Responding to the veep debate, Human Rights Campaign head Cheryl
Jacques castigates Dick Cheney for his views on AIDS. As an HRC
news release puts it:
"Vice President Cheney's ignorance about the HIV/AIDS crisis is inexcusable," said Jacques. "When asked about the effect this epidemic is having on Americans - especially communities of color - he said he was unaware of the problem."
But a new letter posted in our
mailbag ("HRC: Beyond Spinning Lies Deceit," Oct. 8) begs to
differ:
Cheney's answer did not show ignorance of HIV issues. He didn't know that black women between the ages of 25 and 44 are 13 times more likely to die of AIDS than "their counterparts." I follow issues of HIV and AIDS and although I am aware that HIV infection rates have significantly increased as a percentage among black women, I was unaware of that exact statistic. In fact, I'm still not sure what the moderator meant by "their counterparts"; I don't know if she meant other races, other ages, men, the general population or just what. Neither did Cheney.
Frankly, neither candidate answered the question well with...Edwards being less forthcoming on the answer than Cheney. So [Jacques' statement] goes beyond spinning to outright deceit.
Of course, the "racist, sexist, anti-gay" mantra is the prism
through which the left views all things Republican. So instead of
building on Cheney's break with Bush over the marriage amendment
and celebrating that his daughter, Mary, appeared on stage with her
lesbian partner after the debate - and the positive signal this
sent - HRC instead attacks Cheney by distorting his response. Along
with their decision to oppose the re-election of moderate, pro-gay
GOP Sen. Arlen Specter of Penn., Jacques and HRC are telling
Republicans no matter what they do, they will be vilified. What a
great way to advance the cause of gay legal equality with a
Congress that's likely to have a GOP majority even if their beloved
Kerry wins the White House.