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Subscribe to RSSAs a part of World AIDS Day, President Obama today announced new U.S. commitments to fighting HIV and AIDS. First, he promised $50 million more in funding towards domestic HIV/AIDS treatment, and he increased the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief goal of people treated for HIV/AIDS by from four million to six million by 2013.
During his speech at George Washington University at an event with the theme, “The Beginning of the End of AIDS” Obama received a standing ovation for the increased commitment.
“The rate of new infections may be going down elsewhere, but it's not going down here in America," the president said. “When new infections among young black gay men increase by nearly 50 percent in 3 years, we need to do more to show them that their lives matter.” According to the CDC, “1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV infection and one in five are unaware of their infection.”
In addition to Obama, former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton spoke via satellite. The event was sponsored by (Red), an anti-AIDS organization started by U2 front-man Bono and One, an organization that helps fight poverty around the world.
Indeed, the United States' fight against AIDS was something Obama was able to site as a bipartisan success. "To Congress, keep working together and keep the commitments you've made intact. At a time when so much in Washington divides us, the fight against this disease has united us across parties and across presidents," he said. “And it shows that we can do big things when Republicans and Democrats put their common humanity before politics.
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Good for you Mr. President!
*gasp*
Bipartisanship - how did THAT happen?
Let the ring wing whining commence in 3...2...1...
Thanks to Robby, it was only a matter of seconds! lol
They never fail to disappoint, that's for sure!
Dream on barack!
The last President is credited with saving 1,000,000 lives on this issue.
Can this pretender do anything except try to follow in Bush's footsteps?
Not quite certain of your figures and sources, but notwithstanding, are you advocating that the President defund it and kill 1,000,000 people?
Indeed, the United States' fight against AIDS was something Obama was able to site as a bipartisan success
I think that should read "cite" not site. (Like I never make mistakes.)
The more Planned Parenthood centers, the more condom use, the more authentic sex education we present our children, then the fewer cases of AIDS (and abortions) we will have.
Representative Paul of course may take a slightly different approach and advocate that the Federal Government has no business doing such things. Perhaps one's neighbor is a better source of care for those infected, and that Representative Bachmann's Clinic might be able to open up another wing and after the praying the gay out of them, they can take a quick swing by the new wing and get the HIV/AIDS taken care of as well...just to cover all bases, no?
Thank you President Obama.
With science and research perhaps someday HIV/AIDS will be in the distant rear view mirror!
I was reading in the local paper today, about efforts in my city to do something about the homeless population here. What I found heartwarming was a comment by a local business leader, Jon Jennings (who once served in the Clinton White House) and said:
"I think those of us in the private sector have a responsibility to act," he said. "This is a critical issue. This is not putting on the Fourth of July. This is making sure our fellow citizens ... have shelter until they can get back on their feet."
Jennings said he hopes his involvement as a business representative will inspire other business leaders to take an active role in preventing homelessness.
Why can't America address it's challenges like this on the national level? I think we (as a nation) are stronger on the local level, where people just roll up their sleeves and work on solutions, than we are on the national level, where being concerned about health and poverty gets you called a "socialist."
http://www.theforecaster.net/content/p-portland-homeless-task-force
Great job Mr. President. Now if this bipartisanship would spill over on to your jobs bill.
I'm glad Mr. Obama is keeping the ball rolling but it sounds like he is taking credit for what the last 2 or maybe three Presidents have been already doing.
Hillary 2012