With so much misinformation and fear flying around in regards to the spread and the effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19), it’s important to short out the facts and try to keep people calm. But during Thursday’s CBS Evening News, White House correspondent Paula Reid seemed perfectly content in stirring the pot, and boosting one liberal senator’s unfounded claims the Trump administration was lying about the virus.
Reid began with the ridiculous Trump-era media tactic of insisting the President had “ignored questions about the lack of tests for the coronavirus,” which were being shouted at him from across the White House lawn with Marine One’s engines roaring. A hint at the seriousness, or lack thereof, in how she would conduct the rest of the segment.
Recalling that earlier in the week Vice President Mike Pence stated that the COVID-19 task force had anticipated readily available testing for the virus, she acted like he was caught in a lie even though he freely admitted: “We don't have enough tests day to meet what we anticipate will be the demand going forward.”
“Democratic Senator Patty Murray, whose state of Washington has suffered an outbreak, said she wasn't sure who to believe,” Reid said as a response to Pence. She then played a soundbite of the Senator trying to spread panic:
MURRAY: I have the same questions that everybody I represent have is, What is the truth?
REID: Pence is in Washington State tonight for a briefing on the outbreak.
MURRAY: We need an administration that is capable of not only getting out what is needed in this country when it's needed, but also telling people the honest truth, and that was not happening.
Reid concluded by purporting that the administration wasn’t taking the outbreak in the U.S. seriously enough.
“Today, the Senate passed an $8 billion coronavirus funding package, which President Trump is expected to sign as soon as tomorrow. But that's over three times what the White House originally requested, suggest the Trump administration did not anticipate the scope of this crisis,” she huffed.
The administration had originally requested over $2 billion in additional funds from Congress. That’s not chump change. And the administration could always go back to Congress and request more money, and since it’s a crisis, they’ll likely get it. Of course, she conveniently overlooked how it was U.S. health officials who had to pressure the World Health Organization to take COVID-19 more seriously in the beginning.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
CBS Evening News
March 5, 2020
6:38:49 p.m. EasternNORAH O’DONNELL: Well, tonight, we're learning that government health officials do not have enough medical test kits for Americans who may be exposed to the virus, and some are accusing the administration of giving the public mixed messages on the risks. Paula Reid tonight with more on when Americans should expect to see those tests.
[Cuts to video]
PAULA REID: As President Trump left the White House today—
Mr. President, when will more tests be available?
He ignored questions about the lack of tests for the coronavirus. Vice President Mike Pence had said any American would be able to get a test, but in a visit to 3M, the top manufacturer of medical masks, he acknowledged that isn't currently the case.
VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE: We don't have enough tests day to meet what we anticipate will be the demand going forward.
REID: Democratic Senator Patty Murray, whose state of Washington has suffered an outbreak, said she wasn't sure who to believe.
SEN. PATTY MURRAY (D-WA): I have the same questions that everybody I represent have is, What is the truth?
REID: Pence is in Washington State tonight for a briefing on the outbreak.
MURRAY: We need an administration that is capable of not only getting out what is needed in this country when it's needed, but also telling people the honest truth, and that was not happening.
REID: Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said there should be enough coronavirus tests sent out this week to cover about 400,000 people, but that is still far short of demand.
SECRETARY ALEX AZAR: That experience will get better, but do not be surprised if you hear concerns of doctors saying, "I have a patient. I don't know how to get this done."
[Cuts back to live]
REID: Today, the Senate passed an $8 billion coronavirus funding package, which President Trump is expected to sign as soon as tomorrow. But that's over three times what the White House originally requested, suggest the Trump administration did not anticipate the scope of this crisis. Norah.
O’DONNELL: All right, Paula, thank you so much.
