Joe Biden has written an op-ed for The Washington Post about how coronavirus has presented us with an “extraordinary moment — the kind that begs for urgent, steady, empathetic, unifying leadership.” But the piece is an indictment on how Donald Trump “is reverting to a familiar strategy of deflecting blame and dividing Americans.”
His goal is as obvious as it is craven: He hopes to split the country into dueling camps, casting Democrats as doomsayers hoping to keep America grounded and Republicans as freedom fighters trying to liberate the economy.
The presumptive Democratic nominee says, “It’s a childish tactic — and a false choice that none of us should fall for.”
Biden goes on to write about how Trump has left governors high and dry.
Efforts have been slowed and hampered because they haven’t gotten the tools, resources and guidance they need from the federal government to reopen safely and sustainably. That responsibility falls on Trump’s shoulders — but he isn’t up to the task.
And then there’s the issue of testing. Biden points out how people in the White House are now getting tested daily for coronavirus, “Instead of once again seeking to divide us, Trump should be working to get Americans the same necessary protections he has gotten for himself.”
It’s been more than two months since Trump claimed that “anybody that wants a test can get a test.” It was a baldfaced lie when he said it, and it still isn’t remotely true. If we’re going to have thriving workplaces, restaurants, stores and parks, we need widespread testing. Trump can’t seem to provide it — to say nothing of worker safety protocols, consistent health guidelines or clear federal leadership to coordinate a responsible reopening.