Marc Thiessen writes a twice-weekly column for The Washington Post on foreign and domestic policy. He is a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and the former chief speechwriter for President George W. Bush. He is a Fox News contributor. I rarely read his columns in The Washington Post, and when I do it’s generally to look at the comments many of which are along the lines of this one from today:
“Marc- its been nice not seeing any of your drivel for weeks now- is this the best you can do? Give Trump credit for vaccines that he had nothing to do with? You are an idiot- please go back under your rock.” I added more of the Post comments in my own comment below.
Last night The Post published his column suggesting that Biden should praise Trump for the success of Operation Warp Speed. Most of you won’t read it if only because you don’t subscribe to the Post. You don’t have to because most of it just explains how the vaccines were developed. Only the first and last parts are relevant to his argument.
He begins:
Joe Biden promised in his victory speech to “unite us here at home” and told Trump supporters that he wanted to “put away the harsh rhetoric, lower the temperature [and] see each other again.” There’s one simple way he could show he is serious: Give President Trump credit for the stunning success of Operation Warp Speed.
and he concludes:
Biden has criticized Trump’s pandemic response failures, so why not give the preside settint credit for this unadulterated success? Because that would mean acknowledging that, for all Trump’s flaws in managing the pandemic, he is also responsible for ending it. And Biden is saving that credit for himself.
Perhaps, given Trump’s terrible behavior, Biden is in no mood to praise the president. But it’s not about Trump; it’s about Biden delivering on his promise to reach out to his opponent’s supporters and bring Americans together. If he truly wants to unite the country, he should give credit where credit is due — and pledge to continue Operation Warp Speed.
The notion that Trump deserves credit for the vaccines is patently false. What he didn't do far outweighs what he did do for reasons that should be obvious to objective observers. What he didn’t do cost many thousands of lives.
Trump is not responsible for ending the pandemic. For one thing it hasn't ended yet and his attacks on mask-wearing and the effects of his initially telling his cult it was no worse than the flu will prolong it. His side-lining of Dr. Fauci and giving Dr. Atlas credibility has made his cult doubt the recommendations which will be coming from Dr. Fauci suspect. To hasten the end of the pandemic members of the Trump cult will have to get vaccinated. They will have to continue to wear masks and socially distance until Biden’s Covid team tells them it is safe not to do so.
The recommendation that Thiessen makes has some merit however. I think it bears consideration. In order to persuade members of the Trump cult to take the Biden Covid team’s recommendations seriously it might be helpful if President Biden figured out some way short of outright lying to give Trump some indirect credit for Operation Warp Speed. It is true that no credit is due. What is due is condemnation.
Giving the effort to develop a vaccine as quickly as possible the name “Operation Warp Speed” was a public relations ploy and had nothing to do with the success of the effort. Considering Trump’s magical thinking and ignorance of science I think it is fair to conclude that his hyping it as if its success was a sure thing actually made it happen.
This brings me to considering whether or not President Biden should bend the truth for the greater good and finding a phrase to use which would achieve the desired effect without giving Trump undeserved credit.
I suggest his saying something praising the those who were part of the previous administration’s Operation Warp Speed and the numerous other dedicated and talented researchers around the world.
This is factual. I do not think he should mention Trump’s name. Trump does not deserve it and it is a lie to suggest he had anything to do with the development of the vaccines.
Wednesday, Dec 16, 2020 · 3:01:03 PM +00:00 · HalBrown
The Poll: To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following: Somehow Biden, Fauci, and the others have to find a way to reach and persuade members of the Trump cult.
Update: My point is that Biden has to convince members of the Trump cult to both get the vaccine and once they do to follow his Covid task forces advice on masks and social distancing. Members of the Trump cult still hold onto belief that Covid is a hoax. Somehow Biden, Fauci, and the others have to find a way to reach and persuade them.
I am trying to make it clear that in order to end the pandemic it isn’t about appeasing Trump’s base, although this may be how they perceive it. It is about getting them to follow the protocols that will end the pandemic. The more they resist this the longer the pandemic seems likely to last and the more people will die.
This may mean a modified limited hangout (so to speak) which is both pure PR and pure bullsh!t which doesn’t mention Trump by name but somehow lets them hold onto their cultish worship of Trump. Thiessen wants Biden to praise Trump and because giving him any credit whatsoever is a lie, I would never suggest he do this. Still in order to end the pandemic millions of members the Trump cult will have to get vaccinated and follow the proper protocols until, from what I am reading, well into the summer.