put her at odds with many red state Senators and others who were going to cut off funding for HIV/AIDS prevention, outreach, treatment and support. This truly pissed off a great many people in states that one would assume she would need votes from. She held her ground and did what was right and courageous.

Thanks to her courageous stand - even under the threat from Senators like Thune and Enzi that they would add grotesque amendments like making it illegal for health care providers to discuss anything but abstinenece with patients at risk of sexually transmitted diseases - a compromise was reached that even Senator Kennedy (who had basically given up) could live with. Then, Senator Clinton lifted her hold.

All the while Republicans and political ruminators were saying that this would ruin her chances at being elected President. Whether it did or not I can not say, but she stood on principle.