194,411 (and counting) deaths. 

A death toll equaling a September 11th sized event every 3 days. 

Possibly the greatest crisis economically, socially, and politically the United States and its people have faced outside of war. 

When a crisis comes, the people expect and deserve leadership.

But where is it? 

It’s certainly not behind the walls surrounding 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Early on in the pandemic, President Trump assured the American People that the Virus would be under control “With just a dozen cases/deaths”. He then proclaimed that this was “A flu. This is like a flu.”, and that “Looks like by April, you know in theory when it gets a little warmer, it miraculously goes away.”

But it wasn’t a flu.  And when it got warmer in April and later months, Coronavirus cases actually increased. 

But this wasn’t just some well wishing from an always-optimistic man. Trump knew damn well this would be a crisis. And he didn’t care.

Last week, veteran journalist Bob Woodward released tapes he recorded of phone calls between him and the President during the months of February and March, just at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In a call dated February 7, Trump explained that “[COVID-19] is also more deadly than even your strenuous flu… This is deadly stuff.”  This was directly opposite to what he said publicly to the American People. This was not leadership. 

In a call dated March 19, he stated that he had “always intended to play [COVID-19] down. I still like playing it down.”

Playing down a national crisis is not leadership. Saying one thing in private but another in public, especially on a topic of this magnitude, is not leadership. 

President Trump lied, and our people died.

The grieving families of the 194,411 souls taken from us are not playing this down. The 13.6 million unemployed in this country are not playing this down. The millions of small-business owners who are going to have to close up shop this year are not playing it down.

Even the Republicans in Congress are not exhibiting the leadership we need in times like this. Instead, they are more worried about appeasing the president’s ego. They are more worried about the stock market than saving human lives. They have stalled on passing a new stimulus plan that would help millions, while simultaneously passing bills that give large corporations even more tax breaks than before. 

We can do better than this. And we will do better than this. Because hope is on the horizon.

In just under two months on November 3rd, the American people have the power to reject failed leadership. We will have the power to reject lies. We will have the power to reject Trump and the Republicans, and replace them with a president and a congress who cares about our people. A president who will not “play it down”. A president and a  congress who will build back our country for the better.

In this election, Vote like your life depends on it. Because this time, it actually does.