As the nation begins to effectively shut down in an effort to slow the spread of a new, deadly strain of coronavirus that has caused a global pandemic, the left is full steam ahead in blaming President Donald Trump for just about everything, including a delay in useful testing for the virus.
Although a test was available through the World Health Organization before the virus arrived in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention opted to create its own test that would include COVID-19 as well as a wide array of other potentially deadly strains of coronaviruses.
There were early problems with manufacturing, distribution and accuracy as the test produced false positives for some of the other strains included in the testing. This delay was serious but short-lived as the private sector was able to create a better test.
Despite the seriousness of the global pandemic, media outlets such as Politico were quick to pounce on the administration’s handling of the situation, including the tests, in an effort to blame Trump for the spread of a virus.
In his usual straight-shooting style, Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Texas destroyed that narrative.
“Good rule in life: Before we start blaming others or getting angry or trying to score cheap political points, it’s good to ask some questions first,” Crenshaw said in his video posted to Twitter on Friday. “In this case, why is America so far behind on coronavirus testing? Is it really Trump’s fault?
“Truth is, it’s not Trump’s fault, it’s not Obama’s fault, it’s our regulatory process. That’s what stopped us from getting a test out to people faster.”
He lauded private industry for succeeding where government failed, as it so often does. “They loosed those restrictions and our private industry, and they stepped up to the plate,” he said.
“It only took them a few days to get up to millions of tests,” Crenshaw said.
Crenshaw is referring to the fact that in response to the COVID-19 crisis, the Trump administration has lifted many cumbersome regulations that hinder those trying to fight the disease.
The congressman explained that the CDC places restrictions on the types of testing it approves because sometimes tests that are supposedly accurate in diagnosing cancer, for instance, turn out not to be and would therefore be detrimental to public health.
However, Crenshaw explained that in certain situations, such as the current pandemic, it is appropriate to lift those restrictions — and that is exactly what Trump has done.
Rep. Dan Crenshaw ✔ @RepDanCrenshaw
Scoring cheap political points is easy, but also dishonest. In the US, our tests for coronavirus have been delayed and difficult to get. We recently addressed the problem by loosening regulations.
But why’d it take so long? Who is really to blame?
WATCH
https://twitter.com/i/status/1238528719955861505