The Coronavirus has panicked Americans across the country. Places like Costco and Walmart and being wiped out of disinfectant wipes, paper towels and toilet paper. As the hysteria continues to grow, Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) decided to debunk a number of claims that are being perpetrated by both Democrats and the mainstream media.
1/x You’ve been hearing a lot about the coronavirus recently and the government’s response to it. So I wanted to address some of the myths that are out there and give you the facts.
— Rep. Dan Crenshaw (@RepDanCrenshaw) March 7, 2020
Here’s the Truth pic.twitter.com/iXE0fUYM66
2/x Question #1: do masks help protect you against the coronavirus?
— Rep. Dan Crenshaw (@RepDanCrenshaw) March 7, 2020
Answer: According to the surgeon general, masks “are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus” pic.twitter.com/QB9CqBDTqv
One of the ads failed 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg ran was about the Trump administration. In the ad, he claimed the Trump administration cut funding from the Center for Disease Control.
"This is false. They haven't," Crenshaw explained. "The Associated Press had to fact check Mike Bloomberg for making this really dishonest claim."
"In fact, over the last five years, we've increased funding for a lot of the resources that we need for this kind of epidemic," he explained.
3/x Question #2: Has the Trump administration cut CDC funding?
— Rep. Dan Crenshaw (@RepDanCrenshaw) March 7, 2020
Answer: No, they haven’t. AP Fact Check called out Mike Bloomberg for spreading this false claim.
In fact, we’ve increased funding for programs like CDC, NIH, and others over the last 5 years. pic.twitter.com/WWsBL3OibL
President Trump has met with pharmaceutical companies to work on creating a vaccine for the future, although that will take time to produce.
"Bernie Sanders and many other Democrats have been making the implication that the vaccine would only be available for the rich. This isn't true because there is no vaccine," Crenshaw explained. "It probably won't be available for another year."
According to the Congressman, efforts are being made to create a vaccine, but right now, all that Congress can do is allocate funds "to better testing and treatments for the disease."
4/x Question #3: Is there a vaccine and would it only be available to the rich?
— Rep. Dan Crenshaw (@RepDanCrenshaw) March 7, 2020
Answer: Bernie Sanders seemed to suggest this recently, but it’s false. There is no vaccine, & there won’t be one probably for another year.
Right now we’re focusing on better testing & treatment. pic.twitter.com/BaoXJcis9i
5/x Question #4: Who is most likely to be harmed by the disease?
— Rep. Dan Crenshaw (@RepDanCrenshaw) March 7, 2020
Answer: So far, it’s mostly the elderly. Parents should know that children are actually not very likely to be harmed by this disease right now. pic.twitter.com/9YNYfWTaXM
Democrats point to policies like Medicare for All as a way of fighting the Coronavirus, saying
"As the Wall Street Journal pointed out, the kind of innovation for treatments and vaccines that we need to battle the Coronavirus, that all comes from the private industry," Crenshaw said. "That kind of innovation in research and development that's actually been happening even before this epidemic, would be put to a halt when you implement price controls that are inherent in the Medicare for All scheme."
6/x Question #5: If we had Medicare for All, would we be better off in fighting the coronavirus?
— Rep. Dan Crenshaw (@RepDanCrenshaw) March 7, 2020
Answer: Absolutely not. Medicare for All and price controls would destroy the incentives needed for the private sector to innovate a vaccine or treatment. pic.twitter.com/Wd59hgRnHg
Democrats and members of the Democratic media complex ran with the notion that President Trump called the Coronavirus a "hoax." What he was really referring to was how Democrats are using this epidemic to push their own political agenda.
"Is he really downplaying it? Of course not. What he was saying was, he's tired of the Democrats trying to politicize this entire thing," Crenshaw explained. "When he says, 'Don't panic,' it doesn't mean he's not taking it seriously. It doesn't mean that our government, as a whole, isn't taking it very, very seriously. Of course, we should, but we also shouldn't panic."
The Congressman said Congress wants everyone to be safe. He also reminded Americans to wash their hands and stay home if they're sick.
7/7 Question #6: Did President Trump really call the coronavirus a hoax?
— Rep. Dan Crenshaw (@RepDanCrenshaw) March 7, 2020
Answer: Of course not. President Trump was referring to the constant politicization of this issue.
When the president says “don’t panic,” he’s not downplaying this. We want people to be safe, not worried. pic.twitter.com/xXgvIYcYpj
Crenshaw is absolutely right. Having policies, like Medicare for All, would prevent innovation and new technology from emerging. If businesses are prevented from investing and making money, then they have no incentive to try to find cures for diseases, like cancer, or vaccines for diseases, like Coronavirus. Democrats continually use this epidemic to spread fear. Instead of putting politics aside to work with the Trump administration, they would rather see the Amerian people suffer... all in the name of partisanship.
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