Criticism fueled by hyperbole

Florence Appel's recent letter is filled with disinformation on which Florence bases her opinion. For instance, Florence claims the president disbanded the entire pandemic response team in 2018. While technically accurate, she fails to mention that the reorganization was done due to bloat in the NSC staff.

According to Tim Morrison, former senior director for counterproliferation and biodefense on the NSC, "…(O)ne such move at the NSC was to create the counterproliferation and biodefense directorate, which was the result of consolidating three directorates into one, given the obvious overlap between arms control and nonproliferation, weapons of mass destruction terrorism and global health and biodefense. It is this reorganization that critics have misconstrued or intentionally misrepresented. If anything, the combined directorate was stronger because related expertise could be commingled."

Appel goes on to say the president's "goal" in eliminating Obamacare is "stripping coverage from millions of Americans, raising premiums, ending protections for people with preexisting conditions and forcing seniors to pay more for prescription drugs." The president has repeatedly said he is not going to get rid of coverage for preexisting conditions.

Fencepost guidelines restrict me from elaborating with additional proof sources on how ridiculous the rest of the writer's comments on Obamacare are, but suffice to say, what politician on earth would ever win election with a platform like that?

Finally, Appel is upset that the president is trying to manage the response to the virus with one eye on the economy. I don't think the writer realizes what the implications are for the country if the economy completely tanks. The president would certainly be derelict in his duties by not considering the economy. It is fine to disagree with the president. But we would all be better off if we could have honest discussions without resorting to hyperbole or misinformation.

Paul Gennuso

Oakbrook Terrace