WTF, Elizabeth Dole? WTF?

[emmagrant01]

Okay, seriously, WTF??? Is Elizabeth Dole really this stupid? Is she really this cruel?

A plan by Senator Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) to rename the current AIDS relief bill after the late conservative Jesse Helms has caused an uproar.

Among those offended by Dole's proposition are Tom Viola, the Executive Director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, and Philip S. Birsh, the President and Publisher of Playbill, who also serves as the BC/EFA Treasurer.

Helms was a long-time opponent to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and research. In fact, the blog Joe.My.God has recalled many of Helms' AIDS-related comments:

• Jesse Helms, the man who in 1987 described AIDS prevention literature as "so obscene, so revolting, I may throw up."

• Jesse Helms, the man who in 1988 vigorously opposed the Kennedy-Hatch AIDS research bill, saying, "There is not one single case of AIDS in this country that cannot be traced in origin to sodomy."

• Jesse Helms, the man who in 1995 said (in opposition to refunding the Ryan White Act) that the government should spend less on people with AIDS because they got sick due to their "deliberate, disgusting, revolting conduct."

And she wants to name the bill after him, really? This is so disgusting, I have no words.

Article here.

Update: Okay, the date of the press release from Equity Fights AIDS must have been screwed up, because the bill was just passed last Thursday, WITHOUT Dole's proposed amendment to change the name. So, crisis averted. But still? Not cool, Lizzie. So not cool.

Comments

[shezan.livejournal.com]

Look, STOPPING the bill would be cruel. Still passing it but naming it after someone who died is irrelevant, as long as it passes.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

That's not how it works, though. It was never an all-or-nothing proposition. The bill was actually passed last week, and this was one of many amendments that was proposed to it. The bill was going to pass in some form as it was extremely popular and had bipartisan support, but to name it after a sexist, racist, homophobic bigot is beyond ridiculous and insulting to the memories of the many people who suffered from AIDS in this country and around the wor;d, people Helms mocked cruelly.

Thankfully Dole's proposal was not accepted, and the bill was passed without being named after Helms. I'm just staggered that she thought it was a good idea. :-P