Despite initially noting that President-elect Joe Biden had to wait until after Inauguration Day to implement his policies on Sunday, ABC Good Morning America co-anchor Whit Johnson eventually switched over to pressing COVID advisor Dr. Celine Gounder on what Biden could do to implement a national mask mandate “before Biden takes office.” The network also suggested Trump was endangering lives by not getting out of the way sooner.
After introducing Gounder (“a member of the Biden/Harris transition COVID-19 advisory board and infectious disease expert”) to the audience, Johnson wanted to know what plans the incoming administration had to do what the Trump administration wasn’t in regards to fighting the virus.
“When President-elect Joe Biden is inaugurated on January 20th, give us the top priorities, what do you want to tackle immediately in fighting this virus that we're not seeing from the Trump administration right now,” he asked. Gounder said Biden planned to invoke the Defense Production Act, which Trump did invoke.
The fact that the United States operated with one president at a time completely went out the window a short time later, when Johnson wanted to know how soon Biden planned to push for an unconstitutional, national mask mandate.
“Now, Biden has been vocal, as we now, in his support of mask mandates But there is some question about his authority to do it on a national level,” Johnson admitted. “How do you plan to convince hold-out governors and local leaders to get on board with masks? And can any of that be done before Biden takes office?”
Gounder responded by noting that wearing masks was an individual’s responsibility. But that didn’t seem to sit well with Johnson, who continued to press the point. “But just to follow up on a key part of the question, how do you convince the governors and those who don’t want to get on board? How do you convince them to go along,” he wanted to know.
At one point, Johnson asked back to back questions about how Trump was supposedly damaging the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine by not getting out of the way of the Biden transition team (Click “expand”):
JOHNSON: Speaking of those critical needs that need to be met, like immediately, President Trump has not accepted the results of this election and the White House is blocking the transition of the Biden team. So, how much of an impact is that having on your ability to hit the ground running, especially when it comes to the crucial task of distributing a vaccine?
(…)
JOHNSON: Do you think, quickly, that this delay in the transition could result in a delay of distributing the vaccine?
Johnson’s suggestion that Trump was harming the rollout of the vaccine by not getting out of Biden’s way was a common theme throughout their Sunday reporting. White House correspondent Rachel Scott leaned heavily on that suggestion during her segment.
“But President Trump's refusal to concede the election has caused a delay with the transition process. Biden, as president-elect, is unable to coordinate with the current White House coronavirus task force. As well as multiple federal offices and agencies,” she whined to co-anchor Dan Harris.
ABC’s push for an unconstitutional national mask mandate from someone not in office yet was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from Casper and WeatherTech. Their contact information is linked so you can let them know about the biased news they’re funding.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s Good Morning America
November 15, 2020
8:05:52 a.m. EasternWHIT JOHNSON: Joining us now is Dr. Celine Gounder, a member of the Biden/Harris transition COVID-19 advisory board and infectious disease expert. Dr. Gounder, thank you so much for your time this morning. We appreciate it.
I want to jump right to it here. When President-Elect Joe Biden is inaugurated on January 20th, give us the top priorities, what do you want to tackle immediately in fighting this virus that we're not seeing from the Trump administration right now?
DR. CELINE GOUNDER: I think you'll see the President-Elect invoking the defense production act.
(…)
JOHNSON: Speaking of those critical needs that need to be met, like immediately, President Trump has not accepted the results of this election and the White House is blocking the transition of the Biden team. So, how much of an impact is that having on your ability to hit the ground running, especially when it comes to the crucial task of distributing a vaccine?
(…)
JOHNSON: Do you think, quickly, that this delay in the transition could result in a delay of distributing the vaccine?
GOUNDER: I certainly hope not. We are doing everything we can to ensure that's not the case. But there could be unforeseen consequences of this difficult handover.
JOHNSON: Now, Biden has been vocal, as we now, in his support of mask mandates. But there is some question about his authority to do it on a national level. How do you plan to convince hold-out governors and local leaders to get on board with masks? And can any of that be done before Biden takes office?
GOUNDER: Well, I think I would remind the American people this is something that is in their hands to control. They should be taking -- we should each take personal responsibility for our health, the health of our families, the health of our communities. This is a great way to show you appreciate the health care workers who have been making sacrifices for months now and still have months of true sacrifice ahead. This is a cheap, effective intervention that does not close the economy and will, in fact, help us keep the economy open.
JOHNSON: But just to follow up on a key part of the question, how do you convince the governors and those who don’t want to get on board? How do you convince them to go along?
GOUNDER: Well we will be reaching out to other allies who may have those kinds of relationships. But ultimately, whether you have a mandate or not, I think the message here is this is a crisis and we each need to step up.
JOHNSON: All right. Dr. Gounder, thank you for your time this morning.
(…)
8:11:31 a.m. Eastern
RACHEL SCOTT: But this morning his own handpicked vaccine czar, standing there next to the President in the Rose Garden, reportedly calling on the White House to allow his team to make contact with Joe Biden.
Moncef Slaoui telling the Financial Times, “I hope nothing interferes with Operation Warp Speed. It is a matter of life and death for thousands of people.”
[Cuts back to live]
And Biden spent the weekend meeting with transition advisers. He has made clear tackling the virus is his number one priority. But President Trump's refusal to concede the election has caused a delay with the transition process. Biden, as president-elect, is unable to coordinate with the current White House coronavirus task force. As well as multiple federal offices and agencies, Dan.
(…)
