AIDS Becomes a Political Issue

The New Right seeks to make it a litmus test for Republicans

Right-Wing Activist Phyllis Schlafly was back on the warpath. Holding an open letter to Surgeon General C. Everett Koop at a Washington press conference last Friday, Schlafly denounced him for appearing to advocate the "teaching of safe sodomy in public schools." She accused Koop, a conservative born- again Christian, of not sufficiently promoting chastity. Though the letter, signed by 54 other activists, was addressed to Koop, its message was aimed much further. According to Schlafly, "this is a political issue, and how politicians address it is very important."

The AIDS epidemic is fast moving toward the top of the New Right's...

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