Cox Needs to Speak To The Issues With No More Hyperbole To The Point of Untruths
Dan Cox’s latest email sent to his subscribers is hilarious. For purposes of this discussion, let’s concentrate solely on the hyperbole in his email.
Let’s talk a bit about hyperbole. “The liberal use of hyperbole. . . detracts from the content of communication in writings and speeches and shifts the focus to the intent of communication and persona of the communicator. . . . Whereas usage of hyperbole in poetry and literature makes it a delectable reading . . . in professional workplace, political discourse, news reporting and journalism it can be annoying and even appalling. . . . Sounding over-alarmist may betray a covert agenda. Just as trenchant criticism of a politician. . . . The motive is not lost on the presumed naive viewer. . . . (political hyperbole) is the perfect tool at the hands of social media-savvy politicians to instigate hyperbolic reactivity and hot debates to divert attention from vital issues on to peripheral and unremarkable trivialities.. . . Hyperbole plays on our insecurities, ignorance, incredulity, fear of missing out, desire to gain followers or is it an intent to manipulate, create panic, attain certain surreptious goals like swaying public opinion, grandstanding or polarization? “ The excessive use of hyperbole will:
--lay an unverified claim on the entire population.
--lead to trust deficit.
--deflect attention from substance to form.
--will make one appear as a tomfool, or eat one’s words, lead to
embarrassment.
--will attract people with clandestine interests.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/usage-hyperbole-popular-parlance-swati-jha
Let’s try some examples:
Dan Cox writes: “My opponent Kelly Schulz has launched a $2 Billion Global Pandemic Center here in Maryland where they want to prepare to lock us down again Shanghai-style.”
Please, Dan, stop this nonsense. “Shanghai-style” ??? “Lock Down” ???? WAY too much hyperbole.
We’ve reviewed the Global Pandemic Center before in The Duckpin. You can read it here:
Again, the purpose of The Global Pandemic Center: The Center’s goal is to help prevent future outbreaks from becoming pandemics by developing a stockpile of human monoclonal antibodies in advance for emerging infectious diseases and by integrating antibody distribution and delivery across the global health and pandemic prevention ecosystem.
A letter to the editor in the cited publication below says it well:
“As to the scare tactics and hyperbole of Mrs. Smith’s letter — yes, it is hyperbole to the point of untruth. Schulz is not a part of a Global Pandemic & Biodefense Center. Her name is listed as a public sector ex officio (by virtue of her office) of the Regional Congress of Connected DMV (a public, private, academic and community organization for the District, Maryland, Virginia), not the center. The secretary of commerce of the Commonwealth of Virginia also serves ex officio to Connected DMV.”
“Marylanders would be better served if candidates and their supporters focused on what the candidates want to do for the people of Maryland and not try to smear and distort the record and views of their competitors. I agree we can’t afford to sit out this election. My efforts and my vote for governor will go to Kelly Schulz for a stead, safe and prosperous Maryland.”
Dan, if you are criticizing Ms. Schulz over this nonsense claim with the Global Pandemic Center, then you MUST criticize Governor Glenn Youngkin as the Virginia Governor has stated “The aspiration behind Connected DMV is a meritorious one. I am incredibly impressed by what you all are doing and the leadership that you’re providing as you come together to recognize that regionalism is real.” To criticize Ms. Schulz, but NOT Governor Youngkin is hypocrisy at its greatest.
Another example from Dan Cox: “But if they get their way we will once again be like what is happening in Shanghai at this moment.” Good grief, Dan, just stop. Your hyperbole would be hysterical if it were not so dangerous and damaging to Marylanders – and damaging to your campaign.
Another example, Dan Cox: “And California is defunding schools that do not force every child to be vaccinated over and over with Covid boosters, even though the science shows the experiment has much to be studied because of contraindications and a high rate of harm.” OMG!!!!!!!! Get a health advisor, Dan – I recommended JHU or UM! And stop this disinformation!!!! (I use the word disinformation to mean “false information which is intended to mislead, especially propaganda issued by a government organization to a rival power or the media.”)
Dan, the only contraindications to the vaccines, per CDC, are:
History of a severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) after a previous dose or to a component of the COVID-19 vaccine
Known diagnosed allergy to a component of the COVID-19 vaccine
For the Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine, TTS following receipt of a previous Janssen Vaccine or other adenovirus vector-based COVID-19 vaccine.
And there are very few people who fit into these categories of contraindications.
There is NOT a high rate of harm. Our academic centers and FDA are monitoring toxicities.
Dan, there is NO authorization (or even discussion) for “over and over with boosters”.
The Pfizer vaccine is the only vaccine authorized for children between 5 and 11 years of age. This age group receives a smaller dose of the vaccine appropriate for this age group, with two vaccinations. No booster is indicated. The Pfizer vaccine is the only authorized vaccine for 12-17 year olds (same dose as an adult), with two primary vaccinations and one booster. No other boosters have been recommended other than for the elderly and immunocompromised. I will go out on a limb here, and indicate that my opinion is that boosters for children less than 18 will involve at most a yearly boost.
Another Dan Cox: “When I announced my candidacy Kelly called me . . (asking) not to personally attack her and to mutually pledge to ‘keep it clean’. . . . Sadly she has broken her work to not make personal attacks.”
OMG!!!! Can you stop? I have seen nothing from Kelly Schulz but defending the attacks your campaign has heaped on her. She is NOT the instigator. You have broken your pledge! I repeatedly see you providing disinformation, manipulations of the truth, and attacks toward the Schulz campaign.
Let’s get real, Dan. There are independent people who are opposed to your campaign – the far right is NOT reflective of the moderate constituency you MUST eventually speak to – and those are the people who are challenging you, as I am here. The push back you are feeling are coming from people independent to the Schulz campaign.
That brings us to our end. Sadly Dan has spent so much time attacking Kelly Schulz without cause, that his message is getting lost. Dan Cox has yet to tell us about his plan for:
--protecting the vulnerable children (< 5 years of age who are unable to be vaccinated at this point, vulnerable children who are immunized, vulnerable children who are not immunized)
--managing the long term health consequences for Long Covid patients (both adult and children)
--stockpiling mAB’s, vaccines, PPE, or identifying the possible pathogens that could cause a pandemic
--planning for next pandemic
--planning for continuing the growth of Maryland’s economy, both with small business and encouraging large corporations to headquarter in MD.
--planning for protecting the integrity of our healthcare system. Dan would allow Covid to run rampant over our healthcare system, with the very possible destruction of the system. HCW’s would NOT be protected under Dan.
Dan, I suggest you stick to talking to what YOU WILL DO, instead of continuing with this bizarre hyperbolic attack on Kelly Schulz. Grow a thicker skin. This constant outrage does not serve anyone in Maryland.