Normalizing Defamation

In the Royal Examiner, Sept 2, 2023, U.S. 6th District Congressman Ben Cline wrote: “According to a recent report, National Institutes of Health (NIH) employees – including Dr. Anthony Fauci – took $325 million in payments from companies directly linked to the CCP [Chinese Communist Party], posing a risk to our national security.” — No evidence was referenced.

Cline continued, “The American people deserve to know that their public health officials follow the science and make decisions based purely on objective information, not personal financial motives, which is why I joined my colleagues in demanding answers from the NIH.” Bravo, Congressman!

Mere months ago, ridiculing masking, disparaging vaccines, and spreading COVID willy-nilly to rallies across the nation was tolerated specifically for political financial motives. Indeed, bleach enemas, horse dewormer, and hydroxychloroquine were each suggested without an iota of scientific evidence to suggest efficacy against COVID. One might expect such outrageous behavior and a million U.S. lives lost to be investigated as bio-warfare. Until now, it appeared forgotten.

But wait! The August 16, 2023, letter that Cline signed reads, “The [Open the Books] report raises general national security concerns regarding our public health apparatus’ financial ties to our geopolitical adversaries, including the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] and companies based in Russia. According to the report, at least 34 different Chinese companies made royalty payments to NIH scientists from 2008 to 2021, and NIH scientists received at least 20 royalty payments from a Russian-based “vaccine” company that is widely believed to be a secret bio-weapon lab.”

A secret bio-weapon lab in Russia? Why did Congressman Cline skip that and attack our own distinguished career professional, Dr. Fauci, when the letter he signed clearly states, “the report does NOT indicate that … Dr. Fauci received payments from the Wuhan Institute of Biological Products …”? — No evidence.

Baseless allegations to intimidate, silence, or defame for political gain is abuse of power, and it is normalized by reckless speculative repetition. The NIH incentivizes and compensates scientists for their innovations while at the same time funding research with royalties. (See the Federal Technology Act of 1986 and 15 U.S.C. 3710c).  If we want security and a competitive scientific edge, attacking our own scientists is counterproductive.

It appears that our leaders are, in fact, followers who do not themselves “follow the science” or “make decisions based purely on objective information.”

C.A. Wulf
Warren County