#Our hypocritical leaders refuse to obey their own COVID-19 rules

Wearing a mask is important. For you and those around you. For elected officials? Not so much.

Actually, all the COVID rules are for us, not them. COVID-19, and the accompanying lockdowns, have made it painfully clear: We plebes have to follow the rules; the elites do not.

Start with California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who last week groveled for forgiveness after being caught attending a large birthday dinner at The French Laundry restaurant in Napa Valley. When pictures from the event surfaced, the hypocrisy was glaring: The governor was seen with his wife at a large table full of maskless lobbyists, all sitting in close proximity.

But, hey: You’re not the governor — so if you want to celebrate Thanksgiving in his state, remember: “No more than three households, including your own,” at the gathering, and keep your distance.

Newsom isn’t the only one to live it up while everyone suffers. Gov. Cuomo, for example, is rarely seen in a mask, yet his Twitter feed never stops harassing you to “mask up.” (And, by the way, he’s just thrilled with himself over his handling of the COVID-19 crisis, even though it resulted in more deaths than any other state and, according to The New York Times, seeded the virus throughout the country.)

The gov’s daughter recently posted a picture of her dad, two of his daughters, one of “the boyfriends” and Cuomo’s secretary all hanging out with no social distancing or masks. Were all of them part of the same household? Doubtful.

Yet you, of course, have to avoid friends and family — you know, just in case.

One of Cuomo’s most famous constituents similarly seems to think rules are for the little people. He actually broke quarantine after testing positive for the virus.

The constituent’s wife posted pictures of herself working out indoors, maskless, with a personal trainer, while gyms in the state remained closed. And he was recently photographed getting a haircut, maskless, which would result in a $1,000 fine for the rest of us.

I’m referring, of course, to Gov. Cuomo’s brother, CNN host Chris Cuomo, who gets a pass on all of his bad behavior because of his last name (and left-wing politics).

Politicians and their families are just not like the rest of us. Newsom sent his kids back to hybrid, in-person private school in Sacramento County while public schools there remain closed.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi famously got a haircut at a salon in California, though salons were supposed to be closed there at the time.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who has called for nationwide mask mandates, was seen walking maskless through an airport in September and again in the hallway of the Capitol last week.

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser traveled to Delaware for a Biden victory party, but didn’t follow her own quarantine protocols upon return. Celebrations, you see, are “essential” for your betters; they’re too important to follow the rules they set for others.

Last week, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced new lockdowns. “You must cancel the normal Thanksgiving plans,” she said. The previous week, Lightfoot was whooping it up in the street, maskless and shouting through a bullhorn (and perhaps blowtorching her spittle at the crowd) during a Biden victory party.

Sen. Chuck Schumer also partied for Biden maskless. Apparently all these Democratic politicians seem to think if you’re partying for a good cause, masks are unnecessary. My 4-year-old had to wear a mask, outdoors, at recess during those very few days he got to go to actual school. Then again, as Creedence Clearwater Revival put it, he “ain’t no senator’s son.” (Other “good causes,” like Black Lives Matter rallies, also seem to negate the need to follow the rules.)

“Don’t listen to politicians, listen to scientists,” say their defenders! Yet that’s not really how it works. Scientists give their perspective, and politicians enact rules based on that. But if they tell us to be concerned, to take precautions, to change everything about the way we live and to do so indefinitely — and then don’t do it themselves — what are we supposed to think?

The message that comes through loud and clear: Wink, wink — COVID’s not really that big a deal.

These hypocrites have to know their behavior undermines their credibility and helps spread the virus they say they want to fight. The only possible conclusion is that they just don’t care.

Twitter: @Karol