That Time The Reagan White House Press Briefing Erupted With Laughter Over AIDS 13 Times
Hysteria over the Ebola virus is reminiscent of what happened to Ryan White, the child who was stricken with AIDS. The lack of correct information which circulated in the media resulted in a bullet being fired through his family’s living room. The Whites were essentially run out of town.
While Republicans are footing the blame of Ebola squarely on President Obama’s shoulders, let’s look how their hero Ronald Reagan handled the growing AIDS epidemic.
Reaganbola via Buzzfeed:
White House Press Briefing — Oct. 15, 1982
Q: Larry, does the President have any reaction to the announcement—the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, that AIDS is now an epidemic and have over 600 cases?
MR. SPEAKES: What’s AIDS?
Q: Over a third of them have died. It’s known as “gay plague.” (Laughter.) No, it is. I mean it’s a pretty serious thing that one in every three people that get this have died. And I wondered if the President is aware of it?
MR. SPEAKES: I don’t have it. Do you? (Laughter.)
Q: No, I don’t.
MR. SPEAKES: You didn’t answer my question.
Q: Well, I just wondered, does the President—
MR. SPEAKES: How do you know? (Laughter.)
Q: In other words, the White House looks on this as a great joke?
MR. SPEAKES: No, I don’t know anything about it, Lester.
Q: Does the President, does anybody in the White House know about this epidemic, Larry?
MR. SPEAKES: I don’t think so. I don’t think there’s been any—
Q: Nobody knows?
MR. SPEAKES: There has been no personal experience here, Lester.
Q: No, I mean, I thought you were keeping—
MR. SPEAKES: I checked thoroughly with Dr. Ruge this morning and he’s had no—(laughter)—no patients suffering from AIDS or whatever it is.
Q: The President doesn’t have gay plague, is that what you’re saying or what?
MR. SPEAKES: No, I didn’t say that.
Q: Didn’t say that?
MR. SPEAKES: I thought I heard you on the State Department over there. Why didn’t you stay there? (Laughter.)
Q: Because I love you, Larry, that’s why. (Laughter.)
MR. SPEAKES: Oh, I see. Just don’t put it in those terms, Lester. (Laughter.)
Q: Oh, I retract that.
MR. SPEAKES: I hope so.
Q: It’s too late.
White House Press Briefing — June 13, 1983
Q: Larry, does the President think that it might help if he suggested that the gays cut down on their “cruising”? (Laughter.) What? I didn’t hear your answer, Larry.
MR. SPEAKES: I just was acknowledging your interest—
Q: You were acknowledging but—
MR. SPEAKES: —interest in this subject.
Q: —you don’t think that it would help if the gays cut down on their cruising—it would help AIDS?
MR. SPEAKES: We are researching it. If we come up with any research that sheds some light on whether gays should cruise or not cruise, we’ll make it available to you. (Laughter.)
Q: Back to fairy tales.
White House Press Briefing — Dec. 11, 1984
MR. SPEAKES: Lester’s beginning to circle now. He’s moving in front. (Laughter.) Go ahead.
Q: Since the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta—(laughter)—reports—
MR. SPEAKES: This is going to be an AIDS question.
Q: —that an estimated—
MR. SPEAKES: You were close.
Q: Well, look, could I ask the question, Larry?
MR. SPEAKES: You were close.
Q: An estimated 300,000 people have been exposed to AIDS, which can be transmitted through saliva. 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 in the same manner that they forbid typhoid fever people from being involved in the health or food services?
MR. SPEAKES: I don’t know.
Q: Could you—Is the President concerned about this subject, Larry—
MR. SPEAKES: I haven’t heard him express—
Q: —that seems to have evoked so much jocular—
MR. SPEAKES:—concern.
Q: —reaction here? I—you know—
Q: It isn’t only the jocks, Lester.
Q: Has he sworn off water faucets—
Q: No, but, I mean, is he going to do anything, Larry?
MR. SPEAKES: Lester, I have not heard him express anything on it. Sorry.
Q: You mean he has no—expressed no opinion about this epidemic?
MR. SPEAKES: No, but I must confess I haven’t asked him about it. (Laughter.)
Q: Would you ask him Larry?
MR. SPEAKES: Have you been checked? (Laughter.)
I suppose that’s Obama’s fault, too. Imagine if the Obama administration made Ebola jokes. The outrage would be deafening.
After the first case of AIDS was discovered in 1981,scientists, researchers and health care professionals expressed the need for funding. The Reagan White House remained silent on the subject.
Ryan White died on April 8th, 1990 at the age of 18. He spent his short life educating the masses on AIDS. Reagan issued a statement about AIDS. Democrats did not blame the former president of spreading the virus in order to bring America to its knees because Kenya, or something.
Image: Buzzfeed
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By: Anomaly100
140 responses to That Time The Reagan White House Press Briefing Erupted With Laughter Over AIDS 13 Times
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William October 19th, 2014 at 08:06
The patron saint of *giggle* conservatism.
William October 19th, 2014 at 08:06
The patron saint of *giggle* conservatism.
Kimberly Collins October 19th, 2014 at 19:35
Yes, thank you for posting this. My friend posted this transcript today when some conservative on my newsfeed was trying to foist some BS revisionist history on us about Reagan’s AIDS policy. We were THERE and we REMEMBER.
Kimberly Collins October 19th, 2014 at 19:35
Yes, thank you for posting this. My friend posted this transcript today when some conservative on my newsfeed was trying to foist some BS revisionist history on us about Reagan’s AIDS policy. We were THERE and we REMEMBER.
Evan Fowler October 19th, 2014 at 19:41
These are their heroes.
Evan Fowler October 19th, 2014 at 19:41
These are their heroes.
Ray Herd October 19th, 2014 at 21:18
Note that the press corps were highly critical of the importance of the question. So few understood the seriousness of AIDS. All were culpable in the ruse.
Noting also; the Press were mostly Democrat. Seams ignorance is an epidemic at all levels of US Government, Financial, Industrial, Religious, and Social entities. Perhaps more States than just the US are afflicted by this epidemic of ignorance. Obama declared a new emergency response team #arrogant to fight Ebola. It will be run by Military.
#Ignorance #ofsomany
Candide Thirtythree October 20th, 2014 at 07:42
So you are privy to the status of all reporters voter registration cards?
That would be a crime since you would have had to steal all of their voter registration information. Are you a hacker and have you stolen information from voter registration rolls?
If not, then it is slander to claim that you know private information and then spread it around.
PS. It has been proven time and again that there is no such thing as liberal mass media, all mass media is corporate media so that makes it all conservative.
Swampdawg October 20th, 2014 at 09:57
Points about the ideological bent of the media aside, a person’s voter registration, including party affiliation, is easily accessible public information. If you don’t believe me, google “[Your State] voter lookup” and try looking for yourself or your friends.
Candide Thirtythree October 23rd, 2014 at 05:56
No it is not you liar, it is a FELONY to even try to access someone’s voter registration, you can go to prison for a very long time…I think I will call the FBI and report you for attempting identity theft.
Swampdawg October 23rd, 2014 at 11:40
Please do. I’m sure the intern who answers the phones could use a good laugh.
Candide Thirtythree October 24th, 2014 at 00:12
You have openly admitted to mining for people’s personal data, they take identity theft pretty seriously now and you gave them probable cause.
Ray Herd October 20th, 2014 at 18:05
Typical response from yet another Liberal. I know about you as I know about the Liberal Media; by your words.
OldLefty October 20th, 2014 at 18:14
“Liberal media”???
What a joke.
Pangolin October 22nd, 2014 at 22:23
You are a liar. Like most conservatives you make up factoids where reality doesn’t agree with the deliberate arrogance and greed of your politics.
Candide Thirtythree October 23rd, 2014 at 05:49
and you are dangerously mentally ill, I know about you because that was my job for 20 years, reading people and you read like a horror novel.
Easy_to_Refute_Wingnuts October 20th, 2014 at 10:12
I don’t think a knowledge of sewing is germane to the topic.
Viir Exeter October 20th, 2014 at 16:45
Ray: You do NOT know that the press were mostly Democrat. And, that is one of the most ridiculous statements that has ever been posted on a board, ever. And, what has that got to do with anything? You think that even if the press WERE mostly Democrat that that would make the FACTS concerning Reagan’s gross negligence somehow untrue or less horrendous? And, it is *quite* telling that you did not address the gross negligence of your Z-actor, I-don’t-remember-if-I-authorized-arms-shipments-to-Iran-or-not, Alzheimer’s guy, Republican Ronald Reagan, on his vile handling of the AIDS epidemic. My mother was a nurse during the Reagan years, and the entire hospital industry was SCREAMING for assistance and for an acknowledgement from Reagan and the government to MOVE on, and address, the issue. Being the unutterable COWARD that Reagan was, he wouldn’t even say the word, “AIDS,” until public demand forced him to. Thousands upon thousands of men, women and children died before Reagan would even acknowledge it. Reagan also had the unmitigated gall to say that he [Reagan] guessed it was a judgment from God, which further inflamed the already furious hate, vitriol, violence and stigma being focused on gays at the time. AIDS is not a “gay” issue. In Africa, 90%+ of the AIDS population is heterosexual. Anything to protect Reagan. He was one of the worst presidents this country has EVER seen, and that is exactly how he will go down in history.
OldLefty October 20th, 2014 at 18:15
Noting also; the Press were mostly Democrat.
__________
Their bosses were mostly Republic.
Ray Herd October 19th, 2014 at 21:18
Note that the press corps were highly critical of the importance of the question. So few understood the seriousness of AIDS. All were culpable in the ruse.
Noting also; the Press were mostly Democrat. Seams ignorance is an epidemic at all levels of US Government, Financial, Industrial, Religious, and Social entities. Perhaps more States than just the US are afflicted by this epidemic of ignorance. Obama declared a new emergency response team #arrogant to fight Ebola. It will be run by Military.
#Ignorance #ofsomany
Candide Thirtythree October 20th, 2014 at 07:42
So you are privy to the status of all reporters voter registration cards?
That would be a crime since you would have had to steal all of their voter registration information. Are you a hacker and have you stolen information from voter registration rolls?
If not, then it is slander to claim that you know private information and then spread it around.
PS. It has been proven time and again that there is no such thing as liberal mass media, all mass media is corporate media so that makes it all conservative.
Swampdawg October 20th, 2014 at 09:57
Points about the ideological bent of the media aside, a person’s voter registration, including party affiliation, is easily accessible public information. If you don’t believe me, google “[Your State] voter lookup” and try looking for yourself or your friends.
Candide Thirtythree October 23rd, 2014 at 05:56
No it is not you liar, it is a FELONY to even try to access someone’s voter registration, you can go to prison for a very long time…I think I will call the FBI and report you for attempting identity theft.
Swampdawg October 23rd, 2014 at 11:40
Please do. I’m sure the intern who answers the phones could use a good laugh.
Candide Thirtythree October 24th, 2014 at 00:12
You have openly admitted to mining for people’s personal data, they take identity theft pretty seriously now and you gave them probable cause.
Ray Herd October 20th, 2014 at 18:05
Typical response from yet another Liberal. I know about you as I know about the Liberal Media; by your words.
OldLefty October 20th, 2014 at 18:14
“Liberal media”???
What a joke.
$32809 October 22nd, 2014 at 22:23
You are a liar. Like most conservatives you make up factoids where reality doesn’t agree with the deliberate arrogance and greed of your politics.
Candide Thirtythree October 23rd, 2014 at 05:49
and you are dangerously mentally ill, I know about you because that was my job for 20 years, reading people and you read like a horror novel.
Easy_to_Refute_Wingnuts October 20th, 2014 at 10:12
I don’t think a knowledge of sewing is germane to the topic.
Viir Exeter October 20th, 2014 at 16:45
Ray: You do NOT know that the press were mostly Democrat. And, that is one of the most ridiculous statements that has ever been posted on a board, ever. And, what has that got to do with anything? You think that even if the press WERE mostly Democrat that that would make the FACTS concerning Reagan’s gross negligence somehow untrue or less horrendous? And, it is *quite* telling that you did not address the gross negligence of your Z-actor, I-don’t-remember-if-I-authorized-arms-shipments-to-Iran-or-not, Alzheimer’s guy, Republican Ronald Reagan, on his vile handling of the AIDS epidemic. My mother was a nurse during the Reagan years, and the entire hospital industry was SCREAMING for assistance and for an acknowledgement from Reagan and the government to MOVE on, and address, the issue. Being the unutterable COWARD that Reagan was, he wouldn’t even say the word, “AIDS,” until public demand forced him to. Thousands upon thousands of men, women and children died before Reagan would even acknowledge it. Reagan also had the unmitigated gall to say that he [Reagan] guessed it was a judgment from God, which further inflamed the already furious hate, vitriol, violence and stigma being focused on gays at the time. AIDS is not a “gay” issue. In Africa, 90%+ of the AIDS population is heterosexual. Anything to protect Reagan. He was one of the worst presidents this country has EVER seen, and that is exactly how he will go down in history.
OldLefty October 20th, 2014 at 18:15
Noting also; the Press were mostly Democrat.
__________
Their bosses were mostly Republic.
NY to SF October 20th, 2014 at 21:10
Blame the less excepted gay’s at the time . Can you imagine if USA pointed the finger at the true AIDS beginnings . It was Africa. Got it right this time or you want to blame gay’s again ?
John Gamboa October 21st, 2014 at 17:05
I suggest you learn how to spell and punctuate before posting on a public forum. How can we respect your opinions if you don’t?
NY to SF October 20th, 2014 at 21:10
Blame the less excepted gay’s at the time . Can you imagine if USA pointed the finger at the true AIDS beginnings . It was Africa. Got it right this time or you want to blame gay’s again ?
John Gamboa October 21st, 2014 at 17:05
I suggest you learn how to spell and punctuate before posting on a public forum. How can we respect your opinions if you don’t?
Vandy Beth Glenn October 20th, 2014 at 23:42
I see Larry Speakes died earlier this year. Does anyone know if he ever apologized or expressed regret over these incidents?
Vandy Beth Glenn October 20th, 2014 at 23:42
I see Larry Speakes died earlier this year. Does anyone know if he ever apologized or expressed regret over these incidents?
Monte Lutz October 21st, 2014 at 15:09
Apples and oranges. We KNOW how to stop Ebola, in 1982 we did not have nearly the info about Aids.
Monte Lutz October 21st, 2014 at 15:09
Apples and oranges. We KNOW how to stop Ebola, in 1982 we did not have nearly the info about Aids.
jim October 21st, 2014 at 19:59
in 1983, the president had access to 70% of information in files that a ten year old now has at the palm of his fingertips on his ipod touch.
jim October 21st, 2014 at 19:59
in 1983, the president had access to 70% of information in files that a ten year old now has at the palm of his fingertips on his ipod touch.
Pangolin October 22nd, 2014 at 22:21
The San Francisco Department of Public Health had contacted the CDC and the White House after the first few dozen cases made it clear that AIDS was a new and unknown disease. The Reagan administration deliberately ignored the disease while hundreds of thousands of people were infected.
There was no lack of information supplied to Washington from front line doctors. There was an attempt to use the virus as a backdoor genocide of homosexual men.
LittleLeadmen October 22nd, 2014 at 23:15
You should check your numbers. The CDC states that there were only 270 cases in 1981, with 121 deaths. And that by the end of 1982, there were only 452 reported cases.
There had not been 1000 deaths until the end of 1983, at which point the Federal Govt had already spent $52 million in AIDS research spending, signed by President Reagan. That was up from $8m in 1982. A five fold increase in just 12 months, as a response to the growing infection rate in the gay community
There had not been “Hundreds of Thousands” of infections within the US (as you incorrectly claim) at any time within the term of the Reagan Administration.
For a President that supposedly didn’t care, the gay community got exponential spending growth towards ending towards a disease that almost exclusively affect them (particularly in the 1980s) and the earliest years of the outbreak.
Federal Funding for AIDS research was as follows:
1982 $8M
1983 $44M
1984 $103M
1985 $205M
1986 $508M
1987 $922M
1988 $1.6 Billion
1989 $2.33 billion (budget passed in 1988)
President Reagan signed $5.73 billion in U.S.-government anti-AIDS spending. That’s $10.6 billion in inflation adjusted dollars. Name any other disease in human history that got SO much attention, and research funding IMMEDIATELY.
Obewon October 22nd, 2014 at 23:33
You’re Busted! “Congress first appropriated additional funding for AIDS research at NIH in a supplemental appropriations bill in July 1983, which provided about $9 million of the $21.7 million that NIH spent on AIDS in fiscal year 1983. “-NIH http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=1769&page=96
LittleLeadmen October 25th, 2014 at 14:35
http://fas.org/spp/civil/crs/96-293.pdf
Here’s the documentation. You are incorrect when you state that funding started in 1983.
LittleLeadmen October 25th, 2014 at 14:38
And with regard to airborne, it has been airborne before. And most of the prior cases were airborne. The CDC knew this back in 1989. When it jumped between containment rooms via the air system.
there are many documented examples of Ebola becoming airborne, this is just one. It’s not as if the CDC doesn’t know this is a very real possibility
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI30zwY5r6M
tracey marie October 25th, 2014 at 15:27
rotflmao
$32809 October 22nd, 2014 at 22:21
The San Francisco Department of Public Health had contacted the CDC and the White House after the first few dozen cases made it clear that AIDS was a new and unknown disease. The Reagan administration deliberately ignored the disease while hundreds of thousands of people were infected.
There was no lack of information supplied to Washington from front line doctors. There was an attempt to use the virus as a backdoor genocide of homosexual men.
LittleLeadmen October 22nd, 2014 at 23:15
You should check your numbers. The CDC states that there were only 270 cases in 1981, with 121 deaths. And that by the end of 1982, there were only 452 reported cases.
There had not been 1000 deaths until the end of 1983, at which point the Federal Govt had already spent $52 million in AIDS research spending, signed by President Reagan. That was up from $8m in 1982. A five fold increase in just 12 months, as a response to the growing infection rate in the gay community
There had not been “Hundreds of Thousands” of infections within the US (as you incorrectly claim) at any time within the term of the Reagan Administration.
For a President that supposedly didn’t care, the gay community got exponential spending growth towards ending towards a disease that almost exclusively affect them (particularly in the 1980s) and the earliest years of the outbreak.
Federal Funding for AIDS research was as follows:
1982 $8M
1983 $44M
1984 $103M
1985 $205M
1986 $508M
1987 $922M
1988 $1.6 Billion
1989 $2.33 billion (budget passed in 1988)
President Reagan signed $5.73 billion in U.S.-government anti-AIDS spending. That’s $10.6 billion in inflation adjusted dollars. Name any other disease in human history that got SO much attention, and research funding IMMEDIATELY.
Obewon October 22nd, 2014 at 23:33
You’re Busted! “Congress first appropriated additional funding for AIDS research at NIH in a supplemental appropriations bill in July 1983, which provided about $9 million of the $21.7 million that NIH spent on AIDS in fiscal year 1983. “-NIH http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=1769&page=96
Furthermore light shines ‘from ear to shining ear’ via your fantasy post on “Breitbart News Network: George Will Cites Report that Ebola Transmittable by Air
LittleLeadmen • 2 days ago
Except that Ebola is airborne, and it has been documented.”-Lol where Glenn Beck’s LazeTV? Not Peer-reviewed science that’s for sure!
You know lone U.S. victim Duncan’s Dallas Family is 100% Ebola free right?
LittleLeadmen October 25th, 2014 at 14:35
http://fas.org/spp/civil/crs/96-293.pdf
Here’s the documentation. You are incorrect when you state that funding started in 1983.
LittleLeadmen October 25th, 2014 at 14:38
And with regard to airborne, it has been airborne before. And most of the prior cases were airborne. The CDC knew this back in 1989. When it jumped between containment rooms via the air system.
there are many documented examples of Ebola becoming airborne, this is just one. It’s not as if the CDC doesn’t know this is a very real possibility
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI30zwY5r6M
tracey marie October 25th, 2014 at 15:27
rotflmao