Democrat Dean calls for blunt talk (from Bush) on sex, AIDS

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Democratic White House hopeful Howard Dean challenged President George W. Bush on Friday to talk openly about the role of sex in the spread of AIDS and the use of condoms to stop the deadly disease.

snip>

Asked by a young woman at Ballou, which has a day care center for the children of some of the the 1,300 students who are almost entirely African American, what he would do to stem the rise in teenage pregnancies, Dean said: "First of all you have to have a president that's comfortable talking about sex."

"Secondly, you have to be honest with people. Some kids are going to abstain -- which we encourage -- some kids are not and you've got to be truthful in both cases," he said. "That's all we can do. We can't control your behavior."

The Bush administration's policies emphasize abstinence over safe sex. It is a centerpiece of Bush's $15 billion, five-year plan to treat and prevent HIV/AIDS in Africa and the Caribbean.

"The first thing you have to do when you talk about AIDS is you can't be afraid to mention the word 'condoms' which the president doesn't like to talk about very much," Dean said.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N26161874.htm

[Emboldened Chimp]

1. "We can't control your behavior."

On the money!

[Sean Reynolds]

2. Dean just lost the christian right.

Wait, did he ever have 'em?

Teaching the CAUSE will help prevent the PROBLEM. Sadly Washington DC doesn't realize this. Same thing with just tossing drugies into prison; does NOTHING to treat the problem.

To me the government has become an enabler to the situation. They hide the fact that this problem DOES exist in our society, and then wonder why it's so out of hand.

It's about time someone stood up and said what needed to be said. No wonder I like Dean so much! :)
Remember, maybe if Reagan would have addressed the AIDS issue in the 80s, the epidemic wouldn't have gotten so badly out of hand.

[Demobrat]

10. The Christian right foams at the mouth with rage.

Sensible people everywhere breathe a huge sigh of relief.

[central scrutinizer]

3. but, but, but

* already addressed in his UN speech - he is against sex slavery so all the questions should stop, unless you hate America.

[ozone_man]

4. Bush is the problem. Dean is the solution.

"The Bush administration's ban on funds to family planning clinics which offer abortion counselling is adversely affecting the supply of condoms to countries hit by HIV/Aids, it was claimed yesterday."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1049186,00.html

[tsipple]

5. So Nice to Have a Doctor Talking

That's what they teach in medical school. Be honest with your charges. It's about damn time.

[PaDUer]

11. The pubs will use

it against Dean when he worked in an abortion clinic..Does anyone know anything further about this? Some said that's why he sealed his records..Let the R's say what they want about the right to choose..I wonder if * gave his old chic the right to choose!-NOT!

[Eloriel]

13. It's okay, let them -- it'll endear him to the pro-Choice crowd

I don't recall that he WORKED in an abortion clinic. What I know is that he served on the board of a Planned Parenthood.

Eloriel

[PaDUer]

14. Pro-Choice people will love him.

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- The Democratic candidates for president are playing a game of one-upmanship in their attempt to gain support form abortion advocacy groups. But former Vermont Governor Howard Dean has a claim to fame none of the others can match: he's worked at Planned Parenthood.

http://www.lifenews.com/nat77.html

[UnapologeticLiberal]

15. He worked in an abortion clinic?

Where are you getting this from? Are you sure?


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[patdem]

6. Here is what I see as the Republican take on AIDS...bait and switch

Some African leaders do not believe HIV is the cause of AIDS...
Americas response: why give them money when they do not belive HIV leads to AIDS??
Then African leaders say...OKAY ...we agree...WE NEED HELP!...then America says...but do you give out condoms...and perform abortions?
America says...only abstinance is good ..so you shall not pass go...and you shall not collect 200 million dollars...PUTRID is the American response to AIDS...PUTRID with MAGGOTS!

[hippiechick]

7. stem the rise in teenage pregnancies

... that's a fallacy (excuse the pun)
Stats have shown that teen pregnancy has consistently dropped between 1989-1999 .. they're no higher now than they were in the 50's ...
just more out in the open. same for abortion rates.

he got a loaded question and handled it ok, but being a medical professional could have given out the correct statistical information.

:hippie:

[Rose Siding]

8. Maybe he did

He was speaking at a high school but this is just what the reporter chose to include in the article.

snip>

During a visit to Ballou Senior High School in low-income inner city Washington, Dean, a former family physician and ex-governor of Vermont, told a roomful of teenagers they needed a president "that's comfortable talking about sex."

[bluestateguy]

9. Now, now, what about the conservative white vote?

Oh fiddlesticks! What about white Christian fundamentalists? Now they won't vote for Dean! Oh, what will we do?

[Evanstondem]

12. Dr. Dean makes plain sense

Which makes him the right Dem to debate Bush in 2004.

[populistmom]

16. Exactly

When we have a day where topics like sex and drugs can be discussed on the level of health rather than "morality", we'll be a lot better off.