CALL TO ACTION #883: Call Out Trump’s Dangerous Lying (March 20, 2020)
228 Days
Until the November 3rd Election
Special Note
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CALL OUT TRUMP’S DANGEROUS LYING
Threatened by a pandemic with no treatment or vaccine, truth is nearly all we have to protect ourselves. Truth has taken a beating since the day Trump was sworn in. That was 16,000-plus Presidential lies ago. Now during the pandemic, his lies will kill Americans.
Trump called the pandemic a Democrat “hoax” used “to inflame” the public. These lies were not harmless. Months were lost and with them the possibility of containing the pandemic and rebuilding the stockpile of protective gear essential for health workers. His false reassurances leave the public confused. That confusion is reflected in the stock market averages and on grocery store shelves.
Trump lies continually. He’s begun rewriting history by shifting blame and stoking racism instead of taking responsibility for what he has done. It’s working for his base of low information voters—FOX’s America. In every poll, Trump supporters are less worried about the virus than others.
Our democracy is crumbling under a landslide of organized lying, AKA, propaganda.
WE THE PEOPLE and our public officials need to verify facts and call out lies!
**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR U.S. SENATORS**
SAMPLE SCRIPTS FOR SENATORS MERKLEY AND WYDEN
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [town/city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling today because . . .
Without a treatment or vaccine for COVID-19, the WHO says that truth is the best tool we have to protect ourselves. Nevertheless, Trump persists with his lying for self-preservation. That causes panic, as we have seen in the stock market and empty grocery shelves.
Please ask the Senator to use his public platform to constantly call out Trump’s lies and make sure people have the truth. We have to defend the truth now more than ever.
As historian John M. Barry, an expert on the Spanish flu, said: “I think the No. 1 lesson that came out of the experience is that if you want to prevent panic, you tell the truth.”
Thank you.”
SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/
SENATOR RON WYDEN
Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/
**ACTION TWO: CALL COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN**
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WALDEN:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [town/city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling today . . .
Because without a treatment or vaccine for COVID-19, the WHO says that truth is the best tool we have to protect ourselves. Nevertheless, Trump persists with his lying for self-preservation. That causes panic, as we have seen in the stock market and empty grocery shelves.
I demand that Greg Walden stop echoing Trump’s lies, put people before blind party loyalty, and use his public platform to constantly call out Trump’s lies and make sure people have the truth. We have to defend the truth now more than ever.
As historian John M. Barry, an expert on the Spanish flu, said: “I think the No. 1 lesson that came out of the experience is that if you want to prevent panic, you tell the truth.”
Thank you.”
COMPLICIT GREG WALDENDC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400
https://walden.house.gov/contact-greg/email-me
**ACTION THREE: BE AN ACTIVIST**
All ORD2 Indivisible sponsored events have been canceled in order to minimize public gatherings. We anticipate rescheduling several events in the near future and will provide updates in the daily Call to Action and on the ORD2 Indivisible website event calendar.
Visit the ORD2 Indivisible Event Calendar on a regular basis to keep updated on local activities. Participate with us as often as you can. We also encourage you to submit events to be added to the ORD2 Indivisible Event Calendar and help us keep current with our event postings. https://ord2indivisible.org/submit-your-event/
Let the Coronavirus NOT stop you from being an activist – keep your social distance and join our ORD2 Indivisible Virtual Postcard Party!
If you live in Medford, Jacksonville, Phoenix, Talent or Ashland, we’ll deliver to your doorstep a pack(s) with 25 stamped postcards and stickers to write for a campaign through https://postcardstovoters.org/
We ask you to leave a donation of $10 per packet to cover the cost of supplies and postage in an envelope by your front door. We’ll drop off a packet(s) with everything you need to write from home.
Simply join postcardstovoters.org online. Once you get your packet of cards from us, write your cards and mail them from home.
ORD2 Indivisible 2020 Fundraising Campaign
As we approach what will be the most important election of our lifetimes, ORD2 Indivisible wants to be in a secure financial position to help engage as many voters in our district in the election process as possible. To accomplish this goal we are conducting the ORD2 Indivisible 2020 fundraising campaign. Click on the image below to donate.
To make a donation by check, please make the check payable to ORD2 Indivisible and mail to:
ORD2 Indivisible
P.O. Box 1242, Phoenix, OR 97535
ORD2 Indivisible is partnering with Jobs With Justice Southern Oregon and Washington Federal Bank to gather warm adult clothing for the homeless. We are also asking for tarps, throw blankets and sleeping bags.
Please donate generously!
SOURCES:
New Yorker, March 15, 2020: “Trump, Truth, and the Mishandling of the Coronavirus Crisis” https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/trump-truth-and-the-mishandling-of-the-coronavirus-crisis
NY Times, March 18, 2020: “The President is Lying About Coronavirus” https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/18/opinion/trump-lies-about-coronavirus.html
Washington Post, Feb. 2, 2020: “Trump is ignoring the lessons of 1918 flu pandemic that killed millions, historian says” https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/02/29/1918-flu-coronavirus-trump/
New Yorker, Feb. 25, 1967: “Reflections: Truth and Politics” https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1967-02-25/flipbook/048/
NY Times, June 20, 2018: “The Illuminations of Hannah Arnedt” https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/20/opinion/why-read-hannah-arendt-now.html
NY Times, March 15, 2020: “A Complete List of Trump’s Attempts to Play Down Coronavirus” https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/15/opinion/trump-coronavirus.html
Slate, March 17, 2020: “There’s a New Potential Risk Group for Spreading the Coronavirus” https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/03/polls-republicans-coronavirus-spread.html
Politico, Feb. 28, 2020: “Trump rallies his base to treat coronavirus as a ‘hoax’” https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/28/trump-south-carolina-rally-coronavirus-118269
Defense One, March 17, 2020: “What Trump’s Coronavirus Lie Reveals about the Commander in Chief” https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2020/03/what-trumps-coronavirus-lie-reveals-about-commander-chief/163867/?oref=d-river
March 19, 2020, Tweets by NY Times columnist Charles Blow and James Fallows of The Atlantic: “These press conferences are worthless. They give more disinformation than information.“ https://twitter.com/CharlesMBlow/status/1240748569386237952
