Does The Cause Justify the Endorsement?Lieberman Endorses McCain

In a shocking turn of events, Connecticut Democratic Senator and former Democratic Vice Presidential candidate, Joe Lieberman has endorsed Republican Presidential Candidate Senator John McCain for president. Political experts were stunned after hearing that Lieberman crossed party lines in support of McCain.

In an interview with Fox News, Lieberman noted that his friendship with Senator McCain, and his trust in McCain’s ability to lead, motivated him to endorse the Senator as the Republican Nominee. Senator Lieberman said that Senator McCain “seems to be the strongest Republican candidate in the November election. However, the people of this country are fed up with the partisanship. Parties are important, but they are not as important as the country is, the public interest. That's why I said this morning I'm endorsing John McCain, because it's time to put America first again and put the parties second or third.”

Should we expect other Senators and political representatives to begin switching sides? Will a possible Republican candidate switch sides and begin to support a Democratic presidential candidate? To start with, more politicians need to consider speaking out against the strategies and policies being used with the war in Iraq. Additionally more conservatives could speak out against the environmental policies of the U.S., especially considering the risks. If the cause justifies the means maybe a number of politicians will consider an endorsement of an opposing party member.

What is PA WAITING FOR? ( NJ leading the way with Aids Testing)

In six months a new law will be enforced, which mandates moving pregnant mothers and unborn babies to be tested for HIV. Because Governor Jon Corzine is on vacation, acting Gov. Richard J. Codey signed the law Wednesday at University Hospital in Newark. In an interview with the Associated Press, Codey stated “We can significantly reduce the number of infections to newborns and help break down the stigma associated with the disease" Codey said. "For newborns, early detection can be the ultimate lifesaving measure."
Mandatory testing for newborns is only in effect in three states- New York, Connecticut and Illinois. Michigan, Arkansas, Texas and Tennessee have similar laws to New Jersey’s testing of pregnant women.

According to the law, women will be tested in their third trimester unless they have religious objections. This law will go a long way towards controlling the spread of HIV from mother to child. Early detection can decrease the unborn child’s chances for receiving the virus.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, New Jersey is number nine out of the top ten states with Aids cases.
Pennsylvania is number eight on the list.

To see more statistics on HIV see the link below:

* http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/basic.htm#area


Seeing that is still a major killer of Americans in the United states, it is admirable that NJ is moving for legislation that will help control the spread of the disease. During this time in history you a have presidential candidate suggesting that quarantine on Aids patients and labeling Homosexuality as a public health risks is the best option. You have a number of politicians that seem to act as if the disease doesn’t exist at all. However more emphasis needs to be placed on education, testing and the prevention of spreading the disease. New Jersey should be applauded for taking these steps.

Since Pennsylvania is so high on the list of states with Aids cases, one might wonder, will Pennsylvania enact a law to ensure that newborns in Pennsylvania are tested? Will pregnant mothers in Philadelphia be urged to take an HIV test?

With the various meetings and issues they have to be concerned about one can be sure that the state legislators schedule is filled to capacity. However, seeing large number of women and children’s lives that could be saved, one would hope that they can really devote their attention to pondering over whether it is feasible to implement a similar law here in Pennsylvania. If New Jersey can do it why can’t we?