TRUMP UNDERMINES THE FDA AND CDC WHEN THEY ARE NEEDED MOST
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Background
The CDC and the FDA have been national and even global leaders in protecting and promoting the public’s health.
But Trump has so contaminated both, to advance his political agenda, that two distinguished health experts published an extraordinary op-ed this week entitled: “It has come to this: Ignore the CDC.”
The FDA is being hammered just as hard for promoting a Covid treatment which has no proven value.
The damage is to public health as well as the public’s trust in these agencies. Trust in experts is essential in a highly technical world but especially in a pandemic.
The CDC recently revised their guidelines and called for less Covid testing, which Trump has long wanted in order to deceive the public that the pandemic is slowing because of his leadership. Without widespread testing, scientists are unable to see the pandemic’s dynamics.
When the FDA gave emergency approval of convalescent blood plasma for treating Covid, Trump rushed out to call it “tremendous” saying it would save 35 of 100 patients. In fact, no one knows if it’s effective. Revealingly, Trump’s announcement came the day before the RNC began.
Trump is destroying trust in our medical experts when we need them the most.
1. Call the Senate.
Script for Sen. Merkley
Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Trump is destroying the confidence the public has in the FDA and CDC. He is manipulating expert advice in order to boost his election chances. Losing confidence in these agencies will prolong the Covid19 outbreak, causing even greater damage to the economy and more loss of lives that could have been saved. I ask that you: Demand a hearing on Trump undermining medical experts, and focus on what impact a loss of trust will have, including prolonging the pandemic, even greater loss of life, and more damage to our economy. Fight for the HEROES Act and protection for the USPS.
Script for Sen. Wyden
Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Trump is destroying the confidence the public has in the FDA and CDC. He is manipulating expert advice in order to boost his election chances. Losing confidence in these agencies will prolong the Covid19 outbreak, causing even greater damage to the economy and more loss of lives that could have been saved. I ask that you: Demand a hearing on Trump undermining medical experts, and focus on what impact a loss of trust will have, including prolonging the pandemic, even greater loss of life, and more damage to our economy. Fight for the HEROES Act and protection for the USPS.
2. Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Trump is destroying the confidence the public has in the FDA and CDC. He is manipulating expert advice in order to boost his election chances. Losing confidence in these agencies will prolong the outbreak, causing even greater damage to the economy and more loss of lives that could have been saved. I ask that you: Demand a hearing on Trump’s undermining medical experts, and focus on what impact a loss of trust will have, including prolonging the pandemic, even greater loss of life, and more damage to our economy. Fight for the HEROES Act and protection for the USPS.
Script for Greg Walden (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Trump is destroying confidence in the CDC and the FDA and he’s doing it only to boost his election chances. At this point, you must see that Trump doesn’t care about your constituents and we need to vote him out. Please support our medical experts in this pandemic.
Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Trump is destroying the confidence the public has in the FDA and CDC. He is manipulating expert advice in order to boost his election chances. Losing confidence in these agencies will prolong the outbreak, causing even greater damage to the economy and more loss of lives that could have been saved. I ask that you: Demand a hearing on Trump’s undermining medical experts, and focus on what impact a loss of trust will have, including prolonging the pandemic, even greater loss of life, and more damage to our economy. Fight for the HEROES Act and protection for the USPS.
Script for Peter DeFazio (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Trump is destroying the confidence the public has in the FDA and CDC. He is manipulating expert advice in order to boost his election chances. Losing confidence in these agencies will prolong the outbreak, causing even greater damage to the economy and more loss of lives that could have been saved. I ask that you: Demand a hearing on Trump’s undermining medical experts, and focus on what impact a loss of trust will have, including prolonging the pandemic, even greater loss of life, and more damage to our economy. Fight for the HEROES Act and protection for the USPS.
Script for Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Trump is destroying the confidence the public has in the FDA and CDC. He is manipulating expert advice in order to boost his election chances. Losing confidence in these agencies will prolong the outbreak, causing even greater damage to the economy and more loss of lives that could have been saved. I ask that you: Demand a hearing on Trump’s undermining medical experts, and focus on what impact a loss of trust will have, including prolonging the pandemic, even greater loss of life, and more damage to our economy. Fight for the HEROES Act and protection for the USPS.
3. Get 2020 Ready.
Oregonians are joining with activists across the country to power a LANDSLIDE democratic victory in November 2020, from the White House to the Senate to the State Houses. Here’s how you can get involved:
Elections Power Hour weekly strategy call. Mondays at 5pm
Call Arizona voters. Thursdays, training at 5pm, calling begins at 5:30
Write letters to voters with Swing Left and Vote Forward. Saturdays 12-2pm
Write postcards to Voters of Color with Reclaim Our Vote. Sundays 3-5pm
Sources
NBC News, Sept. 1, 2020: Coronavirus missteps from CDC and FDA worry health experts
NY Times, Aug. 31, 2020: Opinion | It Has Come to This: Ignore the C.D.C. - The New York Times
The Conversation, Aug. 29, 2020: I'm a public health researcher, and I'm dismayed that the CDC's missteps are causing people to lose trust in a great institution
STAT, Aug. 24, 2020: Trump opened the floodgates for convalescent plasma too soon - STAT
