Watch live: Mike Pence in Dallas as Gov. Abbott says COVID-19 has taken ‘very dangerous turn in Texas'
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Updated at 12:10 a.m. with remarks from the church service.
Vice President Mike Pence met with Gov. Greg Abbott Sunday, pledging additional resources and testing in wake of what Abbott called “the very swift and very dangerous turn” of the coronavirus in Texas.
“President Trump wanted us to be here today with the developments over the last two weeks with the rising positivity and the rising number of cases with a very simple message and that is to use people of Texas: We’re with you.”
Pence urged everyone to wear a mask.
About two weeks ago something changed, Pence said.
Texas has 143,371 reported COVID-19 cases, with at least 2,366 deaths because of the virus.
The state’s positivity rate, which is the percentage of coronavirus tests administered that produce a positive result, dwindled to under 5% last month, after a high in mid-April of 13.86%. On Thursday, the seven-day average positivity rate was 11.73%.
On Friday Abbott took steps to stem a tide of coronavirus infections. He closed bars, ordered restaurants to return to 50% capacity, shut river-rafting outfits and gave local officials more control over large gatherings ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.
Pence also gave remarks at First Baptist Church in downtown Dallas.
Pence’s appearance at First Baptist is part of annual patriotic service to “celebrate freedom,” according to church officials. Housing Secretary Ben Carson traveled aboard Air Force 2 to Dallas, along with Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator.
Abbott is expected to attend the service, too. Abbott, along with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen, greeted Pence on the tarmac. Pence, Carson and the four Texans wore face coverings.
“Vice President Pence’s speech to the First Baptist Church is another example of the Trump Administration’s ongoing commitment to protecting religious freedom for all Americans,” Trump campaign spokeswoman Samantha Cotten said. Trump had tweeted earlier: “Have a good time this morning at First Baptist Dallas Church.”
In Pence’s introduction, Pastor Robert Jeffress pitched a second term for Trump and for Pence to move into the White House in 2024.
“...When you have finished your term as vice president in 2024, we don’t want you moving out of the West Wing. We just want to you to move down the hall a few doors and continue to build on the legacy of the most faith-friendly president ever,” Jeffress said. He noted before that remark that “Mr. Vice President, I know I probably shouldn’t say this, but my congregation knows that hasn’t stopped me before.”
“It’s good to be back in church,” Pence told the worshipers at First Baptist, many of whom were wearing face coverings.
He touched on several topics, praising Abbott for “his courageous and compassionate leadership for the people of Texas during this challenging time.” Abbott and Trump’s leadership will “bring Texas and America back bigger and better than ever before,” he said.
He also touched on the death of George Floyd.
“We all know the tragic events of recent days and let me say there’s no excuse for what happened to George Floyd,” he said. “There’s also no excuse for the rioting, violence, that ensued. Burning churches is not protest. Tearing down statues is not free speech. There will be no tolerance for vandalism or violence in the United States.”
A handful of protesters -- and supporters -- greeted Pence.
Pence’s Sunday trip to Dallas comes as Texas is beset by a resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic that health experts warn could cripple hospital systems and stall the economic recovery.
Even as COVID-19 cases surge in Texas and many other states, Pence has been optimistic about where the nation stands in its struggle against the virus. At a news conference of the coronavirus task force that he leads, Pence appeared overly positive about the country’s fight against the pandemic.
“We slowed the spread. We flattened the curve. We saved lives,” Pence said, though case counts in Texas and other states show he’s incorrect.
Dallas County records new single-day high of 561 coronavirus cases, 7 deaths
Democrats criticized the response.
“The Trump-Pence administration’s failure to get Americans -- including Texans -- the testing they need or offer an effective reopening plan based in public health and science has now exacerbated the pandemic in communities across the country,” said Kate Bedingfield, deputy campaign manager for former Vice President and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
Biden’s campaign criticized the administration for initially proposing to end funding of federal testing sites just as new coronavirus cases began to spike. The federal government backed off the plan to stop funding its testing sites in Texas. Biden also charged that Pence’s trip was reflective of the administration’s “dismissive attitude” in addressing the pandemic.
“Our leaders should be tackling this pandemic head on and laying out concrete recovery plans for the American people -- not jet setting across the country to hold events that go against basic public health guidance,” Bedingfield said. “Families in the Lone Star State and across the country deserve better.”
During a conference call staged by the Texas Democratic Party Friday, Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas, appealed to Pence to promote more testing, the wearing of masks to mitigate spread and attention to businesses that are suffering.
“We need your attention Mr. Vice President,” she said. “We are a hotspot.”
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, who has sparred with Abbott over the speed of Texas’ reopening, blasted the governor for what he described as ignoring science. He said at the beginning of the crisis, local leaders were taking a scientific approach to the pandemic.
“At the beginning of May, our governor said hold my beer. And let me take this over,” Jenkins said. “No more requirements, everybody do what you want to do, everything that doctors and business are telling you, these are only recommendations.”
Tags
Who is online
74 visitors
The picture is part of the crowd at the most recent 'rally'
Pence urged everyone to wear a mask.
How can one person be that blatantly hypocritical?
How can one person be that blatantly hypocritical?
It doesn't matter...... he's a republican.
Years of practice.
I like your response better....
Both are spot on.