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Ellen DeGeneres Named AIDS Envoy By Hillary Clinton

Ellen Degeneres

First Posted: 11/08/11 12:20 PM ET Updated: 11/08/11 03:48 PM ET

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By Bradley Clapper, Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration has announced $60 million in additional funding to fight AIDS transmission in sub-Saharan Africa, and a new special envoy to raise global awareness about the deadly disease: Ellen DeGeneres.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the actress will "bring her sharp wit and big heart, and her impressive TV audience and 8 million followers on Twitter" to support U.S. efforts to save the lives of those suffering from HIV/AIDS.

Clinton says the money will help scale up and assess new prevention strategies.

She said Tuesday that more effective prevention methods were driving infections down, making it possible to treat more people. She said that is allowing health campaigners for the first time to "get ahead of the pandemic," and make progress toward establishing an AIDS-free generation.

Clinton says the money will help scale up and assess new prevention strategies.

She said Tuesday that more effective prevention methods were driving infections down, making it possible to treat more people. She said that is allowing health campaigners for the first time to "get ahead of the pandemic," and make progress toward establishing an AIDS-free generation.

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By Bradley Clapper, Associated Press WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration has announced $60 million in additional funding to fight AIDS transmission in sub-Saharan Africa, and a new special envoy...
By Bradley Clapper, Associated Press WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration has announced $60 million in additional funding to fight AIDS transmission in sub-Saharan Africa, and a new special envoy...
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Filed by Curtis M. Wong  | 

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Microcosm8
11 Fans
06:32 PM on 12/01/2011
Wouldn't it be practical to name Eliot Spitzer as top envoy and spokes person?
http://name-of-the-law.blogspot.com/
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party-of-one
62 Fans
06:39 AM on 11/11/2011
Interesting appointment. Does naming a gay person for this role risk re-enforcing a stereotype, however? Can Hillary offer an example of how "sharp wit" on the topic can advance awareness, research, treatment and prevention?
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ynottonycom
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12:30 PM on 11/10/2011
Simply fantastic! Thank you Ellen for stepping up to the plate. You are a perfect representative of the Gay & Lesbian Community. Now if you teamed up with Oprah Winfrey - the two of you could rock this world & make it such a better place - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qrr4_5jQoaM.
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AngryHarpy
I dwell in possibility.
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03:34 PM on 11/09/2011
As if we needed even more reason to love Ellen!
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beawild
71 Fans
03:33 PM on 11/09/2011
I like Ellen and I think that Hillary made the right choice. Good luck to her as our new AIDS envoy, even if she had to find out what the word meant (just kidding).
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kengault
135 Fans
02:06 PM on 11/09/2011
We have that much to allocate for Africa? Why can't they allocate for theyselves?
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Benjamin Barclay Amsden
44 Fans
01:07 AM on 11/10/2011
Because that continent has been seriously held back by colonialism and their often tenuous governments are struggling to address dozens of basic human rights issues at once.

Why should they be helped? Because human populations are not discreet and viruses effect us all, as do destabilized societies.

Why should the US help? Because although problems with your political system have caused massive wealth inequality which ruins the quality of life for a large number of your citizens, you are still a very wealthy nation, and your problems will not be fixed by additional resources (they'd just get sucked up by the already wealthy) but by force of will bringing about regulatory and taxation changes.
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kengault
135 Fans
08:04 AM on 11/10/2011
Taxes SUCK!
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seashele
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07:45 PM on 11/08/2011
We can't cover healthcare for our own citizens but we have $60 million laying around to spend in Africa?
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lijebailey
70 Fans
07:13 PM on 11/08/2011
I love it! You go Ellen. If only our politicians cared as much about their own citizens' health, we'd all be better off.
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inthedesert
Those who never question will fall for anything.
706 Fans
06:37 PM on 11/08/2011
Ellen is a true role model for young gays...especially teens that are struggling to come out. I really admire her and her partner for the image that they present to the world as proud and successful lesbians.
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kengault
135 Fans
02:09 PM on 11/09/2011
Who is her latest partner? Is she hot?
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AngryHarpy
I dwell in possibility.
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03:33 PM on 11/09/2011
She's been married to Portia DeRossi for a few years now.
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Ganeshari
57 Fans
03:35 PM on 11/08/2011
Awesome!
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dogtac69
628 Fans
03:04 PM on 11/08/2011
There could be no better choice for a spokesman for this horrible disease. Ellen is both witty and compassionate. Her work on behalf of Katrina victims was outstanding. She cares about those who really need our help. We thank her for her work.
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