This photo shows the headline from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune on Saturday, October 3rd, 2020. Early in the morning on Friday, a tweet was sent out from the White House announcing that President Trump had tested positive for the Corona-19 virus. Subsequent news stories documented that the likely source of his infection was a close aid, Hope Hicks, and that one of the likely locations for the transmission was the celebration of the nomination of a federal judge to the Supreme Court that took place a few days earlier. The celebration took place on the White House lawn and was attended by a large number of political leaders, and Republican movers and shakers. Few attendees wore masks or followed social distancing guidelines. That just was not the Republican way. During the next few days, the president and his staff also made trips to the first presidential debate in Cleveland and fundraising trips to New Jersey and Minnesota. As of this morning, others who attended the Supreme Court nominee’s party who have tested positive for Covid-19 included, the president’s wife Melania, three US Senators, Mike Lee, Thom Tillis, and Ron Johnson, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, former White House advisor Kellyanne Conway, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, president of the University of Notre Dame Rev. John Jenkins, Trump Campaign Manager Bill Stepian, the president’s personal aide Nick Luna, and Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel. That’s quite an impressive cast of characters.

On the final night of the Republican National Convention on August 28th, there was a similar celebration on the lawn of the White House. More than one thousand guests attended and just like last Saturday, safety guidelines were not complied with. In the days that followed I wrote a letter to the editor of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. It was published on September 3rd and is shown above. The letter stresses the importance of wearing masks and social distancing and criticizes the White House for ignoring medical guidance. The letter concludes: “As the father of a registered nurse who puts his life at risk every night caring for Covid-19 patients in a VA hospital, I say shame on the president and his enablers. Enough is enough. It’s time for a new role model.”

It’s unfortunate that no one from the White House paid attention. I guess I’m not the only one who has been ignored. Perhaps this latest incident will open some eyes and minds.