Does anyone remember when the Reagan administration was cracking jokes about people dying from AIDS?

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.aegis.com/pubs/atn/2004/atn040607.html

PRESS BRIEFING BY LARRY SPEAKES

October 15, 1982

The Briefing Room

12:45pm EDT

Q: Larry, does the President have any reaction to the announcement ­ the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, that AIDS is now an epidemic and have over 600 cases?

MR. SPEAKES: What's AIDS?

Q: Over a third of them have died. It's known as "gay plague." (Laughter.) No, it is. I mean it's a pretty serious thing that one in every three people that get this have died. And I wondered if the President is aware of it?

MR. SPEAKES: I don't have it. Do you? (Laughter.)

more at link

[Syrinx]

1. Lester? Let me guess...

Lester Kinsolving... the nut at the White House that coined the term "the Sodomy lobby." Am I right?

[NNN0LHI]

2. You have a good memory

:applause:

[Syrinx]

3. why do they keep letting that crank in the place?

Beats me.

[no_hypocrisy]

4. That was a representative for Reagan. On a related note, Reagan himself

showed insensitivity by quipping, "It's just too bad we can't have an epidemic of botulism," when the Symbionese Liberation Army kidnapped Patty Hearst in Berkeley and demanded the distribution of food to the poor. *

* "Reagan Raps Press on Botulism Quote". The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California). March 14, 1974.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governorship_of_Ronald_Reagan

[NNN0LHI]

6. A representative who Reagan sent out to speak for him

I bet Reagan was laughing too.

Don

[Mugweed]

5. Another reason why the right loves Reagan

They seem to ignore the raising taxes, negotiating with terrorists, and advocating amnesty for illegal immigrants.

[NNN0LHI]

7. Its not just the right who have fond memories of Reagan

I see his policies and ideas echoed all around me. Every where I go. Even here. The anti-unionism, the lack of critical thinking skills, everything.

I am beginning to think maybe some who do it don't realize they are doing it. Or were young and susceptible to the brainwashing back then and don't even realize where their thoughts and ideas come from? I just don't know.

Notice how popular this thread is here don't you? Not very. Reagan is still a hero to many.

Don

[w8liftinglady]

8. I remember a whole generation cracking jokes about people dying of AIDS

....as I cared for them while they died.


It's happening again,while we trn our backs and pretend AIDS is "cured"

Rural funding is being withdrawn, and AIDS is rearing it's head in urban communities. People are STILL dying of AIDS.

[Donnachaidh]

11. a close family member was one caught in the first wave of cases from blood transfusions

And their life was miserable, because they had to lie about how sick she was - even in the 90's, when she finally succumbed to the disease.

If there is a god, then reagan and all his little jokesters are roasting in hell. Forever. :grr:

[blogslut]

9. Yes I remember

My friends were dying around me while those assholes laughed.

[MarianJack]

10. Let's also not forget...

...how he joked about declaring Russia illegal and bombing will begin in one hour.

Granted he didn't know that the microphone was on, but I'm a firm believer that people say exactly what they mean when they don't know they're being heard. Also, by the time he said this, he was so senile that he didn't know much.

PEACE!

[Solly Mack]

12. Oh, yeah

K&R

[raccoon]

13. K&R. nt