The New Yorker:HRC's correction to AIDS comment also misguided

[Divernan]

http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/hillary-clinton-nancy-reagan-and-aids
Clinton’s comments caused an outcry and she apologized rapidly, writing, in a statement issued on Twitter, “While the Reagans were strong advocates for stem cell research and finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, I misspoke about their record on H.I.V. and AIDS. For that, I’m sorry.” She deserves recognition for that. But her correction, while not nearly as offensive as her earlier comments, was also misguided.

In the nineteen-eighties, I covered the AIDS epidemic and the stem-cell wars for the Washington Post. I do not recall any occasion on which Ronald Reagan said or did anything that could be considered as “strong” advocacy for stem-cell research. One son, Ron, Jr., was in favor of the research and said so at the Democratic National Convention in 2004, the year his father died. That same year, Michael, Reagan’s other son, made a statement about that issue to anti-abortion-rights publications, which nobody ever contradicted: “The media continues to report that the Reagan ‘family’ is in favor of [embryonic] stem cell research, when the truth is that two members of the family have been long time foes of this process of manufacturing human beings—my dad, Ronald Reagan during his lifetime, and I.”

The idea that Ronald Reagan finally did focus on AIDS, if only belatedly, is also a fiction. Reagan was outraged in 1986, when his Surgeon General, C. Everett Koop, one of the great heroes of the AIDS epidemic, issued a report that, as I wrote when Koop died, recommended a program of compulsory sex education in schools and argued that, by the time they reached third grade, children should be taught how to use condoms.

In the end, as Clinton wrote, Nancy Reagan was indeed “strong” on stem-cell research and on Alzheimer’s disease. Her conversion came when her husband plunged into the darkness of the disease. She was desperate, and would have done anything for him. It was a deeply admirable stance, and rare in her conservative world. Millions of other people, however, would surely have benefitted from that kind of support—had she offered it when her husband was capable of doing something to help alleviate so much suffering.

[GreatGazoo]

1. the Clinton campaign is off the rails

can they not use Google?

[Hydra]

5. They just talk louder

But this one is not passing, nor is the comment about "Where was Bernie?"

[PatrynXX]

9. remember this very clearly. only Nancy Reagan was fighting for it.

It was a woman thing. Why must Hillary involve Ronald? No matter how many times one says THE ACTOR???? It'll always been Nancy Reagan who was circumvented by her own party over stem cell research.


Well clearly Bernie is a bigger Feminist than Hillary face palm

[Kalidurga]

2. She lied in her apology

So, it's just as offensive. It's not as maddening though because of the enormity of the first lie, kinda numbs you to the madness.

[Fumesucker]

3. The reality based community needs to chill

[ebayfool]

4. Yes! That's what I've been pointing out and getting nowhere but 'she oopsied!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1473981
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027665549#post5

Well, she is STILL wrong/lying/misspeaking - I'm repeating my original thoughts when Nancy died...

Nancy Reagan was the epitome of how the right likes their women:

vacuous and submissive - forever in service to a man. I'll give Nancy respect for her devotion to her husband (caring for someone with Alzheimer's is not an easy or pleasant thing to do). She had done some work for Alzheimer's, but that's not being a decent person, that's following her selfish interests. She had no interest in stem cell research until it affect her personally.

[Hydra]

6. I don't think anyone seriously thought she oopsed

She outed herself again, and is now scrambling to fix it(reluctantly). Team Hill is working overtime to smooth it over, but they have to do that every other day now.

No, Hillary did a good job of saying "I'm part of the bubble and support them, and not the people on the ground- and especially not the LBGT people. They're icky!"

[Old Codger]

7. I am sure she cared

For him and probably even maybe wiped his brow now and then but she had the position and wealth to get him the best care available along with the fact that he was president he had way way more resources than your run of the mill Alzheimer patient. After watching him decimate the California mental health programs I do nothing but detest him and all who helped him and hid the fact that our president was incapable of doing his job.Didn't before he got into politics andsee no reason to change that..

[Bluenorthwest]

8. Michael Specter is very correct.

I am disappointed in Hillary and in this Party. Her supporters on DU, some of them, have been another source of great sadness this weekend.

[Fearless]

10. Wow they absolutely obliterated her!