https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/03/us/george-bush-hiv-aids.html?ref=oembed
In the wake of President George H.W. Bush’s death on World AIDS day, there has been much praise given to the 41st president. However, advocates of the disease view his presidency with mixed emotions as a result of his response to the AIDS crisis.
He has received much criticism from leaders of advocacy groups in recent days, saying that he frankly did not do enough to combat the epidemic.
Former leader of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Urvashi Vaid said of Pres. Bush; “If one was being charitable one could say it was a mixed legacy, but in truth it was a bad legacy of leadership,”.
However, in contrast to his predecessor, President Reagan, who would not even say AIDS, he seemed to accomplish much. President Bush took two significant steps to address the epidemic, he signed the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which forbade discrimination against people living with the disease, and the Ryan White Care Act, which remains the largest federally funded program for H.I.V./AIDS patients.
As a Type One Diabetic, I have never felt like it is the President’s job to address my disease, or any others. What do you think? Is the criticism fair? Unfair? Do presidents have the responsibility to take the lead on diseases like AIDS and Diabetes, or is that someone else’s job?
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