The Post reports, "Moments after President Trump announced that Vice President Pence will take over the White House’s coronavirus task force, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that a northern California person has contracted the coronavirus without traveling outside the United States or coming in contact with another patient known to have the infection — the first sign that the disease may be spreading within a local community."
That is so typical of Trump. Instead of selecting a doctor to be in charge of a surging pandemic, he appoints his very own political hack, and one of the most incompetent, obsequious politicians in Washington. Just the kind of man Trump wanted, a loyal lapdog.
There are times the Trump White House is hysterically funny.
The confused and incompetent politician didn't seem to understand he was in charge. “
I’m leading the task force,” Pence said today. “We’ll continue to rely on the secretary’s (HHS Sec't Alex Azar)
role as chairman of the task force and the leader of Health and Human Services.”
Trump said Pence had a "talent certain for this" while praising Pence's handling of health crises during his time as Indiana governor. "Look at the Indiana model, they have been very successful there.” Trump said he is “using Mike because he’s very good at doing what he does."
Pence wrote in an op-ed back in 2000. "Despite the hysteria from the political class and the media,
smoking doesn't kill."
That statement may have something to do with the fact that Pence’s now-defunct family business, Kiel Bros. Oil, operated a chain of more than 200 cigarette and gasoline convenience stores. Pence’s financial disclosures from 2000 to 2003 noted six-figure holdings and at least $15,000 in annual income from the company. The stores, which operated under the name “Tobacco Road,” closed in 2004.
Pence received an estimated at least $13,000 in contributions from the political action committees for Brown & Williamson, Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds, and US Tobacco. Over his time in Congress, he would receive at least $39,000 from R.J. Reynolds and more than $60,000 from the National Association of Convenience Stores.
Mike Pence, cigarette truther – ThinkProgress
In other words, Pence is just another political hack, just the kind of person Trump would appoint to head off a pandemic.
Heading up the scientific study of covid-19 is man who consistently rejects science.
From 'Smoking Doesn't Kill' to Conversion Therapy—Mike Pence's Most Controversial Science Remarks
Trump can sure pick 'em. I told you this was going to be funny. In the face of such breathtaking incompetence by two men who have no idea what they are doing, all one can do is laugh.