MSNBC reporter David Gura claimed on Monday that referring to the coronavirus as the “Wuhan Virus” is racist.
Gura made the suggestion in response to Congressman Paul Gosar, who called the virus the “Wuhan Virus” while announcing that he was under self-quarantine after being in contact with a person who tested positive for the virus. Gosar tweeted, “I am announcing that I, along with 3 of my senior staff, are officially under self-quarantine after sustained contact at CPAC with a person who has since been hospitalized with the Wuhan Virus. My office will be closed for the week.”
Soon after the Congressman made his announcement, Gura retweeted a prior statement made by Gosar in reference to the virus originating in Wuhan, and then declared, “Calling COVID19 the “Wuhan Virus” is racist”.
FYI: Calling #COVID19 the "Wuhan Virus" is racist.
— David Gura 🏡 (@davidgura) March 9, 2020
Ian Miles Cheong of the online publication Human Events fired back at Gura upon seeing his tweet.
“No, it isn’t (racist),” Cheong responded. “Calling it the ‘Chinese Coronavirus’ might be racist, but Wuhan is the exact place of the COVID-19 outbreak. So, no. It isn’t racist to call it the Wuhan Virus.”
Cheong then shared a screen shot from a couple of Chinese publications that have been using the term “Wuhan Virus” in their articles. See Below
Ian Miles Cheong responds to David Gura
No, it isn't. Calling it the "Chinese Coronavirus" might be racist, but Wuhan is the exact place of the COVID-19 outbreak. So no, it isn't racist to call it the Wuhan Virus.
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) March 9, 2020
Here's what Chinese in Asia are calling COVID-19: "Wuhan Virus."
So no, it isn't racist. pic.twitter.com/06U2RYyrPL
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) March 9, 2020
Related Article: Gov. Newsom Posts ‘Basic Steps’ To Stay Healthy Amid Coronavirus, James Woods Reacts: “Hey Gavin, You Forgot…”
In a corresponding tweet, Cheong said, “The ‘racist’ narrative against calling the Wuhan Virus by its colloquial name is one put forth by the Chinese government to absolve them of any responsibility for letting the outbreak spread. And the media is propagating it.”
Former Hollywood actor James Woods retweeted Cheong and added some of his very own signature commentary on the situation.
“The LIBERAL media is pushing it,” Woods tweeted. “This virus is a Chinese virus. It originated in Wuhan, China. Emotional liberals hate facts. This disease should be called the #WuhanCoronavirus, because that’s EXACTLY what it is. Whether from a lab or a live animal market, that’s what it is.” See Below
James Woods Weighs In
The LIBERAL media is pushing it. This virus is a Chinese virus. It originated in Wuhan, China. Emotional liberals hate facts. This disease should be called the #WuhanCoronavirus, because that’s EXACTLY what it is. Whether from a lab or a live animal market, that’s what it is. https://t.co/AiI2QUGtAK
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) March 9, 2020
In a tweet that followed, Woods listed the names of several other of the many viruses that were given names based on where they originated.
He captioned it, “For those liberals who blew their butt plugs ovet people calling the Corona virus that originated in Wuhan the (wait for it…) Wuhan Coronavirus, here’s a history refresher.”
For those liberals who blew their butt plugs over people calling the Corona virus that originated in Wuhan the (wait for it…) #WuhanCoronavirus, here’s a history refresher… #Numbskulls pic.twitter.com/BHD4ZDnuTI
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) March 10, 2020
In the meantime, one of Gura’s counterparts at MSNBC, Chris Hayes, suggested it is “astoundingly gross” to call the coronavirus “Wuhan Virus”.
We leave you with Mark Dice’s response to that.
It's astounding that MSNBC calls itself a news network.
— Mark Dice (@MarkDice) March 9, 2020
