A Feeding Frenzy of Swine

I would like to make a preemptive apology for writing about something that has been covered ad nauseam, but I find it to be a far too fruitful example of framing and semantic acrobatics to forego. On April 30th Joe Biden infamously went live on the Today Show and announced, "I wouldn't go anywhere in confined places... I would not be, at this point,  if they had another way of transportation suggesting they ride the subway." I would post a link to the clip, but at this point it seems unnecessary since it has arguably become more virulent than any strain of flu could possibly be. 

The backpedalling on behalf of the White House and the vice president was almost immediate. The response from one of vice president Biden's spokespersons was published on Politico: "On the Today Show this morning, the vice president was asked what he would tell a family member who was considering air travel to Mexico this week. The advice he is giving family members is the same advice the administration is giving to all Americans...." However, vice president Biden clearly stated he would advise against travel without exception: "It's not that it's going to Mexico, it's you're in a confined space...." Rather, than emphasize vice president Biden's response, the White House has chosen to emphasize the question he was asked in an attempt to recontextualize - or reframe - his comments. Naturally, though, it is difficult to reframe such an explicit statement. 

Despite the efforts of the White House and even other politicians - perhaps most notably Mayor Bloomberg who made a very public commute on the subway the day of Biden's Today Show appearance and has himself adopted the White House's frame - the Vice President has still been receiving abundant criticism and ridicule. The Associated Press has provided comprehensive coverage on the various ways people have tried to rephrase Biden's remarks. One stuck out to me in particular, and that was Homeland Security chief Janet Neapolitano's statement made on MSNBC: "If he [Biden] could say that over again, he would say if they're feeling sick they should stay off of public transportation or confined spaces...." Many of those who have attempted to reframe Biden's statements have said something along the lines of "if he could say that over again," as if to try and convince people either Biden was unaware of what he was saying or did not actually believe what he was saying. What is important is for them to make clear that Biden's statements do not reflect the prevailing wisdom in the White House and are no cause for panic. 

In general, the media has been critical of Biden's remarks, mainly for the reason that they could be panic inducing. However, the media itself has arguably held a large share of the responsibility for "swine flu" related panic. If images are what tend to stick in the minds of viewers and readers, here is a sampling of some images attached to stories published by various mainstream news outlets: NBC, CNN, PBS. The image of someone wearing a surgical mask typically doesn't have a neutral association. One might also want to consider the term "swine flu" itself, which is a rather sensational yet inaccurate term. Organizations like the CDC have been promoting that the virus be called H1N1, although they still refer to it as "swine flu" parenthetically. Many news outlets continue to call the virus "swine flu." On the local NBC New York news the other night, an anchor announced they will continue to use the term "swine flu." Not for shock value, but only for clarity's sake.