Ross: Finally everybody agrees on what our COVID response should be

I watched President Biden’s speech this week on Fox News, because I knew they wouldn’t sugarcoat it. I knew they would be the most likely to highlight his gaffes – like when he said PPP instead of PPE, and that 40 Americans were unvaccinated instead of 40% of Americans.

But when anchor Anita Vogel came on – no mention of the gaffes! Instead she interviewed Donald Trump’s COVID expert Brett Giroir, who said he thought the speech was a C-minus, but then went on to echo Biden’s talking points.

“He certainly had some important messages,” Giroir admitted. “I do want to emphasize that whether you’ve been infected before or had two vaccines, with omicron, it is very important to be vaccinated.”

His main criticism was about the 500 million free tests Biden announced, which he says won’t be nearly enough. But that was the main criticism from Trump’s COVID guy – that Biden didn’t go far enough! It almost sounded like he wanted another shutdown.

“There’s nothing really new here except a lack of urgency, a lack of aggressiveness, and I think still villainizing people who are unvaccinated,” he said.

I would probably use “vilifying”… and he’s right about that. Biden did say vaccination is a “patriotic duty.” But the bigger story is the fundamental change in the approach to COVID.

Unlike Europe, there will be no federal shutdown. We are going to live with it.

“Schools can stay open,” Biden said. “Children are as safe in school as they are any place.”

He went on to describe how the vaccine is so effective at keeping people alive, another lockdown would only be protecting people who have chosen not to protect themselves.

Therefore, the country is moving on. And even if you don’t think vaccination is your patriotic duty – at least make sure you know the way to the nearest hospital.

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