It's an unusual Memorial Day weekend to understate it, dramatically. This column on this particular weekend traditionally puts the focus on the troops and the sacrifices they continue to make this very day, however, it's impossible not to be thinking about the 97,714 individuals who have lost their lives in the past three months from Covid-19 and the heroic efforts of all U.S. Healthcare workers who are putting their lives on the line for us here at home.
The most tragic is that of this writing the above number of Covid-19 deaths is already inaccurate as the total increases seemingly unabated. There is a race for a vaccine and in a joint interview with Dr. Dan Barouch of Harvard Medical School and Dr. Peter Hotez of Baylor Medical College, they acknowledged that there has been good news on this front and that 12 to 18 months is an imaginable timeline if everything breaks right in the development, but that's a big 'if.'
However, Dr. Hotez also made the point that with the development of a vaccine as such speed, the anti-vaccination lobby will certainly cast doubt on the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine. He stated that as many as 25% of the U.S. population would not take the vaccine even if it were available. He explained that the Trump Administration's designated name for the project is 'Warp Speed' which just helps to cast more doubt on vaccine effectiveness. It should be noted, as Dr. Hotez, pointed out as a medical expert on vaccination who has a child with autism, that he wrote a book refuting this claim making him public enemy number one, using his words, with the anti-vaxxers. In this column's humble opinion, the entire anti-vaccination stance stems from the conspiracy theories online that also push distrust of our public health institutions and government writ large.
But with Memorial Day upon us, all 50 states have reopened in varying degrees, and for the most part the governors, such as Mike DeWine (R-OH) of acting in accordance with scientific data and common sense on carefully reopening their respective states. As part of that reopening, governors are insisting that citizens wear masks. The emotional speech by North Dakota Governor, Doug Burgum (R-ND) emphasized the need to not make wearing a mask a political (red and blue) issue. After the clip, Governor DeWine said that he agreed with Mr. Burgum that this crisis effects all of us and that wearing a mask shouldn't be political, but that it's protection for your fellow citizen.
It's heartening to hear Republican and Democratic governors alike advocating this and providing model behavior. Unfortunately, as we've said before in this column, states are on their own as the federal government's response (i.e. the Trump Administration) has been abysmal, which was enforced every day this week by the president himself.
Monday: The president said he would have done nothing differently to combat the pandemic.
Tuesday: The president said he was taking hydroxychloroquine, which the FDA and medical researches could increase your chance of death.
Wednesday: The president said that he would withhold aid to states that mailed out applications for mail-in ballots.
Thursday: Mr. Trump went to a Ford Motors plant where they are making masks and didn't wear one in public, saying that he didn't want to give the press the photo-op (a photo was taken) because Mr. Trump wearing a mask doesn't send the right message. Huh?
Friday: The president said that houses of worship were essential and that he would override governors' decisions if they decided not to open them, despite public health risks. This is something the president doesn't have the power to do, but it's Trump so knowing what is legal and what is not never really matters to him.
As Andrea Mitchell pointed out, mask wearing shouldn't be politicized and governors are trying to tamp that down, however, the one person who is politicizing it the most is President Trump. Never has the president understood that he is the president for all Americans and in times of crisis, like this, the president should be working to bring people to work together.
Instead of taking responsibility, to which the president said he takes none at all, he has pointed the finger of blame at various entities and individuals, but in the past few weeks has been sharpening his ire toward China. In the interview with National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien, he compared the China's response (cover-up) of the Covid-19 outbreak to Russia's initial cover-up of Chernobyl. That's not going to go a long way for better relations, which are strained to say the least. Mr. O'Brien didn't really have a solid answer for what the U.S.'s response would be given Beijing's new crackdown on Hong Kong, which is seeing fresh protests today.
In a time of crisis, like now where the rest of the world is focused on the pandemic, President Xi's government is using the opportunity to crack down on Hong Kong. Chuck Todd asked Mr. O'Brien about sanctions, but even with those in place, it won't stop Beijing's actions. The panel, as well as this column, is that China will get away with it. The only voice that would stand up to this action would be an American one, but that's not going to happen for two reasons. One, Mr. Trump is desperate for a trade deal, which doesn't like it's going to happen and two, Mr. Trump is taking advantage of this crisis himself with the firings of 4 inspectors general in 6 weeks and the continued undoing of the Mueller investigation and the convictions that resulted from it.
President Trump has vacillated back and forth on being soft on China one minute and then being tough on them the next. The problems that we're seeing now between the countries (the world's largest two economies) is exacerbated by the lack of a consistent strategy and position on the part of the U.S. administration.
In a time when the president insists on politicizing everything to the detriment of us all, this column would like to wish that all Americans enjoy their holiday weekend and to look out for one another. Wear a mask, it's not for you but for the others around you - a small but selfless act.
Panel: Andrea Mitchell, NBC News, O. Kay Henderson, Radio Iowa; Jeh Johnson, fmr. head of Homeland Security
One more thing...
Chuck Todd signed off today, saying "Thanks for trusting us," which is so indicative of our time when so many outlets for information are not. The outlets of information that can not be trusted starts with the U.S. President, and until that changes America will see it's role in the world continuing to diminish.
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