On World AIDS Day, Larry Kramer, who first warned of epidemic, rips 'Do-nothing' Obama

[Bluebear]

On World AIDS Day, the man who first sounded the alarm about the AIDS epidemic and shamed the government into action for a decade, had some choice words for President Obama.

In an interview with the New York Daily News about growing older with HIV, Kramer, now 75 and writing a novel about America and AIDS, offered up his views on the current president.

“Mr. Do-Nothing Obama will say today ‘Lets think of all the poor dead people’- or ‘let’s honor all the dead’ instead of fighting for the living.

"He has been really useless in terms of both HIV and gay issues. An exceedingly large disappointment to me, how useless he has been.

"He is simply not a leader. He may be president, but he is not a leader.”


Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2010/12/01/2010-12-01_on_world_aids_day_larry_kramer_who_first_warned_of_epidemic_rips_donothing_obama.html#ixzz16vQkjmPL

[emilyg]

1. k

[QC]

2. Larry Kramer never really loved him!

:cry:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

3. i love larry kramer. he is a real activist.

[Bluebear]

4. The PR contingent will be along to trash Kramer.

You're right. He defines activism!

[La Lioness Priyanka]

5. meh. they can suck it.

[Bluebear]

9. :)

[David Zephyr]

11. He is indeed.

I truly love this man.

[MuseRider]

6. Just happened in for my once every few weeks look-see

and this is what I saw. I have thought so much of Larry Kramer over the years. Always liked him, always respected him. I agree with him. Sad to say but I agree on this subject and about every other subject. We needed a leader, people thought that was who they were voting for and now the only people left who really think Obama is a leader do so because he "speaks for them" as if they can't speak for themselves.

Whatever. Larry Kramer, you are a treasure.

OK bye again for a while. Good to see you Bluebear :hi:

[bigtree]

7. well, the results may well not be adequate, but the WH hasn't been 'useless'

With the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) as a foundation, the President put forward a $63 billion Global Health Initiative (GHI) to combat HIV/AIDS, address other health challenges and assist partner countries to strengthen their health systems and build capacity to provide services sustainably. Through the GHI, the President’s aim is to ensure our programs have maximum impact, as this Administration’s focus is on outcomes, such as lives saved -- not simply dollars spent. Since taking office, the number of those on antiretroviral treatment has nearly doubled to 3.2 million – up from 1.7 million in 2008, and under the GHI, the U.S. continues to be the global leader in funding for HIV/AIDS. The President proposed the largest request to date for PEPFAR for FY 2011. Additionally, in October, the Administration announced an unprecedented multi-year pledge of $4 billion for 2011-2013 to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. This pledge represents a 38% increase in U.S. support for the Global Fund, and is in addition to more than $5.1 billion provided to the Fund to date.

Domestically, the Office of National AIDS Policy released the first comprehensive National HIV/AIDS Strategy and Federal Implementation Plan for the United States with three key goals: reducing the number of new infections; increasing access to care and optimizing health outcomes for people living with HIV; and reducing HIV-related health disparities.

download full report: http://aids.gov/federal-resources/policies/national-hiv-aids-strategy/nhas.pdf

[StarsInHerHair]

8. recc'd

nt

[donheld]

10. k & R

[David Zephyr]

12. Thanks for this story about Larry Kramer

It's a wonder that Larry is still alive. He gave it everything he had and then continued to give.

He was an inspiration to me when I was young and is to this day.

"Normal Heart" should be required reading in this country. Bluebear, thanks!