One need only look at some of my recent diaries to see that I consider COVID-19 a serious threat to the United States.
So I was glad to see this recent diary on the Dailykos rec list calling on Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden to stop their campaign rallies with COVID-19 being a real pandemic threat.
But also, it is alarming that neither candidate has so far taken this step.
While I understand that running for President is a serious undertaking — and both candidates have sacrificed a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into their respective campaigns.
But let’s not forget — campaigning for the Presidency is meant to be an audition to show that you are actually prepared to make the tough decisions, with American lives on the line, that will inevitably come with that most important of positions. You are meant to be showing us that, given such a vital leadership role, that you would make the best decisions with respect to defending American lives — and values.
Putting aside your political ambitions for the safety and well-being of your supporters, and anyone they interact with, would be exactly the decision to demonstrate that.
By calling off the rallies, and utilizing the multitude 21st Century’s advances to find new ways to engage and excite voters, you would be presenting exactly why you would be the best candidates for the Presidency, in several ways.
First, by demonstrating that you put your trust in the advice and expertise of the medical and disease experts of the CDC, the NIH, and the Dept of Health and Human Services. You are not spreading misinformation by inciting panic or dismissing the warnings, but rather taking sensible precautions — such as avoiding large crows and practicing social distancing — to combat and slow a very real threat to the health and safety of Americans.
Second, by demonstrating that you can put personal and political interests aside, to prioritize the health and safety of your supporters — but also anyone they interact with, so really, we are talking about doing your part to protect millions of Americans. With a threat like COVID-19, lives are very definitely at stake. Are you really prepared to say that making a public appearance before a large crowd is more important than saving lives?
Third, by calling off the rallies, you would be demonstrating something that many Presidents before you have had to convey to the American people: That when the United States of America faces a large, faceless, lethal threat, that we are able to confront that threat head on, and take whatever difficult steps are necessary to mitigate that threat’s impact on the lives of America. That the country is collectively able to tackle any adversary that comes along to destroy our way of life. Because really, compared to having millions of Americans infected with a potentially deadly virus, having to cancel a few public appearances is a minor setback.
Fourth, by taking the COVID-19 threat seriously, it would send a message to our international allies all across the globe who are similarly feeling the effects of this pandemic. For years during the current regime, America has communicated a message of xenophobia, incompetence, and downright chaos, that has left allies all around the globe questioning if America would still be able to be a presence of leadership on the world stage. By calling off the campaign rallies, Biden and Sanders would be signalling to our international allies that the US could once again be led by a thoughtful, decisive leader.
Finally, you would be sending a great message to Americans, who are already thinking to November: that if they choose you for President, they would be able to trust that you put their lives at a greater priority than personal or political gain; more important than looking like a perceived tough guy, even facing some intangible threat like COVID-19; and more important than being perceived as knowing more than even the experts know. Considering who is currently occupying the Oval Office, a message like this one can have a more profound effect than most might realize.