The Least Comforting Thing About That White House Ebola Press Conference
So far, I’ve been among the contingent that has been happy to mock the hysteria and batshittery that has engulfed the U.S., and I still am. It is only one case, and the virus doesn’t have the wildfire spreadability of the flu. Screening people out at airports by taking their temperature is working pretty darn well. We liberals believe in science, and the science says I’m probably never going to get Ebola. When Ebola showed up in Texas, and everyone else was thinking “Shit just got real,” I was thinking “Shit maybe just got loosely based on a true story. Maybe.”
Having said all of that, when I dipped into Friday’s presser, I was a little bit alarmed by the chyron that MSNBC was displaying, which seemed to indicate a subtle shift in rhetoric, from President Obama saying it was unlikely that Ebola would ever reach the U.S., to unlikely there would be an outbreak, to this:
“W.H. OFFICIAL: Do Not Anticipate Significant Outbreak In The U.S.”
As it turns out, though, “significant outbreak” wasn’t a White House official’s quote, it was CNN reporter Jim Acosta’s. This is just one more way that the media stokes hysteria in ways that are extremely unhelpful.
There was one thing at Friday’s press conference that should give Americans pause, that should maybe create a new “Wait, what?” setting on the Ebol-O-meter™. Homeland Security Advisor Lisa Monaco’s response to a question about the failures in the Dallas case revealed one of science’s main weaknesses. Asked why Americans should feel confident in a system that revealed so many flaws in its very first encounter with a case of Ebola, here’s how she responded…READ MORE
Copyright 2014 Liberaland
By: Tommy Christopher
Tommy Christopher is The Daily Banter's White House Correspondent and Political Analyst. He's been a political reporter and liberal commentator since 2007, and has covered the White House since the beginning of the Obama administration, first for PoliticsDaily, and then for Mediaite. Christopher is a frequent guest on a variety of television, radio, and online programs, and was the villain in the documentaries The Audacity of Democracy and Hating Breitbart. He's also That Guy Who Live-Tweeted His Own Heart Attack, and the only person to have ever received public apologies from both Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.
54 responses to The Least Comforting Thing About That White House Ebola Press Conference
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Obewon October 5th, 2014 at 17:20
Conservatives this means you: Patriotic volunteers sought by Donald Rumsfeld’s Glaxo Smith Kline in Ebola vaccine test. Ebola Researchers Radical Idea: Rush Untested GSK Vaccine Into The Field to Inoculate 10k HC workers. http://www.npr.org/blogs/goatsandsoda/2014/09/30/352549117/ebola-researchers-have-a-radical-idea-rush-a-vaccine-into-the-field
PaulaNix October 5th, 2014 at 17:59
I’m still scratching my head about why would Obama appoint Monsanto executive to write the countries’ policies in the Food and Drug Administration?
StoneyCurtisll October 5th, 2014 at 18:04
the “scratching of the head” might be indicative of a flea infestation..
Obewon October 5th, 2014 at 18:25
You’re LL’s fist self-admitted Rmoney voter! Impaling your country lost by 3:2 (D) 332 to (R) 206.
Under the Obama admin we haven’t had the dozens of deadly GOP GW Bush Food killings via E-coli, etc have we? FYI> Taylor’s position, which is currently a low-low level deputy commissioner for foods at the FDA, includes ensuring that food labels contain clear and accurate information, overseeing strategy for food safety and planning new food safety legislation. He is the first individual to hold the position.
Before he joined the FDA, Taylor was VP for Public Policy at Monsanto from 1998 to 2001. He has since worked for the FDA in a number of capacities, most recently returning to the administration as senior adviser to the commissioner in July 2009.
mea_mark October 5th, 2014 at 18:37
You are done here. Take your spam elsewhere.
Carla Akins October 5th, 2014 at 19:07
Holy moly, I see you’ve been busy deleting.
mea_mark October 5th, 2014 at 19:22
Yeah, she really went to spamming.
Skydog2 October 6th, 2014 at 04:07
She needs to learn only links to far-left sites are acceptable.
Anomaly 100 October 6th, 2014 at 06:45
You need to not bother the mods while they’re doing what they’re supposed to be doing.
greenfloyd October 6th, 2014 at 03:35
So how many “volunteers” have you recruited? I’m sure Rummy and GSK appreciate all your effort. :)
A “vaccine” would help, but probably only in the short-term. I don’t know how fast Ebola can mutate, but if it’s like the flu the drug would have to keep up and counter the mutation with periodic injections.
Obewon October 5th, 2014 at 17:20
Conservatives your country needs you to step up to the plate! Patriotic volunteers sought by Donald Rumsfeld’s Glaxo Smith Kline in Ebola vaccine test. Ebola Researchers Radical Idea: Rush Untested GSK Vaccine Into The Field to Inoculate 10,000 HC workers. http://www.npr.org/blogs/goatsandsoda/2014/09/30/352549117/ebola-researchers-have-a-radical-idea-rush-a-vaccine-into-the-field
StoneyCurtisll October 5th, 2014 at 18:04
the “scratching of the head” might be indicative of a flea infestation..
Obewon October 5th, 2014 at 18:25
You’re LL’s fist self-admitted Rmoney voter! Impaling your country lost by 3:2 (D) 332 to (R) 206.
Under the Obama admin we haven’t had the dozens of deadly GOP GW Bush Food killings via E-coli, etc have we?
FYI> Taylor’s position, which was a low level deputy commissioner for foods at the FDA, included ensuring that food labels contain clear and accurate information, overseeing strategy for food safety and planning new food safety legislation. He is the first individual to hold the position.
Before he Re-joined the FDA, Taylor was VP for Public Policy at Monsanto from 1998 to 2001. He has since worked for the FDA in a number of capacities, most recently returning to the administration as senior adviser to the commissioner in July 2009. He’s a part time consultant “adviser” Lol!
mea_mark October 5th, 2014 at 18:37
You are done here. Take your spam elsewhere.
Carla Akins October 5th, 2014 at 19:07
Holy moly, I see you’ve been busy deleting.
mea_mark October 5th, 2014 at 19:22
Yeah, she really went to spamming.
I only deleted the comments with links to the far-right site of Whittle whatever.
Skydog2 October 6th, 2014 at 04:07
She needs to learn only links to far-left sites are acceptable.
Anomaly 100 October 6th, 2014 at 06:45
You need to not bother the mods while they’re doing what they’re supposed to be doing.
floyd[@]greenfloyd.org October 6th, 2014 at 03:35
So how many “volunteers” have you recruited? I’m sure Rummy and GSK appreciate all your effort. :)
A “vaccine” would help, but probably only in the short-term. I don’t know how fast Ebola can mutate, but if it’s like the flu the drug would have to keep up and counter the mutation with periodic injections.
StoneyCurtisll October 5th, 2014 at 17:24
In all reality…
I am less worried about “The Ebola” virus as I am about about real threats to our health.
PaulaNix October 5th, 2014 at 17:34
Hey Mr. Stoney,
for you – http://www.billwhittle.com
StoneyCurtisll October 5th, 2014 at 17:54
I need a hot bath after looking at that link…
Maybe 21 days of right wing containment and virus hold down….
I use to date a girl named Paula…
Please tell me your last name Isn’t James…
PaulaNix October 5th, 2014 at 17:56
You know why we’re call “The Right”? Because we’re right! Wakeup!
PaulaNix October 5th, 2014 at 17:57
What are your principles and values? What do you stand for?
StoneyCurtisll October 5th, 2014 at 17:59
Why do you ask yourself a question?
PaulaNix October 5th, 2014 at 18:10
lol – you’re right on that one. Stoney – We do what we do because we’ve been able to enjoy the fruits of freedom. We can bicker and fight and disagree because someone shed blood for us to be able to fight like children and call each other names. I don’t want that between us. We are not a perfect country and things need to be better in many areas. But our priorities have shifted fast. We have news suppression and manipulation so that people with their interests are using us. They call us stupid idiots. Lets not be that anymore. I voted Gore, Kerry, Obama and then Romney. Once Obama appointed Monsanto execs to the FDA, I knew I had been fooled. But I think its goes deeper than anyone realizes. He wants to see America weakened and fail. He wants to gain the approval of his father who was a Muslim who hated what America stood for. Its much deeper than we know – that’s why he gave $400 billion dollars to Hamas – a terrorist government. Are we going to throw useless emails back and forth everyday or as Americans, are we going to do something about it? Please watch Firewall by Bill Whittle: Benghazi – Why is Matters? This isn’t the right winger trying to bash the left. This is an American saying to his fellow American that we need to stand together and do what is brave, what is hard, and take a stand for what is just.
edmeyer_able October 5th, 2014 at 18:24
Is it just to deny health care to millions, is it just to restrict voting to millions is it just to forget our Veterans who fought for us, is it just to burden the poor and middle class with an oppressive tax code while giving tax breaks to millionaires who ship their jobs overseas?
You dare to mention Benghazi while forgetting W failures, don’t make me laugh.
arc99 October 5th, 2014 at 18:39
if you want this American to stand with you then the first thing you need to do is to stop spreading unsubstantiated falsehoods (e.g. lies) about a President I voted for twice.
$400 billion to Hamas? is there any lie you will not believe?
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/jul/14/republican-national-committee-republican/RNC-poll-Hamas-Gaza/
To the contrary, Washington is taking steps to try to specifically make sure none of that money winds up in the hands of Hamas. We also note that only $300 million of the $900 million is even going to Gaza, for humanitarian aid. And the money is specifically not to be used for reconstruction. It is limited to humanitarian aid — food, medicine, that kind of thing. So the GOP is wrong on that point too. We rule the RNC’s Hamas claim to be False.
Obewon October 5th, 2014 at 18:44
So you want us to believe you voted Romney because Obama appointed a part time consultant to advise the FDA?
Mr. Taylor started his career in 1976 as an F.D.A. staff lawyer and over the next three decades migrated among government, industry and academia. He returned to the F.D.A. in 1991 as deputy commissioner for policy and moved in 1994 to head the Department of Agriculture’s meat inspection service. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/health/policy/14fda.html Mendel’s pea hybrids via cross-breeding were genetic manipulation of mutants! http://anthro.palomar.edu/mendel/mendel_1.htm
Anomaly 100 October 5th, 2014 at 20:22
This part had me stumped, because your party is sucking the freedom out of America.
” we’ve been able to enjoy the fruits of freedom.”
You only love the freedoms you enjoy while holding others down by the scruff of their necks. You call it freedom while you worship the likes of Vladimir Putin, et al. You call it freedom while you chose what I can do with my gosh damned body. You call it freedom while you decide whether my gay friends can get married. You call it freedom while you suppress the minority vote. You cheered when Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin were shot down.
The only freedom you enjoy is the white people’s freedom. The right wing Christian version of freedom where your God doesn’t even resemble mine.
Keep your “freedom” Paula. I’d rather be dead than be a Republican. Even Republicans are embarrassed to admit they’re Republicans these days.
Have a nice night!
fahvel October 6th, 2014 at 03:54
you are a very ignorant and closed minded thing without a real shred of anything that might be considered humanitarian.
mea_mark October 5th, 2014 at 18:50
Bill Whittle of course. Her brain has been infected.
greenfloyd October 6th, 2014 at 01:20
At first 90.000 does seem shocking, however we’d need to know how many millions of people pass through hospitals, without getting an infection? Then we could determine the real risk, just like we need to do with Ebola or any other contagion. Nonetheless, secondary infections underscore the fact, there is no perfect system to combat all the bugs out there. And then there’s Murphy’s Law…
StoneyCurtisll October 5th, 2014 at 17:24
In all reality…
I am less worried about “The Ebola” virus as I am about about real threats to our health.
According to the CDC, 90K die every year form secondary infections contracted through hospitals…
That is a shocking number.
floyd[@]greenfloyd.org October 6th, 2014 at 01:20
At first 90.000 does seem shocking, however we’d need to know how many millions of people pass through hospitals, without getting an infection? Then we could determine the real risk, just like we need to do with Ebola or any other contagion. Nonetheless, secondary infections underscore the fact, there is no perfect system to combat all the bugs out there. And then there’s Murphy’s Law…
StoneyCurtisll October 5th, 2014 at 17:54
I need a hot bath after looking at that link…
Maybe 21 days of right wing containment and virus hold down….
I use to date a girl named Paula…
Please tell me your last name Isn’t James…
StoneyCurtisll October 5th, 2014 at 17:59
Why do you ask yourself a question?
edmeyer_able October 5th, 2014 at 18:24
Is it just to deny health care to millions, is it just to restrict voting to millions is it just to forget our Veterans who fought for us, is it just to burden the poor and middle class with an oppressive tax code while giving tax breaks to millionaires who ship their jobs overseas?
You dare to mention Benghazi while forgetting W failures, don’t make me laugh.
arc99 October 5th, 2014 at 18:39
if you want this American to stand with you then the first thing you need to do is to stop spreading unsubstantiated falsehoods (e.g. lies) about a President I voted for twice.
$400 billion to Hamas? is there any lie you will not believe?
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/jul/14/republican-national-committee-republican/RNC-poll-Hamas-Gaza/
To the contrary, Washington is taking steps to try to specifically make sure none of that money winds up in the hands of Hamas. We also note that only $300 million of the $900 million is even going to Gaza, for humanitarian aid. And the money is specifically not to be used for reconstruction. It is limited to humanitarian aid — food, medicine, that kind of thing. So the GOP is wrong on that point too. We rule the RNC’s Hamas claim to be False.
Obewon October 5th, 2014 at 18:44
So you want us to believe you voted Romney because Obama appointed a part time consultant to advise the FDA?
Mr. Taylor started his career in 1976 as an F.D.A. staff lawyer and over the next three decades migrated among government, industry and academia. He returned to the F.D.A. in 1991 as deputy commissioner for policy and moved in 1994 to head the Department of Agriculture’s meat inspection service. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/health/policy/14fda.html Mendel’s pea hybrids via cross-breeding were genetic manipulation of mutants! http://anthro.palomar.edu/mendel/mendel_1.htm
mea_mark October 5th, 2014 at 18:50
Bill Whittle of course. Her brain has been infected.
Anomaly 100 October 5th, 2014 at 20:22
This part had me stumped, because your party is sucking the freedom out of America.
” we’ve been able to enjoy the fruits of freedom.”
You only love the freedoms you enjoy while holding others down by the scruff of their necks. You call it freedom while you worship the likes of Vladimir Putin, et al. You call it freedom while you choose what I can do with my gosh damned body. You call it freedom while you decide whether my gay friends can get married. You call it freedom while you suppress the minority vote. You cheered when Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin were shot down.
The only freedom you enjoy is the white people’s freedom. The right wing Christian version of freedom where your God doesn’t even resemble mine.
Keep your “freedom” Paula. I’d rather be dead than be a Republican. Even Republicans are embarrassed to admit they’re Republicans these days.
Have a nice night!
fahvel October 6th, 2014 at 03:54
you are a very ignorant and closed minded thing without a real shred of anything that might be considered humanitarian.
edmeyer_able October 5th, 2014 at 19:31
Reuter’s just reported Thomas Duncan, Dallas Ebola patient has succumbed to his disease. RIP
greenfloyd October 6th, 2014 at 00:57
DALLAS/NEW YORK (Reuters) – The first person diagnosed with Ebola in the United States was fighting for his life at a Dallas hospital on Sunday and appeared to be receiving none of the experimental medicines for the virus, a top U.S. health official said.(within the last 3 hours from this post).
You can follow the Reuters’ feed here: reuters
Obewon October 6th, 2014 at 02:14
Exactly. Duncan may still defeat it. But -Frieden said doses of the experimental medicine ZMapp were “all gone” and that the drug, produced by San Diego-based Mapp Biopharmaceutical, is “not going to be available anytime soon.” (Except to the Highest Bidding Koch Brother) http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/05/us-health-ebola-usa-idUSKCN0HT0MZ20141005
edmeyer_able October 5th, 2014 at 19:31
Reuter’s just reported Thomas Duncan, Dallas Ebola patient has succumbed to his disease. RIP
oops this maybe incorrect Mea Culpa….=(
floyd[@]greenfloyd.org October 6th, 2014 at 00:57
DALLAS/NEW YORK (Reuters) – The first person diagnosed with Ebola in the United States was fighting for his life at a Dallas hospital on Sunday and appeared to be receiving none of the experimental medicines for the virus, a top U.S. health official said.(within the last 3 hours from this post).
You can follow the Reuters’ feed here: reuters
Obewon October 6th, 2014 at 02:14
Exactly. Duncan may still defeat Ebola. But -Frieden said doses of the experimental medicine ZMapp were “all gone” and that the drug, produced by San Diego-based Mapp Biopharmaceutical, is “not going to be available anytime soon.” (Except to the highest bidding Koch brother) http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/05/us-health-ebola-usa-idUSKCN0HT0MZ20141005
tiredoftea October 5th, 2014 at 19:57
She just couldn’t come out and say, “We had this covered until that dumbass nurse ignored all of the warning signs and sent him home with a prescription.”?
tiredoftea October 5th, 2014 at 19:57
She just couldn’t come out and say, “We had this covered until that dumbass nurse ignored all of the warning signs and sent him home with a prescription.”?
Skydog2 October 6th, 2014 at 03:57
Obama lies, people die.
rg9rts October 6th, 2014 at 06:36
Abject panic is not in full swing even though FAUX is doing its best to make it so……LOL Look at Skydog2 comment below
rg9rts October 6th, 2014 at 06:36
Abject panic is not in full swing even though FAUX is doing its best to make it so……LOL Look at Skydog2 comment below