'I'm Not Ashamed Of My Opinions'

What priorities will you stress as co-chair?

I really don't see that as my job. My job is to build a consensus out of the 35 people on that committee. I want to depoliticize it--Secretary Sullivan and I have talked about this--to take politics out of it and come to a consensus for how we can more effectively treat and to make recommendations about lessening the numbers of new infections. I'd like to see us come out with unanimous consensus on everything we recommend.

Do you really think consensus is probable? There are nine holdovers from the Clinton years.

Listen. No matter what wing of the political perspective you are from, if you get down and recognize this is a disease that affects everybody no matter your race, nationality, and orientation, it doesn't matter. So let's get rid of all the issues and dispense with them, and leave political trappings at the door. Is it possible? Sure. Is it probable? I don't know.

Your expected appointment has sparked some angst among AIDS activists, to say the least. Are you surprised?

Not particularly. I have a political career that's evident in Washington, and I'm not ashamed of that career. It has not necessarily been one that the gay community would support. But on this issue, there hasn't been a time when I haven't positioned myself in a way that's supportive ultimately to every community. I'm a straight arrow. What you see is what you get. I'm not ashamed of my opinions, and I'll defend them.