The media coverage of COVID-19 has now entered the "that's racist" phase as media personalities condemn Republicans for calling virus by names that refer to the fact that the virus originated in China. Ayman Mohyeldin was the latest to condemn this supposed racism as he guest hosted MSNBC Live on Tuesday during an interview with Illinois Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi.
Towards the end of the interview, Mohyeldin praised Krishnamoorthi for, "calling the virus by its proper technical name: COVID-19." He then put up a tweet from New York Rep. Grace Meng criticizing Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy who had referred to COVID-19 as "the Chinese coronavirus."
Mohyeldin took Meng's side in the dispute, alleging McCarthy had used, "very derogatory, offensive terms," despite the fact that many, including many media outlets previously used the phrase to differentiate the current coronavirus from other coronaviruses and that naming diseases after their origin points is something that has been done for a long time.
He then doubled down and asked Krishnamoorthi, "What is your reaction to that? Some have called it the Wuhan Virus and obviously a very intensive terminology there, but what do you make of Kevin McCarthy using that terminology."
It's not racist to point out the origin of COVID-19, especially as the Chinese government tried to cover up the initial outbreak and as they, along with Russia and Iran, propagate conspiracy theories that says the virus originated in the United States.
Krishnamoorthi answered, "I'm disturbed by it. Obviously the virus had its origins in China and the Chinese government handled this episode miserably. That being said, now it's spread to more than 100,000 people across 100 countries and of course hundreds here in the United States, it's an American problem now and we have to have an aggressive American response to get ahead of the spread of this virus ASAP."
Here is a trancript for the March 10 show:
MSNBC
MSNBC Live with Hallie Jackson10:36
AYMAN MOHYELDIN: Congressman, I notice that you were calling the virus by its proper technical name: COVID-19. I want to ask you about the back-and-forth between Democratic congresswoman Grace Meng and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and she's demanding an apology for him referring to the virus in very derogatory, offensive terms, calling it the Chinese coronavirus. What is your reaction to that? Some have called it the Wuhan Virus and obviously a very intensive terminology there, but what do you make of Kevin McCarthy using that terminology.
RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI: I'm disturbed by it. Obviously the virus had its origins in China and the Chinese government handled this episode miserably. That being said, now it's spread to more than 100,000 people across 100 countries and of course hundreds here in the United States, it's an American problem now and we have to have an aggressive American response to get ahead of the spread of this virus ASAP.
