Subject: Clinton Zapped on AIDS record in New Hampshire
From: [email-masked]
Date: Mon, 19 Feb 1996 21:33:32 -0500

ZAPPED!
AIDS activists confront Clinton on Campaign trail
contact:  603.641.9592

Manchester, NH - AIDS activists, Wayne Turner, Allen Ritter and Dan Sundquist
from the Steve Michael AIDS Cure Campaign and ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to
Unleash Power) disrupted a speech by President Bill Clinton in Manchester,
New Hampshire on Saturday, February, 17th demanding action on AIDS.
 Turner was hauled out the auditorium at New Hampshire College by Manchester
Police after shouting that Clinton has failed to make good on AIDS promises
from the 1992 election.  "Clinton's AIDS record has been three years of
inaction, lip service, and lies.  He promised an intensive Manhattan-style
research effort to develop a cure for AIDS.  He promised a real AIDS Czar.
 He promised leadership, and yet signs HIV-discrimination into law.  AIDS
deaths have more than doubled under Clinton's watch, yet he continues to be
complacent."
 The activists vow to continue to confront Presidential candidates to support
and deliver on AIDS.  ACT UP's Steve Michael, who is HIV positive, is
challenging Clinton on the Democratic primary ballot in New Hampshire and a
number of other state ballots to promote AIDS issues via traditional campaign
methods including uncensorable TV commercials (currently airing on WMUR).  
 "If Clinton won't fight AIDS, who will?"  States Michael.  "As the National
Commission on AIDS stated in its 1993 report, 'What should be done is not
complicated.  But it requires leadership, a plan, and the national resolve to
implement it.'  We have between now and the general election to urge this
president to live up to his commitment to 2 million HIV positive Americans.
 If Clinton had started the Manhattan research project three years ago, we
might have a cure for AIDS in sight.  
 The activists believe that Clinton's response to their disruption indicates
a complete lack of interest or understanding of the gravity of the AIDS
epidemic.  "We were demanding that Clinton make good on his 1992 promises and
all we got was complaints from Clinton that we were violating his "right of
free speech,' notes Ritter.  Michael adds, "Imagine the President of the
United States complaining that three AIDS activists could somehow deprive the
most powerful politician in the world of his right of free speech.".
 Clinton then attempted to defend his AIDS record.  Ignoring charges that
Clinton had broken virtually all of his AIDS promises, the president bragged
about "the first ever" White House AIDS conference, a 30% increase in AIDS
research funding, efforts to save Medicaid.
 "Clinton somehow believes that increasing AIDS research on a $200 per capita
basis, coupled with advocating a Medicaid plan $7 to the good of Newt
Gingrich is something to be proud of.  It is nothing.  It isn't even a drop
in the bucket of what is needed to fight this plague," states Michael.
 The ACT UP'ers also note that Clinton's AIDS conference was widely
criticized by Sean Strubb of POZ Magazine, Bill Freeman of NAPWA (National
Association of People With AIDS), Mario Cooper (1992 Democratic Convention
manager) as nothing more than a re-election stunt. 
 Says Michael, "In response to our chant, 'Action, Not Words,' Clinton had
the audacity to tout his failed, health care scheme as proof of his
commitment to AIDS."  Manchester's leading newspaper, The Union Leader quoted
the president as saying, "Would you consider the most serious effort in 40
years to give health care coverage to All Americans, including people with
AIDS, action, not words?' 
 "What Clinton forgets to say is that he and Hillary fought hard against the
Single-Payer plans introduced by Senator Paul Wellstone (Democrat of
Minnesota) and Representative Jim McDermott (Democrat of Washington state).
 The Clinton plan was nothing more than a scheme to make the five biggest
insurance company's richer and that in over 1,300 pages AIDS was mention only
in passing, " emphasizes Ritter.  He concludes, "We will not let Clinton
pretend that his political kiss to the insurance company fat cats was somehow
a benefit to people with AIDS." 
 Sundquist was surprised that Clinton had not mentioned AIDS on his own.  "I
really expected AIDS to be part of his speech.  He knows we are here
campaigning on AIDS.  He knows we are running TV spots about AIDS.  This
disruption was necessary.  If it weren't for the ACT UP'ers from Washington,
AIDS would not have been an issue.  I appreciate their grassroots efforts
here in the Granite State."  Sundquist is a Manchester resident and
coordinator of the New Hampshire Harm Reduction Alliance.
 For the second year in a row, the Centers of Disease Control announced that
AIDS is the leading cause of death among Americans between the ages of 25-44.
 In New Hampshire, AIDS-related deaths increased by an alarming 64% in 1995.