The Ronald Reagan haters are at it again; distorting things about the man and his legacies. This is not minor. These are revisions of history which can be argued are dangerous.
This time, the left wingers are rewriting the history about Reagan and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
In an article published in today’s New York Times, left-winger James Kirchick wrote a questionable piece in which he says Reagan did nothing about the AIDS crisis, during his presidency.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
AIDS first appeared on the scene in 1981. At the time, the disease was often misunderstood and misdiagnosed.
As early as 1985, in response to a reporter’s question, Reagan said "Including what we have in the budget for '86, it will amount to over half a billion dollars that we have provided for research on AIDS in addition to what I’m sure other medical groups are doing.
"And we have $100 million in the budget this year; it’ll be 126 million next year. So, this is a top priority with us. Yes, there’s no question about the seriousness of this and the need to find any answer."
He went even further in his 1986 State of the Union address saying, "We will continue, as a high priority, the fight against Acquired Immune deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). An unprecedented research effort is underway to deal with this major epidemic public health threat.
"The number of AIDS cases is expected to increase. While there are hopes for drugs and vaccines against AIDS, none is immediately available.
"Consequently, efforts should be focused on prevention, to inform and to lower risks of further transmission of the AIDS virus. To this end, I am asking the Surgeon General to prepare a report to the American people on AIDS."
Reagan had, of course, appointed C. Everett Koop as U.S. surgeon general. Dr. Koop made combating AIDS a top priority.
He participated in "Hands Across America," which was a public relations tool to show support for AIDS research.
So much for not caring about AIDS and those suffering from its ravaging, deadly effects.
Contrary to the liberal narrative, Reagan had a long history of championing the rights and privacy of all individuals.
For example, in the 1940’s, he was friends with many gay men during the time he spent in Hollywood; also known as "Babylon," for its non-judgmental attitude towards personal behavior.
Placing his presidential ambitions aside, in 1978, he campaigned loud and long against Proposition 6, known as the Briggs Amendment.
It would have banned gays from teaching in public schools and prevented anyone from advocating the gay lifestyle in these same schools.
It was named after Republican state senator John Briggs of Orange County, California. In the summer of 1978, it was leading in the polls: Until former governor Reagan came out against it.
Reagan authored an op-ed for the old Los Angeles Herald Examiner, which argued in part, "Whatever else it is, homosexuality is not a contagious disease like measles. Prevailing scientific opinion is that an individual’s sexuality is determined at a very early age and that a child’s teachers do not really influence this."
Reagan elaborated saying, "Since the measure does not restrict itself to the classroom, every aspect of a teacher’s personal life could presumably come under suspicion. What constitutes 'advocacy' of homosexuality? Would public opposition to Proposition 6 by a teacher — should it pass — be considered Advocacy?"
Finally, Reagan concluded that the amendment had "The potential of infringing on basic rights of privacy and perhaps even constitutional rights." (Los Angeles Herald Examiner).
Proposition 6 went down to a crashing defeat and when Briggs was ask why, he simply said "Ronald Reagan."
Subsequently, Reagan was applauded in the gay community for his political courage and integrity.
Post presidency, he did fundraising for the Pediatric AIDS Foundation. When Actor Paul Glasser’s’ wife contracted AIDS: Two of the first people they heard from were Ron and Nancy Reagan.
Reagan was always a small "l" libertarian, deeply committed to people’s personal rights and privacy which included a commitment to fighting AIDS and respecting the rights of the individual.
Reagan once said, "Freedom and the dignity of the individual have been more available and assured here that in any other place on earth."
Craig Shirley is a Ronald Reagan biographer, presidential historian, and four-time best-selling author. His most recent book is ''Mary Ball Washington,''a definitive biography of George Washington's mother. Read Craig Shirley's Reports — More Here.
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