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December 12, 2007
Huckabee Willing to Meet Ryan White's Mom
In response to AIDS activists’ urging yesterday, December 10, that Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee meet with Jeanne White-Ginder, the mother of Ryan White—a teenager who contracted HIV through a blood transfusion and died of AIDS-related illness in 1990—Huckabee said he would be “very willing” to meet with White-Ginder, reports the Los Angeles Times (latimes.com, 12/12).
Yesterday, members of advocacy groups, the Human Rights Campaign and the AIDS Institute sent a letter to Huckabee, urging him to meet with White-Ginder in response to his refusal to retract a statement he made in 1992 that called for the isolation of people living with AIDS.
Though the U.S. surgeon general had already reported that HIV could not be spread through casual contact when Huckabee made his comments, he said his words were a reflection of the current state of knowledge surrounding the disease at that time, reports the Times. “Obviously, we know a lot more today. I'm glad we do,” Huckabee said. “That was 1992.”
Huckabee has yet to comment on his current thoughts surrounding AIDS. Last month, a statement issued by his campaign called for increased efforts to provide care for people living with HIV both in the United States and abroad, according to the Times.
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Previous Comments:
comments 1 - 3 (of 3 total)
shelbie, indianapolis, 2008-04-30 10:03:32
i feal sorry for white only if people knew what he went through
June, Texas, , 2007-12-21 21:32:14
Huckabee has no compassion for others. I wonder if his compassion and want for correct knowledge of AIDS would change if one of his family members was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS? Would he isolate his family members? I beat Jeanne White Ginder would ask him that and she would also take the time to expand his small mind? Ms. White-Ginder should run for President, not Mr. Huckabee.
Scott, San Francisco, 2007-12-13 18:47:01
Huckabee is so typical of christian speak at the institutional level. He seeks to unify by casting out those whose beliefs are not cast in the same dye as his own. He is a divider and bigot. Enough of faith based cruelty. Christians should look no further than their beloved 10 commandments and learn to love thy neighbor. Sadly, I would settle for simple respect.
