Politico24日曝光了一份共和黨參議院全國委員會向競選機構發送的備忘錄，該備忘錄建議共和黨候選人通過“積極攻擊中國”來應對新冠疫情危機, 其內容包括從如何將民主黨候選人與中國政府聯係在一起，到如何應對種族主義指控等各種問題的對策。
備忘錄強調了三條主要的攻擊路線：
一是“中國掩蓋真相導致病毒蔓延”；
二是民主黨人“對中國態度軟弱”；
三是共和黨人將“因中國導致了此次疫情的傳播而推動對中國的製裁。“新冠病毒是中國的一次‘肇事逃逸（hit-and-run）’，隨後掩蓋事實，造成成千上萬人死亡。”
這份備忘錄敦促共和黨候選人在回答任何有關病毒的問題時，堅持不懈地發表反對中國的信息；當被問及新冠病毒的傳播是否是特朗普的錯時，候選人被建議將話題轉向中國以作為回應；而當被問及將新冠疫情大流行歸咎於中國是否會煽動種族主義這樣的問題時，共和黨候選人則被要求回應說，“沒有人指責美籍華人，掩蓋了病毒並謊報病毒的危險是中國共產黨的錯。這導致了疫情大流行，他們應該對此負責。”
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/24/gop-memo-anti-china-coronavirus-207244
GOP memo urges anti-China assault over coronavirus
The Senate Republican campaign arm distributed the 57-page strategy document to candidates.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee has sent campaigns a detailed, 57-page memo authored by a top Republican strategist advising GOP candidates to address the coronavirus crisis by aggressively attacking China.
The memo includes advice on everything from how to tie Democratic candidates to the Chinese government to how to deal with accusations of racism. It stresses three main lines of assault: That China caused the virus “by covering it up,” that Democrats are “soft on China,” and that Republicans will “push for sanctions on China for its role in spreading this pandemic.”
“Coronavirus was a Chinese hit-and-run followed by a cover-up that cost thousands of lives,” the April 17 memo states.
The document urges candidates to stay relentlessly on message against the country when responding to any questions about the virus. When asked whether the spread of the coronavirus is Trump’s fault, candidates are advised to respond by pivoting to China.
“Don’t defend Trump, other than the China Travel Ban — attack China,” the memo states.
Republicans have indicated they plan to make China a centerpiece of the 2020 campaign. Trump’s reelection campaign recently released a web video painting Joe Biden as cozy with the authoritarian country. The pro-Trump super PAC America First Action has launched several TV commercials tying Biden to China.
Advisers to the president say polling shows China-focused attacks would be effective, and the reelection campaign has weighed a major TV ad campaign focused on the topic.
The NRSC memo shows that Republicans are also eager to make China an issue in down-ballot races. It was distributed by the Senate GOP campaign arm, though it was not explicitly drafted by or for the committee. It was authored by the political consulting firm of Brett O’Donnell, a veteran Republican strategist who has advised Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton.
Jesse Hunt, an NRSC spokesman, said: “We routinely send campaigns different documents and sources of information dozens of times per week. That’s the role of the party committee, especially in these volatile times.”
O’Donnell declined to comment.
The memo includes guidance on what Republican candidates can say when asked whether blaming China for the pandemic incites racism. Candidates are urged to respond by saying that, “No one is blaming Chinese Americans. This is the fault of the Chinese Communist Party for covering up the virus and lying about its danger. This caused the pandemic and they should be held accountable.”
“No one has suffered more from the murderous Communist Chinese Party dictatorship than the people of China,” the memo adds. “We stand with them against their corrupt government that caused this pandemic.”
The GOP’s planned China-focused assault, however, is complicated by Trump’s occasional praise for President Xi Jinping. The liberal organization American Bridge recently launched a commercial which plays a clip of the president praising Xi and declares that Trump “gave China his trust.”
