Bush Urges Support For Africa AIDS Program

President Asks Congress To Renew HIV/Aids Program And Steer Money Into Abstinence Efforts

(AP)  President Bush said Sunday that Congress should renew his global AIDS program and preserve a requirement that steers money into abstinence efforts.

"We don't want people guessing on the continent of Africa whether the generosity of the American people will continue," Mr. Bush said in Tanzania, the second stop of his African trip.

Congress, in fact, strongly backs the program, which is credited with getting medicine and preventive treatment to millions of people - most of them in sub-Saharan Africa. Yet its renewal has gotten hung up over ideology and political debate about disease prevention.

Some Democrats want to eliminate a provision in the bill that requires one-third of all prevention spending go to abstinence-until-marriage programs. Critics say that while they don't oppose abstinence programs, the inflexible requirement hampers the effort.

Bush said the time for debate is over, and that those seeking changes on both ends of the political spectrum should "stop the squabbling."

The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, expires this year.

"My attitude toward Congress is, see what works," Mr. Bush said. "PEPFAR is working. It is a balanced program. It is an ABC program: abstinence, be faithful and condoms. It is a program that's been proven effective."

Tanzania is one of the countries targeted by Bush's emergency AIDS relief effort. More than two-thirds of all people infected with HIV live in sub-Saharan Africa.

Standing with Mr. Bush, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete thanked U.S. lawmakers for the program, but prodded them to keep it moving. "If this program is discontinued or disrupted, there will be so many people who will lose hope," he said.

Bush is pushing to renew the program at $30 billion over five years, double his original commitment. Congress has put more than $18 billion into it so far and is expected to extend the program beyond the Bush presidency. It is the largest effort to ever target an infectious disease.

Mr. Bush, nearing the end of a presidency dominated by the war in Iraq, is targeting disease and poverty in his visits to five African nations. The president and first lady, Laura Bush, began their African trip in Benin in West Africa, then flew to the east coast of the continent to Tanzania. He also plans to visit Rwanda, Ghana and Liberia.

Unlike in the United States, where his approval rating hovers near his record lows, Mr. Bush is treated here with reverence. A crowd of people, some wearing clothing bearing Mr. Bush's image, waved tiny U.S. and Tanzanian flags to welcome him as he walked down a red carpet toward the State House.

"People may have different views about you and your administration and your legacy," Kikwete said. "But we in Tanzania, if we are to speak for ourselves and for Africa, we know for sure that you, Mr. President, and your administration, have been good friends of our country."

Later, Mr. Bush met with HIV-positive patients and doctors at AIDS treatment wing of the city's Amana Hospital, funded in part with PEPFAR dollars.

"I'm very lucky,' said Tatu Msangi, who was tested for HIV while pregnant, received treatment and delivered a healthy baby, Faith, now 2.

Mr. Bush also signed a nearly $700 million aid pact with Kikwete to help Tanzania build up its infrastructure. It's the largest deal under a Bush program that offers economic aid to countries that treat their people fairly, rule justly and root out corruption.

"I'll just put it bluntly, America doesn't want to spend money on people who steal the money from the people," Mr. Bush said. "We like dealing with honest people, and compassionate people. We want our money to go to help human condition and to lift human lives as well as fighting corruption in marketplace economies."

At the news conference, both leaders dodged a question about the presidential race in the United States and the candidacy of Sen. Barack Obama, whose father was Kenyan.

Mr. Bush, momentarily taken aback by a question about the excitement surrounding Obama's candidacy, said: "Seems like there was a lot of excitement for me."

Kikwete would say only: "Let him be as good a friend of Africa as President Bush has been."

Mr. Bush also Sunday visited the families of victims from the 1998 bombing of the U.S. embassy here. He said a silent prayer in front of a plaque in the garden of the new embassy before going inside for private talks. A total of 224 people were killed in the twin bombings in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi.

[nahgem-2009]

It is funny how a lot of people think that abstinence education will help the HIV/AIDS problem in Africa. These people must not realize that the mojrity of women who are infected with the disease, were infected when they were raped. There is little respect towards women in many countries in Africa, and the men feel that they can take "***" whenever they want it. In order to stop ALL of the problem, there needs to be a plan to keep these men from raping the women. Now, there are still other reasons for the epidemic, but from everything that I have read, a lot of it stems from infected men raping women.

[grazinggoat]

''''I''''ll just put it bluntly, America doesn''''t want to spend money on people who steal the money from the people,'''' Mr. Bush said."

You mean, like confiscating $700 million from American taxpayers to provide aid to an African nation?!?
Posted by JT_Lancer at 11:29 PM : Feb 17, 2008

- No JT_Lancer, it''s like stealing over ONE TRILLION dollars ($1,000,000,000,000.00) and spend it uselessly on a lie-based war. The whole thing in Africa would cost 0.0007% of what this Walking-Liar SOB has spent in Iraq, and counting. Matter of fact, This will not cost more than three (3) days of troops presence in Iraq.

-And be sure this money will return back to America in contracts of Medecines and Medical equipment from American companies, that will pay taxes to IRS. Right!?!

[jackie0428]

Go Mandingo Bush, go!!!!! oooga Booga ooga!!!!!

[jt_lancer]

''I''ll just put it bluntly, America doesn''t want to spend money on people who steal the money from the people,'' Mr. Bush said."

You mean, like confiscating $700 million from American taxpayers to provide aid to an African nation?!?

[pilgrimsway-2009]

Man files Federal Lawsuit against Obama regarding GAY oral act and drug use claims

A man named Larry Sinclair posted a video to YouTube claiming to have used cocaine and engaged in a gay oral act with Obama when Obama was a state legislator in 1999.

In the video, Sinclair claims he and Obama met on two separate occasions, that Obama used crack cocaine and that Sinclair performed an oral act on Obama both evenings.

Now Obama and company are quickly trying to quiet this man, but Sinclair has filed a federal lawsuit. Sinclair filed suit against Obama and his campaign guru David Axelrod in Minnesota district court for allegedly attempting to abridge Sinclair''''s right to free speech, and for waging an intimidation campaign against him.

check out the video on youtube for yourself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=sVeFVtcdSYY

America wants to know: where''''s the media coverage on this???? We deserve to hear the truth!

Posted by TruthBeTold- at 08:46 PM : Feb 17, 2008

[j-whitman]

pilgrimsway,,,, I don''t think anyone wants abortions as the GOP would tell you,, Safe proceedures yes --

-- But in reality,, It''s your GOP''s conservatives that is totally decieving you on the issue & always has been just for politics & elections.

... It''s your own Bush & his GOP which pushed for over the countersale of RU-486 (Unregulated sales to anyone old enough to look of age) & that is just as cruel as any other method.

[pilgrimsway-2009]

Hey j-whitman,
It boils down to either you want abortion or not. In your case I think you do. But in the Lords case, except for the life of the mother, I think not. I think this is what you are really asking. A judge for right is different than a judge for want. Think about it. Will catch you later OK J.

[j-whitman]

pilgrimsway,,,, I would like to point out that the GOP has long declared it was the dems who insisted on a litmus test for judges,,,, But in reality it is the GOP''s only test for the jobs. If you aren''t on the more extreme end of Christianity & support Pro-Life judges, they don''t want them appointed.

[j-whitman]

pilgrimsway,,,,, Thanks, but no thanks --- Lets keep it just as it is & understand what it means.

[pilgrimsway-2009]

Now lets read
In the year of j-whitman

[j-whitman]

pilgrimsway,,,, "Now your being real!" ---- Shhhh, dont tell jowind, let''s keep it a secret

[j-whitman]

pilgrimsway,,, Your argument if I read you correctly is assuming if it mentions Lord once it is true of the rest of the document ??

[j-whitman]

pilgrimsway,,,,, Here''s a real good link, which talks about many of the arguments. But in no way can people say it is a Christian document.

Constitutional Topic: The Constitution and Religion

http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_reli.html

[pilgrimsway-2009]

Except to make reference to the Lord in any case designate the one who is almighty!

[pilgrimsway-2009]

j-whitman
Now your being real!

[j-whitman]

There is one other direct bow to religion in the original Constitution, and it is a bit obtuse. The Presidential Oath of Office is codified in the Constitution in this way:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

Again, the reference might be obtuse, but it is the inclusion of language in the oath that allows an incoming President to swear or affirm the oath. This alternate text has been described both as a way of accommodating those religious persons for whom "swearing" was forbidden, and as a way for the unreligious to take the oath with the same force of personal responsibility that swearing would have for a religious person. Either way, the alternate text attempts to make the oath all-inclusive and religion-neutral.

Finally, the Constitution refers to the year that the Convention created the document as "the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven." Some have argued that the use of the term "Lord" in this way is indicative of something, but it is indicative of nothing more than a standard way of referring to years in that time period.

[j-whitman]

pilgrimsway,,, It was writen with not only the Christian character in mind! Religion and government has been a matter of great importance and concern to many for centuries.

Article 6 makes a slight reference to it --- No religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States. ----- Yet it has inded become a litmus test on appointing judges, IE. the Pro-Life agenda

The clause simply means that no public position can be required to be held by any one of any religious denomination. It would be unconstitutional for there to be a requirement that the President by Lutheran, or even for the mayor of a small town to be Christian. Likewise, it would be unconstitutional for a law to forbid a Jew or Muslim from holding any office in any governmental jurisdiction in the United States.

[pilgrimsway-2009]

J-whitman.
You know!

[j-whitman]

pilgrimsway,,,, Refressh my memory on the article talking about assination,,,, I didn''t pay much attention to it ---- But, from what I do remember about it,, I can''t see you you can associate it to Rodney King

[pilgrimsway-2009]

- And that friend is indeed a truth to be self evident!

J-whitman

This statement of yours proves you understand that the constitution was written with the Christian character in mind!