The Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) is continuing the attack on the PBS’ “Sesame Street” after the Big Bird character’s Twitter account promoted the COVID-19 vaccine.
CPAC shared an image of Sesame Street character Big Bird along with Bert and Ernie in a tweet on Wednesday night. It wrote, “Big Bird & Big Gov. Mandates?”
“No thank you,” it added with a clapping emoji between each word.
Big Bird & Big Gov. Mandates?
— CPAC (@CPAC) November 18, 2021
NO 👏🏼 THANK 👏🏼 YOU 👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/JK3efVPQnK
In another tweet, it shared a picture of Elmo with the caption, “Not invited.”
#NotInvited #CPACFlorida pic.twitter.com/cSQwov3dUw
— CPAC (@CPAC) November 17, 2021
On Nov. 6, the Big Bird accounted tweeted, “I got the COVID-19 vaccine today! My wing is feeling a little sore, but it’ll give my body an extra protective boost that keeps me and others healthy.”
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) reacted to the tweet, “Government propaganda … for your 5 year old!”
Government propaganda…for your 5 year old! https://t.co/lKUlomnpq1
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) November 6, 2021
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) called the tweet “propaganda” and said on Fox News, “The American people are waking up to what bureaucrats are doing every single day. Undermining our freedoms and using PBS as the long arm of the government.”
As Fox News’ Chad Pergram notes, conservatives have taken issue with government money going to PBS and since at least 2012.
And as early as the 1990s, Republican lawmakers have sought to limit funding to public broadcasting. In 1995, then-Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R) claimed, “They are simply enclaves of the left using your money to propagandize your children against your values.”