Contact: Kevin A. Mercuri
October 15, 1996
(202) 986-1300 Ext. 3065
Pager (202) 956-4010

Clinton: Show. Dole: No Show

WASHINGTON, D.C. - "The message on these pledge cards is simple and powerful, yet it has been ignored in the election year frenzy," said Fred Miller, interim executive director of AIDS Action Foundation during the attempted presentation today of over 120,000 voter pledge cards to the Clinton and Dole campaigns. "AIDS matters very, very much to many, many Americans who will cast their votes in memory of the 320,000 Americans whose lives have been claimed by this insidious disease."

AIDS Action Foundation's and The NAMES Project's year-long voter education effort, Remember Them With Your Vote, culminated with a presentation today in front of the White House of pledge cards signed by family, friends, lovers and care givers of people who have been lost to AIDS. While the Clinton campaign responded by having Director of National AIDS Policy Patsy Fleming accept the pledge cards, no Dole campaign representative attended the ceremony. The 120,000 pledges conveyed the message that American voters will remember AIDS when they vote this November.

"We are saddened that the Dole-Kemp campaign is not here because, ultimately, the message that these pledge cards convey is not about Democrats or Republicans. Rather it is that AIDS knows no political boundaries and that the American voter understands this and demands real leadership and action from the next President of the United States to put an end to this national nightmare," Miller added.

Remember Them With Your Vote combined AIDS Action's voter education efforts with The NAMES Project's displays of the AIDS Memorial Quilt in 27 congressional districts across the country. The campaign culminated with an intense voter education effort at the display of the entire 45000-panel AIDS Memorial Quilt which included the collection of signed pledge cards addressed to both President Clinton and Candidate Dole.

Anthony Turney, executive director of The NAMES Project Foundation, was present to deliver pledge cards which were wrapped in white paper and red ribbon. Turney echoed Miller's regret that the Dole campaign did not see fit to accept the sentiments of concerned voters. "One can only wonder why they are not here this morning," Turney said.

For more information, contact:
AIDS Action Council
1875 Connecticut Avenue NW #700
Washington DC 20009
202-986-1300, extension 3053
202-986-1345 (fax)
202-332-9614 (tty)
E-Mail: aidsaction@aidsaction.org