Parson has shown increasing irritation in recent weeks toward anyone who dares challenge his leadership. He blasted House Speaker Rob Vescovo for shutting down the House chamber during a coronavirus outbreak among members, forcing Parson to deliver his State of the State speech in the Senate chamber instead. He blasts news media coverage of his pandemic response, as if reporting the facts about coronavirus cases and maskless Parson campaign events constitutes bias against him.
But the facts speak for themselves. Parson refused to lead in the early days of the pandemic and instead punted authority to local officials for issuing unpopular shutdown orders and restrictions. He let them take the heat while he focused on his election campaign. Parson pooh-poohed the significance of mass gatherings and maskless parties like the superspreader event at a Lake of the Ozarks swimming pool/bar that garnered national headlines.