Posted on 03/31/2005 8:52:27 PM PST by SmithL
ARLINGTON, Va. - Three weeks at home was apparently enough rest for former President Clinton, who stepped back into the public arena Thursday night with a call for more action to fight AIDS. He also couldn't resist a few joking jabs at Republicans.
"I got all juked-up at home," said Clinton, looking energized and excited to be back in the spotlight, as he was honored by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases for his post-presidency work fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Clinton's first public appearance since undergoing surgery three weeks ago in New York was slightly ahead of the four- to six-week time table doctors had said he would need at home.
The 42nd president was given a humanitarian award named after the 39th president and his wife, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter. In nominating Clinton for the honor, Carter singled out Clinton's work brokering deals to supply AIDS drugs at lower prices to Third World countries.
Clinton, 58, jokingly reminded the crowd he had worked on Carter's presidential campaign, "before white Southerners knew that God was a Republican."
He also took a swipe at the White House's proposed cut of all Amtrak subsidies, saying, "That's about the same amount as my personal tax cut over the last four years."
Turning serious, Clinton forcefully appealed for rich nations to do more to fight the spread of AIDS.
Clinton said he was grateful the Clinton Foundation has been able to reduce the price of AIDS medicine for some patients to under $140 a person a year. He estimated that more than 100,000 people in the developing world will have benefited from his foundation's work by the end of the year.
"I just knew that unless somebody was committed to helping these countries systemize their approach and get this medicine out there, people were going to keep dying like flies who don't have to die," Clinton said.
Just before the second surgery, Clinton had been on a high-profile tour of southeast Asia, visiting areas devastated by the Dec. 26 killer tsunami with former President George H.W. Bush to raise funds for recovery efforts.
The follow-up procedure was to deal with a rare complication from a heart bypass operation six months earlier.
Surgeons who operated on Clinton at a New York hospital said he had developed a thick rind of scar tissue and fluid buildup which caused compression and the collapse of the lower lobe of the lung, causing shortness of breath.
Damn... can't they take turns?
I'm dreading 2008 when Bill and Hillary are out campaigning, with the media lapping up every word out of their mouths.
So he spreads infectious diseases and is by rights honored for it. Must be a lot of hard work.
I had faith in this nation's future until Bill Clinton won not one, but two terms. That told me all I needed to know about both parties, the House, the Senate, the Judiciary and the fourth estate.
"President Clinton, who stepped back into the public arena Thursday night with a call for more action to fight AIDS."
I could do this job.
Don't share needles or have unprotected sex. Check please!
Problem solved!!! Clinton can give the tax cut he didn't want to Amtrak to make up for Bush's cuts. Everyone will be happy!
So all the greedy SOB has to do is hand back "His Tax Cut" and Amtrak will be saved. What could be easier?
Oh, I forgot, we're talking about Clinton, which means it's a lie, and even if it were true, he wouldn't give a dime of his, ah, HER money.
Clinton is sucm...before 1992 he was farther to the right of Zell Miller and even Rush Limbaugh becuase that was what got him elected by idiots in Arkansas of which I know from living there from 1970-1984.
Great minds....
Great minds think alike. I like it.
The return of "The Stain."
I wish he would slither right back under that rock.
SinkEmperor should take notice that his appointee in Florida has found a new way to treat the late stages of AIDs.
The Grifter never misses an opportunity to brag about the wealth he and Hildi piled up from selling unreadable books to people who didn't care.
[In nominating Clinton for the honor, Carter singled out Clinton's work brokering deals to supply AIDS drugs at lower prices to Third World countries.]
Liberal politicians always give each other awards for taking money or goods and services away from the people who produce it, and giving it away for free to people who they have convinced are entitled to it (after extracting their modest government fee, of course).
Right, the stain that won't go away.
The man is disgusting. Always has been, and always will be. Kaycee
something tells me God has been trying to give this guy a message....but I don't think he's yet heard it......
"...with a call for more action to fight AIDS."
Too easy, zip it up fudge packers.
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