In radio interview, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted doubles down on coronavirus tweet criticized as offensive by Asian-Am – cleveland.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- On Monday, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted doubled down on his public use of the phrase Wuhan virus to describe the coronavirus, dismissing those who said the term encourages bigotry against a backdrop of heightened concern over prejudice and violence against Asian-Americans.

Husted told a Cincinnati radio host that what he actually meant in his 10-word tweet last Friday was to criticize the Chinese government for not being more transparent about its possible role in the pandemic. He said there should be an independent international investigation into the origins of the virus, and he framed any criticism of his tweet as a form of stifling political correctness.

These are legitimate questions and we shouldnt avoid them, we should confront them, Husted said. The same thing -- if America creates a global problem, America should be called out by name. China should too.

Husted used his Twitter account on Friday to share an article in which former CDC Director Robert Redfield told CNN the coronavirus may have been inadvertently released from a Chinese research lab in Wuhan, a theory that has not been proven. Husted commented in the tweet: So it appears it was the Wuhan virus after all?

The tweet prompted swift social-media backlash from Democrats and others. Several officials with Ohio Asian-American advocacy groups said Husteds use of the term promoted anti-Asian sentiment.

Siu Yan Scott, a member of the OCA Greater Cleveland Chapter who volunteered at a Stop Asian Hate rally in Cleveland on Sunday that was attended by hundreds, said Husteds comments break from guidance from the World Health Organization, which since 2015 has recommended against naming new human viruses after regions to minimize harming any specific group.

Scott said using the phrase Wuhan virus, especially coming from people in positions of leadership, contributes to the perception that people of Asian descent who live in the United States are a public health threat, and is a factor in the recent spike in crimes targeting Asians.

The very insensitive nature of his comments show a huge lack of awareness on his part that is very disappointing to see in our leaders, Scott said. We need our leaders to show support for the Asian-American community.

Husteds tweet came days the Cleveland rally, and days after a video clip went viral that showed a Chinese-American township trustee in the Cincinnati area, while addressing hateful comments directed a local Chinese restaurant, removing his shirt during a public meeting showing scars hed received while serving in the U.S. Army.

Husted responded to criticism by clarifying his tweet was meant to criticize the Chinese government.

Rather than back away from the controversy, Husted promoted the Monday radio interview with WLWs Scott Sloan through his official social media accounts, including sharing audio of the complete interview on Twitter.

No one gets to assign motive to my comments that clearly were focused on the virus and the Chinese government, Husted said Monday. And there are people who want to manipulate that and focus on that, so thats why Im on your show today. Im going to talk about it, Im going to focus on it, and Im going to call people out who want to manipulate the situation.

A spokesman for Gov. Mike DeWine declined to comment for this story. But asked about Husteds tweet on Monday, DeWine told reporters the Chinese government hasnt been transparent about the pandemic.

Youll have a chance to talk to him tomorrow. But I know Jon Husted. Theres no prejudice there at all, DeWine said, according to the Athens Messenger, while appearing at a COVID-19 vaccination site in Vinton County.

DeWine and Husted, both Republicans, are running for re-election next year, and could face a primary challenge amid rising criticism from the political right over DeWines handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Concern over rising anti-Asian sentiment in America tied to the coronavirus pandemic has been publicly heightened over the past year, especially since a Georgia man killed eight people, including six people of Asian descent, during a series of shootings at massage parlors in the Atlanta area earlier this month. Police havent officially declared a motive, but the shootings are being investigated as a possible hate crime, according to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution.

An analysis of crime data from major U.S. cities from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, found that anti-Asian hate crimes more than doubled in 2020, when overall hate crimes were down 7%.

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In radio interview, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted doubles down on coronavirus tweet criticized as offensive by Asian-Am - cleveland.com