I guess Cheney hasn't spent a minute thinking about AIDS in the United States in the past four years...
I also think that it's likely Cheney has back trouble: he needs to sit up straight...
Posted by DeLong at October 5, 2004 07:14 PM | TrackBackYou forgot heart-trouble.
Posted by: Atanu Dey at October 5, 2004 07:25 PMEdwards' response on AIDS, after Cheney's lame response, was one of his best.
Edwards' use of the gay marriage issue was great.
Posted by: sm at October 5, 2004 07:47 PMThank you, Brad. NOW I understand why this one had to be sitting down.
Posted by: Ken Houghton at October 6, 2004 05:48 AMI wonder if the Subchapter S business that Cheney brought up is going to get any play from the Dems. Cheney took the exact opposite position on taxation of Subchapter S corporations from the one Bush has been promoting all year.
Bush, on the campaign trail:
"[Kerry] also doesn't understand when he says, tax the so-called, "rich," he's raising the taxes on the small business owners of America. My opponent's plan would raise taxes on over 900,000 small business owners, the subchapter-S corporations, the sole proprietorships, people just like you. Small businesses are the engine of job creation in our country. Small businesses create seven out of every 10 new jobs. It makes no sense to tax the job creators as our economy is getting stronger. (Applause.) We should not punish free enterprise. We ought to encourage free enterprise in America." (Applause.)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/10/20041002-7.html
Cheney to Edwards, last night:
"While you were in private practice in law and as a senator, you had the advantage of a special tax loophole, Subchapter S corporation, which you set up so you could avoid paying $600,000 in Medicare taxes that would have gone into the fund."
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/10/05/debate.transcript3/index.html#q14
If Bush got asked, in the remaining debates, about his and Cheney's different stances on Subchapter S corporations, I could die and go to heaven right then. Because you know Bush would make an absolute fool of himself trying to answer, since he wouldn't have more than a superficial understanding of Subchapter S to begin with.
Posted by: RT at October 6, 2004 07:40 AMDid you notice how Edwards jumped up and shook his hand while Dick was moving in slow motion? Cheney had to pry himself out of that chair. The manitou's eating his spine.
Posted by: fouroboros at October 6, 2004 05:02 PMWhile I felt that Edwards had a more substantive answer than Cheney on this question, neither man was prepared for it. It's clear that Ms. Ifel felt personal connection with this problem, but I'm not sure that it rises to the level of presidential awareness. The issue of AIDS is presidential, the detailed statistics probably aren't.
All that said there are problems that could be nationally addressed that directly bear on the explosion of AIDS in the black community.
-unequal and inadequate access to routine health care and preventative services. I don't think that most people who have routine check-ups, or even access to care when needed, realize how much health care teaching, even if it's just a few words and a reminder on prevention of illness, goes on at these visits.
-decreased funding to the point of dismantling public health services. AIDS is just one example. TB, anyone?
No insurance to pay for HIV treatment. Indeed, Medicaid will help some, but often access is limited and the disease has to progress to a certain point before help is available. While the viral load is up, contagion is increased.
-the increase in the use of injectable drugs. Wait until the price falls as this year's bumper crop hits the market.
-domestic violence which keeps women in abusive relationships where they cannot insist on protected sex.
There are multiple federal fixes none of which is Bush going to do:
restoring public health funding.
appointing a scientist to head HHS
real drug and violence treatment
adequate housing and food assistance
remedial programs to allow people to earn a living wage (raising the minimum wage, also)
What no one ever seems to recognize is that vulnerable populations are the canaries. If HIV is exploding in black women, it will hit the suburbs and the gold coasts, faster than you'd believe. Many poor women, particularly mothers, use prostitution as an occasional resource when the food gets low the month's end. (So do underemployed young men)
Who do you think their customers are?
Posted by: clio at October 6, 2004 05:34 PM