Donald Trump has spent the past seven months denying the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic, refusing to wear a mask or call on those around him to do so, and embracing junk science like hydroxychloroquine. But now that his irresponsible behavior has hit him at home as it has previously hit millions of Americans, Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler is outraged. At China.
“Remember: China gave this virus to our President @realDonaldTrump and First Lady @FLOTUS,” Loeffler tweeted. “WE MUST HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.”
The novel coronavirus emerged in China, and it’s true that Chinese leaders could have been more forthcoming earlier about the virus. But that was back in December and January. By now, the spread and prevalence of COVID-19 in the United States of America is the responsibility mostly of one person: Donald J. Trump.
He—by his own admission to journalist Bob Woodward—downplayed it in the early months, and continuing on to the present. He kept holding rallies after he knew how dangerous it was, and he resumed holding rallies when the danger was still with us. He encouraged his supporters to refuse masks and patronize businesses it is not safe to patronize. He repeatedly pushed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other federal public health agencies to water down guidelines or approve treatments that hadn’t been proven.
The important context for Loeffler’s statement—beyond that she’s a horrible human being—is that she is an appointed senator in a tough reelection campaign, facing not just Democrats but Republican Rep. Doug Collins running as a more Trumpy alternative. She’s trying to boost her reelection chances by out-Trumping Collins here, and she’s doing it without regard for the safety of Asian American people who have faced increased levels of violence and discrimination as a direct result of Republicans and their “China virus” hate speech.
Can you give $1 to each of these critically important races to help Democrats take back the Senate—and maybe give an extra $2 or $3 to Loeffler’s opponent, Rev. Raphael Warnock?