White House sidelines Azar from coronavirus response

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

There will be a notable omission when Vice President Mike Pence visits Seattle Thursday as part of the Trump administration's coronavirus response: health secretary Alex Azar.

The White House on Wednesday also benched Azar from a coronavirus task force press briefing, the latest sign of diminished standing for an official who was the face of the U.S. response just a week ago.

Four of Azar’s deputies — including Medicare chief Seema Verma and Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Steve Hahn, who were both added to the task force after Pence took over the federal response — joined the vice president and other officials at the White House on Wednesday.

Azar's absence didn't go unnoticed by allies worried about his standing in the administration and the way he's catching more flak for missteps. Azar was front and center Thursday at a Capitol Hill briefing with House members, during which he took heat from some lawmakers over transparency and whether his department is adequately prepared for the stealthy disease.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/white-house-sidelines-azar-from-coronavirus-response/ar-BB10NJK5?li=BBnbcA1

[rzemanfl]

1. Should we care? n/t

[Wounded Bear]

2. Good, he's an industry lobbyist, not a health expert...nt

[Roland99]

3. Hires only the best

[spanone]

4. He didn't have quite the proper passion when kissing trump's ass?

He was just another shit stain. Pharma lobbyist.

[uponit7771]

5. Trump fired the whole damn pandemic response team and its the Azar guys fault?

[hatrack]

6. Well that didn't take long - as usual . . .

He needs someone with more of a human touch.

Wait, I know!! Maybe he can start sending Wilbur Ross around to meet with doctors, nurses and patients.

Repeatedly.

[EndlessWire]

7. I'm going to hell.

I notice that Pence is not quarantined. For all we know he could be a carrier. So, I like the fact that he's hanging around tRump. Now, I know that it's wrong, and I'm going to get my ass kicked by the Powers that Be, but my brain keeps grasping at any salvation for our country.

It would be so simple, so just, and very effective. Let them both end up in the hospital, and bring on Nancy. Just saying.

Why is Pence exempt from quarantine?? Somebody ask him that! Ask Trump why the leader of the task force is exempt from quarantine!!

[Wellstone ruled]

8. that means Steve Miller moves up

to be King of the Baby Cages.

[COLGATE4]

9. Look for Sharty to state that 'he hardly knows Azar' within

the next 2 days.