Fox News pundit and host Bill O’Reilly issued some scathing criticisms against the director of the Centers for Disease Control, calling on him to resign while accusing him of “spinning” the American people about the true dangers of Ebola.
Mr. O’Reilly couched his statements by referencing Dr. Tom Frieden’s assertions that Ebola was unlikely to sweep through the United States — and called such assertions “a dumb and dangerous ruse,” Raw Story reported.
He also labeled Dr. Frieden a “chief propagandist” in the White House administration on the Ebola issue, because “he knows better” the dangers that face the United States from the disease, the Fox News video showed.
Mr. O’Reilly — who wants an outright admission ban on those traveling from West African nations and who says using airport screenings to check for Ebola symptoms is “stupid and irresponsible” — called Dr. Frieden’s response to the disease unworthy of his knowledge in infectious diseases, the media outlet said.
For instance, Dr. Frieden doesn’t want to ban flights from West Africa — and that’s “total garbage,” Mr. O’Reilly said, also denouncing the director for refusing to appear on “The O’Reilly Factor” and answer tough questions.
“We have asked Dr. Frieden a number of times to appear on ’The Factor,’ ” Mr. O’Reilly said, Raw Story reported. “He will not because he is afraid. He knows that I know that he is not being candid. That he is spinning the situation and not being forthcoming about how the disease is being spread. Frieden should resign, as he well knows.”
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Later in the show, Mr. O’Reilly repeated that asserting: “Resign. Have a little dignity,” he said, Raw Story reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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