AIDS activist: Sad attack from Sanders campaign. Can they help me find the "fortune" they mentioned?

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After putting pressure on the Bernie Sanders campaign to agree to meet with them, a coalition of HIV/AIDS activists now say that the independent Vermont Senator and Democratic presidential candidate is “misleading the public” about the content of that meeting, and “exploiting” their group for short-term political gain, even implying an endorsement by the group that they did not make.

Those charges are contained in a scathing open letter to the Sanders campaign signed by 19 members of the coalition, in which the group says Sanders pimped their meeting in a press release that made it sound like the group endorses a piece of legislation that Sanders supports...


The Sanders campaign responded to the activists’ letter by accusing them of being stooges for pharmaceutical companies. No, I’m not kidding. You can read the full response here, but here’s a taste:

This is absolutely absurd and ridiculous. No presidential candidate running for president is more committed to ending the AIDS epidemic than Bernie Sanders. And you would know this if you read Bernie’s plan. Here is a copy: https://berniesanders.com/issues/hiv-and-aids/

While we are disappointed in your continued mischaracterizations and repeated attacks on the Bernie Sanders campaign, it is not surprising that someone who depends on Gilead Sciences and other big pharmaceutical companies for funding would continue to drop bombs on the only presidential candidate who has the courage to stand up to the greed of the big drug companies.

Michael Rajner and fellow activist Peter Staley deny receiving any funding from pharmaceutical companies, and are obviously not pleased with the campaign’s response, from Sanders Policy Director Warren Gunnels. Here’s what Rajner tells Mediaite:

I don’t receive funding from Big Pharma to engage in my advocacy as a volunteer, and the attack from the Sanders campaign lodged at Peter and the coalition is beyond the pale. I’m insulted and outraged. Their exaggerated and misguided attack on Peter, and the campaign’s failure to dignify our efforts, paints Senator Sanders as extremely out of touch with the issue of HIV/AIDS in 2016.

Interestingly, I emailed the Sanders campaign at 6:02 pm for comment on the activists’ letter, and at 6:08, Warren Gunnels posted this now-deleted tweet:



Sad attack from @BernieSanders campaign. Can they help me find this "fortune" they mentioned? pic.twitter.com/Xzql8AaDqF
— Peter Staley (@peterstaley) May 28, 2016

Peter Staley@peterstaley
Sanders campaign attacks me personally. FACT: I'm a volunteer AIDS activist that lives on savings (NO ONE PAYS ME)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10209785927224369&set=a.1191034335491.2028973.1217362611&type=3&theater …


read: http://www.mediaite.com/online/berned-again-hivaids-activists-say-bernie-sanders-misled-public-and-exploited-their-meeting/

__________________________________

Peter Staley (Facebook)
11 hrs ·

Tweet from Bernie Sanders' Senior Policy Director. I would love to find that fortune he's referring to! What's next? Anonymous death threats?

Also, when did I ever say "campaign of hate"?? Link please!!

Peter Staley
12 hrs ·

My recent Gilead posts:

https://www.facebook.com/peterstaley/posts/10209615084273402

https://www.facebook.com/peterstaley/posts/10209603119494290...

_______________________________

Peter Staley with Kelsey Louie and 8 others.
12 hrs ·

***These are the "pharma shills" (AHF's words) that the Sanders campaign just insulted by saying our views were paid off by big pharma



Tranisha Arzah, Peer Advocate, BABES-NETWORK YWCA

Jaron Benjamin, Vice President for Community Mobilization, Housing Works

Marco Alonso Castro-Bojorquez, Activist & Filmmaker

Guillermo Chacón, President, Latino Commission on AIDS; Founder, Hispanic Health Network

Thomas Davis, Health Education Specialist, Los Angeles LGBT Center

Kenyon Farrow, U.S. & Global Health Policy Director, Treatment Action Group (TAG)

Donnie Hue Frazier III, Prevention Training Specialist, APLA Health & Wellness

Ramon Gardenhire, Vice President of Policy & Advocacy, AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC)

Naina Khanna, Executive Director, Positive Women’s Network – USA

Kelsey Louie, MSW, MBA, CEO, Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC)

Hilary McQuie, Director of U.S. Policy & Grassroots Mobilization, Health GAP

Nadia Rafif, Director of Policy, Global Forum on MSM and HIV

Michael Emanuel Rajner, BSW, HIV/AIDS Activist and Social Worker

Venita Ray, Public Affairs Field Specialist, Legacy Community Health

Bamby Salcedo, President and CEO, The TransLatin@ Coalition

Andrew Spieldenner, Ph.D., United States People Living with HIV Caucus

Peter Staley, AIDS Activist

DaShawn Usher, Community Education and Recruitment Manager, New York Blood Center’s Project ACHIEVE; Chair, Young Black Gay Men’s Leadership Initiative (YBGLI) Vice-President, Impulse Group NYC

Phill Wilson, President and CEO, Black AIDS Institute

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1. kick

[TwilightZone]

2. So, instead of addressing the concerns he had about how they misrepresented the meeting

they claimed he was in the tank for Big Pharma.

So, lie about the meeting, then cover up the lie with a personal attack with no basis in fact.

That makes a lot of sense.

[bigtree]

3. they did what a lot of DUers do

...copy and paste someone else's bogus attack.

Right in character of their campaign to deflect and project against the folks making complaints.

[TwilightZone]

4. Attacking AIDS activists and walking in to anti-gay tunes is...

a pretty odd voter outreach program.

But then, so was "Hillary won the Confederacy!"

[riversedge]

8. What a low life campaign Sanders is running. Shameful

[azurnoir]

5. Didn't this same guy play something quite similar on the eve of the NY primary?

in any event it could appear as though he wishes to make sure AID's medications remain in adequate supply for those that can afford them

here's a list of those who support making them more affordable to all who need them, sorry no photo op included


And this is the grassroots movement Bernie is very proud to be a part of who support this initiative:
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)
California Nurses Association (CNA)
American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) – California
Alameda County Democratic Party
Contra Costa County Democratic Party
Santa Clara County Democratic Party
Solano County Democratic Party
Yolo County Democratic Party
Federal Officials
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (D – Vermont) – Candidate for President of the United States
Former U.S. Secretary of Labor (1993-97) Robert Reich
Former Assistant Deputy U.S. Secretary of Commerce (2009-11) Ro Khanna
U.S. Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA 17)
State Officials
State Assemblymember David Chiu (D-AD 17)
State Assemblymember Kansen Chu (D-AD 25)
State Assemblymember (Ret.) Mariko Yamada (D-AD 4)
State Assemblymember (Ret.) Steve Fox (D-AD 36)
Former Member, California State University Board of Trustees Kathleen Kaiser Ph.D.
Local Officials
Yolo County Supervisor Don Saylor
Yolo County Supervisor Jim Provenza
Saratoga City Councilmember Rishi Kumar
Alameda City Councilmember Lena Tam
San Leandro City Councilmember Jim Prola
Former San Jose City Councilmember Forrest Williams
Trustee, Los Angeles Community College District Sydney Kamlager
Trustee, West Valley-Mission Community College District Addrienne Grey
Trustee, Ohlone Community College District Jan Giovanini-Hill
Trustee, Ohlone Community College District Teresa Cox
Vice-President, Compton Community College District Andres Ramos
Vice-President, Fremont Unified School District Board of Trustees Ann Crosbie
Trustee, San Leandro Unified School District
Trustee, Raisin Elementary School District Evangelina Urias
Member, St. Helena School Board Alex Shante
Port Commissioner, City of Oakland Michael Colbruno
Former Planning Commissioner, County of Napa Matt Pope
President, Hilltop District Neighborhood Association Cesar Zepeda
Member, Marin County Election Advisory Committee Mark Kyle
Democratic Party Leaders
Western States Caucus Chair, Democratic National Committee Aleita Hugenin
Former President, National Federation of Democratic Women Pat Hobbs
Secretary, California Democratic Party Daraka Larimore-Hall
Chair, Federation of Democratic Central Committee Members Michael Evans
President, California College Democrats Naeemah Charles
Chair Emeritus, California Young Democrats Allan Acevedo
Member, Democratic National Committee Shawn Bagley
Member, Democratic National Committee Becca Doten
Member, Democratic National Committee Bob Mulholland
Chair, Alameda County Democratic Central Committee Robin Torello
Chair, Yolo County Democratic Central Committee Bob Schelen
Chair, Plumas County Democratic Central Committee Faith Strailey
Chair, Trinity County Democratic Central Committee George Bates
Chair, Solano County Democratic Central Committee Brigette Hunley
Chair, Sierra County Democratic Central Committee Cindy Ellsmore
Chair, Contra Costa County Democratic Central Committee Jeff Koertzen
Chair Emeritus, Contra Costa Democratic Central Committee Chuck Carpenter
Regional Director (Region 2), California Democratic Party Craig Cheslog
Regional Director (Region 4), California Democratic Party Martha Gamez
Regional Director (Region 6), California Democratic Party Hene Kelly
Regional Director (Region 7), California Democratic Party Omar Torres
Regional Director (Region 13), California Democratic Party Diane Boureaux
Chicano Latino Caucus Chair, California Democratic Party Carlos Alcala
Progressive Caucus Chair, California Democratic Party Mike Thaller
Arab American Caucus Chair, California Democratic Party Murad “Mo” Sarama
Chicano Latino Caucus Region 2 Vice-Chair, California Democratic Party Norma Alcala
Vice Chair, California Democratic Party Arab American Caucus Iyad Afalqa
Seniors Caucus Vice Chair, California Democratic Party Carol Taylor
Chair, California Young Democrats Jewish Caucus Jason Ackerman
Chair, California Young Democrats Black Caucus Darryn Harris
Chair, California Young Democrats LGBT Caucus Matha Acevedo
Asian Pacific Islanders Caucus Northern Chair, California Democratic Party Aref Aziz
Vice-Chair, California Young Democrats Black Caucus De’Anthony Jones
Vice President, Pacific Palisades Democratic Club Lorraine Geittmenn
Member, Affirmative Action Committee California Democratic Party Hillary Blackerby
President, Sacramento County Black Young Democrats Obai Rambo
Operations Vice-President, Miracle Mile Democratic Club Michael Kapp
Parliamentarian, Sacramento County Central Committee Andrew Becker
Affirmative Action Committee Member, California Democratic Party Karen Weinstein
Vice President, Tri Valley Democratic Club Sharon Goldberg
President, Tri Valley Democratic Club Ellis Goldberg
Platform Committee Member, California Democratic Party Janet Gastil
Parliamentarian, California Young Democrats Jenny Bach
National Committeewoman, California Young Democrats Carrie McFadden
National Committeeman, California Young Democrats Michael Soto
Veterans Caucus 1st Vice Chair, California Democratic Party Josh Newman
Former President, Davis College Democrats Max Mikalonis
President, Winters Democratic Club Marlene Bell
Executive Board Member, Kings County Democratic Party Holly Andrade Blair
Executive Board Member, Tulomne County Democrats Domenic Torchia
Executive Board Member, Harry S. Truman Democratic Club Rick Parrot
Board Member, South Alameda County Young Democrats Lance Kwan
Political Director, Sacramento County Young Democrats Alyssa Hanou
President, Solano County Young Democrats Joe Summers
Treasurer, Sacramento County Young Democrats Philip Norton
President, Placer County Young Democrats Greg Harnage
Member, Mono County Democratic Central Committee Zane Davis
Member, Lake County Democratic Central Committee Shirley Howard
Community Leaders
Civil Rights and Labor Advocate Dolores Huerta
Civil Rights Advocate Rev. Al Sharpton
President, National Union of Healthcare Workers Sal Roselli
Executive Director, Center for American Islamic Relations Basim Elkarra
Founder, Indo-American Community Federation Jeevan Zutshi
Medical Student and Public Advocate Umer Waris
Aids Health Advocate James Vinson
Aids Health Advocate Janelle Vinson
2015 Kaiser National Bargaining Team, SEIU-UHW Gabriel Montoya
--
Warren Gunnels
Policy Director
Bernie 2016
>>>>>

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10209785927224369&set=a.1191034335491.2028973.1217362611&type=3&theater

[barrow-wight]

10. Yeah. Only one of those is an AIDS org.

And it's a contentious one at that, according to the other orgs involved in this dispute.

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6. kick

[geek tragedy]

7. Sanders campaign once again shows its contempt for real activists

and willingness to lie and smear anyone they deem "impure."

Thank goodness they lost.

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9. kick