"Trump has completely mishandled the coronavirus response and should resign"
Yesterday in The Bangor Daily News;In response to:
Trump has completely mishandled the coronavirus response and should resign
By Robert Weissman
In a time when protecting the nation’s public health demands clear, truthful and compassionate leadership, President Donald Trump has offered exactly the opposite. He is a clear and present danger to the nation’s public health, and he should resign immediately.
Trump has dissembled about the seriousness of the coronavirus epidemic, either because he refuses to accept the truth or fears the effect on his political fortunes, or both. Months too late, he has finally started to acknowledge that the crisis is real, serious and likely to persist. Even so, as late as March 15, he untruthfully claimed that the U.S. government has the virus under “tremendous control.”
Trump repeatedly has refused to make science-based recommendations (e.g., older people should avoid cruise ships and plane travel) or to declare a public health emergency, reportedly out of fear about the effect on the stock market. It turns out that denying the truth visible to all doesn’t fool the market; and, in fact, when Trump did finally declare a public health emergency, markets reacted positively.
Trump has presided over an administration that inexplicably has failed to deliver vitally needed coronavirus tests to health care providers around the country and then repeatedly lied to or misled the American public about remedying the problem. Instead of taking responsibility for the problem and fixing it, Trump has bizarrely blamed it on his predecessor, Barack Obama. “No, I don’t take responsibility at all,” says Trump.
This testing failure may be the single most consequential human factor responsible for the spread of the disease. It has been impossible for public health authorities to calibrate appropriate responses without a clear understanding of COVID-19 incidence in the United States. Even now, public health experts are merely guessing about the actual extent of disease spread in the United States. Nearly two months into the start of the disease in the United States, South Korea is testing 161 times more people per capita than the United States.
Beyond the testing debacle, there has been a shocking lack of leadership from the federal government under Trump. Governors and local authorities have stepped into the gap, but they are all clear that they are desperate for federal leadership. It has not been forthcoming. With states seeking federal assistance in providing the equipment needed to treat COVID-19 patients, Trump replied, “Try getting it yourselves.”
Even for Trump, this Marie Antoinette response was shocking.
Crisis moments typically give rise to inspirational words from our leaders. Whether naturally gifted orators or not, they typically rise to the moment. They understand the need to share the truth with their compatriots. They understand the need both to calm and galvanize the nation in the face of fear and great challenges. And they understand the need to bring people together for shared national purpose, to spark kindness and solidarity.
Leaders do these things because they care about their people and their country — and because they understand that honesty, calm, shared purpose and solidarity are necessary to meet fearsome national challenges.
That Trump is doing the opposite of all this is not just a shortcoming or just another example of his boundless self-absorption.
Trump’s failings have nothing to do with political ideology or legitimate areas of policy disagreement. They are intolerable failures of leadership in a time of national crisis that have endangered the lives of all Americans. Trump should step down immediately.
Trump has completely mishandled the coronavirus response and should resign
By Robert Weissman
In a time when protecting the nation’s public health demands clear, truthful and compassionate leadership, President Donald Trump has offered exactly the opposite. He is a clear and present danger to the nation’s public health, and he should resign immediately.
Trump has dissembled about the seriousness of the coronavirus epidemic, either because he refuses to accept the truth or fears the effect on his political fortunes, or both. Months too late, he has finally started to acknowledge that the crisis is real, serious and likely to persist. Even so, as late as March 15, he untruthfully claimed that the U.S. government has the virus under “tremendous control.”
Trump repeatedly has refused to make science-based recommendations (e.g., older people should avoid cruise ships and plane travel) or to declare a public health emergency, reportedly out of fear about the effect on the stock market. It turns out that denying the truth visible to all doesn’t fool the market; and, in fact, when Trump did finally declare a public health emergency, markets reacted positively.
Trump has presided over an administration that inexplicably has failed to deliver vitally needed coronavirus tests to health care providers around the country and then repeatedly lied to or misled the American public about remedying the problem. Instead of taking responsibility for the problem and fixing it, Trump has bizarrely blamed it on his predecessor, Barack Obama. “No, I don’t take responsibility at all,” says Trump.
This testing failure may be the single most consequential human factor responsible for the spread of the disease. It has been impossible for public health authorities to calibrate appropriate responses without a clear understanding of COVID-19 incidence in the United States. Even now, public health experts are merely guessing about the actual extent of disease spread in the United States. Nearly two months into the start of the disease in the United States, South Korea is testing 161 times more people per capita than the United States.
Beyond the testing debacle, there has been a shocking lack of leadership from the federal government under Trump. Governors and local authorities have stepped into the gap, but they are all clear that they are desperate for federal leadership. It has not been forthcoming. With states seeking federal assistance in providing the equipment needed to treat COVID-19 patients, Trump replied, “Try getting it yourselves.”
Even for Trump, this Marie Antoinette response was shocking.
Crisis moments typically give rise to inspirational words from our leaders. Whether naturally gifted orators or not, they typically rise to the moment. They understand the need to share the truth with their compatriots. They understand the need both to calm and galvanize the nation in the face of fear and great challenges. And they understand the need to bring people together for shared national purpose, to spark kindness and solidarity.
Leaders do these things because they care about their people and their country — and because they understand that honesty, calm, shared purpose and solidarity are necessary to meet fearsome national challenges.
That Trump is doing the opposite of all this is not just a shortcoming or just another example of his boundless self-absorption.
Trump’s failings have nothing to do with political ideology or legitimate areas of policy disagreement. They are intolerable failures of leadership in a time of national crisis that have endangered the lives of all Americans. Trump should step down immediately.
Weissman is a wise man.
Comments (60)
She killed them with kindness...
I was wondering where all this cheering and clapping was about in my neighbour hood...people are going out on their balconies at 7 pm to salute all the healthcare workers out there...very nice of them...
A Harbinger Of Doom This Way Comes
posted on Mar, 21 2020 @ 04:44 AM
"Interestingly, in history plagues and comets are closely associated and there are lots of theories about it.
There are just so many plagues coinciding with major comet observations that it's worth noting although common sense would indicate there's no logical relationship.
I do find it very interesting though to research." --
More @ --
Grab Yer Hats
The look on her face ... It's like -- Lou Meets Alex Jones!!
The Don is not -- I repeat, NOT scold -- responsible for Covid & the impending Worldwide Economic Depression!!
It's fore-ordained in the STARS!!
Specifically -
Three mics at once is too much!
Trump can do and say whatever he wants and there will be no consequences.
If people want a change they need to get out and vote.
You should link this since we have mutual contempt of you know who
Serta room 9. ( Who do you suppose the sheep are ?
My apologies eYe can't write any better...
I've not Totally ruled out the possibility of an April Fool's Prank.
If so, and the perps pull it off, it'll be in the Tomfoolery Hall Of Fame alongside Orson Welles's 1939 War Of The Worlds broadcast.
Best comment on Trump so far was made by a journalist; 'Finally Trump has encountered an enemy that he can neither dismiss nor belittle..'
But, the country needs a real leader, not lies.
Fox News Is Very Concerned About This Presidential Candidate's Brain..
Fox has just shown the truth about the fearful stable genius' malignancies becoming more apparent..