NYC Mayor Bloomberg defends free condoms as lifesavers

[Doondoo]

One day after New York's top Catholic leaders slammed the city's decision to hand out millions of free condoms, Mayor Bloomberg strongly defended the health initiative as a "real-world" effort to save lives.

"I respect the cardinal and the bishop and they have strong views," Bloomberg said yesterday when asked about Edward Cardinal Egan and Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio's criticism.

"I happen to disagree with the views," Bloomberg added on his weekly WABC radio show. "This is not an issue of faith - this is a health issue for the city."

Bloomberg said the city has an "unconscionably high rate" of HIV and AIDS and argued it's the city's responsibility to do what it can to curb the spread of the deadly disease. Bloomberg said he personally agrees that young people would be better off waiting until they're adults before having sex, and he applauded church leaders for preaching to congregants about "what they think is the appropriate ways to live your lives."

"But the Health Department has to work with the real world of people not practicing protected sex, not practicing abstinence, and this is a way to keep people alive," the mayor said.


http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/498402p-420070c.html

[Catch22Dem]

1. No fan of Michael, but he's 100% right in what he's doing

He's also right that it isn't a question of faith, it's a question of health. I'm not so entrenched that I can't admit when a repuke does something right.

[Doctor_J]

2. When is he going to give up the charade that he's a repuke?

he might be the most liberal mayor in the US

[The Count]

5. No kidding! After incarcerating the protesters of the GOP convention?

I lived to see DU darlings Powell and McCain be exposed - hopefully, I'll see the day Bloomberg will be too (more than to a handful of alert New Yorkers). Just being right on condoms doesn't make Mr "I bought myself 2 elections" any more liberal than Rudy. he just has better press. because , coincidentally, he owns it.

[Smarmie Doofus]

7. Ooooh baby! Too true. 70 million $$ ( that we *know* about)...

>>>>Just being right on condoms doesn't make Mr "I bought myself 2 elections" any more liberal than Rudy. he just has better press. because , coincidentally, he owns it.>>>>


Will buy you a lot of good press plus TV and radio ads that run every five minutes telling the Skinnerian pigeons that up is down, and down is up.

Remember the tabloid front page pics of his DEM opponent in dunce-cap?

In the middle of the campaign.

For a misrepresentation that a staffer put on his (opponent's) website re. his attendance in NYC public school.

Despite the fact that Bloomberg misrepresents where he ( Bloomberg) was born on the first page of his *autobiography*.

[nodehopper]

9. well, there is Mayor Gavin

[Vidar]

3. Good for Bloomberg.

[MidwestTransplant]

4. This is an outrage. It will only encourage more closeted right wing nuts

to cheat on their wives with men and do meth. Not to mention the incentive it will give the non closeted "family values" wingnuts to cheat on their wives. This is just bad for society plain and simple.

[The Count]

6. Forgot your little sarcasm smilie there?

[MidwestTransplant]

8. Thought it was sufficiently obvious!

[AngryAmish]

10. Condoms are NOT Lifesavers

Trust me, I know. When one is expecting a minty treat instead get something really chewy that tastes awful it is quite a surprise.

[onehandle]

11. Ha, ha, ha!

Good one.

[Withywindle]

12. Well, there are mint-flavored ones... eom