Disease knows no political labels

Donald John Trump needs to understand — although it is impossible to expect that he ever will get it — that the pandemic sweeping the planet is a non-partisan “enemy” of all humankind.

Thus, when he warns our nation’s governors that they need to express appreciation for the work he says he is doing, the president is politicizing a fight that requires all elected officials at all levels to pull together.

It ain’t happenin’.

You’ve heard the slogan that “We’re in this together.” But … are we?

Governors criticize the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic as being unorganized, scatter-shot, too full of mindless happy talk. They make a valid point. The federal government, which the president was elected to lead, has been too slow to respond all along the way.

But then we hear the president blast governors for doing a “terrible job,” for failing to recognize that the “we’re doing a hell of a job” at the federal level. They need to toe the line, he tells them.

I should add here that the criticism is coming from Democratic governors. Their complaints don’t matter to the Republican president. His ignorance of the need for bipartisan cooperation was so plainly evident at the bill-signing ceremony Friday when the only individuals standing behind him were Republicans. Congressional Democrats lined up with the president to ensure enactment of the coronavirus relief bill that Trump signed into law.

I should point out, too, that they weren’t practicing the “social distancing” that medical experts implore us to practice … but I digress.

The blame game will continue. It’s unfortunate in the extreme, primarily because the individuals who are going to pay the price ultimately are Americans like you and me might need help from our government if any of us get stricken … and it won’t arrive.

Disgraceful.