Mike Huckabee once advocated isolating AIDS patients from the general public, opposed increased federal funding in the search for a cure and said homosexuality could "pose a dangerous public health risk."

 

As a candidate for a U.S. Senate seat in 1992, Huckabee answered 229 questions submitted to him by The Associated Press. Besides a quarantine, Huckabee suggested that Hollywood celebrities fund AIDS research from their own pockets, rather than federal health agencies.

 

"If the federal government is truly serious about doing something with the AIDS virus, we need to take steps that would isolate the carriers of this plague," Huckabee wrote.

 

"It is difficult to understand the public policy towards AIDS. It is the first time in the history of civilization in which the carriers of a genuine plague have not been isolated from the general population, and in which this deadly disease for which there is no cure is being treated as a civil rights issue instead of the true health crisis it represents."

 

The AP submitted the questionnaire to both candidates; only Huckabee responded. Incumbent Sen. Dale Bumpers won his fourth term; Huckabee was elected lieutenant governor the next year and became governor in 1996.

 

When asked about AIDS research in 1992, Huckabee complained that AIDS research received an unfair share of federal dollars when compared to cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

 

"In light of the extraordinary funds already being given for AIDS research, it does not seem that additional federal spending can be justified," Huckabee wrote. "An alternative would be to request that multimillionaire celebrities, such as Elizabeth Taylor (,) Madonna and others who are pushing for more AIDS funding be encouraged to give out of their own personal treasuries increased amounts for AIDS research."

 

Huckabee did not return messages left with his campaign.

 

When Huckabee wrote his answers in 1992, it was common knowledge that AIDS could not be spread by casual contact. In late 1991, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there were 195,718 AIDS patients in the country and that 126,159 people had died from the syndrome.

 

The nation had an increased awareness of AIDS at the time because pro basketball star Magic Johnson had recently disclosed he carried the virus responsible for it. Johnson retired but returned to the NBA briefly during the 1994-95 season.

 

Since becoming a presidential candidate this year, Huckabee has supported increased federal funding for AIDS research through the National Institutes of Health.

 

"My administration will be the first to have an overarching strategy for dealing with HIV and AIDS here in the United States, with a partnership between the public and private sectors that will provide necessary financing and a realistic path toward our goals," Huckabee said in a statement posted on his campaign Web site last month.

 

Also in the wide-ranging AP questionnaire in 1992, Huckabee said, "I feel homosexuality is an aberrant, unnatural, and sinful lifestyle, and we now know it can pose a dangerous public health risk."

 

A Southern Baptist preacher, Huckabee has been a favorite among social conservatives for his vocal opposition to gay marriage. In 2003, Huckabee said that the U.S. Supreme Court was probably right to strike down anti-sodomy laws, but that states still should be able to restrict things such as gay marriage or domestic partner benefits.

 

"What people do in the privacy of their own lives as adults is their business," Huckabee said. "If they bring it into the public square and ask me as a taxpayer to support it or to endorse it, then it becomes a matter of public discussion and discourse."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071208/ap_on_...r/huckabee_aids

 

:confused

 

Will be interesting to see if this has any legs.

That's just scary. Huckabee worries me because I think he is too extreme on his religious views. Hillary Clinton might actually have a chance against a Huckabee because he is not central enough. The media public would spin it as a race of a 'religious nutjob' vs. a moderate Hillary Clinton. The moderate will win every time, female or not.

Yeah, for me it is 'just say no' to social conservatives.

Yeah, for me it is 'just say no' to social conservatives.

Amen.

ouch. 1992... but still, given his religious convictions I'd be surprised if he can just chalk this one up to "I've had a change of heart."

 

 

Might affect the "nice guy" image he's carried lately.

Yeah, for me it is 'just say no' to social conservatives.

Amen.

I see you're buying in to the agenda I'm pushing.

 

*gets out palant?r*

Why Fox, I had no idea you were a LOTR person.

 

:o

Why Fox, I had no idea you were a LOTR person.

 

:o

I'm your everything baby.

Yeah, for me it is 'just say no' to social conservatives.

Amen.

I see you're buying in to the agenda I'm pushing.

 

*gets out palant?r*

 

*whispers*

 

Build me an army worthy of Dodge!

My word. It's powerfully hot in here.

What's wrong with seperating people with the disease from the rest?

What's wrong with seperating people with the disease from the rest?

Seriously?

What's wrong with seperating people with the disease from the rest?

 

Uhh... :confused

Main point to be taken from this article: Huckabee needs to be asked serious questions in the debates. This guy is gaining popularity mainly because he gets softball questions and has yet to be asked anything substantive. The guy has 0 foreign policy experience and, as this article indicates, some completely irrational viewpoints on domestic issues. Now that he's presumed to have a following, he needs to be questioned about things that truly matter and not solely asked what Jesus would think about the dealth penalty.

Main point to be taken from this article: Huckabee needs to be asked serious questions in the debates. This guy is gaining popularity mainly because he gets softball questions and has yet to be asked anything substantive. The guy has 0 foreign policy experience and, as this article indicates, some completely irrational viewpoints on domestic issues. Now that he's presumed to have a following, he needs to be questioned about things that truly matter and not solely asked what Jesus would think about the dealth penalty.

That is one of the reasons the current debate format sucks.

 

It should be 'town hall meeting' style.

I don't know about isolation, but homosexuality is positively correlated with unhealthy behaviors, depression, suicide, and drug use. You can interpret that however you please, but these things are facts.

And what's your point?

I don't know about isolation, but homosexuality is positively correlated with unhealthy behaviors, depression, suicide, and drug use. You can interpret that however you please, but these things are facts.

Being alive is positively correlated with unhealthy behaviors. You can interpret that however you please, but it's a fact.

And this is why Huckabee scares me. I like the guy, I think he's pretty genuine, but he's the last person in the entire field that I want as President. I contrast him to Romney, who I think is a total fraud, and yet the idea of him as President doesn't scare me.

And what's your point?

We are too PC in this society. Just because a politician pointed out the fact that homosexuals are disproportionately unhealthy in the past, that does not make him evil. The homosexual community has some major problems (though I am sure many can be traced to discrimination from heterosexuals.) But they are real.

 

 

Now isolation is a different story.

And what's your point?

We are too PC in this society. Just because a politician pointed out the fact that homosexuals are disproportionately unhealthy in the past, that does not make him evil. The homosexual community has some major problems (though I am sure many can be traced to discrimination from heterosexuals.) But they are real.

 

 

Now isolation is a different story.

 

I'd be extremely interested in seeing an unbiased report of this finding.

 

There's a difference between being "PC" and being offensive, and I would say you've crossed that threshold.

I can bet the main reason that gays have those problems is because they are generally mistreated by society in general. I'm sure the numbers were worse among African-Americans during the Civil Rights Era.

Or the fact that someone with AIDS can live a normal life in society and not harm anyone under normal circumstances.

And what's your point?

We are too PC in this society. Just because a politician pointed out the fact that homosexuals are disproportionately unhealthy in the past, that does not make him evil. The homosexual community has some major problems (though I am sure many can be traced to discrimination from heterosexuals.) But they are real.

 

 

Now isolation is a different story.

 

I'd be extremely interested in seeing an unbiased report of this finding.

 

There's a difference between being "PC" and being offensive, and I would say you've crossed that threshold.

No, he's right. I can't point you to one single comprehensive study but if you conduct a little bit of research you can piece it all together. They run high risks of alcoholism, depression, suicide, and drugs (methamphetamines appear to be the drug of choice), compared to heterosexual males.

 

Granted this is all statistical, which I am not a fan of. I can't even begin to pinpoint the causes of these habits.

 

 

Having said that, quarantine is not an irrational or even unethical practice in many instances. However, what Huckabee seemed to be promoting is not something a free society does under the given circumstances.

 

Quarantine of a sexually transmitted disease is absolutely irrational and unethical. In, say a zombie outbreak, yes fine I'm all for quarantine.

 

I think it's pretty easy to see that a group of people who essentially have to live their lives in secret because a majority of the population doesn't understand their lifestyle might suffer from depression. I don't think that has anything to do with them being homosexual. It is unfair to imply that.

I strongly disagree with Huckabee's stance on this, but as a reactionary statement made during the AIDS explosion (and considering that's how we've handled every other virus in the past), I can at least see where he is coming from.

Not given the facts available at the time. At that point, people were already aware of the 4 fluids by which the HIV virus was transmitted.

 

Re: homosexuals. I imagine this would factor in to some extent, but I feel you are treating the issue very superficially. Homosexuality is psychological phase of development and can bring a lot of baggage. Meth could merely be used to heighten the sensation of intercourse.

I don't really know what you're saying here because you seem to have written it hastily.