Anchor Rising: Geldof - Press Has Shortchanged Bush's Successful Africa Policy

February 20, 2008

Geldof - Press Has Shortchanged Bush's Successful Africa Policy

Marc Comtois

Live Aid organizer Bob Geldof is chastising the US Press corps for under-reporting the positive effect that President Bush's Africa policy has had:

Mr. Geldof praised Mr. Bush for his work in delivering billions to fight disease and poverty in Africa, and blasted the U.S. press for ignoring the achievement.

Mr. Bush, said Mr. Geldof, "has done more than any other president so far."

"This is the triumph of American policy really," he said. "It was probably unexpected of the man. It was expected of the nation, but not of the man, but both rose to the occasion."

"What's in it for [Mr. Bush]? Absolutely nothing," Mr. Geldof said.

Mr. Geldof said that the president has failed "to articulate this to Americans" but said he is also "pissed off" at the press for their failure to report on this good news story.

"You guys didn't pay attention," Geldof said to a group of reporters from all the major newspapers.

Bush administration officials, incidentally, have also been quite displeased with some of the press coverage on this trip that they have viewed as overly negative and ignoring their achievements.

And more...

Mr. Geldof said that he and Bono, U2's lead singer, have "gotten a lot of flak" for saying that Mr. Bush has done more for Africa than any other U.S. president.

Mr. Geldof said that "the main thing now is asking the candidates, 'What are you going to do?'"

Mr. Bush, said Mr. Geldof, has "put in place a whole foundation" in the form of aid for disease prevention, government institution building with accountability measures, and investing capital in African countries to build up their economies.

"The next guy really must take it on," Mr. Geldof said, referring to the next president.

If the press has underplayed the success of such policies that liberals would otherwise find compelling (say, if a Democrat had implemented them), then what else has the media underplayed or spun differently? In some simple minds, the man can do no good.

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Time and time again, this president has shown he is far more interested in doing the right thing than in what others are saying about him. Whether it is as controversial as the Iraq War or as popular as fighting disease in Africa, this president is guided by what he believes is right, despite the polls, despite the democrat attack machine and despite the press.

That is the kind of courage that is sadly lacking in most politicians, particularly in those who are enamoured by the Clinton/MSM correography machine.

Posted by: George at February 20, 2008 5:48 PM

The positive things the Bush administration has done in Africa (for which he does deserve the credit Geldof and Bono are giving him) are kind of like Mitt Romney's health care plan for Massachusetts. The righty base doesn't want to hear about them because they're things both sides of the political spectrum might appreciate.

Posted by: rhody at February 21, 2008 12:57 AM

It sure is funny what people will say when they get the awards, the invites, and the knighthood.

Posted by: PDM at February 21, 2008 1:53 AM

So you're saying awards and knighthoods bestow accuracy, PDM?

Posted by: Monique at February 22, 2008 8:18 PM