MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Thanks to FedEx, Memphis was in the national spotlight Thursday when Vice President Mike Pence came to town to highlight the public-private partnership that will distribute a much-needed coronavirus vaccine. Pence participated in a roundtable discussion with Gov. Bill Lee, other state officials, and FedEx executives about preparations already underway to get the vaccine delivered quickly and efficiently.
Much of the discussion amounted to congratulations for how the state and federal governments have responded to the pandemic. And of course, the accolades were somewhat detached from reality.
But that aside, it is a big deal that FedEx is so intimately involved in responding to the most devastating global health crisis in a century. It means many of our family members, friends, and neighbors who work at FedEx will be part of shipping life-saving medicine across the country and around the world.
Pence was joined by Health and Human Services secretary Alex Azar and CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield.
But the fact is, America will have a new President and a vastly different administration – around the time FedEx planes carrying the vaccine start to take off. So it will be crucial that Governor Lee and his team show the same level of collegiality that we saw Thursday – with a Joe Biden administration.
In other words, if what Pence said is true – that help is on the way – it cannot be hindered by partisan politics. And that’s my point of view.