U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman introduces doctors on video taken off social media

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U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., appeared in the live-streamed video, which was taken down from social media platforms, of the doctors downplaying the threat of COVID-19 and promoting the disproved use of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment.

Norman spokesman Austin Livingston spoke Wednesday to The Sumter Item and said Norman appeared at the news conference to encourage schools to reopen in the fall, if it's safely possible to do so, and that he wasn't privy to Dr. Stella Immanuel's comments in advance.

"He wasn't there to talk about medications or masks or anything like that," Livingston said. "He was there to talk about schools. He led off the press conference."

The news conference was organized and sponsored by the conservative group Tea Party Patriots, and the video was posted on Breitbart News, a far-right syndicated news, opinion and commentary website.

Livingston said Norman is not affiliated with the group even though he is aligned with some of their beliefs.

He added that Immanuel was expressing her opinion as a medical doctor and potentially misspoke.

"I think what she was trying to get at is, 'Here is what I am doing at my practice.' 'Here is what patients are being treated with at my hospital,' Livingston added. "And I think she kind of got caught up in the moment and what came out is, 'I've got something that works, I have got a cure and you don't need a mask because I have a cure.'

"That was not the best way to word what she said," Livingston added. "Whether or not she just got up in the moment, I'm not sure."

He added that Norman is upset with the censorship by social media platforms.

Official Statement from Rep. Norman

"I was invited to attend a press conference on Monday to encourage the safe reopening of schools for in-person learning this fall wherever possible. I was not privy to the remarks of Stella Immanuel ahead of time - I do not agree with her statements on the use of masks and certainly have no expertise in medications. However, I do feel strongly that she has every right to her opinion as a doctor. In this country, we don't silence voices because we find them objectionable. If they want to "flag" videos of her remarks or put up disclaimers, then fine; let adults decide for themselves whether what she said is worth hearing. We all have the ability to question whether someone else's opinion is valid, but not if that person is prevented is silenced. It is appalling to see just how eager these platforms have been to eliminate her statements. Every American should be alarmed with this and countless other examples of censorship."

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*This article has been corrected to reflect that Norman is a U.S. Representative, not a Senator. The mistake was writen in the headline and has since been changed.