NAUGHTY OR NICE? Gov. Whitmer uses Santa to manipulate kids into following COVID regulations

Santa Claus is coming to town…as long as you follow coronavirus restrictions! 

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has been accused of pushing“COVID derangement” after using Santa to convince – or brainwash – children to follow her coronavirus restrictions. 

The governor published a video Wednesday showing her teleconferencing with children from across the state, announcing that she had a “special guest” who has “been really following the rules and making sure that he stays safe and the elves stay safe,” BizPacReview reports.  

As Michigan's kids gear up for the holiday season, I decided to surprise a few of them with a special guest from the North Pole! pic.twitter.com/aI6qGkrouS

— Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) December 16, 2020

The guest was none other than jolly old Saint Nicholas.  

After introducing himself, the children had the opportunity to ask questions; but, instead of asking about gifts or the “naughty-or-nice” list, they asked about the coronavirus. 

“Santa, do you have to wear a mask?” one child asked. 

“When I’m in my workshop with all my elves, we are all masked up and social distancing,” Santa replied. 

Another set of kids asked whether the coronavirus had made its way to the North Pole, to which Santa replied: “Everyone has been testing negative. We’re still getting tested. I think we’re so far up north that it might not be getting to us, but we’re not going to take any chances. We’re all going to mask up, we’re all going to wash our hands and we’re all going to stay six feet apart.” 

He then urged kids to “do…what the governor is telling all the people of the great state of Michigan to do: social distance, wash your hands, and make sure you wear your mask when you’re outside your home.” 

The governor continued by basically suggesting to cancel Christmas. 

“Another way to stay safe during the holiday is to stay home but call your grandparents and your cousins and your family. It’s the safest way to tell the people you love how much you care about them. This year it has to look a little bit different so we can stay safe,” she said. 

The video received a ton of backlash on Twitter, accusing the governor of brainwashing children and using them as “pawns.” 

https://twitter.com/kendrick_miriam/status/1339640368954916865

Why does Santa need to tell children to "follow the rules?" They don't have control with the mitigation efforts, why use them as pawns? There is ZERO reason to tell children that Santa is "masked up" in his workshop. Let them be children, without the worries. Get a better Santa!

— Pajamas It Is (@HeckofaLiberal) December 17, 2020

Those kids were coached on what to ask! I have a five year old granddaughter who would never think to ask "what can we do to keep people safe"!

— Rodney Smelser (@RockinRodney55) December 17, 2020

This is an incredible mix of foolishness, stupidity and brainwashing. So many kids are now living in fear of something from which they have little to no chance of even having symptoms, let alone dying. Let them be kids!!!

— Todd Scheuerman (@T_Sherm7) December 18, 2020