Denver Post editorial board: Trump is playing a disgusting political game with our lives

[hlthe2b]

https://www.denverpost.com/2020/04/09/coronavirus-editorial-trump-gardner-polis-supplies/

President Donald Trump is treating life-saving medical equipment as emoluments he can dole out as favors to loyalists. It’s the worst imaginable form of corruption — playing political games with lives. For the good of this nation during what should be a time of unity, he must stop.

In just the latest example of his gross display, the president tweeted on Wednesday:

Link to tweet

Trump had only days before prevented Colorado Gov. Jared Polis from securing 500 ventilators from a private company, instead, taking the ventilators for the federal government. Polis sent a formal letter pleading for medical equipment, but the president took the time to make clear he was responding to a request from Gardner. We are left to believe that if Colorado didn’t have a Republican senator in office, our state would not be getting these 100 ventilators. How many ventilators would we be getting if we had a Republican governor and a second Republican senator? Would that indicate we had more Republican lives in our state worth saving for Trump and resources would start flowing? Should Utah be concerned that Sen. Mitt Romney voted to remove the president from office?

This behavior comes, of course, weeks after Trump informed states they would have to compete against one another in the procurement of medical supplies at a time of global shortages due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The federal government should be procuring medicine, masks, and ventilators and distributing them to states on a set formula based on population, rate of infection and need. Instead, Trump’s messaging makes it feel as though he will watch with glee from the White House as people suffer in states being led by his enemies. If that’s not the case, then the president needs to act as though he’s working on behalf of all of us, not just those who voted for him or cow-towed to his corrupt administration.

On March 27, Trump informed Americans that he had told Vice President Mike Pence, who is running the coronavirus task force, not to call governors in states that are not appreciative.


It’s far too early to reflect on the performance of Trump’s administration during this crisis, but on this one urgent point — the immediate allocation resources to states — we felt it essential to speak up immediately. We find it hard to believe decisions are being made on such a morally bankrupt basis, but Trump is doing this nation no favors by giving us the impression that politics will drive his administration’s response to a virus that has already killed thousands of Americans and will kill thousands more.

[Baitball Blogger]

1. We are living in Trump's bubble.

This is how he and his kind have operated for decades. If we weren't in a state of such need, he would have found discrete ways to spread the money and resources. But it is now down to follow the ventilators.

[iluvtennis]

2. Disgusting. I despise cretin trump. nt

[Hekate]

3. Murderer

[bucolic_frolic]

4. More despicable when you consider money could be involved

I mean, it's always involved, isn't it? maybe a black market/dutch auction hiding in plain sight?

[FailureToCommunicate]

5. Trump will need to be brought up on war crimes charges. Genocide.

[duforsure]

6. He's using , no abusing his power in a crisis

And to weaponize it against those that won't submit to him. His supporters should realize he's showing you what he'll do to you, and some he is now. If these people wait too long their votes will be rigged too, and his pattern is he'll be the worst to them .

[subana]

7. it IS disgusting!!!

I can understand wanting to use some things for political reasons but not while real people are dying because of their gross inaction!!

I was watching part of Rachel's show last night where she said many people are not able to get a test for the virus, even some people in hospitals who are constantly trying to treat patients!

Then she said comrade donnie had a meeting with some oil company big shots. He told them they could be tested & like magic, everyone was tested!

Hillary was right! They're all deplorables!!

[I_UndergroundPanther]

8. It's worse

Because trump favors those goveners who flatter him,bow down and kiss his ugly ass and strokes his depraved ego.

He wants them to submit. To him.

[Demovictory9]

9. k&r

[Cha]

10. Thank You, Denver Post!

Mahalo for this, hlthe2b~StaySafe!

[smirkymonkey]

11. K&R

[gldstwmn]

12. Wow. The Denver Post hast always favored

the right. They laid off a bunch of people the other day so maybe they're trying something new.

[demtenjeep]

13. that should be criminal

anyone else it would have been