West Wing’s Words: Getting a Dose of Correction
EmailABC News’ Sunlen Miller reports: Words matter, even when you’re the president or the vice president. Two of the administration’s cabinet secretaries spent part of their daily briefing today cleaning up from mistakes made by President Obama and VP Biden about the H1N1 virus, aka the “swine flu.” “There’s been some confusion about the difference between a vaccine and an antiviral,” Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said at the beginning of the briefing today. “A vaccine is something that one takes to prevent the occurrence of a disease; an antiviral is something one takes after you’ve already — after you’ve already become sick.” The confusion may have stemmed from the president himself, who made this mistake yesterday while addressing the administration’s concerns over the outbreak of the virus in the Diplomatic Room. “Yesterday, I also requested from Congress an immediate $1.5 billion in emergency funding. This funding will ensure that we have adequate supplies of vaccines and the equipment to handle a potential outbreak.” No such vaccine exists yet. To be fair the president’s letter sent to Congressional leadership and appropriation chairs the day prior had the correct language – as Mr. Obama’s penned letter referred to the requested funds being used for “antiviral stockpiles” and “developing a vaccine.” Next on tap during the same briefing: picking up the pieces over what Vice President Biden said this morning, saying he would advise his family to avoid trains and planes as the H1N1 situations unfold. “Is that it is safe to fly,” Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood opened up his remarks by saying today after a torrent of apologies from the White House for any undue alarm Biden may have caused in his comments, “There is no reason to cancel flights.” – Sunlen Miller
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Words matter.
Posted by: mad | April 30, 2009, 6:18 pm 6:18 pm
V.P. Biden spoke the truth. His words called, not for panic, but for common sense. This is serious. 300 schools are closed today. We know 36,000 people die in the U.S. each year from routine seasonal flu. This is not routine. Since when do we put corporate profits ahead of human life? Oh, excuse me. We do that all the time, dont’ we. Sorry!
Posted by: B. Bear | April 30, 2009, 6:32 pm 6:32 pm
Here is what Obama said on his opening statement:
“I’ve requested an immediate $1.5 billion in emergency funding from Congress to support our ability to monitor and track this virus and to build our supply of antiviral drugs and other equipment, and we will also ensure that those materials get to where they need to be as quickly as possible.”
Now if you want to pick words, yuou should be aware that the CDC is also working on developing the strain for vaccines. So I am sure we are talking about Antivirals, and vaccines as well as other equipment.
Posted by: Thinking | April 30, 2009, 6:46 pm 6:46 pm
Biden finally says something that makes sense & they are blasting him for it? I agree with him. I’m not going anywhere there are a lot of people unless I have to until this blows over – especially some place like a plane where the germs just cycle through the air system. Why put yourself at risk unnecessarily?
The other day they took a woman off a plane in Philadelphia because she was sick. All they did with the passengers was have them fill out a form so they could be contacted if she tested positive. So in the meantime, they are in contact with everyone in their normal lives – who are in contact with other people. So if she ends up being positive, how many other people are going to be infected? I’m sure they didn’t disinfect the plane & the crew could have infected everyone on every flight after that. That’s just stupid.
Posted by: ellsbells930 | April 30, 2009, 6:58 pm 6:58 pm
ellsbells930:”Biden finally says something that makes sense & they are blasting him for it? I agree with him. I’m not going anywhere there are a lot of people unless I have to until this blows over – especially some place like a plane where the germs just cycle through the air system. Why put yourself at risk unnecessarily?”
This is “blasting him for it”? Please, this isn’t even a mild rebuke. No slams about “he doesn’t know what he’s talking about” or even “sometimes he gets carried away,” just standard clarification and repetition of the proper message.
As for putting yourself at risk unnecessarily, I think Ron Paul summed up the absurdity of that notion quite nicely with his comparison of this flu virus, US death toll 1, to TB… If you live in irrational fear, why risk crossing the street or driving a car?
Posted by: jhw539 | April 30, 2009, 7:17 pm 7:17 pm
B. Bear:”This is serious. 300 schools are closed today. We know 36,000 people die in the U.S. each year from routine seasonal flu. This is not routine.”
How is this not routine, exactly? The fact flu season is almost over will have quite a mitigating effect (at least for us in the Northern hemisphere, the South could have some grief).
Posted by: jhw539 | April 30, 2009, 7:19 pm 7:19 pm
jhw539-not routine. When was the last time you remember 300 schools being closed and the WHO issuing a Grade 5 Pandemic Alert? I hope your correct on the normal seasonal decline in viral transmission. Of course, you just threw a few billion folks in the southern hemisphere under the ambulance. These microbes also have a nasty habit of reappearing in the fall. I’m willing to listen to any rationale advice. I don’t think Ron Paul’s recommendation of abolishing the Federal Reserve and going back to the gold standard will work on this problem.
Posted by: B. Bear | April 30, 2009, 7:50 pm 7:50 pm
I live in an area where there are many reported cases of the swine flu. Proms, field trips, after-school activities are all cancelled. More schools close every day.
Churches are having to skip serving communion or serve it differently and outside festivals are being cancelled.
There is NOTHING routine about this.
Posted by: Spencer | April 30, 2009, 8:00 pm 8:00 pm
They said Obama would be president when pigs flew…first 1OO days and BAM! swine flu.
Posted by: It'sAJoke | April 30, 2009, 8:32 pm 8:32 pm
When Joe is the only one in the West Wing that starts making sense, we’re really in for a ride…stay off that Axcel train Joe!
Posted by: J House | April 30, 2009, 8:40 pm 8:40 pm
now you can see why reporters ask Obama 6th grade level questions, they KNOW he will make himself look like a fruitcase..GET THE TELEPROMPTER PLEASE
Posted by: How am I doing now Comrades | April 30, 2009, 9:16 pm 9:16 pm
Wow, this administration should be classified as a terrorist organization. In one week they terrorized New York with Scare Force One and now Biden causes a panic with his irresponsible statements. What next – yelling fire in a crowded building?
Posted by: jim | April 30, 2009, 9:26 pm 9:26 pm
B. Bear:”jhw539-not routine. When was the last time you remember 300 schools being closed and the WHO issuing a Grade 5 Pandemic Alert? ”
Uh, you mean like the last swine flu panic in the 70′s? When President Johnson’s crash vaccination program killed orders of magnitude more people than the flu itself before cooler heads prevailed and it was called off?
And just for trivia – can you tell me when the “Pandemic Alert” scale was established?
Posted by: jhw539 | April 30, 2009, 9:41 pm 9:41 pm
“Uh, you mean like the last swine flu panic in the 70′s? When President Johnson’s crash vaccination program killed orders of magnitude more people than the flu itself before cooler heads prevailed and it was called off?”
Uh, you mean the President Johnson who left the office in disgrace on January 20, 1969?
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | April 30, 2009, 10:08 pm 10:08 pm
They told me if I voted for McCain we’d have a hapless imbecile for a Vice President…and they were right!
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | April 30, 2009, 10:09 pm 10:09 pm
“President Johnson’s crash vaccination program” in the 70′s is kinda like President Nixon sending Kerry into Cambodia for Christmas in 1968.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | April 30, 2009, 10:11 pm 10:11 pm
jhw539 – if you are going to slam someone, at least get your facts straight…. it was NOT President Johnson;s crash vaccination program, it was President Ford’s – and the year was 1976.
Posted by: ellsbells930 | April 30, 2009, 10:18 pm 10:18 pm
jhw539 said “As for putting yourself at risk unnecessarily, I think Ron Paul summed up the absurdity of that notion quite nicely with his comparison of this flu virus, US death toll 1″
That is one death SO FAR. I’m not saying people should panic, but since the WHO & the CDC do not know exactly HOW contagious this is or know how many people have been infected so far, why not be cautious & make sure it dies out quickly?
Posted by: ellsbells930 | April 30, 2009, 10:21 pm 10:21 pm
Oh – and the reason the government felt they had to “clarify” what Joe said is that the travel industry had a hissy fit – so what if hundres of thousands of people get sick.
Posted by: ellsbells930 | April 30, 2009, 10:22 pm 10:22 pm
These two morons,Obama & Biden , run around make the most ignorant gaffes and all the press wants to know is “What enchanted you the most?”.What a bunch of effete, biased liberal hacks the msm is.No wonder there going out of business.
Posted by: Ronaldus | April 30, 2009, 11:12 pm 11:12 pm
Hyena
you mean the President Johnson before Nixon,
Nixon, impeached for crimes against America and subverting the government, and then was pardoned by Ford….
wait, it’s deja vu all over again….this time it’s Bush and Co. subverting the government, this time there will be no pardons for the guilty.
Posted by: Vico-din | May 1, 2009, 12:02 am 12:02 am
ellsbells930
you don’t really expect republican’s to have facts, ……let alone get them straight and be accurate do you?
Posted by: LOL | May 1, 2009, 12:06 am 12:06 am
elllsbells930
you have to understand, that republicans don’t mind if there is a fatality from the flu, as long as they can make a political point.. Republicans wouldn’t mind if thousands die, then they can talk religion, tax cuts, and how American needs to have ‘intelligent design’ taught in science classes.
Posted by: Zip | May 1, 2009, 12:11 am 12:11 am
Wow, what a couple of morons.
The President and VP – neither of which apparently know a damn thing about the swine flu other than what they see on MSNBC.
Truly unbelievable.
Imagine if Bush had made the mistake OBama did on vaccines….it would have been four inch headlines in the NYT and two days of news cycle. Because it is Obama instead, all we get is a tiny report on a blog and noone but news junkies ever hear of it.
Posted by: the Truth | May 1, 2009, 2:55 am 2:55 am
wait, it’s deja vu all over again….this time it’s Bush and Co. subverting the government, this time there will be no pardons for the guilty.
Posted by: Vico-din | May 1, 2009 12:02:25 AM
Exactly what subversion was done, Vico?
Protecting the American people from any terrorist attack since 9/11? Is that activity subversive, Vico?
Why is it that lefties never seem to understand that keeping America safe is not a subversive activity – its the first priority of any American government, and always will be.
How exactly were you harmed by Bush’s defense of America since 9/11?
Posted by: the Truth | May 1, 2009, 2:57 am 2:57 am
LOL – I’m a registered Republican. I found your post offensive. (And I am not being sarcastic).
Posted by: ellsbells930 | May 1, 2009, 6:25 am 6:25 am
Zip – You do understand that is the President (who is a Democrat) and the Director of Homeland Security (who is a Democrat) who are falling all over themselves trying to change what he said, don’t you?
Ron Paul is right that there shouldn’t be panic – but that doesn’t mean that people shouldn’t do what they can to keep it from spreading.
Posted by: ellsbells930 | May 1, 2009, 6:28 am 6:28 am
Vico-din – Why are you bringing up President Johnson? He was out of office before the last swine flu incident. It was President Ford who was in office.
Posted by: ellsbells930 | May 1, 2009, 6:29 am 6:29 am
And now that genius Napolitano won’t let border agents wear masks to protect themselves?
Who was the idiot who appointed her?
Posted by: drjohn | May 1, 2009, 9:51 am 9:51 am
I’m not arguing that what he said was false – it is commen sense to me – but it seems to me, when you are a public official, it is part of your job NOT to cause panic and worry among your constituents; to relay facts and keep personal opinions to yourself. Or should we allow our elected officials personal opinions (religious or otherwise) to dictate how they act/vote/treat us?
Posted by: Mags | May 1, 2009, 12:37 pm 12:37 pm
Protecting the American people from any terrorist attack since 9/11? Is that activity subversive, Vico?
Why is it that lefties never seem to understand that keeping America safe is not a subversive activity – its the first priority of any American government, and always will be.
How exactly were you harmed by Bush’s defense of America since 9/11?
Posted by: the Truth | May 1\
*******************************************
My question is how did Bush and colleagues do keeping us safe on 9/11/? After all, that is the day that the big attack was planned and executed, so that is the day that matters.
Should my son get credit for not wrecking my car since 1/1/2008? He did wreck it that day and he hasn’t been allowed to get near my car since, but with your logic I would be praising him for not wrecking it again.
That logic only works if you are using it on people who just recently fell off the turnip truck.
Posted by: truth matters | May 1, 2009, 1:23 pm 1:23 pm
truth matters…Yes, yes truth does matter, you should try it (ref: that was the day the big attack was planned)…9/11 was planned months in advance of the actual event…The hijackers bought their tickets 2 weeks prior; further the date was not chosen until 3 weeks prior..CNN 06/17/2004, Politics..Perhaps you should look toward the Clinton Administration who ignored warning signs…Say what you will about Bush/Chaney but they did keep any further attacks from happening in the United States on their watch..We’ll see how Obama does at the end of 4 years…
Posted by: Parallax View | May 1, 2009, 2:04 pm 2:04 pm
Looks like Gibbs’ main job is damage control.
He has to explain/interpret what Biden really meant to say.
Kind of like his explanation of Obama’s bow. Wasn’t really a bow but a handshake.
Have you ever seen an administration that counts so heavily on the stupidity of Americans?
Don’t believe your eyes believe Obama.
Posted by: nick | May 1, 2009, 3:09 pm 3:09 pm
“I have a gift Harry”
Posted by: max | May 1, 2009, 3:11 pm 3:11 pm
Joe Biden should have added that he told his family not to share their coke straws..
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | May 1, 2009, 3:15 pm 3:15 pm
I like how so many people in the comment try to interpret what he said as good advice to be careful. Biden is a moron. None of it is good advice because it is not true. Taking a plane or a subway will not give you swine flu and it is not easier to get it on a plane or subway either. Listen to his comment. He did not say “be careful”, “wash your hands” “do not stand next to someone who you perceive to be sick” “try no to touch your face or nose” or “if you feel sick go see a doctor” He did not give any good advice. He gave ignorant advice that is extreme and not thoughtful. If everyone followed his advice, we would all be locked up at home. For those of you who think Biden gave good advice, I suspect you must be already be shut-in. If not, you are a hypocrite. Oh, and turn off your computer – you can get swine flu from your keyboard.
Posted by: Gordon | May 1, 2009, 4:39 pm 4:39 pm
Gordon said “it is not easier to get it on a plane or subway either”
I don’t know how you can say that. Just that fact that in a plane you are jammed packed in & the air just keeps recirculating makes it easier to pick up any airborne illness that anyone has on the plane. In a subway, you also have many people in a confined space & the # of hands that touch handrails, etc. make it a perfect place to spread a virus to many people. That is all he was saying. He wasn’t saying to NOT wash your hands or take any of the precautions that the CDC, etc were saying.
Posted by: ellsbells930 | May 1, 2009, 10:17 pm 10:17 pm