Metro East Sun

House District 112 Republican primary candidate Joe Hackler, who critics say has made efforts to "assist progressive Democrats," has scrubbed his social media accounts of pro-masking and pro-vaccine statements.

Hackler, the 30-year-old Granite City-based communications director of the Illinois Republican Party, erased several posts from his social media accounts showing his fervent support of masking and vaccines.  

“Do vaccines work?” Hackler said in a tweet dated July 27, 2021.

“Well, 98% of the individuals who have passed away in IL from COVID since January 1 were unvaccinated.”

“So, yes. They work. Leaders let folks know that fact in the context of letting them have the freedom to choose. Encouragement isn't fascism.”

In a March 28, 2020, post, Hackler asked people not to read a column in which churchgoers were asked to return to their places of worship.

“Don't read this. Truly dumb and dangerous take. The Church isn't a building. Use modern technology to bring the Body together in accordance with health experts during a GLOBAL PANDEMIC,” Hackler tweeted.

Limitations on church gatherings were later noted for their unconstitutionality and thrown out.

He also retweeted and highlighted a tweet from failed attorney general candidate Erika Harold in which she called the faithful’s beliefs on anti-masking “false theology.”

Hackler was also vocal on masks himself.

“EVERYONE BETTER PUT ON A MASK SO I CAN WATCH YEAR THREE AYO,” he said in a July 31, 2020, tweet, noting returning players to the University of Illinois basketball team.

Hackler’s comments came at the time when breakthrough case were occurring, thus nullifying the stated purpose of vaccine mandates.

Still, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed an amendment to the Illinois’ Health Care Right of Conscience Act allowing employers to terminate employees for not getting vaccinated.

Forced vaccination is unpopular with Americans.

According to Pew Research, the majority of Americans oppose compulsory immunization for everyday use of public facilities, such as what Rizzardi is requiring for parents.

Eighty-eight percent of those asked said, "There’s too much pressure on Americans to get a COVID-19 vaccine."

Another 81% agreed with the assertions, "We don’t really know yet if there are serious health risks from COVID-19 vaccines," and, "Public health officials are not telling us everything they know about COVID-19 vaccines."

According to an Axios/Ipsos poll, 20% of Americans say they will never be vaccinated.

Cloth masks have also long been known to not provide protection against Covid.

A 2020 University of Illinois at Chicago study found that "cloth masks and face coverings are likely to have limited impact on lowering COVID-19 transmission, because they have minimal ability to prevent the emission of small particles.. and offer limited personal protection with respect to small particle inhalation.”

Hackler is facing Jennifer Korte in the June 28 Republican primary.

The 112th district includes parts of Madison and St. Clair counties, and the communities of Edwardsville and Collinsville.

State Sen. Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville) recently weighed in on Hackler's candidacy. 

"Unfortunately, Joe Hackler himself just moved into Madison County about 5 minutes ago, has malleable beliefs as he is known locally to assist progressive Democrats in local races, and, most importantly, he himself was hand-picked and is completely funded by Chicago politician Jim Durkin and his minions,” Plummer said.