Here are egregious, and connected, examples of misinformation, and also of lying, and distorting in connection with our current Covid 19 affliction.

First, Trump extravagantly touts chloroquine as a "game changer” for the virus, and says that it had been "approved.”

Second, according to ABC news: "When asked if the drug was promising Friday, Fauci, standing next to Trump, said ‘the answer is no’ because ‘the evidence you’re talking about … is anecdotal evidence.’
‘The information that you’re referring to specifically is antecdotal,’ he added. ‘It was not done in a controlled clinical trial. So you really can’t make any definitive statement about it.’”

As I see it both Trump, and Fauci, were not only at cross purposes, but overreacting from different perspectives. Trump, as a layman, went further than he should have done, possibly encouraging false hopes, and Fauci, overreacted by failing to recognize the value of anecdotal evidence coming from medical professionals on the front line of treatment.

So much for the misinformation. Now we come to the distortions and lies.

The Gardian runs this headline (widely linked on the internet): "Arizona man dies after taking coronavirus 'cure' Trump touted with false claims.” And, of course, it turns out that the man did not take the drug that Trump touted, but fish tank cleaner that someone on Fox News had said contained the same thing as the drug.

So, as it turns out, Trump was more optimistic than the evidence at the time warranted, and used loose language. Fauci was overly pessimistic, and used overly tight language, and The Gardian formulated a lying headline which is being heard around the world.

George S. Whitten is wrong on a fundamental point.

Trump is often misquoted by the media when he speaks and then accused of undercutting his people. For instance, Trump was quoted as saying chloroquine was "a game changer" and that it had been tested and approved. Trump did not say it was a game changer - he said it COULD BE a game changer. That is a world of difference. In fact, here is the quote:

"And I think it's going to be very exciting. I think it could be a game changer. And maybe not. Maybe not, but I think it could be, based on what I see, it could be a game changer. Very powerful, they’re very powerful,"

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-announces-potential-game-changer-drugs-treat-covid19/story?id=69693560

It HAS gone through tests overseas and it IS approved for medical treatments. Trump never said the FDA approved it for this treatment or that it had been tested here. But the media picks and chooses bits and pieces to make him look bad.

Granted, Trump is not a fellow with careful speech; it's one of his endearing features on the campaign trail - he speaks like a regular guy. I agree he often puts his foot in his mouth as a result. But it must be pointed out that much of this is not his fault, but the fault of the media who still think he is an illegitimate President and want to bring him down.

Posted by: onenaturalstone at May 19, 2023 10:33 AM (ihVM8)

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