Prominent fact-checkers of the mainstream media stayed silent about Vice President Kamala Harris’ false claims that the Biden administration is “starting from scratch” in the vaccine rollout plan.
In an interview with Axios, which was aired on HBO last Sunday, the Harris was asked about the struggles that the Biden administration is going through in relation to the pandemic’s response after merely a month in office.
.@VP Harris: "There was no national strategy or plan for vaccinations. … We're starting from scratch."@mikeallen: Are you having to adjust your sights now of what’s possible, given that?@VP: "We've gotta figure out a way. … No patience for, 'It can't be done.'" #AxiosOnHBO pic.twitter.com/opif5rjg96
— Axios (@axios) February 15, 2021
The Vice President answered, saying, “there was no stockpile … of vaccines.” She added, “there was no national strategy or plan for vaccinations. We were leaving it to the states and local leaders to try and figure it out. And so, in many ways, we’re starting from scratch on something that’s been raging for almost an entire year!”
This comment made by Harris directly opposed the remarks that were made by Dr. Anthony Fauci last month about the response to the pandemic.
Last month, Fauci responded to CNN’s report stating that the current administration is starting from scratch. Fauci said, “We certainly are not starting from scratch because there is activity going on in the distribution.”
On the other hand, Glenn Kessler, the Washington Post fact-checker, who, during the Trump administration, kept track of each and every false statement that former President Trump mentioned, has yet to make comments on the remarks made by Harris.
Washington Post fact-checker Glenn Kessler religiously tracked Trump’s statements throughout his presidency. Kessler explained on CNN that Biden would not be honored with the same rigorous fact-checking regimen. WHY is THAT?? Worried about the compromised LIAR??????
— Kevin Andres (@kandres710) January 26, 2021
Instead, last weekend, the Kessler spent most of his time fact-checking Trump’s defense team during the impeachment trial. One of the statements that he tried to fact-check was referring to Harris when she promoted the Minessota Freedom fund last year, which Trump’s legal team criticized.
Trump’s attorneys claim that the money raised from the fund was used to bail out rioters, including repeat offenders. However, the fact-checker maintained that it is “more complicated” than what Trump lawyers suggested.
On the other hand, Daniel Dale, CNN’s fact-checker, spent most of his weekend dissecting the statements made by Trump’s defense team. He also hasn’t commented about the false claims made by Harris regarding the vaccine rollout plan.
Why did Axios delete this tweet? pic.twitter.com/94HNrOIgrW
— Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) February 15, 2021
In a statement last week, Dr. Anthony Fauci debunked CNN’s report about stating that the current Biden-Harris administration is “starting from scratch” with the Coronavirus vaccine rollout.
The report also alleged that the White House inherited “no plan” from the Trump administration.
In a press briefing at the White House, NBC News correspondent, Kristen Welker, asked Dr. Fauci if the Biden-Harris administration is “starting from scratch.”
“We certainly are not starting from scratch because there is activity going on in the distribution,” Fauci responded.
Neither Washington Post nor CNN responded to Fox News’ requests for comment concerning the issue.
PolitiFact stood as the only prominent fact-checker to challenge the statement made by Harris “wrong.”
However, it was disturbing to see how Axios tried to cover up the false claims made by Vice President Harris by deleting previous reports they posted on Twitter about Dr. Fauci’s remarks that the current administration is certainly not starting from scratch.
Axios deleting this tweet seems suspicious given the revelations that a reporter for them who covers Kamala Harris is head over heels in love with a now former Biden Administration member. See the problem now guys? @mikeallen pic.twitter.com/U8v28h2kug
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) February 15, 2021
Conservative commentator Stephen Miller also wrote on Twitter, “Axios deleting this tweet seems suspicious given the revelations that a reporter for them who covers Kamala Harris is head over heels in love with a now-former Biden Administration member. See the problem now, guys? @mikeallen”
Axios also did not respond to Fox New’s request for comment.
According to Washington Examiner Jerry Dunleavy, Axios did reshare Harris’ exchange video with Mike Allen, despite the fact that it contradicted Dr. Fauci’s previous comments.
Axios has yet to respond to Fox News’ request for comment.
