GOP's New Fake Racist Meme for the Midterms--"Biden is Handing Out Crack Pipes"--Is Upon Us

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

Tweet text:

Christopher Mathias
@letsgomathias
"This is how humane policy dies. A highly sophisticated right-wing media machine, appealing to people’s most base & racist instincts, quickly creates a meme... Obama phones, ACORN helping pimps...& centrist media largely ignores it" - @adamjohnsonNYC

thecolumn.substack.com
GOP’s New Fake Racist Meme for the Midterms—“Biden is Handing Out Crack Pipes”—Is Upon Us. The...
Safe injection sites are an unqualified good that will save lives. Liberal media needs to combat the latest right-wing panic with vigor and moral clarity.
10:03 AM · Feb 9, 2022

https://thecolumn.substack.com/p/gops-new-fake-racist-meme-for-the

The business of politics is often messy, confused, and ethically uncertain. It’s rare that issues are moral chip shots, no-doubters, an unqualified good. But such is the case with safe injection sites and drug tool kits, and their increased usage in the United States. Already proven to be a life-saving public health intervention from Canada to Spain to Australia, safe injection sites, or as they are sometimes called, overdose prevention centers or safe consumption sites, provide medical professionals to observe drug use and supply sanitized delivery systems. They categorically, unquestionably, and demonstrably save lives and lead to positive health outcomes. Similar efforts used in San Francisco and Seattle—like the one funded by the Biden Health and Human Services (HHS)—to hand out “drug paraphernalia” have also radically reduced overdoes. These safe consumption efforts are the ultimate low hanging fruit in harm reduction. As such, even habitually disappointing former New York City mayor Bill de Blasio pinned his legacy on them, launching two overdose prevention centers in the final months of his mayorship after the Supreme Court refused to take a Trump-era case barring similar injection sites in Philadelphia, a ruling that gave the green light to other municipalities to follow suit.

The results from New York City have been predictably great: In the first three weeks alone, 59 lives were saved. 59 lives that would have otherwise no longer existed: Brothers, daughters, mothers, loved ones who would have died in some obscure homeless encampment or under some anonymous highway were saved and provided resources for recovery. Medical experts across the world almost uniformly support safe injection sites and the distribution of drug tool kits. These policies are a no brainer, an obvious good, an extremely cheap, non-carceral and low-effort intervention from the liberal state to help curb the overdose crisis.

So, naturally, when the Biden administration’s Department of Justice hinted it was open to backing safe consumption sites yesterday, followed by the Department of HHS allocating $30 million for nonprofits to provide drug toolkits, the sleaziest demagogues on earth decided to take the opportunity to launch racist attacks on the plan, hoping to distort the issue and scare confused, old white people:

* Feb. 8 - Fox News: Blackburn demands answers regarding reports of Biden's taxpayer-funded crack pipe distribution
* Feb. 7 - The Daily Mail: Biden administration to fund programs that hand out crack pipes to prevent infection and promote 'racial equity'
* Feb. 8 - Center Square: Reports of Biden’s taxpayer-funded crack pipes draw scrutiny
* Feb. 8 - Dozens of Fox affiliates: Biden administration to fund programs to hand out crack pipes
* Feb. 8 - Fox News/Yahoo: Crack pipe distribution funded by HHS, prioritizing 'underserved' communities: report
* Feb. 8 - The Independent: GOP outraged at $30m Biden plan to fund ‘crack pipe distribution’ in effort to reduce drug harm
* Feb. 8 - Epoch Times: Biden Administration to Fund Distribution of Smoking Kits, Needles to Drug Addicts
* Feb. 8 - Sean Hannity: WHAT HAPPENED TO ‘CRACK IS WACK’?: Biden Admin Funds Crack Pipe Hand Outs for ‘Racial Equity’

*snip*

[YorkRd]

1. This is Republicans real agenda. Spread lies from whole cloth and general chaos

Reality to Republicans is like sunshine to a vampire.

[underpants]

3. No kidding. This one is flat out made up

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/biden-crack-pipes-racial-equity/

Did Biden Admin ‘Fund Crack Pipes’ To ‘Advance Racial Equity’?
News reports in February 2022 grossly misrepresented the facts about a federal harm reduction program.

What's False
This was just one of around 20 components of the grant program and far from its most prominent or important one, despite being the primary focus of outraged news reports. The purpose of the program was to reduce harm and the risk of infection among drug users, not to advance racial equity, although that was a secondary consideration.

Grant funds must be used primarily to support the following required harm reduction activities:

Assess organizational readiness and create a strategic action plan…
Develop a sustainability plan…
Develop policies and procedures to implement evidence-based trauma-informed practices…
Distribute FDA-approved overdose reversal medication and deliver overdose prevention education to target populations…
Establish processes, protocols, mechanisms for referral to treatment and recovery support services…
Assemble a harm reduction advisory council…
Designate staff…to provide program design, implementation, and evaluation…
Purchase equipment and supplies to enhance harm reduction efforts, such as:
Harm reduction vending machine(s)…
Infectious diseases testing kits…
Medication lock boxes
FDA-approved overdose reversal medication
Safe sex kits, including PrEP resources and condoms
Safe smoking kits/supplies
Screening for infectious diseases (HIV, sexually transmitted infections, viral hepatitis)
Sharps disposal and medication disposal kits
Substance test kits, including test strips for fentanyl and other synthetic drugs
Syringes to prevent and control the spread of infectious diseases
Vaccination services (hepatitis A, hepatitis B vaccination)
Wound care management supplies [Emphasis is added].

[Nevilledog]

9. Swalwell calling out Rubio

Link to tweet

Tweet text:

Rep. Eric Swalwell
@RepSwalwell
Senator, this is one of the grossest, despicable things you’ve posted *And there’s stiff competition* Like millions of Americans, I have addicts in my family. Addiction is hell. There’s no silver bullet. Some treatments work better for some. This is cheap and only sets us back.

Marco Rubio
@marcorubio
Biden is sending free meth & crack pipes to minority communities in the name of ‘racial equity’

There is no end in sight for this lunacy

https://mol.im/a/10487091
Embedded video
10:08 AM · Feb 9, 2022

[Wingus Dingus]

2. A good way to lose elections.

[Midnight Writer]

4. Just recalling how Mike Pence started a free needle program in Indiana.

Not recalling big RW media outrage.

[peggysue2]

5. Yes!!

As I recall, Pence slow-walked that program. Wasn't until they had a massive outbreak of HIV in Indiana that Papa Pence decided to sign on. For his own political health because the outcries were deafening and damaging his presidential fantasies.

Republicans are heartless hypocrites.

[LakeArenal]

6. Does JR know?

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

7. Saw that on MSN this morning

Yet a ton of Fux News watching idiots are eating this shit up.

[bahboo]

8. show us proof....uh huh...assholes....

[Solly Mack]

10. That's what they do. Turn any positive into something bad because sordid, vile, and racist

(and sexist, and homophobic, and transphobic, etc.,) is what appeals to their voters.

[madville]

11. Snopes is having do some gymnastics to call this one mostly false

That’s pretty thin reasoning to call it mostly false in my opinion, they did indeed fund it, actually required it as part of the grants. Yet they say it’s false because it was part of a larger program? And the racial equity was a consideration but just not the primary one? Doesn’t their “False” reasoning actually confirm the claim is partially true?

If I say the Biden Administration funded free COVID vaccines, you couldn’t say that’s false because it’s one component of a larger program or bill. How does that reasoning make any sense?


Claim:
In early 2022, the Biden administration endeavored to advance racial equity by distributing crack pipes to drug users.

What's True:
In 2022, a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services substance abuse harm reduction grant did require recipients to provide safer smoking kits to existing drug users. In distributing grants, priority would be given to applicants serving historically underserved communities. However...

What's False:
This was just one of around 20 components of the grant program and far from its most prominent or important one, despite being the primary focus of outraged news reports. The purpose of the program was to reduce harm and the risk of infection among drug users, not to advance racial equity, although that was a secondary consideration.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/biden-crack-pipes-racial-equity/

[Dr. Strange]

12. WTF?

What's true? They are handing out crack pipes.
What's false? Well, they're also handing out other stuff.

Conclusion: mostly false.

Umm, okay Snopes. Great job.

[Nevilledog]

17. ...

Link to tweet

Tweet text:

Aaron Rupar
@atrupar
Jen Psaki describes Fox News's hysteria over crack pipes as "inaccurate reporting" and says they were never part of a kit that's being distributed to addicts


Watch on Twitter
11:39 AM · Feb 9, 2022

[madville]

20. So a smoking kit is lip balm and alcohol swabs?

Interesting, still doesn’t change my comment about the snopes reasoning, it doesn’t make sense. They would surely have mentioned the lack of a pipe in the kit when debunking the original claim if that was known.

[Nevilledog]

18. Here's the grant proposal. Could you point out where it requires smoking kit?

https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/grants/pdf/fy22-harm-reduction-nofo.pdf





I didn't see it.

[madville]

21. Take it up with Snopes

That’s their quote I was basing my statement off of:

From Snopes:
What's True:
In 2022, a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services substance abuse harm reduction grant did require recipients to provide safer smoking kits to existing drug users.

[Nevilledog]

22. I've provided the grant proposal, why don't you want to see if snopes is accurate?

After all, you posted the link.

[Dr. Strange]

24. That's the point, isn't it?

It doesn't even matter what the proposal says--snopes is inaccurate in their reporting.

If the proposal does not include the smoking kit, then snopes is inaccurate in saying that it includes them.

If the proposal does include them, then snopes is inaccurate in saying that it's false to say that the proposal includes them.

They seem to be doing a performative version of Russell's paradox.

[madville]

25. Page 7 and 8, I.3

Section I.3, Required Activities.

“These are the activities that every grant project must implement. Required activities must be reflected in the Project Narrative in Section V of this NOFO.

Grant funds must be used primarily to support the following REQUIRED harm reduction activities:

- Safe smoking kits

“

[Nevilledog]

27. And you've decided that safe smoking kits means crack pipes?

[madville]

28. That was the initial reporting from many outlets

Why the Biden Admin Is Handing Out Free Crack Pipes
https://www.newsweek.com/why-biden-admin-handing-out-free-crack-pipes-1677439?amp=1

Biden admin spends $30M handing out crack pipes to drug addicts. Not as crazy as it sounds?
https://news.yahoo.com/biden-admin-spends-30m-handing-142300819.html

[Nevilledog]

29. Newsweek & The Hill are not persuasive to me.

Unfortunately, Newsweek has become tantamount to The New York Post.

Both are filled with click bait stories.

Here's an article from today

Feds say no taxpayer money for safer drug-smoking pipes

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/feds-taxpayer-money-safer-drug-smoking-pipes-82778266

WASHINGTON -- Following outrage on the political right, the Biden administration said Wednesday that a grant program to help prevent additional harm to people who use illicit drugs will not pay for safer pipes to smoke crack or meth.

“No federal funding will be used directly or through subsequent reimbursement of grantees to put pipes in safe smoking kits,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and White House drug policy adviser Rahul Gupta said in a statement.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said separately that was never the intention, complaining that impression was created by “inaccurate reporting.”

Monday was the deadline for service organizations and state and local governments to apply for a share of $30 million in federal money for “harm reduction” efforts intended to prevent disease, injury and other collateral trauma to people addicted to illicit drugs.

The original request for funding proposals from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration had listed “safe smoking kits/supplies” among the items that could be purchased with taxpayer money. They were among a dozen categories that included overdose prevention drugs, medication lockboxes, test kits for infectious diseases, and syringe disposal containers. The grant solicitation did not specifically mention pipes, although they can be part of safe smoking kits.

*snip*




I've been looking around at what makes up safer smoking kits and they vary wildly.

https://www.caracole.org/page/supplies

Safer smoking kit includes pipe covers, intramuscular (IM) naloxone, syringes for IM naxolone, fentanyl test strips, condoms (internal and external) and lube


https://www.nchrc.org/harm-reduction/crack-use/

What is in a safer smoking kit?

NCHRC promotes crack users smoke safer if they are going to smoke. They should use the following to prevent the acquisition of HIV and hepatitis

Mouthpiece: This is the most important thing in the kit. A cut sparkplug fits nicely onto a stem. Using this prevents you from getting cut, burnt and infected lips and HCV exposures.

Rubber Bands: Wrap these around the end of the stem to prevent lip burns (be aware that with hear these occasionally melt and snap).

Triple Antibiotic Ointment: First Aid for sores. Do not use for burns.

Alcohol Wipes: Use these to clean mouthpieces and pipes, especially if you a are sharing equipment.

Antiseptic Towelettes: Use these to clean off our hands (and your John if you are doing sex work).

Chore Boy/Brio: Use this as a filter in the stem. After repeated heating choy becomes hot and brittle and can be sucked into your throat. This provides an opportunity for you to be exposed to diseases, especially during unprotected oral sex. Change out your choy often.

Screen: 1 inch screens are used as a filer in the stem. These are better than choy since they last longer.

Vitamin C & E: Vitamin C helps lessen fatigue and crashing. Vitamin E will help cuts, sores and burns heal.

Condoms (lubed and unlubed): Use lubed condoms for vaginal and anal sex, use unlubed for oral sex.


Some I saw could include pipes, but the Administration has said the ones under the grant won't.

[madville]

30. That's fine

My intent wasn’t to debate the kit contents anyway, it was just the odd argument Snopes was trying to make to base their Mostly False rating on.

It very well looks to be a false claim, not disputing that, just found their justification kind of entertaining more than anything.

[Nevilledog]

31. Gotcha

[madville]

26. Page 7 and 8, I.3

Section I.3, Required Activities.

“These are the activities that every grant project must implement. Required activities must be reflected in the Project Narrative in Section V of this NOFO.

Grant funds must be used primarily to support the following REQUIRED harm reduction activities:

- Safe smoking kits

“

[lagomorph777]

14. Republicans eat puppies for lunch.

Retweet.

[XanaDUer2]

15. I thought so-called Obamaphones

Come about under W

[Samrob]

16. Well, that ought to get us a few thousand more vote in the red-red states.

[BlueIdaho]

19. Fox Noise profits were way down

Last quarter. I wonder why?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

23. Don't worry, HHS just ran away from providing funds for safe smoking.

https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2022/02/09/statement-hhs-secretary-xavier-becerra-and-ondcp-director-rahul-gupta.html

“HHS and ONDCP are focused on using our resources smartly to reduce harm and save lives. Accordingly, no federal funding will be used directly or through subsequent reimbursement of grantees to put pipes in safe smoking kits. The goal of harm reduction is to save lives. The Administration is focused on a comprehensive strategy to stop the spread of drugs and curb addiction, including prioritizing the use of proven harm reduction strategies like providing naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and clean syringes, as well as taking decisive actions to go after violent criminals who are trafficking illicit drugs like fentanyl across our borders and into our communities. We will continue working to address the addiction and overdose epidemic and ensure that our resources are used in the smartest and most efficient manner.”

[onethatcares]

32. all I can say is

drug test all our elected officials

[Silent3]

33. The accusations are fake. The racism is very real n/t

[IcyPeas]

34. add that lie to this list: