This happened 33 years ago today - The Reagan White House Thought AIDS Was Pretty Hilarious In 1982

[RockaFowler]

http://www.motherjones.com/mixed-media/2014/12/flashback-reagan-white-house-thought-aids-was-pretty-hilarious-1982

Via Jon Cohen's Shots in the Dark: The Wayward Search for an AIDS Vaccine, here is the transcript from the White House press briefing on October 15, 1982, the first time Reagan press secretary Larry Speakes fielded a question about AIDS.

October 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.

The Republican Party hasn't changed at all. Still the same old Schmucks!!

[LiberalArkie]

1. The fact that the rest of the Whitehouse press corp laughed at the question also speaks volumes.

[randys1]

2. Reagan has no excuses. He lived and worked in Hollywood, was a union man, and he

knew and worked with many Gay people that I have to ASSUME he liked.

Then when it came time to be a man, a real man, he failed M I S E R A B L Y

[Bucky]

10. It's horrible. But remember that the entire culture treated homosexuality as a joke.

I don't know if anyone's coined the phrase "pink face" but there were a number of comics in the 60s & 70s, straight and gay, who played effimanacy for a big joke, making careers based on that alone. It wouldn't be acceptable today in the US, tho it's still a staple of Mexican TV comedy. Culture changes slowly. I'm just grateful that it's changing at all, however gradually.

[Bluenorthwest]

3. Many on DU get very upset with those of us who refuse to overlook the vile Reagan era

for the sake of some current ambition or narrative. Some actually defend Reagan Republicans from charges of bigotry. But I myself will never forget.

[Bluenorthwest]

4. They habitually laughed it up, for years. This exchange is from 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.)

http://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/times-the-reagan-white-house-press-briefing-erupted-with#.ugBgA1m1wB

[alcibiades_mystery]

5. Horrific

I read this also in context of your post on disruptive protest yesterday, and ACT UP. This is what they were up against. It's hard to think of a more successful "disruptive" protest movement.

This is Lawrence Speakes historical legacy: a total heartless asshole. Throw some of the reporters in that group, too. My God.

[Bluenorthwest]

7. Lincoln Chafee, Jim Webb and Elizabeth 'aw shucks' Warren were all loyal Reagan/Bush Republicans

Many people here don't want that mentioned. They were on the side of death, ignorance and bigotry. They should be asked to explain their choices.....

[alcibiades_mystery]

8. Indeed

[progressoid]

6. scum.

[Octafish]

9. An Empire of Evil.

The AIDS crisis exploded (with 20,000 deaths) before Reagan could even bring himself to address the issue six years later. In his authorized biography he is quoted as saying that "maybe the Lord brought down this plague," because "illicit sex is against the Ten Commandments."

SOURCE: http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Ronald_Reagan/Ronald_Reagan_Myth.html

[Bucky]

11. Good gravy! Which of the 10 Commandments is against illicit sex?

That fucking idiot was a horrible man, a sponsor of terrorism in Nicaragua & El Salvador, and still not half as bad as the current crop of Republicans.

[Octafish]

13. He forgot he impregnated N. before they got married.

Nancy was luckier. When she announced her pregnancy, Ronnie married her--though weepily confiding to another old flame that he felt he had been trapped.

http://articles.latimes.com/1991-04-21/books/bk-544_1_nancy-reagan

Hypocrisy is a tell.

[Johonny]

12. Meanwhile Republicans spent countless hours lecturing Obama on his "failures" during Ebola

cause you know he didn't handle it professionally like their party would have. Who votes for these people?