On Thursday, hell froze over, pigs flew, and up became down when Democratic Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin said that despite being a “frequent critic” of President Trump, “Operation Warp Speed” appeared to be “a dramatic success.”
“The Warp Speed project appears to be a dramatic success and I pray that it will be,” Durbin said on the Senate floor.
Giving @realDonaldTrump the credit he deserves:
Dem Sen. Dick Durbin: “the Warp Speed project appears to be a dramatic success…I want to give them credit for organizing this effectively & delivering a vaccine in a timely way, almost amazing timely way” pic.twitter.com/ttG27s895p
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) December 17, 2020
Democrat Dick Durbin to Team Trump: ‘I Want To Give Them Credit’
“Although I’ve been a frequent critic of this administration, I want to give them credit for organizing this effectively, and delivering a vaccine in a timely way — almost amazing timely way — in this pandemic that we face,” Durbin said.
The Democrat added, “I thank all who were involved in it, especially the scientists and researchers, who didn’t give up until they found these vaccines.”
Thanks to the genius of science, the historic success of Operation Warp Speed, and the bold action of the Trump Administration, this should mark the beginning of the end of this terrible chapter.
What an announcement. https://t.co/MgQyeXLCss
— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) December 12, 2020
Durbin’s Comments On COVID Relief
President Donald Trump’s Operation Warp Speed plan was intended to speed up production of a coronavirus vaccine, to be completed within 12 to 18 months.
Now, Americans will begin receiving multiple vaccines inside of a year.
In late November, Pfizer announced that its vaccine would be available to about 40 million by the end of 2020.
In addition to Pfizer, according to Moncef Slaoui, chief scientific advisor for Operation Warp Speed, 20 million Moderna vaccines are expected to be distributed by the end of this month,
In another non-partisan moment this month, Durbin appeared to say that the Democrats dragged their heels on approving a COVID-19 relief plan “because an election was coming.”
ICYMI: Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin all but admits that Democrats delayed accepting COVID-19 relief because "an election was coming up." pic.twitter.com/k6xQF33nL8
— MRCTV (@mrctv) December 12, 2020
Kudos To Dem Durbin For Caring More About Ending The Pandemic Than Hating Trump
Good for Democrat Dick Durbin for giving credit where it is due.
Washington leaders should care more about getting past the pandemic than which party delivers relief, or who gets the credit.
President Trump is delivering, which should be appreciated by everyone – but likely won’t.
It will be interesting to see the reaction of Durbin’s Democrat colleagues to his kind words for the President.
Will he become persona non grata? Or will other Democrats dig deep and find the courage to congratulate Trump on an historic scientific achievement of global significance?