V-Gram 9

February 24, 1996


Well now, is this the Army or the Red Cross?

The Associated Press reports (February 11) that White House counsel Jack Quinn commented on the Defense Bill for President Clinton as follows: "This [AIDS] provision, in the President's judgment, is mean-spirited and serves no purpose other than to punish people who deserve the government's help, not its hatred."

Whether or not HIV-positive persons place others at risk in the close confinements of the military is a matter for the medical profession which, at last count, has changed its mind on the subject at least half-a-dozen times. Speaking of "punish"ment, and confusing fear of a deadly virus with hatred for the sufferer, is as well a matter for the medical profession, albeit requiring the attention of a different branch.

The expression "mean-spirited" is now mechanically employed when Democrats refer to something - anything - Republicans say or do. On the other hand, the proposition that service in the armed forces is a form of government assistance is something of a novelty. What is not new, however, is the gross hypocrisy of a president and his entourage who, not so long ago, required gloves to be worn by HIV-positive visitors attending a conference in his domain.


"Speak loudly and people will think you carry a big stick!"