LGBT
Related: About this forumHillary Clinton Praises Nancy Reagan for ‘Effective, Low-Key Advocacy' on HIV/AIDS
Having had friends die of AIDS over the last 30 years*, knowing that research on treatments was stymied by the hostility of the Reagan administration to gay people and issues of concern to them, I have to admit this statement really makes me angry. And consider Rock Hudson's death - how could you ignore his appeals for help, having once called him a friend and knowing you could do something that may have helped him survive or lessen his pain?
Praise Nancy Reagan for her attempt to fight drug abuse, sure, praise her for advocacy on Alzheimers, sure. NOT on HIV/AIDS conversation.
Speaking before Nancy Reagans funeral on Friday, Hillary Clinton praised Nancy Reagan for her effective, low-key advocacy on HIV/AIDS during her husbands presidency.
Clinton called to mind how difficult it was to talk about HIV/AIDS in the 80s and credited both Nancy and Ronald Reagan with helping to start a national conversation on the disease.
Said Clinton,And because of both President and Mrs. Reaganin particular Mrs. Reaganwe started a national conversation when before nobody would talk about it, nobody wanted to do anything about it. And you know that too is something that I really appreciate with her very effective, low-key advocacy but it penetrated the public conscience. And people began to say, Hey, we have to do something about this too.'
Clintons praise for the Reagan record comes in stark contrast to the thunderous choir of voices in the LGBT community who have criticized both Nancy and Ronald Reagan for their ineptitude and silence on HIV/AIDS. Just today, The Guardian published a piece titled The First Lady Who Looked Away about the many activists on the forefront of the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 80s who believe the Reagans turned a blind eye to the plight.
http://www.towleroad.com/2016/03/hillary-clinton-praises-reagan-record/
* I add in editing this includes people here in DU's GLBT forum.
montanacowboy
(6,082 posts)I have no words....
praised for "low-key".....
Hey LGBT Groups - how do you like her now?
revbones
(3,660 posts)To them it's all about what she said most recently that they agree with, even if it contradicts something she says later or earlier.
Amimnoch
(4,558 posts)I've just done a 180. In the last hour i've vometed and cried i'm so disgusted and disheartened.
revbones
(3,660 posts)then welcome. You will enjoy the side of someone that has been consistent all their lives. Even as far back as 32+ years ago
http://www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMessage/archives/2015/06/30/32-years-before-scotus-decision-sanders-backed-gay-pride-march
Raster
(20,998 posts)...due largely in part to the Raygun's refusal to not only NOT DEAL WITH THE CRISIS, INCLUDING NOT EVEN SAYING THE WORD "AIDS" until their Hollywood buddy was at death's door.
Sorry Hillary: The Rayguns did nothing to help solve the crisis, and in fact, did quite a few things to prolong the crisis. Take your revisionist history elsewhere. Just another reason you cannot be trusted with my vote.
SusanCalvin
(6,592 posts)Yep. Republicans don't care until it happens to them. Then they've always cared. It's a repeating pattern.
leftofcool
(19,460 posts)But, he is just her son so I am sure his opinion won't matter.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/nancy-reagan/2011/01/other-headline-9.html
Raster
(20,998 posts)HOWEVER, the vast majority of persons involved on the front line of the AIDS crisis - of which I am one - have no such charitable view of the Reagans. In fact, quite the opposite.
My condolences for Ron Reagan's loss - I like Ron and have a GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT FOR THE MAN. His mother and father, not so much.
SusanCalvin
(6,592 posts)MNBrewer
(8,462 posts)yes, Hillary, we forget how difficult it was to speak about Alzheimer's disease in the 1980's, don't we? Facing the stigma, the isolation, the neglect and outright hostility from the government and other influential segments of society.
I can hardly believe that it too soo long for Congress to even designate the first Alzheimer's Disease Awareness month in 1983.
solemandd67
(2 posts)Last edited Sat Mar 12, 2016, 12:56 AM - Edit history (1)
This is why I just shake my head in disgust at Gays who scream "Hillary" like she's Streisand.
I lost my first lover to AIDS. I was a Navy Hospital Corpsman from 1983-89 and a civilian nurse in San Diego and San Francisco. OMG! The many patients, friends and acquaintances that are GONE. I'm almost 52 and somehow escaped it. How can anyone forget the Reagan Indifference?.....Unless they're just a political prostitute willing to say anything for power.
backscatter712
(26,355 posts)What she said was mind-bogglingly stupid!
It's like praising Rick Snyder's leadership on the Flint water crisis.
Fearless
(18,421 posts)How do you feel about her trying to score points with independent/conservative voters by slighting us?
By LYING or by being so IGNORANT of US that she would parrot this bullshit?
I'm waiting.
LostOne4Ever
(9,288 posts)[font style="font-family:'Georgia','Baskerville Old Face','Helvetica',fantasy;" size=4 color=#009999]Though this one affects me personally. My late father was one of the people who Caught AIDS in the 1980's.
The Reagans had blood on their hands, and no-one should in any way praise them for their reaction to AIDS. [/font]