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Bush Quietly Saved a Million African Lives

Discussion in 'Political Debate & Discussion' started by OldRegular, Aug 24, 2009.

  1. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

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    http://www.crosswalk.com/news/commentary/11607599/

    Dr. Paul Kengor
    Grove City College

    August 21, 2009
    What if a president, on his own initiative, under no demands from staff or from supporters or opponents, set out to spend an unprecedented amount of money on AIDS in Africa, literally billions of dollars, at a time when the nation could not afford it, citing his faith as a primary motivation and, ultimately, saved more than a million lives?

    Wouldn't the story be front-page news, especially in top, liberal newspapers? Wouldn't it lead on CNN, MSNBC, and the "CBS Evening News?" Might statues be erected to the man in the nation's more "progressive" cities?

    What if the president was George W. Bush?

    I pose these uncomfortable questions for two reasons: 1) President Bush did precisely that regarding the African AIDS tragedy; and 2) a study claims that Bush's remarkable action has indeed saved many precious lives.

    And as someone who has closely followed Bush's humanitarian gesture from the outset, I'm not surprised that the former president continues to not receive the accolades he deserves—including even from conservative supporters—for this generous act.

    Bush himself realizes the lack of gratitude and media attention. I personally witnessed it recently, on June 17, when I was in attendance for one of Bush's first post-presidential speeches, in Erie, Pa. There, too, he mentioned the AIDS initiative—even adding that one of his daughters is in Africa today, working on the epidemic—and, there again, it received no press coverage whatsoever.

    It all began in January 2003, during the State of the Union. In a completely unexpected announcement, Bush asked Congress for $15 billion for AIDS in Africa—drugs, treatment and prevention.
     
  2. Crabtownboy

    Crabtownboy Well-Known Member
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    One of the things I do give Bush great credit for was the work that he and his administration did concerning HIV/AIDS in Africa. This was one area he was 'right on' about.
     
  3. FlyForFun

    FlyForFun New Member

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    So was seeking out and destroying those responsible for 9/11 and those who harbored them.
     
  4. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    Derail attempt alert! Besides, Iraq had nothing...NOTHING...to do with the attacks of September 11, 2001.

    I do give everyone involved in the fight against AIDS credit...including President Bush. This is not a point where I have a quibble with him.
     
  5. FlyForFun

    FlyForFun New Member

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    Did I say anything about Iraq?

    No.

    I don't agree with those who posit as anything to do with AIDS as automatically virtuous.
     
  6. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    So what DO you think? Do you not believe that combating a deadly disease is a noble endeavor?
     
  7. carpro

    carpro Well-Known Member
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    It just can't be!!!!! :eek:

    Haven't you heard?

    Republicans hate black people and Bush is pure evil.

    Funny , isn't it? Democrats talk a good game but Bush actually saw the problem and did something about it. Now democrats can go back to taking blacks for granted and keeping them "in their proper place".
     
    #7 carpro, Aug 24, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 24, 2009
  8. billwald

    billwald New Member

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    AIDS is 100% preventable unless you are born with it.

    Why was there no big social or government push to eliminate and/or subsidize the treatment of syph and Ghonnerea (sp?)? What is special about AIDS? We all know, right?
     
  9. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    Could it be because we can cure syphillis & gonnorhea? AIDS is still a killer. Do you not think there are innocent victims? What if you have a sister whose husband is not faithful and he brings it home to her? Was that preventable by her? Other than trusting a man unworthy of such trust, how could she have prevented it?
     
  10. BigBossman

    BigBossman Active Member

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    For once you have said something that I absolutely, 100% agree with. I believe that the majority of people who have AIDS (I'd say about 99%), have the disease because of the lifestyle they lead. Drug users, homosexuals, & even heterosexuals that engage in affairs outside of marriage will get it. People know what the dangers are, so why do they do it? It doesn't make sense.
     
  11. FlyForFun

    FlyForFun New Member

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    I think efforts should be made to combat every disease.

    Not just those that happen to be on the radar of celebrities.
     
  12. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    That is what happens, so you should be a happy camper.
     
  13. alatide

    alatide New Member

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    How do you know who was responsible for 9/11. The fbi on their web site www.fbi.org don't charge bin Laden with anything related to 9/11 because there isn't enough evidence. Check it out.
     
  14. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

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    alatide
    We have heard that same crap before from your alter egos Baptist Believer, Just Christian, and Freedom. Either stay on topic or start your own thread to discuss Bush and 9/11. It appears to me that you have made that same ridiculous point ad infinitum.
     
  15. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

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    AIDS is obviously a tragedy for those who contact the disease through no fault of their own. This may well be the case in Africa.

    An even greater tragedy is that an equivalent amount of money has not been spent on finding a treatment for the disease Alzheimers which is not the result of anyones behavior.
     
  16. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    OR, on this we heartily agree. :thumbs: :applause:
     
  17. OldRegular

    OldRegular Well-Known Member

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    It has happened on other, though few, occasions!:thumbs:
     
  18. FlyForFun

    FlyForFun New Member

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    No, it isn't, or you wouldn't agree about Alzheimer's research comment.
     
  19. Magnetic Poles

    Magnetic Poles New Member

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    That doesn't follow. There is lots of research on Alzheimers, but I would like more. Can you prove your assertion that it is not getting additional funding because it needs more celebrities to champion it?
     
  20. Baptist Believer

    Baptist Believer Well-Known Member
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    - I am NOT alatide.

    - I do NOT subscribe to 9/11 conspiracy theories that do not place the blame on Al Qaeda (there was a conspiracy, but our government was not behind it).

    - I am NOT an "alter ego" (whatever that's supposed to mean) of alatide, Just Christian or Freedom. My views are quite different.

    And to bring it back on topic, I voted for George W. Bush three times (once for Texas governor and twice for U.S. President) and I have been a supporter of AIDS prevention and the supply of anti-viral drugs to Africans.

    Regarding AIDS being preventable, in most cases it is. However what happens in Africa is that men who acquire AIDS through their unfaithfulness, often bring it home to their wives, infecting them. There's also a folk remedy for AIDS that asserts you can be cured of AIDS if you have sexual intercourse with a virgin girl. As a result, AIDS has spread rapidly, with women of all ages being the innocent victims (including teen and pre-teen girls acquiring AIDS from their rapists).

    The amount the U.S. government has spent on the problem (a fairly trivial amount compared to the way our government usually spends money) has helped to slow the spread of AIDS through education regarding how it is transmitted, and has helped provide anti-viral drugs to those who need them.
     
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