Destructive "Coburn 7" Blocks AIDS Bill

[babylonsister]

The Moral Scales
By Michael Gerson


WASHINGTON -- How much do seven members of the U.S. Senate weigh?

Eyeing them -- Tom Coburn, Jim DeMint, Jeff Sessions, Saxby Chambliss, David Vitter, Jim Bunning, Richard Burr -- I'd guess they probably come in at about 1,300 pounds. These are the Republicans who have signed a hold letter, preventing action on the reauthorization of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

Now, how much do 3 million HIV/AIDS-infected people -- the treatment goal of a reauthorized PEPFAR -- weigh? This is a more difficult calculation. Adults with advanced forms of the disease can weigh about 60 pounds. Children with AIDS are like a shadow falling on a scale. Maintaining weight becomes difficult with vomiting and diarrhea, with tuberculosis and fungal infections, with cancers such as Kaposi's sarcoma and lymphoma.

Even so, you'd think that a few million of these wasting bodies would weigh more on the moral balance than seven senators. But so far, you'd be wrong.

It is the nature of the Senate that the smallest of minorities can impede the work of the majority. But it takes a conscious choice -- an act of tremendous will and pride -- for members to employ these powers against an AIDS bill with overwhelming bipartisan support.


more...

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/05/the_moral_scales.html

[Ian David]

1. They also disrupted the memorial service of a fellow congressman, and voted against mothers day.

Republicans are fucking Nazi scum.

[babylonsister]

2. They really are, and judging from MS, people are figuring that out. nt

[Mass]

3. So, once again, is it possible for Reid to make clear why this is so wrong.

When somebody like Michael Gerson gets it, my guess is that most people would to. So, can we force most of the GOP to take a stand on that, rather than waiting.

[babylonsister]

5. The bill had overwhelming bipartisan support. It's very concerning

that just a few r/w nutjobs can throw a wrench into the works.

[LeftishBrit]

4. Evil right-wing murdering bastards

As they are so keen on Bible-thumping, perhaps they should re-read that passage about 'whatever you did not unto the least of these...'

And then go and spend just three weeks assisting doctors or nurses in an African country; seeing dying sick people; young orphans; babies dying of prenatally-contracted AIDS - what about THAT sort of 'late abortion'?

And if that doesn't change their minds, they are fucking psychopaths, which they probably are anyway.

And one of them is advising McCain on health matters - OMG how scary!