Obama Campaign Unveils Plan to Fix Underfunded HIV/AIDS Programs

Sen. Barack Obama's campaign held a conference call Thursday intended to highlight his policy prescriptions for combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic -- including increased funding for research, care, and prevention as well as developing a national HIV/AIDS strategy within the first year of his administration.

By Kerry Eleveld

Surrogates for the campaign tried to pound home distinctions between an Obama-Biden administration's approach to the disease and a McCain-Palin administration's.

“One of the most important differences is going to be leadership on public health issues that are facing America, in particular the ongoing HIV/AIDS epidemic,” congresswoman Diana DeGette, vice chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, said.

DeGette noted that while Obama’s health care plan requires health insurance companies to cover everyone regardless of preexisting conditions, Sen. John McCain’s does not, because insurers would be allowed to move into states that don’t guarantee such coverage.

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Eleveld is the political editor for The Advocate.

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Name: Nancy
Date posted: 11/11/2008 10:01:00 AM
Hometown: Madisonville

Comment:
Thank you! I did vote for you Mr. Obama, I am happy to read that you will be helping those that have HIV and AIDS. No one seemed to care anymore about AIDS. I had a brother who i loved to die in 1993 from AIDS he was just 33 years old. I have spoke in schools to the youth about AIDS and how not to get it. I did this as a promise to my brother John. I know i am one voice, but i can help. Thank you again. You are a good soul. Nancy Ann
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Name: Jamal Bey
Date posted: 10/28/2008 2:44:00 PM
Hometown: Sacramento, CA

Comment:
I agree with Doug. I for one am glad that President Obama will do this in the first year of his administration. I also hope that the Obama Administration will support a Comprehensive Health Disparities Bill that will provide funding to minorities at the highest risk for HIV and other health disparities.
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Name: thomas bruneau
Date posted: 10/21/2008 1:00:00 PM
Hometown: new orleans

Comment:
oh boy that sure does sound GOOD to me. let hope its followed tru with. is anyone awear of how much money is being spent in iraq ?. i think if we had half as much as the gov is spending there we might be able to do a WHOLE HELL OF A LOT MORE HERE IN THE U.S.A for people lving with HIV/AIDS i am a housing casemanager for a local no profit here in new orleans and let me tell you we need $$$$$ to help people find and keep low income housing most people get soc sec and who can pay rent ,buy food, pay utilities, on 650.00 somthing a month its vulger to see this happing here in the U.S.A I SHOULD KNOW I'VE BEEN THERE IM POZ MYSELF. thomas bruneau new orleans la
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Name: anthony newsome
Date posted: 10/19/2008 12:16:00 PM
Hometown: dublin

Comment:
its good to know that Obama will reintroduce a planned policy on dealing with the urgent hiv/aids problems which america is facing, just remember to get out and vote come november 4th, anthony
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Name: Doug Johnson
Date posted: 10/17/2008 4:54:00 PM
Hometown: Sioux Falls, SD

Comment:
In paragraph one: "within the first year of his administration" - - I sure do like the sound of that.

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