CDC Director: Impending Doom

[GAN]

It does seem incredible that a government official, someone who is supposed to be a leader, uses the phrase "impending doom" for anything.

Really?

Have you ever attended any of the leadership seminars that I have?

Is this how you show leadership?

Strange choice of words no doubt. 500,000 Americans are dead ...no leadership seminar in the world would help with that! Doctors and Scientists deal with facts as information shows -what we may see as poor leadership, they see as simply letting people know what could happen. When a doctor tells a patient they'll be dead in 3-months, no leadership is really necessary ...only fact.

 

[AurumPunzel]

It was definitely a poor word choice and of course that's what the media ran with. I bet she regrets saying it that way!

Agreed. When you're in a position of authority, you'd expect to communicate in a professional manner and avoid words that sound too tabloidy.

 

[RamblingMad]

Strange choice of words no doubt. 500,000 Americans are dead ...no leadership seminar in the world would help with that! Doctors and Scientists deal with facts as information shows -what we may see as poor leadership, they see as simply letting people know what could happen. When a doctor tells a patient they'll be dead in 3-months, no leadership is really necessary ...only fact.

Check out Churchill. He had lots of not so great things to say. But he was a great orator.

 

[Nabas]

Strange choice of words no doubt. 500,000 Americans are dead ...no leadership seminar in the world would help with that! Doctors and Scientists deal with facts as information shows -what we may see as poor leadership, they see as simply letting people know what could happen. When a doctor tells a patient they'll be dead in 3-months, no leadership is really necessary ...only fact.

Over 400,000 Americans died in WW2. I have a hard time imaging FDR using the phrase "impending doom" at any point during the war.

It was a poor choice of words.

There's a reason everyone in the media is reporting on it.

Rather than making the rising COVID numbers the story, she became the story.

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

Well, every adenoviral vector-based vaccine is going to be based on a being, be it a simian, another animal or even a human foetus, since that's the nature of science. I'd take any vaccine as long as it's super-effective in preventing severe disease and reducing spread regardless, since I don't want this pandemic to prolong, and of course, I can have solace in the knowledge that the being sacrificed itself for the common weal of humankind.

As for the human foetus objection, I personally see that as being no different to an organ donation. If I needed a transplant, I'd happy accept an organ from anybody regardless, so as long as the organ is suitable. If I accepted a vaccine that was derived from a human foetus, then likewise, I wouldn't mind. Again, it all boils down to the common weal of humankind and scientific progress. The objectors need to face up to the facts: if they continue to object, then we'd be stuck in this mess for a very very long time.

Well, I just wanted to state the issue the poster asked about as concisely as possible without involving my opinion. However, I am in total agreement with you and think organ donation is a reasonable comparison. Regardless of how one feels morally about the issue, it cannot be denied that this immortalized cell line has done so much good for science in the realm of vaccine development. I suggested the google search so that people who were interested could learn for themselves how important this cell line is and all the scientific contributions that can be attributed by way of its use.

 

[GAN]

Check out Churchill. He had lots of not so great things to say. But he was a great orator.

Over 400,000 Americans died in WW2. I have a hard time imaging FDR using the phrase "impending doom" at any point during the war.

It was a poor choice of words.

There's a reason everyone in the media is reporting on it.

Rather than making the rising COVID numbers the story, she became the story.

But you're talking world leaders/politicians which is great during wartime and depressions. My point was that doctors and scientists don't generally care about the public perception of their comments ...they will tell you exactly how they interpret something. They aren't necessarily looking for the public to appreciate what they say. And during a pandemic -doctors and scientists are fairly important. But I would agree -someone like Fauci probably would have done a better job sending the same message ...but that is pretty rare in their field.

 

[Jennasis]

Every time I see another state proudly announcing they're dropping all their restrictions and mask mandates and throwing the doors wide open I too feel a pang of impending doom...so I get it. We are SO CLOSE to finally getting ahead of this thing...regaining control. The shiny brass ring is right there...

 

[Planogirl]

People get so hung up on words. Like already stated, scientists just say things and don’t care as much about political fallout.

 

[Nabas]

People get so hung up on words. Like already stated, scientists just say things and don’t care as much about political fallout.

First, in America, political leadership is mostly about saying the right words. When we look at history, we talk about the great words our leaders spoke as much (if not more) than the actions they took.

Second, if you think scientists are not political, you're kidding yourself. You don't get funding if you don't know how to play the political game.

 

[MrsPete]

And, in fact, I am the opposite of scared. I have more hope now than in the last year.

I'm both afraid and hopeful.

I heard on TV news this morning that 20% of my state is vaccinated -- but at school and the grocery store, I see more and more people who are literally wearing no masks /wearing masks inappropriately. That scares me because it's WAY TOO SOON to drop our guard. 20% is a good start, but it's not nearly enough to say, "Herd immunity reached!"

On the other hand, I believe in science, and the vaccine has always been our pathway out of this situation.

I think a more upbeat message would be better ...

All I know is that people around here are not waiting until July 4 to have a small group over for a BBQ.

I agree that people would respond better to "We're moving in the right direction, but it's not time to give up our social distancing just yet". I suspect she's a scientist /not a politician /not a speech writer. They'd do well to hire someone to manage her PR.

I think IF we all keep fighting the good fight -- social distancing and masks, get your vaccine as soon as you can -- July 4th is a realistic date for us to relax.

I think the director of the CDC knows more then the general public.

I definitely trust a doctor in charge of a major US institution more than the general public -- 'specially when I saw the general public wearing no mask at Walmart this afternoon.

Nobody was displaying any symptoms at the time of the wedding. It's *that* damn easy to spread around.

I'm being argumentative, but one of the big issues with this virus is that it CAN BE "that damned easy to spread" -- I mean, some people practically get it if an infected person drives past them in a car -- yet other people live in the house with an infected person and don't get sick, and we don't know why!

But dying isn't the only outcome I think is worth avoiding.

Yes, I don't want to JUST be alive.

My daughter, who is a nurse, says that men are more likely to get deadly Covid, and women are more likely to get Long Covid, which means seizures, blood clots, memory problems, fatigue. I'm not sure who's getting the bad end of that deal.

If Disney came out tomorrow and said you’d need proof of vaccination to enter the parks, I imagine 100% of the people here would get it.

I would get the vaccine anyway, but I would be more likely to vacation in a place that required proof of vaccination.

 

[John VN]

IMPENDING DOOM sure has gotten a response. Wonder what the reaction would've been if a simple "I'm just an itty bitty concerned" would have been said?

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I'm being argumentative, but one of the big issues with this virus is that it CAN BE "that damned easy to spread" -- I mean, some people practically get it if an infected person drives past them in a car -- yet other people live in the house with an infected person and don't get sick, and we don't know why!

This is not argumentative to me at all. I was around everyone who lived in my house with me before I showed symptoms, and I was the only one in a household of five who got ill (or at least had symptoms.) That's the great unknown about Covid...yes, it CAN BE easy to spread. And yes, some people don't get sick in spite of being around people with the virus. *That's* the thing- it's like firing a bullet into a crowd, you don't know who it will hit and who will be spared. That's why we *ALL* have to be vigilant and do what we have to do to bring this thing down. It can't be halfway.

 

[EveDallas]

Dr. Rochelle Walensky is scared.

Are you?

I am not. Every person over 65 that I know is vaccinated. Well, I know two eligible people that refused the vaccine. Oh well.

Every teacher that I know is vaccinated. I don't know any that have refused.

And, in fact, I am the opposite of scared. I have more hope now than in the last year.

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/29/cdc...id-cases-rise-again-right-now-im-scared-.html

Hyperbole like "impending doom" is exactly why the CDC has lost its credibility.

 

[Cheburashka]

Dr. Rochelle Walensky is scared.

Are you?

I am so done with scared. It's so last year.

 

[TLSnell1981]

The only thing I can think of that would derail the immunity train is if the Variants become resistant to the Vaccines on a routine basis.

Then "doom" may be accurate.

We will likely need boosters as it mutates. Hopefully it will be less deadly. Thankfully we have better therapeutic plus vaccines.

I think it's scarier that she said that.
She's in charge of the war against this pandemic like Eisenhower was in charge of American troops before D-day.
Can you imagine Ike saying he was scared and that there was an impending doom ? LOL
I saw the clip with her saying she was scared and my jaw dropped.
Her being on the verge of crying was disgraceful.
I'd have fired her right after her performance- She's supposed to convey strength and confidence and in a way 'rally the troops' ,not scare people.

Yeah it's hard to take her seriously. Along with another doom and gloomer plus the one that talks out of the both sides of his mouth.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Y'all are spending more time on whether "impending doom" was the appropriate thing to say rather than whether she was right in feeling an impending doom...

 

[TLSnell1981]

Y'all are spending more time on whether "impending doom" was the appropriate thing to say rather than whether she was right in feeling an impending doom...

Don't think it just here. Her behavior hurt her credibility.

 

[VandVsmama]

Y'all are spending more time on whether "impending doom" was the appropriate thing to say rather than whether she was right in feeling an impending doom...

I think we should go back to debating Harry & Meghan. And debate the all important issue of whether or not someone is a tool if they don't return the shopping cart to the corral.

And we should rename this doc Doctor Doom.

 

[Pink Partridge]

IMPENDING DOOM sure has gotten a response. Wonder what the reaction would've been if a simple "I'm just an itty bitty concerned" would have been said?

I suppose I just want a doctor and the director of the CDC to act like a professional. Not with tears in her eyes and high dramatics.

Perhaps she could have said "I am concerned and here are the science based facts that back my concern....."

We don't need her opinion with weeping eyes. We need science based facts from someone behaving in a professional manner.

 

[dvcgirl67]

Agreed. When you're in a position of authority, you'd expect to communicate in a professional manner and avoid words that sound too tabloidy.

After the last several years...expecting a person of authority to communicate professionally and not in a ”tabloidy” manner made me chuckle.

As for the CDC Director...I don’t think that putting a bit of fear into our citizens is “tabloidy”. It might sound slightly alarmist/emotional to some, but I wouldn’t say tabloidy. She has a duty to inform the public and tell the truth. I’d file it under”refreshing “.