Bernie Campaign Trashes AIDS Activists In Response To Open Letter

[LebaneseDude 6,146]

Relevant Information: 

 

From Peter Staley's Facebook

This is just depressing. We emailed our "open letter to Senator Sanders" . from the 19 activists who attended the Sanders meeting, to the various contacts we had corresponded with. Warren Gunnels, Senior Policy Advisor to Senator Bernie Sanders, just sent the following email in reply, which repeats Michael Weinstein's lies that I get pharma money (I'm a volunteer AIDS activist that has been living on my own savings since 2011). Again, we had many supporters of the Senator in our coalition, and at the meeting on Wednesday. They do not deserve a response like this from the Sanders campaign:

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. 

Pharmaceutical companies are expected to spend as much as $100 million to defeat the Drug Price Relief Act. That fact alone is a major reason why we will continue to do everything we can to support this important initiative.

We're proud to stand with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, National Nurses United, AARP of California, and many other groups who understand that this ballot initiative will significantly lower drug prices and could save lives. Bernie Sanders has spent his career fighting pharmaceutical greed. He's not about to stop now.

This release is very illuminating:

http://www.stoppharmagreed.com/motivesopponents/

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

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Bernie goes on to list congressmen who support the bill. Note how there is only one AIDS foundation in that list, and that's the one who has been working for this policy change that would affect drug prices.

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[LebaneseDude 6,146]

It's disgusting how this policy director is accusing Peter Staley of all people of being a pharma shill. Repeated mischaracterizations? In the statement they praised Bernie but hung up on this one issue.

It seems that Sanders' camp is fine with this bill only because pharmaceutical companies are fighting it. So it must be the right thing to do!

Wrong! All other HIV/AIDs groups are against this initiative because it would be hard to implement and would drive up drug prices overall, reduce the availability of some drugs, and cost taxpayers millions of dollars in lawsuits triggered by the measure.

This act is a hot mess, with vague language that could ultimately end up hurting the people it wants to protect. 

Anyway say what you want about the ignorance regarding HIV/AIDs issues in this response. This language of this particular response is impolite to say the least. This should not be acceptable to Sanders. Lashing out like this is just... 

[SissyFromSpace 20,884]

im on mobile. can someone highlight the "bashing" ? 

[mcoop 628]

Shameful

[LebaneseDude 6,146]

28 minutes ago, Lance said:

im on mobile. can someone highlight the "bashing" ? 

"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."

[Whispering 18,865]

Let me guess...this guy is "the establishment". 

[LebaneseDude 6,146]

Just now, Whispering said:

Let me guess...this guy is "the establishment".