Richardson Talks AIDS, Domestic Issues
Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson hears voters' concerns in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
By the time presidential candidate Bill Richardson arrived for one of his patent job interviews at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, the roughly 100 chairs had been filled and overflow spectators stood beside walls and in the back of the room.
Though some questions were posed at the Tuesday night event about Iraq and foreign policy, most dealt with domestic issues including the AIDS crisis, access to medicine and reproductive health.
Des Moines area resident Kaytee Riek started off the the question-and-answer period by asking about trade agreements and their impact on low-income nations.
"This question has to do with something that frustrates me to death about the current administration," she said. "In our trade policy we actually hurt access to medicines. The World Trade Organization gives poor countries the right to override patents of pharmaceuticals in America, but when we sign trade agreements with them, we take that right away from the country. This ensures the price of medicine is not going to fall. People with AIDS, heart disease and asthma can't access the medicines they need because of the trade agreement. Is that something you are going to change?"
Richardson, the Democratic governor of New Mexico, listed his short answer as "yes," and jokingly added that he was going to give Riek a position in his administration.
"You make a lot of sense," he said. "You're right. The regulatory agencies in this country — whether it's the FDA or OSHA — in many cases this administration has put industry people there. They should be consumers. They should be people that protect Americans and protect consumers."
When it comes to pharmaceutical issues such access to vaccinations and generic drugs, he added, government needs to learn to be bipartisan.
"When it comes to pharmaceutical companies and companies that are involved in medicinal issues, I would find ways to make them part of our foreign assistance bill," he said. "Many private foundations are doing a lot of good work in getting drug companies and pharmaceutical companies to donate vaccines. I would make that a part of the government policy."
Following the meeting, Riek said she was happy yet concerned about Richardson's answer to her question.
"I'm a part of a group — Iowa for AIDS Action," she said. "Yes, I'm happy with it, although I'm worried that maybe he didn't fully understand the question I was asking. But he said, 'I agree with everything you just said.' That's heartening, but I think we need to get out there and educate more."
The subject of AIDS was directly addressed in at least two more questions from the audience.
"As a nation we've been unable to bring down the number of new HIV infections," a woman said. "In fact, President Bush's administration has failed to achieve a national goal of cutting that number in half and there is no new research. Will you, as president, make sure the U.S. Centers for Disease Control budget has the necessary resources?"
Another woman, recently returned from Tanzania, wanted to know how a Richardson administration would combat the generation of breadwinners in that nation and across Africa who have died of AIDS.
"I won't agree to every figure, but I do agree with the premise of what you're saying," Richardson said when responding to the first question. "We've got to have a more effective strategy of out-reach and education when it comes to AIDS."
Richardson also pledged to make his vice president the head of the AIDS commission before explaining that additional measures were needed.
"What we need is tougher strategies than what you mentioned — besides outreach, education and funding," he said. "We have to be more innovative. We have to promote the use of condoms. We've got to have needle exchanges. We've got to be aggressive in our strategies and devote more to AIDS research."
While pointing to individuals in African leadership who have created barriers to AIDS treatments in their nations, Richardson also said U.S. diplomats play a big role.
"A lot of this is politics, but it is also people," he said. "Who we appoint to do these things is a big decision. I would have a big focus in our programs for AIDS prevention, especially in Africa."
John and Royce Feltenberger moved to Iowa from Louisiana just weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit in August 2005. While the couple is making their home in this state now and intend to stay here, they still worry about family and friends in and around New Orleans. They wanted to know what Richardson would do to correct the continuing problems in the area.
"That national disaster and its aftermath was one of the saddest chapters in our nation's history," said Richardson. "The administration's response to Katrina was pathetic. I would put the Federal Emergency Management Agency directly under the president again and, of course, hire a competent person to run it. Probably the most important thing I would do — because there have been rumors of certain areas with certain political ties gaining assistance before others without those ties — is to make sure no politics are involved."
John Feltenberger said he appreciated the governor's remarks.
"We are here now," he said after the event. "This is our home and we are happy. But what happened there was wrong and it hasn't been fixed. There are people still suffering. This issue is personal and important to us, and I would have liked to have heard him discuss it first."
The subject remains emotional for the couple, who quickly exited the room after our brief interview.
Richardson returns to Iowa on Monday, Sept. 3. Exact details of that trip have not yet been made available. Iowans interested in learning more about Iowa for AIDS Action, should stay tuned for an upcoming article about the organization or email Riek.