GOLD WATCH TIME — The Weekly Opine

The clock has struck midnight on Dr. Anthony Fauci. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

Move on, friend

The now largely defunct tradition of giving a gold watch to a retiring employee dates way back to the 1940s. Apparently, it was the Pepsi Company that started the custom of rewarding long-term workers with a new watch. The gift of a gold timepiece, to an employee who served for decades at the same company, was soon adopted by employers near and far.

The National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases should present a gold watch to its longtime director, the esteemed Dr. Anthony Fauci. (Dr. Fauci is also President Biden’s chief medical advisor, a role he should concurrently step down from.)

Dr. Fauci, the preeminent healthcare face of the coronavirus pandemic, has served his country with exemplary wisdom and loyalty, saving countless lives while doing so. The opposite of TV Dr. Mehmet Oz, Dr. Fauci’s credentials and integrity are unimpeachable.

As the early days of the pandemic became months, Dr. Fauci was a treasured authority who counteracted wishy-washy advice provided by coronavirus task force members, including Dr. Deborah Birx and overmatched U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams. When former VP Mike Pence, acting as head of the coronavirus task force, peppered us with lies Dr. Fauci literally stepped up to the mic and cleaned up the mess.

While most of the coronavirus task force hid the truth, Dr. Fauci’s science-is-truth handiwork was visible from the very beginning. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

However, now the time has come for the good doctor to move aside. The country will be better off if Doc Fauci is no longer the primary voice of authority regarding the pandemic. Certainly, Dr. Fauci should remain an asset - albeit retired - as a background advisor with emeritus status.

Given the moment, with a persistent pandemic, there are better, less divisive choices to speak to America. A new voice is needed as we implore more people to get vaccinated and boosted, and to follow life-saving guidelines and, when necessary, mandates.

It’s pathetic how weak-minded, easily manipulated MAGAs swallowed whole the Trump and Fox Lies bait, accepting mouthfuls of garbage claiming Dr. Fauci is a demented boogeyman. (No, that would be Rudy Giuliani.)

The well has been poisoned by lies and deceit. To compound matters, Dr. Fauci recently made several confusing pronouncements. His untimely missteps beg the question whether being subjected to unrelenting, harsh and unfair criticism, and threats of violence against himself and his family from a bunch of ignorant, violence promoters (like Trump) has taken a toll. After all, the man is human.

Cue Bluto

Just a few weeks ago, Dr. Fauci announced the U.S. is “out of the pandemic phase” of the coronavirus. I was shocked to hear this. His rationale was based on the level of vaccinations and residual immunity. Also, this spring, hospitalizations rose just slightly, and deaths were declining, which factored into Dr. Fauci’s comments.

Nonetheless, the pandemic-is-over pronouncement, authored by Dr. Fauci, was quickly walked back. Unfortunately, he followed-up with words that created more confusion, uttering that “at this moment in time” the U.S. is out of the pandemic phase. Hence, Dr. Fauci slipped into the same poor communication mode that continues to bedevil the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as some state and local governments, as they wrestle with how to turn a pandemic into a flu-like epidemic. The Axios/Ipsos Coronavirus Index shows that one in three Americans now believe the pandemic is over.

If anyone is most associated with N-95 masks, it might be Dr. Fauci. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

As we wonder what’s next, I am reminded of the great scene from the movie “Animal House” when John Belushi’s character, Bluto, exclaimed “It ain’t over now!” That’s what the omicron variant and its sub-variants appear to be telling us, as hospitalizations and deaths begin to climb again. (Some schools are re-instituting mask mandates. Theaters and symphony orchestra performances still require mask-wearing. Yes, it seems likely that broader mask mandates, e.g. at restaurants, are in our future.)

Of course, the biggest tool in the toolkit is the vaccine (and subsequent boosters). Yet here we sit, nearly three years into this mess and only 67% of Americans are vaccinated.

I believe the national messenger must be swapped out. When around 35-percent of Americans do not trust what Dr. Fauci is saying, it becomes impossible to achieve a 90-percent vaccination rate. Consequently, despite Dr. Fauci’s near impeccable credentials, new faces and voices are needed to communicate details of our pandemic response.

Candidates

Dr. Vin Gupta, age 38, is a clinically active pulmonary/critical care physician working at the University of Washington. He would be an excellent choice. Gupta has appeared frequently on cable news, is level-headed and communicates clearly, with a confident, authoritative style that anyone can understand. Gupta has spent nearly three years on the front line fighting the pandemic, in the trenches with hospital staff and patients.

Dr. Peter Hotez, age 64, is a scientist, pediatrician and advocate working in global health, vaccinology, and neglected tropical disease control. Hotez is a regular on cable news and, considering the importance of getting kids vaccinated, would be a stellar choice. Located in Houston, Texas, Hotez speaks in a frank, no nonsense style, confidently unwavering in the face of ruthless attacks on science.

Another outstanding choice would be Dr. Kavita Patel. Dr. Patel, age 48, is a primary care physician in Washington, D.C. and a non-resident fellow at the Brookings Institute. She formerly was managing director of clinical transformation at the Center for Health Policy. Dr. Patel speaks in a direct, firm manner using precise, understandable language. She has been consistent and measured when discussing the pandemic and what protective steps are required. For example, Dr. Patel disagreed with the rush to lift mandates this spring, rightfully arguing we would end up with rising hospitalizations and deaths as a result of prematurely lowering our guard.

Any of the three doctors mentioned above would make first-rate choices to replace Dr. Fauci. In my opinion, they could operate (no pun intended) as a panel of advisors. That’s to say, some Americans may respond to Dr. Gupta, others may respond to Dr. Hotez, while others may connect better with Dr. Patel. However, if forced to choose I would appoint Dr. Kavita Patel to replace Dr. Fauci.

A few days ago, Dr. Fauci told CNN he would not return to his post if Trump is re-elected in 2024. Why wait until 2024?

Thanks for all you have done for our country, Dr. Anthony Fauci. You deserve a gold watch and a hero’s send-off. The time has come to step aside.