Ward, a doctor of osteopathic medicine and a conspiracy-mongering former state senator, is known for her far-right views and controversial comments about the late Sen. John McCain. She accused the counterprotesting health care workers of being “actors,” a charge often used by conspiracy-minded commentators such as Alex Jones to discredit movements they oppose.
“If anyone’s status as a health care professional should be questioned it’s Dr. Kelli Ward’s, considering her unwillingness to promote the advice of health experts,” Matt Grodsky, spokesman for the Arizona Democratic Party, said in a statement.
A Yahoo News/YouGov poll released April 20 found that 60 percent of Americans oppose the protests, while just 22 percent support them. The same poll found that 71 percent of respondents were more concerned about opening things up too quickly versus too slowly.
And while the protests had the appearance of spontaneous demonstrations by angry citizens, many were in fact organized by conservative activists and pushed by Republican-allied gun groups. Demonstrators in several states with open-carry laws showed up at the rallies toting guns in what appeared to be an effort to intimidate counterprotesters