Trump events: Reckless show of misplaced priorities

Empty seats are bad optics, claims President Trump, relating to his rallies and upcoming Republican National Convention.

So North Carolina is out for hosting Trump’s RNC speech. Florida is now in. North Carolina refused to ignore federal guidelines for pandemic cautionary practices. Florida welcomes a full house.

Tulsa, Oklahoma, is equally accommodating for Trump’s June 20 rally, welcoming 20,000 attendees to stand and sit shoulder to shoulder, indoors, no masks required. Overflow estimated to be 40,000 at a nearby site.

Trump models I-don’t-need-no-stinking-mask behavior. Health professionals nationwide are concerned about these “Super Spreader” events.

The RNC is concerned, but only about its legal liability for orchestrating a reckless gathering against expert advice.

Both the RNC and Trump clearly do not prioritize the reality that each empty seat at these gatherings represents multiple lives protected.

And people with complexions darker than the attendees will provide services as frontline workers, at their financially necessary risk.

This story was originally published June 20, 2020 at 9:01 AM with the headline "Trump events: Reckless show of misplaced priorities."