Incredible Shrinking Dr. Fauci

The record is revealing. Dr. Fauci is presented as Mr. COVID wisdom, oracular in power, the embodiment of “science.” But he seems to be shrinking – fast.  

A review of Fauci’s statements is stunning. The review speaks for itself. Demagoguery is never pretty. On MSNBC June 9: “It’s very dangerous … because … attacks on me quite frankly are attacks on science …” On July 10, a mask-less CPAC “horrifying.” Mr. Science, watch out. 

Rather than “follow the science,” his words dodge and weave. We now know he underwrote potential “gain in function” research at China’s Wuhan lab, a major issue. His non-disclosure was a material omission, the conflict of interest clear. Consider the timeline.

On wearing masks, February 5, 2020, Fauci says “not really effective in keeping out the virus” and does not recommend. March 15, 2020, he tells “60 Minutes”: No reason to be walking around with a mask… people keep fiddling with the mask … touching their face.” 

On April 5, 2020, he reverses himself on “Face the Nation,” recommends them. By January 25, 2021 – with a president who likes masks and basements, Fauci says “common sense” to wear two masks: “If you have a physical covering with one layer, you put another layer on, it just makes common sense that it likely would be more effective…” No word on basements. 

On lockdowns, which impaired rights until the Supreme Court weighed in, Fauci dodged. On November 12, 2020, he opposed: “You can get a lot done without necessarily locking down …” On February 29, 2020 – he told the “Today Show” he did not favor lockdowns, as “no need to change anything that you’re doing on a day-by-day basis.” But on April 12, 2020, he flipped. Lockdowns should have been the norm since “it became clear that we were in real trouble… middle to end of January.” Lockdowns needed. 

On asymptomatic transmission, both sides again. On January 28, 2020 – he was against: “In all the history of respiratory-borne viruses of any type, asymptomatic transmission has NEVER been the driver of outbreaks.” But on February 4, 2020: “Most transmissions occur from someone who is symptomatic, not asymptomatic.” Neat gavotte.  

Stay with me – on June 8, 2020; the WHO said: “Seems to be rare that an asymptomatic person actually transmits onward to a secondary individual.” But on June 10, Fauci threw WHO under the bus. They “walked that back because there’s no evidence…” Fauci versus 7,000 employees? 

Zigzags notwithstanding, how about that Chinese origin? The big one. We now know he was aware in early 2020, Wuhan was likely the source, and he underwrote a grant to that lab.  Uh-oh.  

On January 31, 2020, Fauci learned the awful truth. Dr. Anderson wrote him: The coronavirus appears to have been manipulated in a laboratory. The virus “features” appear “engineered.” Fauci might have thought, who will ever find out? Well, we did. 

Next came panic. On February 1, 2020, Fauci sends an urgent email to his deputy, Hugh Auchincloss, with an attachment entitled “SARS Gain of function.” He mentions Ralph Baric, who worked at Wuhan lab with Shi Shun Li, also referred to in the title. Remember: “Gain of function” is research Fauci underwrote, virus “engineering.” Fauci knows the COVID virus was “engineered.” He learned that from Dr. Anderson.

Does he run to the President? No. He says nothing, a material omission. How many lives might have been saved if, on February 1, Fauci had gone public with the “engineered” Wuhan virus? 

On March 11, under questioning from Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), Fauci wades deeper. He denies “gain of function research” conducted by those he knew conducted it. Why? Scrambling. Why? 

Perhaps to avoid culpability – but at what cost? He went into overdrive. On April 3, 2020, Fauci called on China to “shut down” wet markets. Why, if an “engineered” virus. On April 17, 2020, Fauci rebuffed Trump and defended China, threw water on Wuhan – knowing he had underwritten their research. He said, “totally consistent with a jump of a species…” Really? When knew “engineered.”  

On May 4, 2020, he goes further with National Geographic, saying, “very, very strongly leaning toward this could not have been artificially or deliberately manipulated.” He added that all signs indicate the virus “evolved in nature and then jumped species.” Really?   

Turn the clock forward. On March 26, four months ago, he brushed aside a former CDC Director’s warning of the Wuhan leak as just an “opinion.” Deflection. Why?

On May 11, 2021, wheels came off. Dr. Fauci argues with Sen. Paul about Wuhan. Fauci consents to an “investigation of what went on in China,” denies “gain of function” research. On May 23, 2021, Fauci shifts gears, saying “not convinced” COVID was natural, might “investigate what went on in China until we continue to find out to the best of our ability what happened.” Think he knows China is Communist, non-transparent? Betcha. 

On May 24, 2021, one day after the Wall Street Journal reports details of a U.S. intelligence report finding Wuhan scientists were hospitalized with COVID-like symptoms in November 2019, Dr. Fauci tells CBS he thinks natural cause “highly likely,” but open to investigation. 

On June 1, 2020, Washington Post and BuzzFeed News release thousands of Fauci emails. Fauci pivots hits Republicans using emails. He goes to CNN to say, “could have been a lab leak.”

Whoa! So, he knew early what was up. Coming clean would have saved lives. Fauci blurred immunity, the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine – why? To get FDA emergency approval for a vaccine that would minimize further inquiry? Details of a February 1, 2020 conference call with top virologists remain hidden. Why redacted? The public has a right to know. Then, on April 18, 2020, a Wuhan virologist thanked Fauci for dismissing the leak. Why?

In the end, the great Dr. Fauci is shrinking – fast. He is not science. He is more duplicitous than an oracle. The sad truth is, Dr. Fauci has some explaining to do. So does China. So, on with it.