Republican Mike Huckabee's left Ryan White's mom high and dry - again.

Huckabee agreed last month to meet with Jeanne Ginder-White after the former Governor's HIV quarantine comments made headlines. Presidential candidate Huckabee, however, has yet to get in touch with Ginder-White. And activists are pissed: blockquote>"We are still waiting for the meeting,” said A. Gene Copello, Executive Director of The AIDS Institute. “It is our sincere hope that Governor Huckabee will keep his word given to Jeanne White-Ginder that he will meet with her," said Copello.

"Is Governor Huckabee a man of his word or is this just more typical political double-speak?” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “It has been 29 days, Jeanne White-Ginder and the HIV/AIDS advocacy community continues to wait."

*

Huckabee, do yourself a favor and sit down with Ginder-White. At least for a photo-op to prop up that "compassionate" persona.

*Has Solmonese forgotten his ENDA double speak?

Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee better learn some manners! Neither the Republican nor his campaign managers have made any attempt to contact Jeanne White-Ginder. From HRC:

One week after requesting to meet with Republican presidential candidate Governor Mike Huckabee, Jeanne White-Ginder, the mother of Ryan White, the Human Rights Campaign or The AIDS Institute, still have not heard from Gov. Huckabee or his campaign. The meeting was called in response to Gov. Huckabee’s 1992 remarks, that he refused to repudiate, when he said people living with HIV and AIDS should have been “isolated” even after it was determined the virus was not spread through casual contact. The morning after HRC and The AIDS Institute sent a letter to the Huckabee campaign requesting a meeting, the Governor said, “I would be very willing to meet with them.”

An HRC supporter reportedly asked Huckabee about a meeting and Huckabee said he didn't know how to get in touch with White-Ginder. His staff has since been given White-Ginder's contact information. We'll see if he actually follows up.

A note to Mike Huckabee: If you or your staff are reading this, Huckabee, we suggest you meet with Ginder-White before the Iowa Caucuses. Just a tip.

• Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee and his - um, charming - family took this picture when the politico was Arkansas' governor. Ain't it sweet?

• Ryan White's mother talks more about talking to Mike Huckabee.

• What's wrong with Tom Cruise?

• The heat is on at La Mama!

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Mike Huckabee may not be willing to recant his disgusting HIV/AIDS statements, but the presidential candidate says he's willing to meet with Jeanne White-Ginder, whose son Ryan died of AIDS in 1990.

White-Ginder called on Huckabee to apologize for suggesting we quarantine AIDS patients. So did HRC. Speaking in Iowa today, the former Governor of Arkansas said he'd be willing to sit down with his critics.

I would be very willing to meet with them. I would tell them we've come a long way in research, in treatment.
…
I certainly never would want to say anything that would be hurtful to them or anyone else. I would have great regret and anxiety if I thought my comments were hurtful or in any way added to the already incredible pain that families have felt regardless of how they contracted AIDS.

Apparently he doesn't read all the criticism as people's pain.

Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee's HIV comments have caused quite a stink. We were stunned to hear that the Southern Baptist preacher man once advocated quarantining AIDS patients. Then, when asked to clarify his comments, Huckabee refused to recant his statement.

As the outraged din grows into a roar, one voice definitely deserves to be heard: Jeanne White-Ginder.

White-Ginder's son, of course, was Ryan White: the 18-year who died after contracting HIV via a blood transfusion and captured our national heart. The Florida resident tells the Associated Press she'd like to sit down and have a heart-to-heart with Huckabee:

It's so alarming to me. It's very important to me that we don't live in the darkness… We have to treat this disease like a disease, and like Ryan always said, not like a dirty word.

Huckabee may have to relearn the entire English language!

No doubt Christian fundamentalists are fuming right about now. Congress slashed abstinence-only programs from $50 million to $28 million. Those programs, of course, scare the sin into American guppies, thus ensuring they don't understand - and, in fact, fear - sex. Rather than encouraging such fearful tactics, the government decided to put its money where it counts: HIV funding.

The U.S. Senate Tuesday approved a bill that reduces funding for the Bush supported abstinence education programs by $28.5 million while instead providing approximately $31 million in additional funding for the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act.

Part of the $31 million includes $25 million for AIDS Drug Assistance Program, which means our citizens can start getting the meds they so desperately need.

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Elton John traveled to Washington Monday to receive the National Association of Broadcasters' Service to America Leadership Award. Ever socially aware, NAB honored John's tireless work against that international nightmare, HIV/AIDS.

The guest list looked like a who's who of American culture, with democratic Senator Barbara Boxer and Representative John Dingell sitting side by side with Miss America, Lauren Nelson and Inside Edition's Deborah Norville. Meanwhile, Oleta Adams put a jazzy spin on some of John's classics, like "Can You Feel the Love Tonight," which Elton no doubt did.

Taking the stage, Elton - who has cited Ryan White as his inspiration for his activism - told the enraptured audience,

This is a chance to make up for behavior I deeply regretted … I’m like the whore that goes around and rattles people’s wallets.

As opposed to the whore that goes around and rattles people's wieners? (Seriously, we've looked around for more quotes from his speech, but this is the only one we could find. It's a bit twisted, don't you think?)

In other Elton John fights AIDS news, Mariah Carey signed on to headline the Elton John AIDS Foundation's June 29th One Mighty Party. Fag favorite Carey will apparently sing six dance remixes at the Paris event. We're totally there!! In spirit, of course.