Scientific American supports Biden with first presidential endorsement

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• For the first time in the magazine’s history, Scientific American has endorsed Democratic nominee Joe Biden for president for his fact-based approach to the pandemic, health care and the environment.
• According to the editors, they were compelled to give the endorsement after Trump failed to create a national strategy in response to the pandemic as well as taking steps against environmental protection.
•  In addition, the editorial harshly criticized the president for ignoring previous warnings of the disease thereby damaging the U.S. and its people.

Scientific American announced its endorsement of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Tuesday marking a first in the magazine’s 175-year history. 

In a letter published in the magazine’s October issue, the editors wrote that the endorsement was not given lightly. But due to sufficient evidence that points to Trump’s dishonest and incompetent COVID-19 pandemic response as well as rolling back environmental protections and threatening health care for Americans, the editors felt compelled to break with tradition. 

“Trump’s rejection of evidence and public health measures had been catastrophic in the U.S., wrote Scientific American. Despite being warned multiple times in January and February about the disease, the editorial said Trump failed to develop a national strategy for testing and clear health protocols. 

In defense of his reaction to the pandemic, Trump has often cited his role in banning travel from China in early February.   

Furthermore, the science journal slammed the Trump campaign’s handling of the environment and their proposed budget cuts for agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health. 

“In his ongoing denial of reality, Trump has hobbled U.S. preparations for climate change, falsely claiming that it does not exist and pulling out of international agreements to mitigate it,” the editors wrote.

The editorial also noted Joe Biden’s contrasting approaches to the COVID-19 pandemic, health care, economic recovery and climate change plans calling him a candidate who follows the data and science. 

“He solicits expertise and has turned that knowledge into solid policy proposals that can set the country back on course for a safer, more prosperous and more equitable future. For this reason, we urge you to vote for Joe Biden.”

The endorsement comes as the death toll of Americans from the coronavirus crisis exceeds 190,000 while million others are threatened by devastating wildfires and hurricane seasons.

Source: The Hill