I would tell members of my family — and I have — I wouldn’t go anywhere in confined places now. It’s not that it’s going to Mexico. It’s [that] you’re in a confined aircraft. When one person sneezes, it goes all the way through the aircraft. That’s me. I would not be, at this point, if they had another way of transportation, suggesting they ride the subway. So, from my perspective, what it relates to is mitigation. If you’re out in the middle of a field when someone sneezes, that’s one thing. If you’re in a closed aircraft or closed container or closed car or closed classroom, it’s a different thing.So, Joe was being honest. Too bad it wasn't on message. Within hours, the Vice President's spokesperson released this statement:
On the Today Show this morning the Vice President was asked what he would tell a family member who was considering air travel to Mexico this week. The advice he is giving family members is the same advice the Administration is giving to all Americans: that they should avoid unnecessary air travel to and from Mexico. If they are sick, they should avoid airplanes and other confined public spaces, such as subways. This is the advice the Vice President has given family members who are traveling by commercial airline this week. As the President said just last night, every American should take the same steps you would take to prevent any other flu: keep your hands washed; cover your mouth when you cough; stay home from work if you're sick; and keep your children home from school if they're sick.The problem with this is that it is not accurate. Matt Lauer specifically asked what advice Biden would give his family if they were traveling to Mexico. He did not ask him what he would tell if family if they were sick. In fact, Biden clearly suggested that he'd prefer his family not be in confined places at all - not just going to Mexico or if they were sick. While I don't completely agree with him (I'm flying tomorrow morning), he has the right to his opinion.
But, it doesn't stop there. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs further addressed Biden's statement.
Q And my other question has to do with remarks that Vice President Biden made this morning on television. Representatives of the travel industry have accused the Vice President of coming close to fear-mongering because of his comments, and I'm wondering if you wanted to clarify or correct or apologize for the remarks that he made.Apparently Joe Biden doesn't know what Joe Biden is saying.
MR. GIBBS: Well, I think the -- what the Vice President meant to say was the same thing that, again, many members have said in the last few days, and that is, if you feel sick, if you are exhibiting symptoms, flu-like symptoms -- coughing, sneezing, runny nose -- that you should take precautions, that you should limit your travel. And I think he just -- what he said and what he meant to say.
Q With all due respect, and I sympathize with you trying to explain the Vice President's comments, but that's not even remotely close to what he said. He was asked about --
MR. GIBBS: I understand --
Q -- if a member of his family were going to --
MR. GIBBS: Jake, I understand what he said and I'm telling you what he meant to say -- (laughter) -- which was that if somebody is experiencing symptoms -- and you heard the President say this last night -- if somebody is feeling sick, if somebody is exhibiting symptoms of being sick, then they should take all necessary precaution. Obviously if anybody was unduly alarmed for whatever reason, we would apologize for that and I hope that my remarks and remarks of the people of the CDC and Secretary Napolitano have appropriately cleared up what he meant to say.
If that wasn't enough... Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, newly appointed Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, and acting Director of the CDC Richard Besser all appeared on all four major network Sunday shows: ABC's This Week, CBS's Face the Nation, NBC's Meet the Press and FOX News Sunday. I've been following these shows for over a year and a half and don't ever recall the same guest (let alone trio of guests) appearing on all four shows in one week.
Do you think the White House is trying to get out their message? My main observation on this whole swine flu situation (do I need to call it H1N1?) has been the government's relentless approach to control the message and reiterate that we should avoid panic and fear. My hunch is that the government is so used to controlling the day-to-day message by using fear that they are overcompensating in this situation.
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