SC-C2EA Update

All week long, people in South Carolina have been doing an amazing job of reaching out to politicians and asking questions designed to help bring about positive political change on global and domestic AIDS issues. It's all part of efforts organized by the American Medical Students Association, HealthGAP, Campaign to End AIDS, Student Global AIDS Alliance and others, to train individuals and groups to take advantage of the current presidential election cycle by teaching them how to do "bird-dogging" of the candidates on the campaign trail. More information from other campaign events, including some pictures, will follow in the days to come. For now, the following is a report from Desirae about an event this week in Greenville, SC: The 08.Stop.AIDS Campaign started in earnest today in South Carolina, with five people rocking out at Senator John McCain's announcement rally in Greenville. The event was weirdly small, so we were in the very front. There was no Q&A, so we mobbed the handshake line. We had a birddogging workshop at Furman University last night, so its cool we were able to get out on the trail right away! Paul got to him first, as soon as he stepped off the stage. He said, "one of the things President Bush has done a pretty good job of is making a pretty substantial investment in the fight against global AIDS," -- McCain interrupts: "yes, I agree - that is something I really support." Paul: "the program expires in 2008." McCain: Oh we are DEFINITELY going to renew this program." "Paul "GREAT --" (leans in conspiratorially) "it looks like its going to cost about $50 billion for the second five years. Will you be able to support that?" McCain: "we will do whatever it takes." (swept away by crowd) Dez got to him next, got right up in his face and said, "Thank you for supporting President Bush's program to fight global AIDS. It will expire in 2008, and the next five years will cost $50 billion. Will you step up to the plate for $50 billion so we can keep our promises to Africa?" McCain: "okay okay, I'll try - I'll look into it. I'll do it." Kaytee got him next, and gave the same question, but added that "2 million people are supposed to be on treatment by the time this program ends in 2008, and we need $50 billion to keep people from falling off treatment." McCain: "yeah yeah I've heard that ten times already. We are going to do what it takes, but I am going to need more information about it." Kaytee also got to Senator Lindsey Graham, and asked the same $50 billion question. He said, "yes, that's the best investment we ever made." when pressed with, "Does that mean you will push for the $50 billion?" he said, "whatever it takes we'll do it." (he was being pulled away and might not have totally grasped what he was being asked.) Paul tried to get to Sen. Lindsay Graham to ask him to increase ADAP funding by $239 million to bail South Carolina out of its horrible AIDS drug waiting list. Embarrassingly, he spoke with the totally wrong white guy, although he thinks it was some sort of state level politician who needs to be on board right now for this also. *ahem* We also had invaluable help from xxx who took pictures and helped slow the handshake line so we could have more face time. Paul also talked to a reporter, but forgets from what paper. He thinks it was a local weekly. Paul told him what McCain said and alleged that McCain more or less agreed to support $50 billion for AIDS in Africa. The reporter was interested and took a lot of notes and asked a lot of questions about AIDS in Africa, so I hope this will come out somewhere! There were a number of other folks who came to help out, but they had missed the training, so they were not really able to participate. However, it looks like we'll have a strong posse here in Greenville from Furman! lessons: we should have bunched up to work the handshake line a little more efficiently. We needed to have a somewhat wider array of questions, instead of just repeating ourselves -- especially because we messed up and didn't get in the ADAP question, which was a high priority for us. Okay what a great start! We've already started getting them on board for a some serious new bucks! Go get 'em team! I'm grateful to all who gave of their time and efforts to enable the "bird-dogging" trainings to take place and I'm immensely proud of all the students (and others) who are following the candidates as they make their appearances along the campaign trail. Some attended the first nationally-televised presidential debates last night in Orangeburg, SC. A nurse told me she is interviewing New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson this afternoon in Columbia. Others were attending a Barack Obama rally today in Charleston. I'll be attending a happy hour event for John Edwards this afternoon in Columbia and a group of us will be in attendance tonight at Congressman Jim Clyburn's World Famous Fish Fry. I'll also be attending a reception tomorrow for Senator Joe Biden, which will take place during the South Carolina Democratic Party State Convention. As I previously stated, more reports and photos will be coming! Posted by: Karen Bates, Co-Chair South Carolina Campaign to End AIDS (SC-c2ea) Columbia, SC Email: scaplwa@aol.com www.campaigntoendaids.org/southcarolina or www.c2ea.org/sc AIDS isn't over until it's over for everyone. AIDSVote!