DAVE ROSS

Ross: Despite criticism, we can’t blame Dr. Birx for respecting the office

Jan 25, 2021, 6:19 AM | Updated: 10:16 am

Dr. Deborah Birx...

Former White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

(AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Since the inauguration, not only has Dr. Anthony Fauci been unleashed to speak his mind, so has Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the COVID-19 Task Force. She ended up being defined by 1.5 seconds of audio at that notorious ultraviolet light press conference last April.

“Deborah, have you ever heard of the heat and the light relative to this virus?,” asked then-President Trump.

“Not as a treatment,” she answered.

It sounded like she said, “That is a treatment,” but she actually said, “Not as a treatment,” which is clear when you hear the rest of the answer:

“… I mean, certainly fever is a good thing, when you have a fever — it helps your body respond, but I’ve not seen heat or light,” she continued.

But even properly understood, her pushback came off as way too polite. Dr. Birx told CBS’ Margaret Brennan it was Nancy Pelosi’s reaction that hurt the most.

“I don’t have confidence in anyone who stands there while the president says, ‘Swallow Lysol and it’s going to cure your virus,'” Pelosi said at the time.

In my mind, Dr. Birx is a political hero.

“So that stung,” Brennan said.

“Oh, that was hard,” Birx confirmed.

Dr. Birx says she’s not looking for vindication, but she wants it known that the government needs its non-political career employees more than ever. So please don’t blame them for trying to respect the office, even when the occupant had no idea what he was talking about.

Listen to Seattle’s Morning News weekday mornings from 5 – 9 a.m. on KIRO Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

Dave's Commentary

Dave Ross on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • listen to dave rossTune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 5am for Dave Ross on Seattle's Morning News.

Dave Ross

car culture...

Dave Ross

Ross: Are we killing car culture? Or is car culture killing the US?

I don’t think the question is whether we're going to "kill" our car culture. The real question is can we stop our car culture from killing the U.S.?

4 days ago

drivers data insurance...

Dave Ross

Ross: As cars release driving data to insurance, is your driving my business?

Every move you make, every swerve you take, every lane change you fake – someone’s watching you. Do drivers have a right to keep driving data private?

11 days ago

rent control...

Dave Ross

Ross: Rent control was never the answer in Wash.

The rent control bill died in the Washington State Legislature this week, even though Democrats control both houses.

1 month ago

end of democracy...

Dave Ross

Ross: Conservative activist earns applause for pledging an ‘end of Democracy’

The theme from Jack Posobiec's speech is that Jan. 6 was a righteous attack not on democracy, but on those who threaten democracy.

1 month ago

Image: Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, is seen on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, 2023. (Photo: Alex Brand...

Dave Ross

Ross: Voters can help cull bad politicians from the herd early

Let's remember that just about every occupant of a higher office once occupied a lower office, and was put there by us, Dave Ross says.

1 month ago

Super Bowl celebration...

Dave Ross

Ross: The NFL does it again

The NFL once again put on a show that was able to keep me tuned in for four hours even though I had no stake in either team.

2 months ago

Ross: Despite criticism, we can’t blame Dr. Birx for respecting the office