I was on this afternoon's CDC media conference call

[RAB910]

Trump's censorship was readily apparent. The quality of the information provided and the fake messaging ruined what was once a valuable messaging tool during times of public health crises

Listening to the CDC people speak reminded me of listening to a prisoner of war speak or someone who had been kidnapped speak.

[in2herbs]

1. Why aren't the Ds driving home to the ignorant rump masses that it is science, not fake news, that

will protect them. IMO the Ds in Congress and our pres. candidates are missing out on a great opportunity to declare the need for the support of science by whoever is in the WH.

[RAB910]

2. They are but the MSM doesn't report it

[in2herbs]

3. Forget MSM, what about FB or Twitter?? nt

[stillcool]

5. I got an email from my Congressman...

don't do facebook, or twitter, or cable talk shows, but I learn more that way.

[Evolve Dammit]

18. YES!

[ooky]

25. Trying to tell them anything is a waste of time.

They are a cult.

[Leghorn21]

4. Wow, glad you listened in, RAB - but of course sure sorry to hear that it consisted of fake/hoax

info...well, we knew the CDC had been gutted, so I guess this call proves it conclusively, eh?

I do believe we’re pretty much on our own, and here’s to our individual states and cities and local communities, who will bear the brunt of this misery

[RAB910]

7. They didn't call it a hoax

but they went out of their way to play down the danger, to the point that they were being disingenuous and unbelievable (not unlike their boss)

My background is public health, not media but I did have access to the call so I dialed in

[Leghorn21]

14. Yes, I wouldn't think they'd use that exact (hoax) word, RAB! - but again, I'm glad you

are able to report to us what 'attitude" they're projecting -

well, we'll find out *soon enough* if the CDC is trying to pull a fast one on us -
and

[Squinch]

6. Wow. Though I am sad to hear this, this is good information to have. Keep us posted.

[RAB910]

8. It was vastly different from the first media CC that was blunt and honest

[Squinch]

9. Oh, man. That's horrifying. I'm not in any way panicking about the disease itself.

I've taken my precautions and what will be will be.

But I am really terrified about the nonsense these people are pulling. It is as if they are begging for this to be the worst it can possibly be.

[RAB910]

10. my background is public health emergency preparedness, not media

I have been trained in messaging during a public health crisis. Credibility is so important to keep things calm. It's bad enough Trump has no credibility but his censorship is ruining our nation's top public health agency's credibility

[Squinch]

12. And one way or the other, this virus will pass. That loss of CDC credibility will take a lot longer

to repair.

[crickets]

23. THIS. nt

[MontanaMama]

28. 100% this.

The CDC will be one of many of our government entities that will have to prove their credibility again.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

29. The CDC has NOTHING to prove.

THEY are not the ones doing the censuring here. That is pure trump and his whores. DO NOT lay this on the CDC.

Days ago, Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of NIAID (National Institutes of Allergies and Infectious Diseases), practically wrestled the mic from trumpie to contradict him, while he was standing there.

I've known Tony Fauci for four decades, dating back to the dark days of HIV/AIDS. He is the world's leading expert in this area of medicine, and a doctor of unquestionable integrity. He was scheduled to go on the five big Sunday news programs. He was told by Pence to "stand down," and all his appearances were then cancelled by Pence's office. The WH has shut down the medical experts from speaking.

That's on them. Not on the CDC.

[MontanaMama]

30. Totally get what you're saying and agree

in principle....but the CDC loses some credibility if they agree to be silenced. I saw the presser with Tony Fauci and he wasn’t taking any shit in that moment. How much shirt they take going forward will mean something.

[TrogL]

19. They are. They're trying to bring on the Rapture for their base

A plague will do nicely.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

11. I'm genuinely outraged that they are not speaking up

with what they know.

[Hekate]

13. "They" will do so the day they want to be fired. Okay? Then "they" will no longer have access....

...to any info or ability to try to mitigate this disaster.

They may decide they will do better on the outside, but there will be a huge price to pay.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

15. So much for integrity.

And making sure we are truly informed about what's going on.

[Squinch]

16. I get what you are saying but I am betting it's a tightrope. You stay in so there are people who

will do the work properly, but to stay in you have to sometimes accede to this shit.

I was heartened to see this CDC report:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213031947

It seemed pretty blunt and didn't seem to be pulling any punches.

[33taw]

17. I think messaging from states may be the most important tool we have.

I am glad our governor is a Democrat.

[Evolve Dammit]

20. The whistleblower told us that CDC personnel were prepared with protective suits and DHS people had

no PPE and went home after exposure. Blatant incompetence, almost willful negligence. Abyssmal oversight.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

22. Unreported stories while he throws his outrageous balloons

up in the air to distract. Kind of related - I read he's not appointing management of different agencies because they alone must approve regulations. Actings can not. He wants to say he reduced x number of regs. Our party totally remiss in aggregating malfeasance. There is a gold mine of horrors in the regulations he has overturned. They have been brilliantly devious in making the word "regulation" a dirty word.

[Evolve Dammit]

32. So a reason to not only gut agencies, but have the Directors ("acting"). Criminal enterprise.

And you are absolutely right on "regulation." This has been so since Reagan, and millions believe it.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

33. In my dreams I see an ad...

(Trump reversal of Obama regulation to stop coal cos from dumping sludge with proven cancer causing materials into our water.)

Ad has kids splashing in water having fun. Then voice over on Trump's reversal of reg.

[Evolve Dammit]

34. That would be very powerful. There are so many other possibilities. Jr. posing with dead animals

next to Endangered Species Act attack, photos of Love Canal, Cuyahoga River on fire, Rocky Flats, Hannford, etc. super-imposed with all the roll-back efforts and attacks on laws that have safe-guarded us for 50 years. Each law and regulation has a reason for its promulgation. Pruitt, Perry, Carson, etc. They have all been hired to destroy all governmental regulation. Norquist and all "Project for the New American Century" members must be very happy with Drumpf. They are his support and it radiates through hate radio and Fox 24/7.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

35. Yes! Actually see these ideas as generic. Wish DNC

Wasn't broke. But that's where we sorely need out-of-the-box thinking. Raise $ from Hollywood types, get Volunteer NYC admen.

I know it's unorthodox and actually too late now but could have had a telethon ( with the best celebrities who are all on our side). To raise $ for anti-theft software for voting. Make it all USA themed. Even play Greenwood song. Talk about how Repukes won't fund it and it's the American right to vote. All patriotic-like.

[Evolve Dammit]

36. You need to tap into a PR group that can project that message. Excellent ideas.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

21. What would we do without the internet? It's like we

are governing ourselves. Guess we don't need a president. Did the same thing with the last hurricane...took two seconds to figure out it wasn't going where Dipshit drew it was.

[Sgent]

24. I hope the media

quickly learn the names of, and push the CA, WA, OR public health officials to hold such calls.

The CDC has the best view of the overall situation, but state health officials have equivalent access within their states -- and they aren't leashed by an evolution denying ass.

[captain queeg]

26. WA already declared a state of emergency.

[Wellstone ruled]

27. Will be watching California

Washington and Oregon for important details as to Infected,Hospitalized,as well as mortality numbers. Sad to say,here in Nevada our Regional health Agency is compromised by the Chamber and the Visitors and Tourism Board. Which is influenced to the larger extent by the likes of Sheldon Adelson and other Casino Owners.

[applegrove]

31. This is a dynamic situation. Health professionals need all the facts

so they can make sense of things in a rapidly changing situation and make educated guesses about what to do in the future. No politics. All the info needs to be shared between scientists and doctors and health specialists.