Even though we should be putting politics aside and focusing on getting the American people healthy again – which seems to be happening, for the most part, on the Congressional front – members of the mainstream media are quick to pick winners and losers.
During a press conference on Saturday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo touted the number of Wuhan coronavirus tests his state has processed, which is almost twice as many as California and Washington State.
Based on Cuomo's numbers, New York has processed 45,437 Wuhan coronavirus tests, compared to 23,200 in California and 23,343 in Washington State.
"We are taking more tests in New York than any place else. We're taking more tests per capita than China or South Korea," Cuomo said on Saturday. "We're also taking more tests than any state in the United States of America. That is actually a great accomplishment, because, if you remember back two weeks, which seems like a lifetime now, the whole question was coming up the scale on tests. How do we get the number of tests up and how do we get it up quickly?"
Cuomo said he spoke with President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence and asked the White House to "decentralize" testing and allow states to handle testing.
"I have 200 labs. I can mobilize quickly. Let us do the tests. They agreed," Cuomo recounted.
NY Gov. Cuomo touts his state's ability to test for the coronavirus, which was a result of President Trump's decision to decentralize testing. pic.twitter.com/CzgEMmvv1Y
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) March 21, 2020
Despite the governor giving praise to the Trump administration and their work to allow states to make their own decisions, especially on processing, members of the Democratic media complex quickly swooned over Cuomo.
I have a crush on the only man in my life right now.. Andrew Cuomo. Wait is this Love After Lockup?? ?? now, to my letters...
— Michelle Collins (@michcoll) March 21, 2020
I can't believe I'm jumping on this train because of how much I have not been a fan of Cuomo re: our subways. But the clear fact is in 10 minutes he's been more honest and presidential than Trump has in four years, and I would take him over Biden 100% #CuomoForPresident
— Dan Porter (@tfadp) March 21, 2020
Watching @NYGovCuomo live right now. He continues to be absolutely remarkable, the kind of leadership of which we dream and almost never get.
— Kurt Andersen (@KBAndersen) March 21, 2020
And a bonus: a plainspoken Queens-born boomer who went to Fordham who's lucid, frank, intelligent, competent, empathetic and inspiring.
Andrew Cuomo is our president.
— John Aravosis ???? (@aravosis) March 21, 2020
What's amazing is MSNBC's Joy Reid attempted to use Cuomo's press conference to slam President Trump. Apparently she missed the memo: Cuomo praised Trump's leadership during this pandemic, as Caleb Hull pointed out.
Just gonna say it: @NYGovCuomo is really good at this. His leadership ability in this coronavirus crisis, and the usefulness of these press conferences are just putting Donald Trump to shame. #amjoy
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) March 21, 2020
You're using a man that praised Trump's response to coronavirus to... attack Trump.
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) March 21, 2020
You surely can't be this dumb. https://t.co/NaoYezZl4x pic.twitter.com/EnNSk6PJz9
What's even worse is President Trump has talked about the possibility of HydroxyChloroquine treating the Wuhan coronavirus. It must go through one ear and out the other, until a Democrat says the exact same thing.
HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE & AZITHROMYCIN, taken together, have a real chance to be one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine. The FDA has moved mountains - Thank You! Hopefully they will BOTH (H works better with A, International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents).....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 21, 2020
....be put in use IMMEDIATELY. PEOPLE ARE DYING, MOVE FAST, and GOD BLESS EVERYONE! @US_FDA @SteveFDA @CDCgov @DHSgov
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 21, 2020
NEW DATA: A French study has demonstrated evidence that the combination of Hydroxychloroquine & Azithromycin are highly effective in treating Covid-19.
— Michael Coudrey (@MichaelCoudrey) March 21, 2020
The patients enrolled in the study showed complete viral eradication around the 5th day of treatment. https://t.co/WnGs5PKOpn pic.twitter.com/JZzZ66w4rL
Governor Cuomo touts the potential of HydroxyChloroquine in treating the Chinese Virus — the same drug @realDonaldTrump has hailed and fast-tracked!
— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) March 21, 2020
This could save lives!
Governor Cuomo touting malaria drug as potential treatment for Wuhan coronavirus. Will the media skewer him for offering “false hope” as they did with President Trump yesterday?
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) March 21, 2020
Can't we give credit where credit is due? The media needs to follow Gov. Cuomo's lead and recognize some of the vital moves the White House has made that have been good calls. Even if these folks don't typically agree on other political issues, this pandemic is something that should bring us all together.