Topic: CNSNews.com
CNSNews.com loved to parrot right-wing hatred of Anthony Fauci for his role in fighting the COVID pandemic. In a July 27 article, for instance, Craig Bannister plucked a Fauci statement that he "didn't recommend locking anything down" to cherry-pick old statements in which he allegedly did. In fact, Fauci's statement was taken out of context; his full statement shows he was speaking specifically about schools. So when Fauci announced his retirement plans last month, CNS made sure to voice those right-wing attacks again.
An anonymously (and blandly) written Aug. 22 article focused on the announcement and that "President Biden released a statement praising Fauci." The attacks began the next day: An article by Susan Jones played to right-wing obsessions with transhumanism with the headline "Dr. Fauci: 'We Have to Pay Much More Attention to the Animal/Human Interface'," going on to repeat other attacks from Republicans who are demanding he testify before Congress (despite offering no evidence he has ever refused to do so), which particular focus on professional Fauci--basher rand Paul::
Fauci has downplayed the Wuhan lab-leak theory of COVID's origins, drawing criticism from those who suggest he may have reasons to deny that theory. (Sen. Rand Paul tweeted on Monday: "Fauci’s resignation will not prevent a full-throated investigation into the origins of the pandemic. He will be asked to testify under oath regarding any discussions he participated in concerning the lab leak.")
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Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is a particularly sharp critic of Fauci. Paul has argued that Fauci is promulgating "disinformation" that is "actually harmful," including the suggestion that masks protect people from COVID and that prior infection with COVID is less effective than an mRNA shot.
Jones did note that Fauci pushed back on "conspiracy theories which don't make any sense at all, pushing back on sound public health measures, you know, making it look like trying to save lives is encroaching on people's freedom," but didn't mention that right-wingers like Paul are among the ones pushing them.
Bannister returned with an article entirely devoted to Republican attacks on Fauci:
On Monday, President Joe Biden’s Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci announced he’ll be retiring from government service in December, but Republicans vow that won’t stop them from investigating him for any misdeeds concerning the COVID pandemic, if they take control of Congress in November.
“This guy is a coward,” Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) tweeted Monday, reacting to Fauci’s announcement:
“Dr. Fauci is conveniently resigning from his position in December before House Republicans have an opportunity to hold him accountable for destroying our country over these past three years. This guy is a coward.”
Other Republican leaders in both the House and Senate echoed Rep. Biggs, promising that retirement won’t shield Fauci from Congressional investigation and being held accountable for any COVID-related wrongdoing:
Bannister did not quote any Republican politician naming any specific "COVID-related wrongdoing" Fauci has purportedly engaged in.
Bannister served up yet another attack afrticle later in the day:
White House coronavirus adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci has “touched all Americans’ lives with his work,” President Joe Biden said Monday – but, not everyone says that’s a good thing.
“Whether you’ve met him personally or not, he has touched all Americans’ lives with his work,” Pres. Biden said in reacting to Fauci’s announcement that he will retire in December from his positions as Biden's chief medical director, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and Chief of the NIAID Laboratory of Immunoregulation.
Indeed, Dr. Fauci did affect the lives of all Americans – but, he did so by presiding over the “greatest debacle in public health history,” former White House Coronavirus Adviser and current Hoover Institution Senior Fellow Dr. Scott Atlas says.
In an appearance Monday on “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” Dr. Atlas noted the harm done to Americans by the lockdowns and school closures Dr. Fauci recommended, as well as by the NIH’s failure to help make “already-approved, low-cost” anti-coronavirus drugs available:
We've previously noted that Atlas has no expertixe in virology or immunology; he also pushed a dangerous "herd immunity" strategy in his brief time in the Trump Whtie House.Those “already-approved, low-cost” anti-coronavirus drugs Atlas is referring to are likely hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin, which have not been legitimately proven to fight COVID.
