From the onset of the pandemic, both parties have used the coronavirus to their political advantage. While Republicans criticize Democrats for fearmongering and for hypocritically supporting crowded protests while condemning regular gatherings, Democrats claim the president and many of his supporters have not taken it seriously from the start.
This is hardly surprising, given how divided the country is on nearly everything at present. Still, the desire to win against adversaries has caused some to cast aside decency when we need it the most.
A recent weekly update to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s page on pandemic statistics led to a talking point widely shared on Twitter and Facebook by President Trump and others. The figures deal with the comorbidities of those who have died while also having COVID-19.
“For 6% of the deaths,” the update said, “COVID-19 was the only cause mentioned. For deaths with conditions or causes in addition to COVID-19, on average, there were 2.6 additional conditions or causes per death.”
Unfortunately, the narrative that quickly spun out of this data update was the idea that there are far fewer actual COVID-19 deaths — 94% less, to put a number on it — and that the country is being tricked into believing things are worse than they really are. This interpretation entirely disregards how contributing factors that lead to death have been exacerbated by COVID-19.
Twitter eventually removed the tweet that propagated this idea, originally posted by a QAnon supporter, citing a violation of rules. However, this was not before it gained traction. Most disturbing of all, this was disseminated by the party that claims the pro-life mantle.
The mere thought that the CDC is unintentionally exposing itself with this information is absurd. Since the health crisis began, we’ve known that those with preexisting conditions and compromised immune systems are much more susceptible to suffering from the virus. That has been no secret. It is common knowledge that catching the virus can cause those who have been maintaining a semblance of health while living with a chronic condition to degrade quickly and perhaps die.
These are the very reasons that masks have been suggested or even mandated in places and why quarantine requirements have been implemented. In no way does the existence of additional health problems mean that COVID-19 didn’t advance or spur on someone’s final demise. Plus, generally speaking, death certificates in nonpandemic times more often than not list multiple reasons for a person’s death.
The flippancy with which otherwise compassionate people are treating COVID-19 death figures is troubling. According to the promoted narrative, 94% of those who have died from the virus and contributing factors simply don’t matter in the coronavirus conversation. In fact, their main purpose seems to have been little more than “proving” that the reported figures are overblown. If 94% of COVID-19 deaths are actually not COVID-19 deaths, they become truly insignificant to the pandemic, and Democrats are surely wrong in their assessments of it.
Pushing this idea is in complete contrast to what the pro-life movement claims to hold dear. It conflicts with the message of the pro-life community at large and that of Trump, who claims he is the most pro-life president the country has ever had. It is right to promote the worth of unborn children and to work to protect them with legislation and by other means. It is just as noble to view those with advanced age or infirmity with just as much care. The sanctity of life does not end at birth. Acting as if life means less at a certain stage in order to gain ground in arguments against those in the Democratic Party does real damage to the pro-life cause.
Moreover, spreading misinformation like the president and some of his supporters have done is extremely harmful. These political talking points are based neither on science nor compassion.
It is one thing to believe that the pandemic should have been dealt with in a different manner. It is another thing entirely to push a false idea that only 6% of COVID-19-related deaths truly count and, by doing so, cast aside the suffering of the other 94% whose lives ended because of a direct connection to the disease.
If the Republican Party truly wishes to be the pro-life party, it must be consistent in honoring and working to protect life in all of its stages. The pandemic should be an opportunity to show that we care more about life, not less.
Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog and a columnist at Arc Digital.
