WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama urged Americans on Saturday not to succumb to hysteria about Ebola, even as he warned that addressing the deadly virus would require citizens, government leaders and the media to all pitch in.
In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama also pushed back against calls for the U.S. to institute a travel ban. Lawmakers have called it a common-sense step to prevent more people with Ebola from entering the U.S., butObama said such a ban would only hamper aid efforts and screening measures.
“Trying to seal off an entire region of the world — if that were even possible — could actually make the situation worse,” Obama said.
Growing U.S. concern about Ebola and the three cases diagnosed so far in Dallas prompted Obama on Friday to tap a former top White House adviser to be his point person on Ebola. Striking a careful balance, Obama said there’s no “outbreak” or “epidemic” of Ebola in the U.S., but said even one case is too many.
“This is a serious disease, but we can’t give in to hysteria or fear-because that only makes it harder to get people the accurate information they need,” Obama said. “We have to be guided by the science.”
As Obama sought to reassure anxious Americans, U.S. officials were still working to contain the fallout from theEbola cases identified in the U.S. so far, rushing to cut off potential routes of infection for those who may have come into contact with individuals who contracted Ebola. Obama said he was “absolutely confident” the U.S. could prevent a serious outbreak at home — if it continues to elevate facts over fear.
“Fighting this disease will take time,” Obama said. “Before this is over, we may see more isolated cases here in America. But we know how to wage this fight.”
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Well, there you have it. By refusing to block travel from West Africa, the President has effectively declared that he’s going to personally deliver Ebola door to door throughout America.
We’re. All. Going. To. Die.!!!1111!!!
Hell in a hand basket, in the World According to Fox.
Coming soon on a FoxSpews near you: “SEE? SEE?!? He cares about AFRICA more than he cares about AMMURRIKUH!!! (FUCK yeah!) IMPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEECH!!!1!!!un!!uno!!”
This would be a good time for old Dubya to put down the paintbrush and assist the President with this aspect of the Ebola crisis…you know, the statesman thing.
If only John McCain & Sarah Palin were in charge. We could have just bombed West Africa flat until all that Ebola had been sterilized off the face of the planet.
Thought exercise: