Travel Industry to VP Biden: Zip It
EmailFollowing Vice President Biden’s suggestion this morning that Americans avoid subways or commercial flights because of the flu, Roger Dow, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, today released the following statement:
"Americans should heed the advice of medical experts when determining how best to manage health concerns during the ongoing swine flu outbreak," Dow said. "According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and countless other experts, swine flu should not discourage people from traveling to or within the United States.
"Elected officials must strike a delicate balance of accurately and adequately informing citizens of health concerns without unduly discouraging travel and other important economic activity. According to President Obama, swine flu is a cause for concern, but not panic. President Obama’s measured and responsible comments are appropriate and should provide useful guidance to other elected officials."
- jpt
UPDATE: "To suggest that people not fly at this stage of things is a broad brush stroke bordering on fear mongering. The facts of the situation at this stage anyway certainly don’t support that," American Airlines spokesman Tim Smith told The Associated Press.
Sen. DeMint: GOP Race Could Go Until Convention 
Obama Avoids Questions on Contraception Rule
Delicious irony here, coming from “Amtrak Joe”. The GaffeMaster strikes again! D’Oh!
Posted by: JD | April 30, 2009, 10:22 am 10:22 am
So should I catch Obama’s SuperTrain to work this morning or not? I’m already 30 minutes late.
Posted by: New Cronkite | April 30, 2009, 10:29 am 10:29 am
I actually think “Say it ain’t so, Joe” is right. Do what you feel is right for you. Protect your family.
Keeping the borders open and failing to follow up on travel to and from Mexico may very well come back to bite this administration.
Two schools in my area are closed due to sick children. There is no need to panic but I wish the administration would close the barn door so that more infected people do not travel to the U.S. Theis wait and see, “measured” response seems irresponsible.
Posted by: Concerned | April 30, 2009, 10:35 am 10:35 am
“Delicious irony here, coming from “Amtrak Joe”. The GaffeMaster strikes again! D’Oh!”
What’s “ironic?” He was asked what he would have his own family do. He answered honestly. YOu guys would whine either way he answered. Seriously…get a freaking life.
Posted by: Silky | April 30, 2009, 10:38 am 10:38 am
Try duct tape or a muzzle.
Maybe one of those gag balls on the strap around his head. Make that ball a red one.
Seen but not heard, that should be Joe’s new policy.
Posted by: William | April 30, 2009, 10:38 am 10:38 am
Cue the apologists in….never mind they are already here.
That didn’t take long.
Posted by: Angie | April 30, 2009, 10:41 am 10:41 am
barry said last night you can’t close the barn door after the horse has left on the boat! all that talk about barn doors and horse and boats is making me think that totus has contract pig flu and should avoid telling barry what to say for awhile.
Posted by: moto | April 30, 2009, 10:43 am 10:43 am
When it is clear that the source is in Mexico and more than a 100 people have already died of that disease in that country, it makes no sense to continue to allow people to go into that country and bring the disease back to the US. This is not panic. This is about common sense. This is about scientific logic.
Posted by: DelegateMath | April 30, 2009, 10:47 am 10:47 am
We have flu every year and we have flu deaths every year. I want to thank all you people who voted for an incompetent President and a V.P. who hasn’t been playing with a full deck for 20 years.
Posted by: Ron | April 30, 2009, 11:14 am 11:14 am
DelegateMath:”When it is clear that the source is in Mexico and more than a 100 people have already died of that disease in that country, it makes no sense to continue to allow people to go into that country and bring the disease back to the US. This is not panic. This is about common sense. This is about scientific logic.”
Could you please list all the countries that agree with your “logic”? Personally, I like how Dr. Ron Paul pointed out the utter absurdity of such a position – by your logic, we MUST close the borders ASAP to keep out tuberculosis, which kills far more and is at epidemic levels in many countries outside the US.
When Dr Paul and President Obama’s administration (known for listening to eggheads) agree on the same course of action, I am VERY strongly inclined to think it is the best option available right now.
Posted by: jhw539 | April 30, 2009, 11:22 am 11:22 am
What “gaffe machine” means is that sometimes the truth slips out. Joe is right. Avoid the public as much as you can. And if we had any ##### we would shut down the border and halt air travel, to help slow things down a bit. But, we’d rather cower to the PC police that protect our country.
Posted by: james432 | April 30, 2009, 11:38 am 11:38 am
As Ron White says you can’t fix stupid!! A dangerous president and a truly incompetent VP! If we shut down the economy for the “flu” maybe the common cold next!! Use common sense not fear and panic!
Posted by: robert | April 30, 2009, 11:42 am 11:42 am
Shut up, Joe, shut up!
Posted by: ceeLeelee | April 30, 2009, 11:52 am 11:52 am
Even if you do get this pig flu, chances are, you will not be the one percent who develops complications from it. For most of us, this flu is no more worrisome then the regular flu.
That said, I think airports … with all those people coming from all over the country and the world, is far more germy then an airplane. You’re more likely to get sick when you open the door to a bathroom stall (the door handles are almost NEVER disinfected) or sitting the waiting area waiting for a plane (those chairs are never washed either!) then you are in a plane.
Posted by: not worried | April 30, 2009, 12:26 pm 12:26 pm
I’ve work for a major airline. If you want to catch a communicable viral agent or micro-organism. An airplane is the best place to find one. Aircraft travel between international airports and US destinations every hour of every day. And with shorter turn around times, the airlines do not take the time to disinfect the aircraft. So your likelhood of contracting someting contageous is much greater on an airplane thatn anywhere else.
Ron K Temecula CA
Posted by: Ron K. | April 30, 2009, 12:28 pm 12:28 pm
The hysteria over the swine flu is a slap in the face to the survivors of the thousands of people who have died from regular flu this year.
Posted by: James M | April 30, 2009, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm
Travel Industry is indeed sticking up for their livelihood only. This is to be expected. Swine Flu control will be delicate balance approach. If pandemic level is reached and conditions in US deteriorate dramatically, these business may indeed be forced to close due to no one traveling. Only time will reveal what happens. No one knows for sure!
Posted by: Sharon | April 30, 2009, 1:00 pm 1:00 pm
Can someone send the VP to Mexico City?
Sounds like he knows what he is talking about, to me.
Posted by: J House | April 30, 2009, 1:48 pm 1:48 pm
Now we here, the Fort Worth, TX entire school district closed to ward off it spreading also. What we need it proper education of one may do to protect one’s self from another’s coughs and sneezes so we may better deal this if and when it really comes to a peak. Is not this a little late in the normal flu season now near May? What is special about this flu that it is striking now and not a month or two ago? Is it true that those who got and or now get the 2008-9 Flu Shot are protected from this flu H1B1 strain? And if so how well protected are they? Maybe those who did not get their flu shot which is recommeded every year may think about it now! (to at least slow and reduce the infection rate)
Posted by: Concerned | April 30, 2009, 2:03 pm 2:03 pm
When I had the chicken pox as an adult, the airline I was scheduled to fly on informed me that their policy was that I could not fly with them due to the concern that I might infect another passenger. If passenger to passenger infection is a risk, then it would be prudent not to fly now. If it is not a risk, then why did they prevent me from flying? Which is it, risk, or no risk?
Posted by: Paul | April 30, 2009, 2:36 pm 2:36 pm
Old Joe.. doing his Jumpy McChicken routine.. such a Loser!!
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | April 30, 2009, 3:17 pm 3:17 pm
To concerned- I may have misunderstood, but I saw a Dr. interviewed this week and understood her to say that the flu shot is not helpful against this particular swine flu strain. There are quite a few people (like me) who have immune disorders and getting the flu shot is not advised. Hope this helps.
Posted by: Lily | April 30, 2009, 9:44 pm 9:44 pm
Thank you Joe Biden. Someone who has nothing to gain for caring for others. This Biden has always done. My spouse is a commercial pilot and if had his druthers, wouldn’t step into a plane right now. Yes, the air circulation sucks, you are packed in amongst sickly individuals sneezing and coughing. Everyone on this thread knows that too. Business is one thing, human lives and health is quite another. I’m like Joe Biden, I care for my fellow man/woman/child. Take care of yourselves, and Joe, please never shut up and go PC like so many others.
Posted by: Stewart | May 1, 2009, 4:45 am 4:45 am
All this hysteria over a statistically utterly negligible number of people getting sick proves one thing: most people, including Joe Biden, are too dumb to do simple math.
Your odds of getting killed in a car accident on the way to the airport are thousands of times greater than your odds of getting H1N1 in the airplane. Your chances of falling down the stairs in your own house and getting hurt are thousands of times greater than getting H1N1. You’re more likely to be struck by lightening than you are to get H1N1.
Calm down, people.
Posted by: Henry Miller | May 1, 2009, 8:06 am 8:06 am