Mike Huckabee has recently been taken to taskexternal link, opens in a new tab for his positions on the transmission and treatment of AIDS. He “…advocated “isolating” people with HIV back in ‘92 and opposed increasing funding for AIDS research, years after we knew that HIV wasn’t transmitted through casual contact.”external link, opens in a new tab [It should be noted that the photo in that link has obviously been altered.] Watch his interview on FOX Newsexternal link, opens in a new tab to hear his current position on that statement.
Despite Huckabee’s claims, his position on AIDS and HIV was not appropriate back then. As early as 1983external link, opens in a new tab the CDC was stating that casual transmission did not occur. In 1985 and 1986 the Ryan White legal battleexternal link, opens in a new tab attracted huge amounts of public attention, so it seems unbelievable that Huckabee was not more educated about HIV and AIDS by 1992. What we have here is a man willing to ignore science when it conflicts with his political agenda.
Huckabee’s record on AIDsexternal link, opens in a new tab as governor of Arkansas does not cast him in a more favorable light. With more than a millionexternal link, opens in a new tab people living with HIV in the US, the last thing we need is a president who refuses to get educated about the disease or fund prevention and treatment programs.
The Associated Pressexternal link, opens in a new tab originally brought this to light. More video can be found here.external link, opens in a new tab If you want some real information about HIV and AIDS we’ve got you covered:
The STI Files: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Positively Informed: An HIV/AIDS Roundup