trump has special access to quick testing. This special testing is also allowing Trump to campaign.

[Gothmog]

Link to tweet

Here’s the dilemma: It looks likely that Trump will be doing more such trips, which means he will basically be out campaigning, while Biden is not. Trump is able to stage these trips — and is conducting them and other events maskless, sending a message of normalcy to the country — because he’s able to benefit from special access to testing.

Will Biden be able to benefit from the same? Shouldn’t he be able to benefit from the same?...

And let’s face facts here: It’s obvious that if Trump wants to hold an event without masks, as he clearly does, his corporate hosts will feel pressure to go along with it (as Honeywell’s statement suggests happened).

The reason this matters: Trump is almost certainly not wearing a mask at such events to send a message to the country that we’re approaching normalcy. That’s likely why Trump and Vice President Pence have been lately holding other events without masks and proper social distancing.

Another reason this matters: As David Nakamura reports, Trump and Pence are able to do this because they have special access to a rapid testing mechanism. Indeed, the White House has defended these mask-free events on precisely that basis.

It’s not surprising that Trump and his entourage have such special testing access, given that he’s president. But this still raises the question of whether Trump is exploiting this access to mislead the country into believing things are normal when the rest of the country lacks this access to testing and thus doesn’t enjoy the safety or quasi-normalcy Trump does.....

All this raises another question. Given that Trump will almost certainly now start traveling more — again, using this special testing access to facilitate it — where does that leave Biden, who’s stuck broadcasting from his basement?

“The big question now is should the Biden campaign be given access to these same tests, which would allow him to also begin to travel, meet with staff and stay competitive with the GOP ticket?” Democratic strategist Simon Rosenberg told me.

[Mossfern]

1. ...and if he tests positive?

I don't think there's a special secret cure for Presidents.

[Blue_true]

9. Exactly.

Let him hold his maskless rally with mask-less MAGATS. If Biden holds rallies, everyone get asked to wear a mask positioned properly over their mouth and nose, or get turned away from entering, plus all outdoor rallies.

[SharonAnn]

13. Exactly. But he'll quickly know when he has it!

[luvs2sing]

2. And how accurate are these special tests, really?

I keep hearing about 20-30% false negative rates here in Ohio. Who really can say?

[DURHAM D]

8. I heard on CNN about 30 minutes ago that the tests they are

using have a 20% false negative rate.

[rickford66]

3. The test doesn't protect one from the virus.

There has to be some other thing Trump is relying on. I'd bet it's an antibody treatment of some type.

[sop]

4. He's been taking the hydroxychloroquine-clorox-lysol cocktail.

[ecstatic]

15. Lmao! Don't forget the daily UV light probes! Nt

[Buns_of_Fire]

5. Test him every hour on the hour, for all it matters.

Know what he gets out of that? The knowledge that he's got it.

Keeling over at one of his Nuremberg Rallies will tell him the same thing.

[stillcool]

6. I think it's like a pregnancy test...

you can test all you want, but if you haven't used contraception... when you're pregnant, you're pregnant.

[SharonAnn]

14. LOL!

[elias7]

7. Campaign away. Big crowds, great. Lose your voting block. Tests won't protect you...

Unless he is going to test everyone who comes to his events with instant results, there is no protection here, just knowledge. Oh wait, knowledge... conceptual.

[Blue_true]

10. Like you say, let him have his rallies. The MAGATS not wearing masks like their idol.

Last edited Fri May 8, 2020, 12:20 AM - Edit history (1)

Biden can make an immediate contrast. Hold outside rallies, only allow in people properly wearing masks, have hand sanitizer stations around the venue. Then we see who has the most voters left in November.

[ecstatic]

16. Lol. Smh. Nt

[Gothmog]

11. I want Joe to stay safe

I like the ads and videos being filmed from his basement but I do not want Joe to be at too large of a disadvantage

[Cha]

12. KR!

[Gothmog]

17. From Joe

Link to tweet

[Gothmog]

18. Biden Still Has No Plans to Leave His House

I am glad that Joe is playing it safe https://politicalwire.com/2020/05/08/biden-still-has-no-plans-to-leave-his-house/

Washington Post: “Campaign officials, who declined to respond to Trump’s jibe Friday, have not yet signaled when Biden plans to leave his property.”

“Instead, the team is mapping a strategy that continues to emphasize virtual campaigning — effectively creating a contrast with Trump, who is eager to portray a sense that the country is returning to normal.”