RIP, Michael Gerson, Truth-Teller
One of the most important tellers of hard truths in evangelical churches and the Republican Party, Michael Gerson, passed away this morning.
I first met Michael when he worked in the George W. Bush administration and I was doing my dissertation research on the Christian Right. Our paths crossed many times since then. In the last six years, our camaraderie often revolved around a shared understanding of the disastrous consequences of the Trump presidency for both the Republican Party and evangelical churches.
American Values Coalition formed out of a desire to fight the extremism and misinformation emanating from so many right-wing sources these days, a mission shared by much of Gerson's work. His legacy has been and will continue to be an inspiration for AVC.
Two of our conversations come to mind as I write this.
First, we were talking about the issue of whether to continue identifying as evangelical, given its current close association with Trumpism. He pointed out, and I agreed, that it was an acknowledgement of historical fact for us to identify as evangelical because our faith has been primarily formed by that movement, which has influenced ministries to prisoners, orphans, drug addicts, and poor people.
Second, sometime around 2018, we were talking about the seeming inevitability of an event. I don't recall exactly, but it may have been Trump winning re-election. Michael noted how unpredictable life can be and mentioned the 1918 pandemic as something completely unexpected that changed global events. I recalled that often, two years later, during the 2020 pandemic. As I reflect on it now, I'm reminded of what Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 6:34: "So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today."
COVID Hucksters Made a Killing Off Misinformation
A global pandemic can inspire humanity to tremendous acts of charity and solidarity. It can also inspire hucksters with get-rich-quick schemes.
America's Frontline Doctors (AFLD) made millions of dollars off donations and selling fake COVID cures. Now, the group is in turmoil as members fight over who should have access to the $7 million left in its bank account.
In July 2020, AFLD held its infamous "White Coat Summit" in front of the Supreme Court. Video of the press conference went viral on social media after it was promoted by Breitbart News, members of Congress, and President Trump. It was soon removed for spreading COVID-19 disinformation, including that hydroxychloroquine was a cure.
These modern-day snake-oil-salesmen became wealthy through promoting their telemedicine prescriptions and fake cures. After hydroxychloroquine, the group promoted and sold Ivermectin as a cure. Pharmacists quickly ran out of the drug. Patients who actually needed the drug were unable to get it, while some of AFLD's marks began taking a form of the drug sold for livestock and suffered additional health problems because of it.
Now the group's founder, Dr. Simone Gold, is being sued by her board for misuse of AFLD's funds, including her $3.6 million mansion, a $100,000 private jet trip, and $50,000 per month in personal expenses. She lived in luxury by taking advantage of the desperation and misery of others.
Hopefully, shining a light on this con-job will lead more people to reject the right-wing groups that helped promote them.