WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, is the latest Texas lawmaker to criticize China for its role in the coronavirus pandemic in recent public comments, renewing accusations from Democrats who say those kinds of remarks are racist and attempting to shift attention away from the Trump administration’s response to the outbreak.
McCaul made his comments Thursday while reacting to the Chinese government’s expulsion this week of U.S. journalists for their coverage of the pandemic.
“This came out of Wuhan, China is responsible for that, and they don’t like to hear that so their response is to expel our journalists,” McCaul told the news outlet Axios.
“I just don’t think they can get away with it this time. I think the World Health Organization should play a role here in — instead of applauding China for their efforts — really holding them responsible for what they’ve done. They are the cause of a global pandemic.”
McCaul blamed “unsanitary practices” in China for the spread of viruses and mentioned a market selling live animals in Wuhan as the origin of COVID-19.
Democrats said McCaul was wrong to focus on the location where the outbreak started and not the laggard U.S. response to the spread of the virus.
“We are seeing a coordinated GOP effort to incite hatred against China, in an effort to distract from the Trump administration’s catastrophic failure to contain the coronavirus crisis,” said Mike Siegel, in the Democratic runoff to decide who will challenge McCaul in November for his seat representing the 10th Congressional District.
Pritesh Gandhi, associate chief medical officer at People’s Community Clinic in East Austin, who is also in the runoff and is leading an effort to combat the coronavirus, said: “Instead of scapegoating China, we need to expand our ability to test patients, provide relief to the millions of Americans who are struggling to put food on the table, and give bridge-loans to small businesses at risk of ruin.”
Asked for a response, McCaul told the American-Statesman: “This is no time to be engaged in partisan politics. We need to come together as Americans. It is no secret that the Chinese Communist Party’s attempt to cover up and dismiss the seriousness of (the) coronavirus only made matters worse and contributed to the exponential spread of the virus globally. I have and will continue to help members in our community during this time of crisis to ensure they get the resources they need.”
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Siegel acknowledged in a news release that the Chinese government had tried to cover up the extent of the crisis.
“The Chinese government’s response certainly exacerbated the crisis but we must stand strong against any racist and xenophobic posturing,” Siegel said. “(U.S. Sen.) John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Michael McCaul have fallen in line with the Trump coverup.”
Cornyn also underscored China’s role in the pandemic in comments Wednesday and drew similar criticism from Democrats.
President Donald Trump has taken to calling the coronavirus “the Chinese virus,” and has rejected criticism of a slow U.S. response.
U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, said: “This is not so much about trying to rationalize Trump’s racist attacks as it is the desperate need to shift responsibility for multiple failures by his administration that are endangering so many American lives.”
“With a president concerned about only his personal political health, who is denying, misrepresenting, and ignoring the evidence that was available since last December, there is a real question as to whether a more transparent Chinese approach would have prompted a better response,” he added.
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