Now, what's up with this?

Dr. Fauci is now getting threats and has had to have his security beefed up.

He's also getting "unwelcome communications from fervent admirers."

For crying out loud, people, the guy is a scientist, an epidemiologist. He is arguably the most objective voice not only on the task force but in the nation.

Look, I know we are all getting nervous about the public policy aspect of this crisis, but if there's anyone we ought to not make into a lightning rod at this time, it's him. Let's not make him into yet another celebrity about whom we must have some kind of strong emotional reaction.

I hope that's still possible in an age in which we've taken cult worship of the person occupying the presidency to ridiculous levels and used it to insist that anyone else involved in public policy formulation take their cue from said occupant:

Fauci has become a public target for some right-wing commentators and bloggers, who exercise influence over parts of the president's base. As they press for the president to ease restrictions to reinvigorate economic activity, some of these figures have assailed Fauci and questioned his expertise.

Last month, an article depicting him as an agent of the "deep state" gained nearly 25,000 interactions on Facebook - meaning likes, comments and shares - as it was posted to large pro-Trump groups with titles such as "Trump Strong" and "Tampa Bay Trump Club."

It would be embarrassing at a less dire moment, but is truly alarming now that there are elements out there trafficking in this kind of infantile garbage.

Anthony Fauci is the smart guy in the room. He clearly has no agenda beyond arresting the spread of this virus. Let's listen to him, so we don't have a more grim spring than we are already set to have.