George W. Bush’s words that saved millions
And then there were these sentences in the 2003 address 10 years ago: “Tonight I propose the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief,” said President George W. Bush, “a work of mercy beyond all current international efforts to help the people of Africa. This comprehensive plan will prevent 7 million new AIDS infections, treat at least 2 million people with life-extending drugs and provide humane care for millions of people suffering from AIDS and for children orphaned by AIDS.” …
In retrospect, the words were not particularly memorable. But the moment was remarkable. An initiative of this scale and ambition — the largest effort to fight a single disease in history — was utterly unexpected. Bush’s strongest political supporters had not demanded it. His strongest critics, at least for a time, remained suspicious. The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) existed entirely because of a willing leader, a creative policy team, a smattering of activists and a vast, bleeding need. …
PEPFAR offers some political philosophic lessons. Liberals had to get accustomed to measured outcomes and accountability. Conservatives had to abandon an indiscriminate cynicism about the capabilities of the state. I remember once citing PEPFAR’s achievements to a conservative leader as one example of successful governmental action. He responded dismissively, “But other than that?” Other than saving a few million lives on a distant continent from a cold start in less than a decade?
Blowback
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That’s nothing.
Obama saved the auto industry.
NeoKong on February 12, 2013 at 4:49 PM
Wow, imagine a president saying he was going to do something, then actually doing it…all the while knowing he’d never get credit for it and not caring one bit.
hollygolightly on February 12, 2013 at 5:02 PM
It’s the least he could do since Reagan created AIDS in the first place!1!11!
/libtards
gwelf on February 12, 2013 at 5:03 PM
GWB will never get the credit he deserves for his AIDS work.
gophergirl on February 12, 2013 at 5:03 PM
Africa Knows.
George Knows.
His Family Knows.
That is probably well enough for George W Bush.
Jimmy Doolittle on February 12, 2013 at 5:12 PM
And His God Knows.
Jimmy Doolittle on February 12, 2013 at 5:14 PM
I miss W. I didn’t agree with everything he did, but you knew he was a good man. You could trust that he would try to do the right thing.
Kristamatic on February 12, 2013 at 5:16 PM
And he gave 6 million people free phones, so there’s that, too.
UltimateBob on February 12, 2013 at 5:20 PM
Hero.
thebrokenrattle on February 12, 2013 at 5:22 PM
I think people who want to help Africa know what Bush did. If I recall correctly, both Bob Geldof and Bono praised his efforts. And as others have said, just having done it is probably enough for W. He isn’t after applause.
grahampowell on February 12, 2013 at 5:22 PM
The BDS in the article’s comments are strong. Libs simply cannot bring themselves to give him proper credit – for instance, one guy said it was all a big ploy to line the pockets of Big Pharma, etc.
I’m so, so tired of these people.
weew on February 12, 2013 at 5:46 PM
You can count on liberals with amazing/frightening accuracy to get the talking points, but little else.
They’ll shriek big phama, but then ask how those drugs get thought of, tested for eons, funded (someone has to pay those researchers and the labs), etc, etc, etc so they can have a small patented time to make some of that cost back before it becomes generic.
Just as they’ll shriek corporate rip off/greed. Then you ask where their union pensions are parked.
Watch the glazed over look and then the repeat of the talking points.
Never misses. And yes, oh so very very tiresome.
kim roy on February 12, 2013 at 6:58 PM