Posted on 07/10/2004 5:00:17 PM PDT by nwrep
WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry (news - web sites) promised to lift a ban on immigration to the United Stated by people with AIDS (news - web sites) and vowed to double US assistance to a worldwide campaign to combat the deadly and contagious disease.
The new pledges, timed to coincide with the opening in Thailand of the six-day 15th International AIDS Conference, came as a new opinion poll showed the Massachusetts senator widening his lead over President George W. Bush (news - web sites).
Kerry welcomed the upcoming conference and promised to work with US international partners, faith-based and non-governmental organizations to strengthen the world's capacity for a sustained response to the AIDS epidemic.
But in his statement, he also made a commitment that is likely to draw more fire from conservative groups insisting on tighter immigration requirements.
"I will work with Congress to lift the immigration ban on HIV (news - web sites)-positive people that has prohibited the United States from hosting this lifesaving meeting," promised the senator.
Approximately 40 million people are currently infected with HIV around the world, and six million need antiretroviral therapy now, according to UN experts, who point out that more than 20 million have already been killed by the epidemic.
The United States is testing all new immigrants for HIV, and a positive test is usually grounds for denying admission.
With only about 400,000 people in developing nations having access to treatment, Kerry said, his strategy "starts with doubling US funding."
President George W. Bush promised last year commit 15 billion dollars to the international campaign to combat AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria over the next five years, and Congress has already begun making allocations under the program.
But the Democratic candidate said the White House was falling short of delivering on its promise.
Is Kerry insance?
uh, why? what bullsh*t reason is he trying to peddle for this
whacko idea?
Dear globalist ahole EFnK:
Tell me once again just HOW this helps the United States of America????????
Yippee ...This is wonderful...More aids patients for our healthcare system...more lawsuits...more everything
Huh?
Isn't that special? Kerry has a soft spot for the undead.
What about TB infected people? Kerry is completely insane.
UnFriggenBelievable!
Um, minor quibble - "US is testing new immigrants..." seems awfully general. "US is testing law-abiding immigrants"
If you don't want to get tested, just walk across the border like so many people do...
At least JFK waited until the voters that got him elected were already dead.
I'm speechless
Insane+nuisance=insance
I like it.
No, just very metrosexual.
I have created a new word lol!!!
Just what does his campaign staff do? They certainly don't stop him from making one stupid statement after another.
They just catch the viruses Americans don't want to catch...
Home of the free and brave and the infected.Great political platform.
And a damn good one to describe Kerry,or any RAT for that matter.
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