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TRUMPS CDC INTERFERANCE   Trump officials interfered with CDC reports medical professionals have provided on Covid-19.  The politicization of the public health system is not only dangerous but can also be deadly.  In an article in Politico on September 12^th by Dan Diamond he accused the politically appointed HHS spokesperson and his team of demanding and receiving the right to review CDC’s scientific reports provided to health professionals.

Former campaign official Michael Caputo with no scientific or medical background and his team have attempted to add caveats to the CDC’s findings, including an effort to retroactively change agency reports that they said wrongly inflated the risks of Covid-19.  Michael was installed in April as the Health and Human Services spokesperson.  Since in his tenure there have been substantial attempts to align the reports with Trump’s statements, including the presidents claim that the fears about the outbreak are overstated. 

Caputo’s team tried to halt the release of some CDC reports, including delaying a report that addressed how doctors were prescribing hydroxychloroquine, a treatment that was favored via observation by Trump ignoring science .  The report was delayed about a month, and when the report was published it said: “the potential benefits of these drugs do not outweigh the risks.”

In an email dated August, 8^th sent  from Caputo to the CDC director Robert Redfield accused the CDC of using reports to “hurt the president.” Dr. Paul Alexander a political appointee  wrote: “CDC to me appears to be writing hit pieces on the administration.”  The efforts of Caputo’s aids have continued their efforts through the summer.

When POLITICO asked why he and his team were demanding changes to the CDC reports, Caputo praised Dr. Paul Alexander as “an Oxford-educated epidemiologist who specializes “in analyzing the work of other scientists”  He was not made available for an interview.  Caputo said: ”like all scientists, his advice is heard and taken or rejected by his peers.” 

Caputo said: “that HHS was appropriately reviewing CDC  reports.to make clear there was not ulterior deep state motives in the bowels of the CDC.” His team had spent months clashing with scientific experts across the administration.  His team tried to add caveats to the CDC findings, including an effort to retroactively change agency reports that they said wrongly inflated the risks of Covid-19.

This week Alexander tried to muzzle infection expert Antoni Fauci from speaking about the risk of Covid-19 to children.  He also had criticized the CDC methods and findings. Dr. Paul Alexander wrote: “CDC to me appears to be writing hit pieces on the administration”, as he called upon Redfield to modify two already published reports that Alexander claimed wrongly inflated the risks of coronavirus to children undermining Trump’s efforts to reopen schools.  The CDC report tried to warn that once kids get together, there will be spread and will impact school openings.  Alexander said: “Very misleading by the CDC and shame on them.  Their aim is clear.”

The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports MMWE is issued by the CDC and are authorized by career scientists and serve as the main vehicle for the agency to inform doctors and researchers and the general public about how Covid-19 is spreading and who is at risk.  This report has been the cornerstone of public health for decades and prior to this administration has not been politicized.  The message Caputo wanted to pass on was the pandemic is totally under control.

Caputo and other HHS officials bristled when the report in August had shown the coronavirus spread of infections in a Georgia overnight day camp.  They claimed it was a deliberate effort and put there to undermine the presidents push to have schools open in the Fall.

Alexander called on Redford to halt all future MMWR reports until the agency modified its years-old publication process so he could personally review the entire report prior to publication, rather than a brief synopsis.  The political appointee said: The reports must be read by someone outside of the CDC like myself, and we cannot allow the reporting to go on as it has been, for it is outrageous, its lunacy.” Alexander told Redford “nothing goes out unless I read and agree with the findings…CDC, wrote it and I tweak it to ensure it is fair and balanced and ‘complete.’”  Fair and balanced – isn’t that the Fox noise, political propaganda and conspiracy theory channel?  Alexander wanted to also retroactively make changes to reports.  Some of which suggest lives could have been saved if actions were taken sooner.

I can see why Trump wants to control the narrative.  The facts are all against him.  He has politicized the pandemic and now with the Woodward revelations downplaying the virus obviously delayed any aggressive actions initially required to control the virus.  Trump’s inaction and downplay directly leading to increased deaths.

 These actions led him to offload the pandemic to the states, becoming the second cheerleader as president.  George W. being the first, he also took us to war.  Trump’s war is the pandemic and just like Vietnam he found a way to cheer from the sidelines.

I guess revisionist history is all trump has left.  With the taped conversations with Woodward showing that Trump wanted to then, and still does, downplay the virus this lets everyone’s guard down and it kills.  So I guess he wants to erase the stain of the responsibility of the death count of almost 200,000, or that he has killed more of its citizens than any other president.  A majority of the deaths that could have been prevented I guess that’s why Trump so desperately wants these facts removed from history.

Mr. Caputo a protégé of Roger Stone, after the Friday article has spewed conspiracy theories and accuses the career medical professionals as committing sedition in handling the pandemic on his site.  In a live video stream on his personal Facebook page made falsely alleges conspiracy and warns of an armed revolt. That the CDC was harboring a resistance unit determined to undermine president Trump.  He said They “haven’t gotten out of their sweatpants except for meetings at coffee shops” to plot ”how they’re going to attack Donald Trump next.” Caputo also said: There are scientists that work for this government who do not want America to get well, not until after Joe Biden is president.

Caputo also said there could be violence and insurrection after the election. “and when Donald Trump refuses to step down at the inauguration, the shooting will begin,” he said.  “The drills that you’ve seen are nothing.” He added “if you carry guns, buy ammunition, ladies and gentlemen, because it’s going to be hard to get.” This coming from a senior communications appointee touting conspiracy theory and fear mongering.  Does this man need help?  I wonder about him in saying he that he see shadows in DC and shadows on his walls at night and is afraid to be in DC.  He is a perfect fit for Trump.

How does this man still have a government job? He sees the same deep state as does Donald.  Caputo was installed in that position to insure Donald Trump would not be hurt politically by any messaging coming out of these offices.  Trump is the messenger on public health now.  This behavior has become a trend in recent months prior to the election using desperate measures to alter the narrative to his view of the government.

Caputo on Sunday posted on Facebook this weekend complained about being hounded by the media said: “his physical health is in question and his mental health has failed.”  A cry for help?  Complaining:  “I don’t like being alone in Washington, shadows on the ceiling in my apartment there alone, shadows are so long.”  I no longer why Biden is 30 points ahead of Trump on who could handle the virus better, maybe it’s not only the message but also the messengers?