Editorial: Dose of straight talk is what’s needed now

Thursday, Oct. 25, 2001 | 8:34 a.m.

Last week the White House sought to persuade skittish Americans that they shouldn't worry about exposure to anthrax. White House officials, Cabinet members and government doctors all minimized the danger from the potentially lethal bacteria. Tom Ridge, the national domestic security chief, even shot down suggestions by the House leadership that "weapons grade" anthrax was contained in the letter sent to Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle. But the federal government's effort to speak with such certainty left Americans shaking their heads following the disclosure in recent days that two postal employees, who worked at a Washington post office where the Daschle letter was sorted, died from anthrax.

Federal officials belatedly are acknowledging their limited knowledge about the dangers posed by anthrax. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson conceded Tuesday that the treatment of anthrax is an "evolving" science since so little is known about it, and U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher even admitted that government officials "were wrong" not to respond faster to protect postal workers from anthrax. The difficulty that doctors are facing is understandable, but that is why it is so important for government officials and doctors to level with us. Trying to paint a rosier scenario of a threat might quell the fears for the moment, but if that spin later turns out to be way off base, public confidence in these officials will erode sharply. This is a time that the public turns to its government and demands straight talk. Anything less is unaccepta ble.