is a candidate education and voter education project working to make sure that candidates for public office know what it takes to end AIDS and that voters who care about ending AIDS know where the candidates stand on our issues.

Friday, February 15, 2008

Obama, Clinton face off: will AIDS make a difference

ALBANY (January 17, 2008) -- Over 100 community, religious, education, labor and human services organizations from throughout New York State have issued a joint statement today calling upon elected officials to make "better" choices in the upcoming budget debates.

The joint statement of support was issued today at a press conference at the Legislative Office Building in Albany. The endorsing organizations, representing hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers, called for a fair budget that invests in New York's working families. The Better Choice Budget Campaign began in 2002, and for the past 6 years has been calling upon state leaders to raise revenues in a reasonable and responsible manner and to end the special treatment of the favored few. The groups have urged the governor and the legislature to provide property tax relief in a balanced manner by restoring revenue sharing with local governments, creating a property tax circuit breaker program to replace the ill conceived STAR rebate checks, and restoring progressivity to the personal income tax so we can ensure that the wealthiest New Yorkers pay their fair share of state taxes.

The coalition released a 6-point platform that supported:

• Closing… (more)
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Saturday, January 12, 2008

send a question to Wolf Blitzer, for a SC Democratic debate on Jan 21st

Send a short comment to the Congressional Black Caucus Institute, (which enters you for a chance to win a hotel room and VIP tickets): http://vovici.com/wsb.dll/s/5e83g2a5dc **NEW** comment to Wolf Blitzer: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/01/11/blitzer-what-should-i-ask-the-democrats-in-south-carolina/ The debates on January 21, 24, 30 and 31 are open for anyone to submit questions. For Jan 15 (D) you need to submit from Nevada, and for Jan 27 (D) you need to be a student at Florida Atlantic Univ. January 15, Democratic Debate Las Vegas, Nevada (must be in Nevada to submit ?s) http://januarydebate.com/ January 21, Democratic Debate, Myrtle Beach, SC (Congressional Black Caucus Institute/CNN). send a short comment to the Congressional Black Caucus Institute, (which enters you for a chance to win a hotel room and VIP tickets): http://vovici.com/wsb.dll/s/5e83g2a5dc **NEW** comment to Wolf Blitzer: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/01/11/blitzer-what-should-i-ask-the-democrats-in-south-carolina/ January 24, Republican Debate Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida http://beforeyouvote.org/index.php?p=question January 27, Democratic Debate Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida currently not accepting questions, though degree seeking students within the University can apparently submit YouTube ?s designed for all of the candidates: http://www.fau.edu/debates/joinit-contest.php January 30, Republican Debate (CNN, LA Times, Politico) Los Angeles, California http://dyn.politico.com/debate/ January 31, Democratic… (more)

Friday, January 11, 2008

Split results add to confusion for many gay voters torn between Obama, Clinton

Gay voters in Iowa and New Hampshire want their next president to bring change, but cannot agree who’s best for the job. Beth Barnhill, a 52-year-old lesbian living in Des Moines, said Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is best positioned to transform the nation. “I think we’re desperately in need of change,” she said. “Dramatic change.” But Mark Anthony Dingbaum, a 22-year-old gay man living in Iowa City, said Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) could better enact the changes that Democratic voters want. “I realize Washington is not going to change overnight and I can’t imagine supporting a candidate who doesn’t know the terrain and how to navigate that,” he said. “So, for me, Hillary was the clear choice.” Such divisions echo the results of the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary. Obama won the Jan. 3 caucuses, taking 37.6 percent of the Democratic vote. Former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina took 29.8 percent of the vote there, while Clinton took 29.5 percent. On Tuesday, Clinton won the nation’s first primary, taking 39 percent of the Democratic votes cast in New Hampshire. In that race, Obama took 37 percent of… (more)

Thursday, January 10, 2008

“We demand answers on ETHA and the global fund – and we’re not sitting down.”

Inside Video Coverage More....
McCain Sunday January 6th.
Who: 2 dozen activists from ACT UP Philly, ACT UP/NY, Housing Works, NYCAHN, SGAC, Health GAP, Private Health Insurance Must Go! Coalition, FXB, PIH, and probably others that I’m forgetting. What: McCain town hall with about 1,000 people in Salem, NH high school gym What we did: Many of us in NH were incredibly frustrated that McCain has rebuffed all of our questions over the past few months to win his support for $50 b and his endorsement of the Early Treatment for HIV Act, so we decided to protest his town hall. We planned to go in as 3 teams of 7-8 people, and disrupt with chants of “people with AIDS are dying, and you’re not even trying”. AIDS treatment now!”. We arrived an hour and a half early, and sat in three sections in the front of the gym. McCain came in, and while he was being introduced, the first wave began chanting, and held up signs that said “Early Treatment for People with HIV in the US“ (couldn’t come up with anything better on 2 hours of sleep) and “$50 billion for global AIDS”. They walked… (more)

People with AIDS are Dying, Rudy… You’re not even trying.

A van load of bird-doggers attended Rudy Giuliani's post-debate party in hopes of giving a 'toast' to his absent efforts to support Americans living with HIV/AIDS. Not a single crowd member was able to get a word across to Rudy or his supporters. While half of the crowd impatiently awaited inside a chance to 'salute' Rudy, he spoke for five minutes and made a dash for the door.

Kaytee Riek was able to get a great photo op, as well as another unanswered question from ex-Mayor Giuliani. He wasn't particularly fond of her and her friends after several minutes of their chanting: "people with AIDS are DYING, you're NOT even TRYING".

See clips of the event taken by fellow bird-dogger Mike Hart.

“Toast” Governor Huckabee ?….

Mike Huckabee: Manchester, NH Post-Debate Party

ACT UP Founding Member Eric Sawyer confronted former Governor Mike Huckabee at a supporter’s reception after the Sunday night Debate in New Hampshire. As Huckabee took the podium to speak to supporters: a dozen AIDS Activists started clanking their glasses calling “Toast, ­ Toast!” Sawyer called out Governor Huckabee: May I offer a Toast? Huckabee: Why not! Sawyer: As a Christian whose faith is very important to me - I wantto toast to Mike Huckabee ­ the only politician with the courage tostand up for Christian Values!

[Sawyer toasts to crowd applaud] Sawyer: continues: I’m a Methodist like you and my values and my faith are very important to me: I know you are a Baptist.

[Crowd laughter] Huckabee: breaks in: I was going to say, you are - you know, a Methodist is a waterless Baptist. You know that. Sawyer: ­ That’s, that’s true, and ah I don’t know that my Preacher would agree with that but ah ­ I also wanted to say that one thing I think one of the Christian Values that is really important is… (more)

AIDS Activists receive no answer on ETHA.

Video Here

John McCain: Peterborough, NH Town Hall 12:00 PM

Teams from Act Up New York/Housing Works arrived in Peterborough, NH this morning to a packed town awaiting the McCain Campaign. Before: Two bird-doggers were able to be present during the town, the remainder of the team covered the “outside”: candidate entrance/exit and media relations.

Congressman Todd Platts (R-PA) was walking around the room talking to several people, during which time I shook his hand: mentioning that he should also support ETHA - he got a Platform or two to take with. Thinking I was with the One Campaign, he was eager to talk but became less eager when I said that I was not. During: The event started with country music, followed by a bag piper. It was very patriotic and most of the town hall was spent speaking about the war, border closure and pork-barrel bills that “wasted billions of dollars” in places like Alaska (he mentioned Alaska several times). The ONLY health care concern spoke about was the ability for New Hampshirites to get “out of state” insurance policies: to aid in… (more)

Handshake and NO answer at Romney House Party

Pre-Debate House Party in Bedford, NH.

Hayley Hathaway and Amy McPheeters (Student Global AIDS Campaign) attended a Romney house party on Saturday morning in Bedford, NH. The event was packed and although we arrived early, Hayley and I weren’t in the best location to get a question in. He and his wife spoke briefly, but of nothing of real importance… rather about how we should all like and vote for Mitt because when Ann (his wife) fell ill with MS, he learned how to cook for her and stayed with her even though she was unable to cook for him. The whole thing was a little weird. I managed to get a question in during the handshake line… Amy: “Gov. Romney, As you know, it’s going to be the responsibility of our next President to restore a sense of good will towards America from the global community. One way to do this is through global health diplomacy. Pres. Bush created a program that fights AIDS in Africa but that program expires soon. If elected, will you commit to continued funding for the Global Fund, to keep pace with the global need and President Bush’s bold… (more)

Clinton: “Yes, I will support a re-affirmation of the Doha Declaration!”

First-hand account of what went down in Nashua at the Clinton event: She gave a quick stump speech and then went straight into a Q/A session in a gym of about 2,000 people. I got the first question, and by enormous luck, CNN cut in live just as I started the question, and our colleague T. Richard happened to be watching at that moment to catch it. I asked the question partially noted below thanking her for her global AIDS commitments but requesting immediate action by co-sponsoring the resolution which would re-affirm Doha. Her lengthy and positive response is also in the transcript below. (thanks Rob and Sarah for getting that and sending it out!) It is key to note that after she said, “I will support a re-affirmation of the Doha Declaration” I asked her again, “So you will sign-on as a co-sponsor to the resolution?” and that is when she said “Yes. I will.” as recorded in the transcript. She was very clearly responding specifically to the question of co-sponsorship. In the handshake line afterward, I thanked her for agreeing to co-sponsor the resolution and told her we will look forward to seeing her name on it very… (more)

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

January Primaries

Next up for the Dems: Jan 15 - Michigan (on 12/01/07 the DNC took away their delegates) Jan 19 - Nevada caucus (approved by DNC) Jan 26 - South Carolina Primary (approved by DNC) Jan 29 - Florida Primary (penalized by DNC for breaking party rules, resulted in losing their delegates) Here’s an embiggenable map to the primary season: . Thanks to http://www.joemygod.blogspot.com/

Labels: Primary Calendar

Monday, December 24, 2007

Governor Mitt Romney On World AIDS Day

“On World AIDS Day, we are reminded of the importance of America’s commitment to fighting one of mankind’s most deadly infectious diseases. Around the world, over 33 million people are living with HIV/AIDS. In 2007 alone, 2.5 million people became infected with HIV and another 2.1 million died from AIDS. To strengthen our fight against HIV/AIDS and bring hope to those afflicted with this disease, we need strong executive leadership that can build on President Bush’s groundbreaking efforts. “As President, I will mobilize our civilian instruments of power to address HIV/AIDS, poverty and other challenges across Africa by empowering a single U.S. official with the responsibility and authority to lead all of America’s civilian efforts in the region. I will fundamentally transform our international aid efforts so that more of our assistance goes to those suffering rather than bureaucracy. Today, only one-third of all foreign aid gets to the people it was intended to help. That must change. “As devastating as HIV/AIDS has been around the world, we must not forget that over a million Americans are living with the disease here at home. We should do all we can to… (more)

Friday, December 21, 2007

RELIVING THE NIGHTMARE

December 21, 2007 Arkansan activist calls attention to Huckabee’s AIDS atrocities during his tenure as Governor Camp (in blue tie), when Huckabee signed law allowing Arkansas to fund AIDS meds for the poor—but this symbolic effort wasn’t enough AIDS activist Eric Camp, 44, believes that he and his former Gov. Mike Huckabee have some similarities. They both hail from conservative Southern Arkansas and that allows Camp, who is openly gay, to understand the depths of Huckabee’s homophobia. “It’s just a very homophobic part of the country,” Camp said. “I have internalized homophobia that I’m still dealing with to this day.” When it comes to HIV/AIDS, however, Camp and Huck have very little in common. In 1992 when Camp was diagnosed with the virus, Huckabee was sounding off about quarantining people with HIV. And when Huckabee’s nonfunding of Arkansas’ AIDS Drug Assistance Program cut half of the people from its rolls, Camp went on a meds strike in 2004, voluntarily removing himself from ADAP for two years. That act of bravery led to a stroke and seizures, and although he has mostly recovered, his cognitive abilities have declined. “But knowing that I… (more)

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Debates 2008

Start planning now to get some AIDS visiblity at these 2008 presidential candidate debates! September 26, 2008: Presidential debate with domestic policy focus, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS October 2, 2008: Vice Presidential debate, Washington University, St. Louis, MO October 7, 2008: Presidential debate in a town hall format, Belmont University, Nashville, TN October 15, 2008: Presidential debate with foreign policy focus, Hofsta University, Hempstead, NY

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

HIV Clueless: What Mike Huckabee hasn’t learned

Washington Post Editorials HIV Clueless: What Mike Huckabee hasn’t learned

IN 1992, Mike Huckabee, then a candidate for U.S. Senate from Arkansas, urged the “isolation” of “carriers” of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. His exact words were: “If the federal government is truly serious about doing something with the AIDS virus, we need to take steps that would isolate the carriers of this plague. . . . It is difficult to understand the public policy towards AIDS. It is the first time in the history of civilization in which the carriers of a genuine plague have not been isolated from the general population, and in which this deadly disease for which there is no cure is being treated as a civil rights issue instead of the true health crisis it represents.” Now, as a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, Mr. Huckabee said he might phrase it differently but otherwise stood by his 1992 statement. He explained in a Dec. 9 interview on Fox News that the comment was made at a time “when we didn’t know as much as we do now about AIDS, we were acting more out of political correctness than we were about… (more)

AIDS Comments Alarm Ryan White’s Mother

By LIZ SIDOTI Associated Press Writer DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The mother of Ryan White, an Indiana teenager whose life-ending battle with AIDS in the 1980s engrossed the nation, wants to meet with Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee to discuss his comments 15 years ago that AIDS patients should have been isolated. The former Arkansas governor and GOP front-runner in the important Iowa caucuses said Sunday that he stood by the comments. That has infuriated Jeanne White-Ginder, who said: “It’s so alarming to me.” In a telephone interview Monday with The Associated Press from her home in Leesburg, Fla., she said: “It’s very important to me that we don’t live in the darkness” when people thought AIDS was transmitted through casual contact, such as by “kissing, tears, sweat and saliva.” “We have to treat this disease like a disease, and like Ryan always said, not like a dirty word,” she said. White was 13 when he was diagnosed with AIDS in December 1984, having contracted the disease from the blood-clotting agent used to treat his hemophilia. He was barred from school the following year out of fear the disease… (more)