Leadership on AIDS must come from the White House
Filed by: H. Alexander Robinson
December 12, 2008 4:00 PM

http://www.bilerico.com/2008/12/leadership_on_aids_must_come_from_the_wh.php

With all the excitement, hope and opportunities presented by the upcoming installation of President-elect Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States, every progressive constituency group is hawking their first 100 days list. That includes our nation's efforts to combat HIV/AIDS which has spent the past 8 years in the Beltway wilderness.

During the campaign and since his election, the President and Vice-President elect have promised to prioritize the fight against HIV/AIDS. If the incoming administration follows the plan being proposed by numerous AIDS advocates, we could have a national strategy for combating AIDS by 2010. In my view that seems like too long. After all, this is a matter of life and death, not to mention untold suffering for hundreds of thousands of Americans.

Tragically, on September 11, 2001, three-thousand lives were lost. We responded immediately with far-reaching legislation and military force. Three-thousand Americans die every month from AIDS.