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THREAD: Fitting that Gov. Kristi Noem, who jokes about COVID as she presides over the worst COVID-19 mortality rate on earth, cites Pres. Ronald Reagan.
Reagan knew about HIV/AIDS in 1981, but did not even mention it until 1985—after thousands of Americans had died from it. 1/ https://twitter.com/govkristinoem/status/1334162750210265094
Reagan knew about HIV/AIDS in 1981, but did not even mention it until 1985—after thousands of Americans had died from it. 1/ https://twitter.com/govkristinoem/status/1334162750210265094
Reagan's White House not only ignored AIDS, but laughed about it.
The following are transcripts from times, when journalist Larry Kinsolving tried to ask Reagan Press Secretary Larry Speaks (left) about AIDS, starting in 1982.
2/
The following are transcripts from times, when journalist Larry Kinsolving tried to ask Reagan Press Secretary Larry Speaks (left) about AIDS, starting in 1982.
2/
Kinsolving: Does the president have any reaction to the announcement by the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta that AIDS is now an epidemic in over 600 cases?
Press Sec. Speakes: AIDS? I haven't got anything on it. 2/
Press Sec. Speakes: AIDS? I haven't got anything on it. 2/
Kinsolving: Over a third of them have died. It's known as "gay plague." [Press pool laughter.] No, it is. It's a pretty serious thing. ... And I wonder if the president was aware of this.
Speakes: I don't have it. [Press pool laughter.] Do you? 3/
![Kinsolving: Over a third of them have died. It's known as "gay plague." [Press pool laughter.] No, it is. It's a pretty serious thing. ... And I wonder if the president was aware of this.Speakes: I don't have it. [Press pool laughter.] Do you? 3/](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EoQTAUTXMAATel-.jpg "Kinsolving: Over a third of them have died. It's known as \"gay plague.\" [Press pool laughter.] No, it is. It's a pretty serious thing. ... And I wonder if the president was aware of this.Speakes: I don't have it. [Press pool laughter.] Do you? 3/")
Speakes: I don't have it. [Press pool laughter.] Do you? 3/
Kinsolving: You don't have it? Well, I'm relieved to hear that, Larry! [Press pool laughter.]
Speakes: Do you?
Kinsolving: No, I don't.
Speakes: You didn't answer my question. How do you know? [Press pool laughter.] 4/
![Kinsolving: You don't have it? Well, I'm relieved to hear that, Larry! [Press pool laughter.]Speakes: Do you?Kinsolving: No, I don't.Speakes: You didn't answer my question. How do you know? [Press pool laughter.] 4/](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EoQTA-iW8AM6aGP.jpg "Kinsolving: You don't have it? Well, I'm relieved to hear that, Larry! [Press pool laughter.]Speakes: Do you?Kinsolving: No, I don't.Speakes: You didn't answer my question. How do you know? [Press pool laughter.] 4/")
Speakes: Do you?
Kinsolving: No, I don't.
Speakes: You didn't answer my question. How do you know? [Press pool laughter.] 4/
Lester Kinsolving: Does the president — in other words, the White House — look on this as a great joke?
Larry Speakes: No, I don't know anything about it, Lester.
HIV/AIDS came up again in a 1984 Reagan White House press conference. 5/
Larry Speakes: No, I don't know anything about it, Lester.
HIV/AIDS came up again in a 1984 Reagan White House press conference.
5/
Kinsolving: Since the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta report is going to…[Press pool laughs]...that an estimated...
Speakes: This is going to be an AIDS question.
Kinsolving: Can I ask the question, Larry? That an estimated 300,000 people have been exposed to AIDS... 6/
Speakes: This is going to be an AIDS question.
Kinsolving: Can I ask the question, Larry? That an estimated 300,000 people have been exposed to AIDS... 6/
Kinsolving: Will the president, as commander in chief, take steps to protect armed forces, food, and medical services from AIDS patients or those who run the risk of spreading AIDS...?
Speakes: I don't know. 7/
Speakes: I don't know. 7/
Kinsolving: Is the president concerned about this subject, Larry?
Speakes: I haven't heard him express concern.
Kinsolving: You mean he has expressed no opinion about this epidemic?
Speakes: No, but I must confess I haven't asked him about it. 8/
Speakes: I haven't heard him express concern.
Kinsolving: You mean he has expressed no opinion about this epidemic?
Speakes: No, but I must confess I haven't asked him about it. 8/
Kinsolving: Will you ask him, Larry?
Speakes: Have you been checked? [Press pool laughter.]
Unidentified: Is the president going to ban mouth-to-mouth kissing?
Kinsolving: What? Pardon? I didn't hear your answer.
Speakes: [Laughs.] Ah, it's hard work. I don't get paid enough.
![Kinsolving: Will you ask him, Larry?Speakes: Have you been checked? [Press pool laughter.]Unidentified: Is the president going to ban mouth-to-mouth kissing?Kinsolving: What? Pardon? I didn't hear your answer.Speakes: [Laughs.] Ah, it's hard work. I don't get paid enough.](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EoQUY3WWEAcHYr1.jpg "Kinsolving: Will you ask him, Larry?Speakes: Have you been checked? [Press pool laughter.]Unidentified: Is the president going to ban mouth-to-mouth kissing?Kinsolving: What? Pardon? I didn't hear your answer.Speakes: [Laughs.] Ah, it's hard work. I don't get paid enough.")
Speakes: Have you been checked? [Press pool laughter.]
Unidentified: Is the president going to ban mouth-to-mouth kissing?
Kinsolving: What? Pardon? I didn't hear your answer.
Speakes: [Laughs.] Ah, it's hard work. I don't get paid enough.
"The exchanges also demonstrated that Reagan and his administration didn't take the epidemic very seriously, for which the Reagan administration is still heavily criticized." https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vox.com/platform/amp/2015/12/1/9828348/ronald-reagan-hiv-aids
