Dallas Texas Ebola Case

[poppy]

This is the amount of attention the best most compassionate President ever gave to an epidemic.

The transcript, courtesy of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, chronicles how Speakes relentlessly mocked a reporter for asking about AIDS as other reporters laughed. Here's the excerpt:

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.)

Q: No, I don’t.

MR. SPEAKES: You didn’t answer my question.

Q: Well, I just wondered, does the President—

MR. SPEAKES: How do you know? (Laughter.)

Q: In other words, the White House looks on this as a great joke?

MR. SPEAKES: No, I don't know anything about it, Lester.

Q: Does the President, does anybody in the White House know about this epidemic, Larry?

MR. SPEAKES: I don't think so. I don't think there’s been any—

Q: Nobody knows?

MR. SPEAKES: There has been no personal experience here, Lester.

Q: No, I mean, I thought you were keeping—

MR. SPEAKES: I checked thoroughly with Dr. Ruge this morning and he’s had no—(laughter)—no patients suffering from AIDS or whatever it is.

Q: The President doesn’t have gay plague, is that what you're saying or what?

MR. SPEAKES: No, I didn’t say that.

Q: Didn’t say that?

MR. SPEAKES: I thought I heard you on the State Department over there. Why didn’t you stay there? (Laughter.)

Q: Because I love you, Larry, that’s why. (Laughter.)

MR. SPEAKES: Oh, I see. Just don’t put it in those terms, Lester. (Laughter.)

Q: Oh, I retract that.

MR. SPEAKES: I hope so.

White House Press Briefing Oct. 15, 1982

 

[poppy]

The number of Kim Kardashian's husbands is greater than the number of people who have died from Ebola in this country.

 

[Leader of the Banned]

Ebola is so rare in this country, it might become a collector's item.

 

[m1a1mg]

Beat that drum poppy, beat that drum.

 

[poppy]

Beat that drum poppy, beat that drum.

It wasn't until May 31, 1987 that President Reagan would give his first major address on AIDS. It was at an outdoor speech in Washington organized by amFAR, the American Foundation for AIDS Research. Elizabeth Taylor, a lifelong friend of Ron and Nancy Reagan, persuaded the President to be there. On the exact night that he gave that speech, saying the word "AIDS" for the first time in public, 21,000 Americans had already died from the disease.

 

[m1a1mg]

You miss so many chances, with your constant bashing of anything right. You must be fun at parties.

From RealClearPolitics, so you might actually read it:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/ar...an_and_aids_correcting_the_record_122806.html

 

[poppy]

Ebola is so rare in this country, it might become a collector's item.

I read where Dr. Marco Rubio is disagreeing with his fellow physicians and is calling for a travel ban. Oh wait, he's not a doctor.

 

[poppy]

You miss so many chances, with your constant bashing of anything right. You must be fun at parties.

From RealClearPolitics, so you might actually read it:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/ar...an_and_aids_correcting_the_record_122806.html

It isn't bashing. I just highlight the glaring hypocrisy of the right. I know it's painful for you that your party is always on the wrong side of history.

Check out Ohio Governor John Kasich's statement on the repeal of Obamacare, "The opposition to it was really either political or ideological. I don't think that holds water against real flesh and blood, and real improvements in people’s lives.”

 

[m1a1mg]

It isn't bashing. I just highlight the glaring hypocrisy of the right. I know it's painful for you that your party is always on the wrong side of history.

That is a really obnoxious habit that those on the far right, or far left, practice with great regularity. I am neither a registered Republican or Democrat. I have voted for candidates of both parties.

Further, were I a Republican, I would point out the Lincoln was a Republican. So, according to your words, abolishing slavery was wrong. Tap dance out of that one.

Finally, I note that you had no response to the link I posted. Do you only want to comment on those items you feel you can win a debate on? If so, just let me know. I'l stop wasting my time with you.

 

[poppy]

You miss so many chances, with your constant bashing of anything right. You must be fun at parties.

From RealClearPolitics, so you might actually read it:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/ar...an_and_aids_correcting_the_record_122806.html

You are correct, he did mention Aids at that press conference. the article I read failed on that point.