Russ Feingold: “It is late, but I cannot let the characterization of the AIDS program in Uganda pass without suggesting that the…”

“It is late, but I cannot let the characterization of the AIDS program in Uganda pass without suggesting that the characterization by the Senator from Kansas is an oversimplification of how they reduced the AIDS incidence in Uganda. Most importantly, what Uganda did is to destigmatize AIDS, to not make people who have AIDS pariahs, and to talk about a range of alternatives, not simply abstinence. The House approach to this does not characterize the way in which they succeed in Uganda. In fact, I suggest it does just the opposite. I object to the use of the Uganda example, which is one of the leading examples of the world. Without the ABC, all three of them, it would not have succeeded. The House approach is too limited to save the lives we all want to save.”