Friends, President Trump just announced he is charging Vice President Mike Pence with leading this administration’s coronavirus response.

Remember, this is someone who penned an op-ed in 2000 arguing that smoking does not cause cancer.

This is someone who contends that evolution and global warming are myths.

This is someone who believes that biology can be changed through prayer and conversion therapy.

Pence has a long record of denying science -- it is beyond reckless to entrust him with the safety of the American people as we confront the threat of a pandemic. Sign on to call on this administration to appoint a public health expert who will ensure that our coronavirus response is based on the best available science!

The vice president’s utter lack of qualification to oversee this effort is not limited to the fact that he has zero epidemiological experience, which should be a prerequisite for the job.

It extends to his failed leadership as Indiana’s Governor, where his reluctance to implement a recommended needle exchange program due to his own religious objections enabled the worst HIV outbreak in the state’s history.

We have seen Mike Pence place ideological beliefs above human lives before.

We can not allow him to be in the position to make that choice once again -- add your name to call on this administration to replace Mike Pence with an expert who is fully equipped to handle our federal response to the coronavirus >>

We will not stand by in silence,

Sean Casten