As half of the White House covid-19 tag team, Dr. Deobrah Birx, flew under the radar while Dr. Anthony Fauci was the lightning rod for Trump and his administration.
When she spoke of the virus, Dr. Birx always seemed to parse her words in ways that would not contradict her president. For that she drew the scorn of the Democrat's House leader, Nancy Pelosi.
Birx' armistice with Trump ended yesterday when she gave an interview about the alarming spread of the virus. Trump blamed her candid remarks on Birx trying to appease Pelosi. In a tweet he called it "pathetic."
While Trump has been in an ongoing public back-and-forth with Fauci, this is the first time he has singled out Birx, who has worked especially closely with the president, for a public shaming.
The New York Times previously reported that Birx was delivering an optimistic outlook to Trump on the path of the coronavirus infections “curve”, which did not reflect a worse situation on the ground. Pelosi spoke badly of Birx behind closed doors on Capitol Hill last week, Politico reported.
Trump’s Monday criticism of Birx was part of a flurry of morning tweets, as the White House and Congress were under pressure to respond to the urgent economic situation facing tens of millions of American families.
Birx lost all credibility last month when she started brown-nosing Trump: “He’s been so attentive to the scientific literature and the details and the data,” Birx said. “I think his ability to analyze and integrate data that comes out of his long history in business has really been a real benefit during these discussions about medical issues.”
ReplyDeleteWe all know that Trump has been spewing false information about the virus since it first appeared and has no ability to pay attention to details and data, let alone analyze them.
Fauci has held his tongue in the face of Trump's nonsense, but he's never kissed the ring. That's why he maintains credibility while Birx has none. Trump's tweet today is just another test to see how much further his toady is willing to bend over.
Cap
I simply can't understand why anyone would work for Trump in any capacity.
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ReplyDeleteBirx has tried to have it both ways, Cap. It makes you wonder why.
ReplyDeleteFrom everything that's been written and the turnover rate in Trump's White House, Toby, it is hard to see what motivates his water carriers.
I am sure that many have 'worked' with Trump hoping that they could change him or at least moderate his decisions.
ReplyDeleteThat said many others have thrown in their lot to support him likely to profit from his shady deals for nothing motivates modern Republicans than greed!
TB
"Abandon hope, all ye who enter here" said Dante. Seems apt for all those who would serve Trump. There can be no middle ground here.
ReplyDeleteAs I mentioned last week, TB, I'm sure that the photocopiers are buzzing in the West Wing and other D.C. Towers of Power as close Trump aides get busy circulating their resumes. Several Trump alumni have written their "kiss and tell" books and it's now expected when they defend their service as hoping they would be this president's constitutional guardrails. It's the modern equivalent of the "I was only following orders" defence at Nuremberg. Not particularly persuasive.
ReplyDeleteThere's still a long way and much that Trump can do between now and November 3rd, Lorne. The realization that he's cruel, vindictive and not above anything he can possibly get away with leaves this interval fraught with doubt and concern.
ReplyDeleteI still doubt he'll attend the inauguration of Joe Biden. The humiliation would be more than Trump's damaged psyche could bear, especially the idea of Biden's inaugural crowd eclipsing Trump's. If he concludes he can't win what's in it for him but a quick resignation and a Nixon-style pardon from Trump et famille from president Mike Pence.
Only history will provide the answers to Trumps reign !
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling that many have fallen upon their own swords to avert total disaster.
With that said, Trump has exposed the Ugly American for what he or she is.
Errr; and in spades.
TB