Trump says COVID-19 is like "the flu" and Mike Pence believes "smoking doesn't kill"

While running for Congress, Indiana governor Mike Pence called for state funding for "institutions" working to enable people to "change their sexual behavior."

Doublespeak is language that deliberately obscures, disguises, distorts, or reverses the meaning of words. Doublespeak may take the form of euphemisms, in which case it is primarily meant to make the truth sound more palatable. It may also refer to intentional ambiguity in language or to actual inversions of meaning.

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Double-talk is a form of speech in which inappropriate, invented, or nonsense words are used to give the appearance of knowledge and so confuse or amuse the audience.

"Is this just like flu because people die of the flu and this is very unusual. It is a little bit different but in some ways it's easier and in some ways it's a little bit tougher" pic.twitter.com/lf7eV4oXGv

— Andrew Lawrence (@ndrew_lawrence) February 27, 2020

I am just now catching up on the president’s press conference about the coronavirus. Jesus Mary and Joseph, he is really an unhinged and aggressively stupid person.

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) February 27, 2020

WATCH: @chrislhayes on Trump’s attempt to downplay the coronavirus spread in order to help his re-election:

“He is literally incapable of distinguishing between what the national interest is, and what his own *personal* interest is.” #inners pic.twitter.com/SIi9a7JthV

— All In with Chris Hayes (@allinwithchris) February 27, 2020

"Time for a quick reality check. Despite the hysteria from the political class and the media, smoking doesn't kill" -- Mike Pence, 2000

More on coronavirus and misinformation from Trump and his allies in my newsletter, Popular Information.

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— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) February 26, 2020

As governor, Pence presided over "a massive HIV outbreak spurred by public health funding cuts and Pence’s moralistic stance against needle exchanges" https://t.co/UgKsBPGETg

— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) February 27, 2020

He slashed CDC funding by 30%. He fired the team that was in place to handle pandemics 18 months ago. He lied to the American people TODAY about the threat posed, the number of cases, and when we will have a vaccine. And he put Pence in charge who has no knowledge/experience.

— Andrew Wortman (@AmoneyResists) February 27, 2020

1918 Spanish Flu historical documentary | Swine Flu Pandemic | Deadly pl... https://t.co/XkFaq4uiG4 via @YouTube

— UrMyJenny🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@UrMyJenny4Trump) February 27, 2020

The 1918 Spanish Flu mortality rate was estimated to be 2 to 3 percent by the WHO. 

MERS: R< 1
SARS: R0.19–1.08
Seasonal Flu: R1.19 - 1.37
2009 (H1N1): R1.2 - 1.6
Spanish Flu: R1.4 – 2.8
Covid-19: R2.24 - 3.58

If you have a pre-existing condition, you are at a higher risk of mortality with #covid19.

Please look after #1, You.

SRC: https://t.co/roh0k3gGgx pic.twitter.com/SCGwcMTi4Z

— Elliott Thomas (@Elliott8Thomas) February 27, 2020