and he was hardly alone at doing so over that three-hour hearing.

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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85 Comments

  1. Acura Reply
    December 18, 2021 at 12:49 pm

    ..meanwhile Kamala lambasts Charlemagne

  2. Acura Reply
    December 18, 2021 at 12:56 pm

    Kamala Harris got heated after Charlamagne tha God asked if Joe Biden or Joe Manchin was the ‘real president’

    https://news.yahoo.com/kamala-harris-got-heated-charlamagne-091704341.html

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      December 18, 2021 at 1:02 pm

      No more links. Let’s start there. Comment away, but no links please.

      • Acura Reply
        December 18, 2021 at 1:12 pm

        The censorship begins. That’s fine.

        No more links just for me or for everyone? Are you getting a comment system or feature that doesn’t allow links? Otherwise sounds like a moderation nightmare.

        • Matthew Klint Reply
          December 18, 2021 at 5:46 pm

          No links for everyone. That policy is coming. But I want you to develop the arguments instead of linking to them.

      • ALAN ROBBINS Reply
        December 18, 2021 at 4:08 pm

        a little testy are we? or is it when you don’t like the message?

        • DC Reply
          December 18, 2021 at 9:52 pm

          There would actually have to be a message for that to be the case.

          Why is it that people who always cry censorship never actual cite any legitimate sources when spouting off and get pissy when they can’t just shout everyone else down?

          Censorship only can happen if you actually have something to say. Dropping unrelated links repeatedly and not ever actually citing a real source is just noise.

  3. Tom Reply
    December 18, 2021 at 1:05 pm

    I live in Texas. Ted Cruz is a troll and not a senator who fights for ALL Texans. He is an embarrassment. Everything is messaging to be base for Cruz. I thought Republicans were all about private businesses like United making their own decisions without the interference of the jack-booted thug called the US government? We’ve been learning lately that is only the case only when it’s things that the republicans oppose it apparently.
    I too am a United million miler (and then some) and United made absolutely the correct decision in requiring employees to get the vaccine. Scott Kirby should be proud of his decision.

    • Acura Reply
      December 18, 2021 at 1:14 pm

      Proud? Why should anyone be forced to take an experimental vaccine to keep their job? Coercion ain’t cool.

      • Christian Reply
        December 18, 2021 at 1:50 pm

        If only employees who disagree with an employer’s policy had some recourse, like seeking employment elsewhere. Oh, wait…

        • Acura Reply
          December 18, 2021 at 1:54 pm

          Choice is coffee and tea. Not take this extremely questionable vax to feed your family. FOH.

      • Jorge Paez Reply
        December 18, 2021 at 3:32 pm

        It’s not experimental.
        And yes, a big NO to unrelated links…..

        • Acura Reply
          December 18, 2021 at 3:33 pm

          Bruh YOU are THE clinical trial. Delusional AF

          • Acura is a Tool
            December 18, 2021 at 8:15 pm

            How about Acura goes and plays on an active train track?!? Take your BS elsewhere.

          • ptahcha
            December 18, 2021 at 9:07 pm

            I guess you did not get the news that the Pfizer vaccine has been fully approved by the FDA, just like any other drugs approved by the FDA. Are you going to stop taking any other medication, OTC included, because of principle?

          • Jim Lovejoy
            December 18, 2021 at 9:07 pm

            Better the clinical trial than the control group.

        • Tracy N. Reply
          December 24, 2021 at 6:25 pm

          YES! IT IS! THIS INFORMATION IS LITERALLY EVERYWHERE! NOT FDA APPROVED, ONLY EUA. JUST ABOUT 100% SURVIVABLE & DOES NOT PREVENT YOU OR STOP OTHERS FROM GETTING THIS VIRUS! THEY ARE LYING TO YOU!

      • Patrick Reply
        December 18, 2021 at 7:19 pm

        Curious as to how long a drug / vaccine / medical treatment takes to go from experimental status to “OK” status?
        Is there a written time line somewhere on how long it needs to take?

        • Michael Owen Reply
          December 20, 2021 at 5:00 pm

          It depends on a number of things, including the size of the sample.

          Never in the history of medicine has there been a sample the size of the Covid vaccines.

          100’s of millions of doses confirmed what the much smaller animal and human volunteer doses showed-the risk of the vaccine is miniscule compared to the risks if getting Covid.

        • Tracy Nagel Reply
          December 24, 2021 at 6:35 pm

          These will be under “experimental” at least another year. Normally if you look back, vaccines take 10+ years of research, trial & tribulations before they’re even considered. Look into VAERS, Which is managed by the Cdc & fda. These numbers show you the adverse effects of what these vaccines are doing! WAKE UP!! This “pandemic” will end when we no longer comply & wake up to this biggest crime of the century!

      • Dan Reply
        December 19, 2021 at 2:20 am

        Don’t get a vaccine then. Nobody will miss you.

      • Mark D Reply
        December 19, 2021 at 11:06 am

        I’ll tell you why Acura, I’m a United pilot. About 99.5% of us FULLY support our CEO in this mandate. When we go to work, we are locked in a small box with people who, by definition, have been traveling the world. We deserve a safe workplace, and this accomplished that.
        When people like you spew out “experimental vaccine”, I only wish you could hear yourself and understand how ridiculous you sound. It’s FDA approved (and approved by many many other countries as well. Over half the planet has been vaccinated. It’s safe, and you KNOW it’s safe. Stay out of things you don’t understand.

        • UnEte_INVINCIBLE Reply
          December 23, 2021 at 5:00 pm

          Only Pfizer BioNTech’s candidate BNT162b2/Comirnaty has been granted FDA approval. The ModeRNA mRNA-1273 vaccine received FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) status on Feb 25, 2021; as of today, it has not been granted approval. Johnson & Johnson applied for EUA status for their Janssen adenovirus-based Ad26.COV2.S vaccine on Feb 4, 2021. EUA status was granted to same by the FDA on Feb 27, 2021. As with the mRNA-1273 vaccine, the Ad26.COV2.S vaccine is not approved as of Dec 23, 2021. The FDA refers to these vaccines in the EUA letter to the respective manufacturers as ‘investigational’- which, unless you’d like to disingenuously and unnecessarily split hairs, can be said to be a synonym for ‘experimental’. As of today, numerous clinical studies of these vaccines (including Pfizer BioNTech’s BNT162b2) remain open, as evidenced by a search on the .gov site that pertains to clinical trials, and to which I am unable to link, per blog regulations. However, I might be allowed to reference one of these many clinical trials, whose expected completion date is Apr 2023: NCT04380701 (trial investigating safety & effects of BNT162a1/ BNT162b1/ BNT162b2/ BNT162c2 vaccine candidates vs. COVID-2019 in healthy and immunocompromised adults).

    • JW Reply
      December 18, 2021 at 1:53 pm

      Tom, right you are. It was the moral and right decision to protect both passengers and workers. And the trolling political hack is the same one who got caught on the UA first class standby list as he abandoned Texas for Cancun during the freeze, trying to hide out from the rest of us. He’s had a beef with UA since he got caught.

      • Acura Reply
        December 18, 2021 at 4:01 pm

        This comment will not age well re: “moral” and “right”. Y’all have no fucking clue about morality. ZERO.

        • Mark D Reply
          December 19, 2021 at 11:09 am

          What you apparently have no clue about is how to develop an actual cogent argument. Cite some actual facts for your baseless assertions, or go away. You’re tiresome.

        • Tracy N. Reply
          December 24, 2021 at 6:21 pm

          Acura YOU are right! There are hundreds upon thousands of doctors that have been silenced. I don’t have a source but have a site & a few names that others can take a look & decide for themselves. Americasfrontlinedoctors.org is one. The founder Dr. Simone Gold is also a lawyer who has banned together with others that have been silenced who speak the truth about covid/vaccines. Dr. Robert Malone(inventor of the mRNA) Dr. Christina Parks, Dr. Kyle-Sidell, Dr. Sherri Tenpenny, Austin Fitts investigated for 10 years medical health & vaccines. The list is never-ending! This virus is just about 100% survivable. The vaccines do not prevent you or others from getting it. The vaccines are NOT fda approved they are eua. Which is an emergency use authorization, only! Why would ANYONE get these is beyond me ESPECIALLY CHILDREN & then & ONLY then! would this “plandemic” end!

        • Tracy N. Reply
          December 25, 2021 at 9:02 pm
      • Scott Reply
        December 19, 2021 at 2:08 am

        it will protect neither. How can you not see the truth?

    • Paul Reply
      December 28, 2021 at 3:41 am

      Ted Cruz is a hero and we need more to stand up to freedom. This airline has destroyed a lot of peoples lives over a flu virus with a 99.97% survival rate without the vaccine.

  4. JetAway Reply
    December 18, 2021 at 1:09 pm

    I recently re-watched the entire “Veep” series on HBO. Scary as to how close it got to where we are now and may be heading. Also hilarious, of course.

    • Acura Reply
      December 18, 2021 at 3:01 pm

      Haven’t seen but may need to watch. I have rewatched this Charlamagne and Kamala clip ten times. Hysterical. And also scary. SNL better do this one.

  5. Acura Reply
    December 18, 2021 at 1:10 pm

    don’t follow Cruz or know a lot about him but he’s correct here.

    Re: the employee lawsuits. hope United is padding their legal budgets for FY22 and beyond. Their FP&A team should recommend massive budget transfers to legal from the bailout fund. They are going to need it.

    Prayers for all employees suing United. May they all succeed quickly.

    • Jorge Paez Reply
      December 18, 2021 at 3:34 pm

      vaccine ban has been upheld…..

      • Acura Reply
        December 18, 2021 at 3:50 pm

        First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.

        Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist.

        Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.

        Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

        —

        The funny thing is y’all left/liberals/Dems/pro-mandatory vax fools think that no one is coming for you. But they are coming for all of us — they are not just coming for the unvaccinated and my side. They are coming for us now, like Hitler did for the Jews, but the Great Reset plan is to come for everyone eventually. So live your life thinking you’re safe and winning. You’re not. This is good versus evil. Period.

        Anyway, I’m 99.9% sure SCOTUS will find in our favor— and not for the government or corporations.

        If they don’t, we all fucked. But I’m confident.

        Either way — Enjoy.

        • ChuckMO Reply
          December 18, 2021 at 4:05 pm

          And the virus came after Covidiots. And won.

          • Acura
            December 18, 2021 at 4:32 pm

            99.98% survival rate — y’all are real braindead today. That 5G must be turned way up.

          • DC
            December 18, 2021 at 10:08 pm

            99.98% survival rate? Yeah, Acura, this is what I’m talking about. Cite THAT source. Not a news article or feed or meme or Tick tock video, but an actual data source of mortality. C’mon- my 14 year old can do better than that.

            You can’t get to a less than 0.1% death rate for ANYONE under the age of 45 in any data source. We have enough data to show that 0.2% of the population has already died of covid and we’re still going strong (see BMJ, CDC, NEJM data and if you prefer lay press, the economist has some nice reports WITH CITATIONS).

            So yeah, you’re a little off. And please- CITE ACTUAL DATA telling me what’s incorrect about it.

            OR- go on about communists and conspiracies and faked numbers , etc etc etc without actually providing any real references or data. And then insult everyone and call people names because you have absolutely done no homework on this, just echoing what you’ve read without fact checking.

        • Dan Reply
          December 19, 2021 at 2:25 am

          We’re not the ones telling a private company they can’t manage their own vaccine response.

          • ChuckMO
            December 19, 2021 at 7:14 am

            The anger issues are strong with that one. Might need some meds.

      • Robert Turner Reply
        December 22, 2021 at 11:28 am

        You don’t understand the subtle difference with the issue. The employees are not challenging the mandate. They are asking to still work under their United-approved exemptions to the mandate (which leaves the mandate in place).

        Over 2,000 employees asked for an exemption to the mandate – which is allowed under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (religious based exemptions) and the ADA (medical based exemptions). United approved and granted them the exemptions. And the laws say the company and employees must agree on reasonable accommodations so the exempted employees can continue to work. There was no “agreement” – and United is NOT being “reasonable”.

        United only offered two options as “accommodations” to the employees with exemptions – comply and get the vaccine after all, or go on indefinite, unpaid leave with no health benefits, no travel benefits, no early access to retirement accounts, and (for pilots, at least) no ability to work as a pilot for another employer unless United approves it. That’s far from “reasonable”, much less any form of an “accommodation”.

        United is talking out of both sides of their mouths. Earlier in the same hearing, CEO of United Scott Kirby said the air on a plane is cleaner than an I.C.U. and that sitting next to someone on a plane is like sitting 15′ apart in another building – yet he also says it’s not a safe environment for the exempted employees.

        He doesn’t address the obvious contradiction of all the passengers who are not vaccinated are safe. His own airline’s preflight video and website say “It’s virtually impossible to catch covid on an airpane”. He doesn’t address the fact that pilots from other airlines (who are not vaccinated) can ride on jump seats in the flight deck the entire flight, but he claims his unvaccinated pilots cannot safely work.

        There is evidence he and United are retaliating against these employees for simply asking for an exemption, which (again) is allowed under federal law. So, the employees are suing in federal court. Already, two federal judges say the employee’s case is compelling, and they have a strong likelihood of success. I hope they do prevail.

    • Patrick Reply
      December 18, 2021 at 7:14 pm

      “Prayers” for all who sued? You mean God is involved in this?

  6. Christian Reply
    December 18, 2021 at 1:11 pm

    Despite the way he invariably comes across, Cruz actually is quite intelligent.

    • Jorge Paez Reply
      December 18, 2021 at 3:35 pm

      Then why does he say so many stupid things?
      And believe fox News lies?

      • Christian Reply
        December 18, 2021 at 11:00 pm

        He doesn’t believe the Fox stuff but he had to pick a caricature so that’s become his public persona. Admittedly, the douchebag hatemonger insurrectionist does seem to be a natural fit though.

    • ChuckMO Reply
      December 18, 2021 at 4:07 pm

      Smart enough to be a Cuban-Canadian with an American parent and passing himself off as a Texan. Or even funnier, an American.

      • Ontarioan Reply
        December 19, 2021 at 10:30 am

        Canadian? His father was Cuban, his mother was American although he was born in Canada he quickly renounced his Canadian citizenship. He has as much to do with Canada as he does with Texas.

  7. UK Reply
    December 18, 2021 at 1:48 pm

    It’s rather unfortunate representatives of the US govt badgering private companies about their individual choices.

    • Santastico Reply
      December 18, 2021 at 2:57 pm

      If that is the case they shouldn’t have begged the Government for money to stay alive. The moment you beg for money and take it you are now under scrutiny of the politicians.

  8. Debit Reply
    December 18, 2021 at 2:04 pm

    In medieval England the nobility thought it “a great honor” to take the monarchs shit pot everyday, clean it and bring it back for the next day. The nobles did this themselves, not some hired help. Some of these WRM senators remind me of those nobles, emasculated, and that will do anything to keep power and money flowing through monarchs authority while pretending to be honorable.

    The last 6 years have been terrible for the image of the WRM in this country. Terrible.

  9. jm Reply
    December 18, 2021 at 3:37 pm

    Since United and Kirby did decide to violate our civil rights under Title VII, I would like him to at least know the number of people he discriminated against, left jobless, without health insurance and in some cases, left homeless, all right before Thanksgiving. It can’t be for safety as I have been flying regularly on United flights and have been visiting the domicile and riding the employee bus, all without being vaccinated. Thank you to Sen. Cruz for informing the bigoted Mr. Kirby of the number of people he has harmed.

    • Acura Reply
      December 18, 2021 at 3:58 pm

      jm — so sorry about the piece of shit Jason below. Despicable.

      also very sorry that Matthew hasn’t taken a sympathetic tone to the United employees impacted by this tyranny. It’s all despicable.

      Hopefully the millions of human demons alive today, like Jason, are removed from this earth swiftly and ASAP by karma. Can’t imagine being scum like that.

      Anyway, know that there are those of us who do care about everything that you mentioned. Heartbreaking. Sending prayers. All the best.

      • Mark D Reply
        December 19, 2021 at 11:48 am

        You, quite literally, have no idea what you’re talking about. Everybody who actually works at United, like I do, is laughing at you.

    • Mark D Reply
      December 19, 2021 at 11:12 am

      Dude, I work for United too, and I can tell you that the rest of us are glad you’re gone. It’s sooooo much quieter and pleasant since you and your anti-vax brethren have left. Live with your choices and stop whining.

  10. Jason Reply
    December 18, 2021 at 3:47 pm

    You write: Cruz lambasted Kirby for United’s vaccine mandate, noting he over a million miles on United.

    Crucial verb missing.

    @jm- do you know what the word bigot means? Clearly you don’t. None of Kirby’s actions show bigotry. Merely a concern for his employees’ and customers’ safety. Good riddance to the fired employees. I don’t want you anywhere near me or my family potentially getting us sick when we fly your airline. When there’s a reasonable choice/ al else being equal I’ll fly United versus unvaccinated airlines.

    • Acura Reply
      December 18, 2021 at 4:35 pm

      Moderates, independents, and conservatives are already boycotting United, and more will do so over time, so maybe this was Kirby’s plan all along:

      United — the airline of the Branch Covidian’s

      Not a smart biz decision tho, to lose all of those segments of Americans and their hard earned money.

      Legit fools.

      Rot in hell, Jason.

      • Jason Reply
        December 18, 2021 at 9:16 pm

        Why are you so angry? And hateful?

        • Aaron Reply
          December 19, 2021 at 4:54 am

          Acura/cargocult really working overtime on this post’s comments section…

      • Jason Reply
        December 18, 2021 at 9:20 pm

        United just announced their highest load factors- that is percentage of seats sold- since the pandemic started. Sorry @Acura- that means more people are flying them, not less.

        Why are you bringing david Koresh’s cult into this? The branch Davidians? I don’t understand the reference. Also, to pluralize the word “Davidian”, simply add an s. You added ‘s, which makes the word “Davidian” possessive, which makes no sense.

        What is this Charlemagne thing people were talking about? Wasn’t that a French emperor? Why are people getting all twisted up over that?

      • Mark D Reply
        December 19, 2021 at 11:13 am

        Actually, business is booming and we’re poaching business from other airlines because of our vaccination policy. Once again, you just making crap up doesn’t fly here. Show us actual facts or STFU

    • jm Reply
      December 19, 2021 at 6:21 pm

      Jason, definition of bigot from Merriam -Webster: Disapproving : a person who strongly and unfairly dislikes other people, ideas, etc. : a bigoted person
      especially : a person who hates or refuses to accept the members of a particular group (such as a racial or religious group)

      Kirby will not allow one with my anti abortion religious beliefs to work for his airline. That sounds like pretty clear bigotry to me. Is there a chance you’ve sat next to me or will be sitting next to me on any of the flights I’m a passenger on? Of course there is. I’ll be sitting near several people on a couple of flights tomorrow and passing even more in the airport and aisle of the plane…see you in the friendly skies.

  11. dee Reply
    December 18, 2021 at 3:57 pm

    who is really running our country…NOT DEMENDED JOe!!! COmma-La is just as bad useless….running our counbtry into bankruptcy

    • Mark D Reply
      December 19, 2021 at 11:15 am

      How upset were you about the $1 trillion the Republicans added to the debt for tax cuts for the rich?

  12. Terry Kozma Reply
    December 18, 2021 at 4:11 pm

    Kirby is doing an excellent job. As a 3 million miler on United I am very pleased that safety is the number one priority.

    • robert Reply
      December 19, 2021 at 12:44 pm

      I’m a 2 million miler on United – I wish Cruz would fly a different airline – there’d be less chance of me bumping into him!

      Also Texas is an “at will” state. United can file whoever they want for whatever reason they want to … being unvaccinated is not a protected class …

  13. Jerry Reply
    December 18, 2021 at 4:24 pm

    Kirby is going about this all wrong. Everyone knows they way to win Ted Cruz over is to insult his wife. Do that, and he’ll stand behind anything you say or do.

  14. bigbird Reply
    December 18, 2021 at 5:12 pm

    As Trump pointed out Cruz, is married to a dog who works for Goldman Sachs and Cruz’s dad killed JFK! You’d think a big brave man like Cruz would say that’s not true unless, sadly, it is.

    Covid vaccines work and they should be mandated, just like all 50 states mandating vaccines for polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), measles, rubella, chickenpox and mumps. If FOX and @Acura were around in the 50s, we’d still have Polio!

    • cargocult Reply
      December 18, 2021 at 7:36 pm

      It’s good to see the authoritarians out in full force on this post. The COVID-19 vaccines are nothing like the other vaccines you mentioned. The mRNA vaccines are the very first to be approved for use in humans. Until very recently, mRNA therapies all failed because they were toxic in humans. Anyone who tells you that these drugs are safe is a liar as there are no long term studies of their safety. Medical history is replete with drugs that had to be pulled from the market. Why were the vaccine makers so adamant about having their liability indemnified?

      https://www.science.org/content/article/can-multibillion-dollar-biotech-prove-its-rna-drugs-are-safe-rare-disease

      The measles vaccine was in use for years before schools started mandating them (note that they were not mandated for everyone). The mRNA vaccines, so nice and effective that you’ll want to take them four times! If they’re so great, why do we need a mandate? People should be rushing to get them.

      Check out the case rates among the double-vaccinated versus the unvaccinated on p. 39 of the latest UK COVID-19 Vaccine Surveillance report:

      https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1041593/Vaccine-surveillance-report-week-50.pdf

      Why is it that the vaccinated are getting infected at much higher rates across almost all age cohorts?

      From a recent study published by a CDC scientist:

      “[C]linicians and public health practitioners should consider vaccinated persons who become infected with SARS-CoV-2 to be no less infectious than unvaccinated persons.”

      https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.11.12.21265796v1

      If anything should be mandated, it should be that everyone who is fat lose weight. Fat is the real killer (including a large portion of those who die with COVID-19). Fat folx were a burden even before the pandemic. Why aren’t you crying about the pandemic of the obese? Are they all the victims of white supremacy?

      • cargocult Reply
        December 20, 2021 at 8:04 pm

        @Matthew

        May I know why it took two days for my post to pass moderation?

        • Matthew Klint Reply
          December 20, 2021 at 8:21 pm

          I didn’t open my computer for two days.

          • cargocult
            December 20, 2021 at 8:35 pm

            Haha, I suspected as much. Surely there must be a better way to moderate comments. Didn’t you say there was going to be a big change in the comment system?

          • Matthew Klint
            December 20, 2021 at 8:36 pm

            It’s coming.

  15. Mark Reply
    December 18, 2021 at 5:38 pm

    In spite of what Cruz “knows” and in spite of a vocal minority at the company, the vast majority of United employees are proud to work for United, especially because of Kirby’s stand on vaccines.

  16. M. K. McClure Reply
    December 18, 2021 at 6:18 pm

    Cancun Cruz is only about making headlines. He is devoid of any moral compass and clearly puts Trump and his ilk before the Republic. This Canadian-born Seantor is an embarrassment.

  17. Patrick Reply
    December 18, 2021 at 7:25 pm

    And on a completely unrelated topic, any time a discussion like this starts, there is name calling from both sides. Why is that?
    You can’t have a civil discussion without name calling and profanity?

  18. bigbird Reply
    December 18, 2021 at 7:43 pm

    @Patrick: This story’s headline is that Ted Cruz lambastes the CEO of UAL for mandating vaccines. I’d hazard to say that’s a red button issue in the US today.

    I’ve noticed every time one mentions Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Beobert, Paul Gosal, Louie Gohmert, Maadison Cawthorn, Ted Cruz and/or Josh Hawley, etc-it gets ugly. Maybe something about their lies, politicizing public health issues and their contribution to 800,000 dead Americans, and/or their attempt to overthrow a fairly elected government? Yeah. That’s the ticket.

    • haolenate Reply
      December 18, 2021 at 8:22 pm

      A good chunk of that 800,000 is on your kind, @bigbird.

      When Bad-Orange-Man announced a ban on flights to/from China, ya’ll screamed xenophobic and racist. Yet, oddly, the rest of the world thought it was a good idea to close borders. When a Democrat did it, it was crickets from the left.

      Lets also not forget, thanks to social media, how many of you refused to take the “Trump Vaccine”. Hmm.

      Your kind is demanding that employees all get vaccinated, but turn a blind eye to illegal immigrants crossing the southern border. I find it appalling that I have to show proof of vaccine and a 24-hour antigen/pcr test to board a plane to fly back to the US, but if I cross the US border and claim assylum, I’m welcomed in with open arms without even checking my status, passport, ID, etc… *friends work for CBP, this really does happen!

      • bigbird Reply
        December 18, 2021 at 9:04 pm

        @haolenate: The hundreds of thousands who died because of Trump’s negligent or reckless homicide is literally blood on his hands. And keeping these comments on topic, people like Ted Cruz too.

        Trump did not shut down all flights from China. He let people like you back in (I presume you think you’re an “American” though I bet your people came from another continent). Vaccination and death rates speak for themselves and the Trumpistas are putting us at risk of another season of death. Everyone, even those seeking asylum should get vaccinated, and you should buck up and quit whining. Happy Holidays!

      • Mark D Reply
        December 19, 2021 at 11:16 am

        Literally every word in this post is a lie or distortion. It’s all they have left.

  19. Fast times at Reply
    December 18, 2021 at 9:22 pm

    Polarizing and politicizing this pandemic has been abhorrent in both sides. But being an independent and being in the Public Health field for the last decade and earning a graduate degree in this field? I feel sorry for the mess that politicians and those accountable to politicians have put us in, in the name of public health.

    First and foremost, more than 80% of people above age 12 in this country have at least one shot, well over 70% for both shots. About 20% of the population have recovered from covid.

    Again, I’m a public health guy, a data guy, and I’m no Republican and I agree with Ted Cruz. These mandates are not scientific. The majority of the population is getting their shots and there’s no need for a population to be 100% vaccinated. Unvaccinated are not the problem and they do not create a substantially larger risk in terms of forming new variants. In fact, because the vaccine is far from 100% effective when it comes to infection to every strain we’ve had and especially to the latest strain, it’s arguable that the vaccinated allow for a quicker mutation than the unvaccinated population. At this point, it’s basically become endemic to our society.

    In many countries, proof of disease and recovery is enough to count for a “passport” and I believe it should count here too, especially since we know that there is a lasting immunity for those folks that in a lot of cases outlasts vaccination.

    I’m very pro vaccine but vehemently against the mandate simply because I don’t think (professionally) that it will end this pandemic, it’s simply not the case when you look at data. I think most people in this country should elect to be vaccinated for personal and family reasons, but I detest that we are pitting groups against groups of unvaccinated and then calling them idiots or morons or subhuman. I didn’t sign up for this when I elected to elevate the health and safety of the public in my career (which I’m strongly considering walking away from).

    Additionally, there are many groups that have lower rates of vaccination. It’s not just the white and older religious right. It’s younger black Americans, Hispanic Americans, immigrants, etc.

    If you were to tell me 5 years ago that liberals would be doing the same thing as the religious right did with the FCC in the 90s I’d laugh at you. If you told me then that they would cozy up to pharmaceutical companies I’d berate you, if you told me that they would be using the same language (rats, subhuman, terrorists, etc) that the nazis used to call groups that weren’t “down with the mandate” I’d think you were from a different planet. But I guess that was my thoughts of liberals from a time that I no longer recognize today.

    As a matter of fact, many from my community (immigrants) are unvaccinated and my goal as a person and as a public health professional isn’t to berate them, call them names, push for the government to not allow them to visit restaurants and public places, and to have their work punish them or fire them. It’s to talk to them about the benefits and the safety and let them make their own decision.

    Next time you think that it’s just fine to treat someone like a number or talk down to them, just know that you’re enabling a system that won’t just stop at going after those who choose not to get a vaccine. They’ll come after everything else.

  20. Shelley villalpando Reply
    December 19, 2021 at 1:17 pm

    Proofread please. It makes me stop reading when you misspell or leave out words.

    • Jason Reply
      December 19, 2021 at 3:30 pm

      I’ve been telling him
      This for awhile. But I’m
      Happy to help him
      Be better

  21. Luis Reply
    December 20, 2021 at 7:36 am

    He must have flown United to CUN last year when everyone in his state was freezing…I bet he was just on a mileage run to retain status..

  22. Madge Reply
    December 20, 2021 at 9:46 am

    Use Palmolive dishwashing liquid. It softens hands while you do dishes.

  23. BDAguy Reply
    December 21, 2021 at 10:45 am

    Mr. Cruz has no lessons to teach anyone about public safety when he fled his state to a tropical beach in Mexico while Texans froze to death due to the corrupt, feckless and deeply selfish acts of Texas’ leaders, to include Mr. Cruz. With over 800,000 deaths, many of which were preventable by simply wearing a mask, getting a vaccine and practicing some common sense, even Donald Trump admitted to being vaxxed and boosted. Get over yourself Ted and go back to Canada.

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The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles is the most beautiful of all Polaris Lounges. Stay tuned for a detailed look and many more photos on the blog tomorrow. Well done @united.
@malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire i @malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire its A380 fleet. While not surprising, it is sad to see the growing list of carriers retiring this superjumbo jet. On Malaysia Airlines, I flew the #A380 once from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to London (LHR) and had the entire first class cabin to myself (full review on the blog). It was a beautiful flight that I will always remember.
Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited tha Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited that a new carrier, Avelo, has launched, especially from an airport just 12 minutes from my home!
I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxair I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxairport. Hopefully this summer it will return.

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#Lufthansa #FirstClass #747 #747-8 #StarAlliance #Miles #Points
I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. This is not only a lovely, all-inclusive resort, but one of the best properties to use your @hyatt World of Hyatt points.
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#Hyatt #BigSur #California #WorldofHyatt #CA-1 #Points #Hotels
In terms of a spacious first class product, the @E In terms of a spacious first class product, the @Emirates suite on a 777-300ER is hard to beat. My preference is Suite 2K.

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#Emirates #777 #firstclass
Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from I Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from Instagram ahead of the birth of my first child. Goodness, how time flies. While I’ve enjoyed catching up on others over the years, now it is time for me to return to Instagram. In this first post, I highlight two joys in my life, my two children, whom I trust will grow up to be prolific travelers that circumnavigate the globe as ambassadors of love and respect.

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#travel #airplanes #airlines #miles #points #familytravel #human #integrity #honor
United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improv United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improvement over UA's current business class seat. Check out my blog at liveandletsfly.com for 70+ photos of how @united is transforming its entire business class experience starting this December!
The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben! The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben!
Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen - Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen -- oh, and I love 40°F summer weather!
One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure of flying with in all my years of flying. Thank you @flysas SK940 on 11 Aug 2016
Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I a Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I assign a window seat months in advance, don't move me to a center seat "for my convenience" with no way to get my original seat back... 😞
Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be rac Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be racing the #Delta flight to JFK at the gate next to us, which also departs at 12:45p. With @onemileatatime
Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregenc Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregencycasablanca #cassablanca #hyatt
Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the i Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the inside of the @grandhyatt_shanghai ... It is 40°C outside! 😓
From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minut From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minutes flat. I ❤️ #bur #burbankairport
@malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in se @malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in service at #kul -- beautiful livery!
View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful bran View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful brand new @parkhyattguangzhou -- look for a full review coming soon on the blog #hyatt #parkhyatt #guangzhou #parkhyattguangzhou
Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, which closes tomorrow and the Queen of the Skies #747 which will be retired in 2018.
The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. If you're ever here, get up at 5am and have a walk around the city before it gets busy. You can hear the birds instead of honking horns.
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