Joe Biden Criticizes John Edwards; Mike Huckabee Comments

Senator and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden released statements on Wednesday criticizing separate comments made by fellow candidates John Edwards and Mike Huckabee. The comments were related to AIDS and the war in Iraq.

According to a press release issued by Biden For President on Wednesday, Senator Biden released a statement on Mike Huckabee's comments with regard to putting people with AIDS in quarantine. The statement referred to them as both "intolerant" and "ignorant." Biden pointed out that Huckabee's comments were made "long after" scientists had determined that AIDS is not transmitted via "casual contact." The statement also indicated that Huckabee would not reverse his previous comments when given an opportunity to do so. Biden called upon other presidential candidates to condemn Huckabee's comments as well, and accused Huckabee of "narrow-minded scapegoating."

Meanwhile on Wednesday, Biden's campaign issued another press release criticizing remarks made by Democratic presidential candidate and former Senator John Edwards. It quoted Edwards as saying that there isn't "much disagreement" among Democratic presidential candidates as to how the war in Iraq can be brought to an end. The press release went on to quote a statement from Biden's campaign manager. The manager accused Edwards of contradicting himself, and said that the American people need a president with a genuine plan to end the war and prevent "chaos" in Iraq. He went on to point out that Biden's plan offers a "political solution" for Iraq. The press release also provided quotes of various remarks Edwards has made about the Iraq war in the past.

As of 11:45 AM Eastern on Thursday, Huckabee and Edwards did not appear to have issued any press releases responding to Biden's statements. Wikipedia indicates that the next debate among Democratic presidential candidates is to be held on Thursday, the 13th of December.