Subject: Clinton slated to pick bland bureaucrat as AIDS Czar
From: [email-masked]
Date: Mon, 7 Apr 1997 00:34:35 -0400 (EDT)

ACT UP Washington Media alert
for immediate release    April 6, 1997
Clinton strikes out!!!
Third bland bureaucrat to be appointed AIDS 'czar'
ACT UP Washington leaks name...
Washington, DC -- The AIDS advocacy and protest group ACT UP in Washington DC
has learned that President Clinton will be naming Sandy Thurman as his new
Director of National AIDS Policy at a press conference tomorrow, April 7.
 Thurman, a Democratic party insider and past director of AID Atlanta, the
largest AIDS service providor in Atlanta, Georgia.  The activists from ACT UP
Washinngton predict that Thurman will be the third in a series of
ineffective, no name bureaucrats filling the AIDS 'czar' position.

Previous 'Czars' have been little more than White House Press Officers on
AIDS
 During the 1992 presidential campaign, Clinton promised to name a
cabinet-level AIDS Czar, with "the ears and shoulder of the President on a
daily basis" to lead the nation's efforts aginst the AIDS epidemic.
 Clinton's first AIDS 'Czar', Kristine Gebbie, was forced to resign amid
increasing pressure by AIDS activists lead by ACT UP Washington.  Since then,
Gebbie's replacement Patsy Fleming, and her "interim" replacement, Eric
Goosby, have been little more than AIDS press secretaries for Clinton. 

Scrutiny over 'Clothing Allowance'
and high salary in Atlanta...
 According to reliable sources from Atlanta, Thurman was ousted from the top
position at AID Atlanta after increasing scrutiny over her clothing allowance
and high salary.  States ACT UP Washington spokesperson Steve Michael, "Poor
people with AIDS were dying on the streets while Thurman was out on shopping
sprees with AIDS funds.  Thurman is the Imelda Marcos of AIDS." 

 States ACT UP Atlanta representative Roger Garza, "Thurman might have been a
good bureaucrat, but certainly was no leader in the war on AIDS." 
 
 President Clinton has been under fire from AIDS activists for failing to
provide real leadership against the AIDS epidemic, which has become America's
leading killer for persons aged 25-44.

ACT UP Washington to continue to battle Clinton...
Group demands Clinton withdraw Thurman's name, 
pick someone real 
 ACT UP Washington has been urging Clinton to appoint a proven leader as AIDS
Czar, and upgrade the position to cabinet-rank, like the Office of the US
Trade Representative, the Office Management and Budget, and the 'Drug Czar'.
 Among the names on ACT UP's short list for AIDS Czar are former Connecticut
governor and Senator Lowell Weicker, former Washington state Governor Mike
Lowry, Rep. Cynthia McKinney (GA) or Rep. Maxine Waters (CA).

 "Bill Clinton's lack of character and commitment on AIDS means this epidemic
is far from over." concludes Michael.

for more information contact ACT UP Washington at 202.547.0854