Darn those 9th and 10th Amendments, Trump declared that he will override governors to allow places of worship to reopen this weekend. Because they are essential businesses. “We need more prayer, not less”.
Trump demands that states allow places of worship to reopen this weekend. “If they don't do it, I will override the governors,” he says without explaining what power he has to do that.— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) May 22, 2020
Trump left Deborah Birx in the lurch to try to rationalize such a declaration in today’s presser. The several dimensions of this are the 1200 pastors who called upon Trump to act as well as the use of the Memorial Day weekend holiday. He needed to offset the news that Hydroxycholoroquine is even more lethal.
President Trump said if governors don’t abide by his request, he will “override†them, though it’s unclear what authority he has to do so. https://t.co/lbokeadhPr
Governors and religious leaders should follow the advice of public health experts and epidemiologists to prevent the spread of infection. Everyone wants to go back to church, including me, but not at the risk of increased infection and death, especially among the most vulnerable
CDC offers the following general considerations to help communities of faith discern how best to practice their beliefs while keeping their staff and congregations safe. Millions of Americans embrace worship as an essential part of life. For many faith traditions, gathering together for worship is at the heart of what it means to be a community of faith. But as Americans are now aware, gatherings present a risk for increasing the spread of COVID-19 during this public health emergency. CDC offers these suggestions for faith communities to consider, consistent with their own faith traditions, in the course of preparing to reconvene for in-person gatherings while still working to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Implementation should be guided by what is feasible, practical, and acceptable, and tailored to the needs and traditions of each community of faith. The information offered is non-binding public health guidance for consideration only; it is not meant to regulate or prescribe standards for interactions of faith communities in houses of worship. Any decision to modify specific religious rites, rituals, and services should be made by religious leaders. Specific preventive actions are provided as examples only. www.cdc.gov/…
As if this press conference weren't already crazy enough, it went totally off the rails at the end when Kayleigh McEnany took a planted question from OANN's “reporter” and used it to harangue the press corps over a totally false story before walking out: https://t.co/WS24VINzPR
Holy shit. McEnany takes a Q from ultra-sycophantic OAN about whether Trump has considering pardoning Obama “for illegally wiretapping” him. (That didn't happen.) McEnany uses it as an opportunity to attack the press for not covering Obamagate & then abruptly ends the briefing. pic.twitter.com/Ce4UDXgakk
As Trump leaves the podium after announcing that he has deemed houses of worship 'essential,' a reporter repeatedly asks him, “Mr. President, will you be going to church?” There is no response.
