Live Aid Founder Praises Bush On Africa, Blasts Press For Covering Up The Story
Washington Times:
Bob Geldof in Rwanda gives Bush his props
KIGALI, Rwanda — Bob Geldof has parachuted into the White House travel pool here in Rwanda, and will join us on the flight from Air Force One to Ghana tonight.
He’s going to interview President Bush for Time magazine and several European outlets, such as Liberacion, about aid to Africa for HIV/AIDS, malaria, and business development.
Mr. Geldof is an Irish rock and roll singer and longtime social activist who has helped, along with U2 rocker Bono, raise awareness about need in Africa. His most well known achievement is organizing the Live Aid concert in 1985, which raised money for debt relief for poor African countries.
But Mr. Geldof has remained closely engaged with African affairs since then, and he spoke off the cuff to reporters today who were waiting for a press conference with Mr. Bush and Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
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.
— Jon Ward, White House correspondent, The Washington Times
Be respectful of others and their opinions. Inflammatory remarks and inane leftist drivel will be deleted. It ain’t about free speech, remember you’re in a private domain. My website, my prerogative.
If you can't handle using your real email address, don't bother posting a comment.
Its about time Bush gets props for something. Funny that it takes a rock star to get the MSM to pay attention. Shows the priority list
February 19th, 2008 at 12:29 pmAnybody else notice [Mr.] Jon Ward of the WaTi only called W “President Bush” in the second sentence … and then it was “Mr. Bush” the whole rest of the way through?
Does this piss off anyone else? I mean, in the last over 7 years I rarely hear the MSM call him “President” outside the opening statement in a report, and then it is either “Mister” or just plain “Bush” the rest of the ride …
However, if Clinton is involved in a story the title “President” is bounced about quite often, SOMETIMES, with a peppering of “former” thrown in for good measure …
February 19th, 2008 at 1:25 pmWhat’re those heavy wingbeats? Is that a pigtail vanishing behind that cloud?
And it’s false that “You guys didn’t pay attention,” Bob. They knew very well what they weren’t reporting.
February 19th, 2008 at 2:46 pmWhy make bush look good
if it interferes wiht their agenda? This is the only thing I %100 agree with bush on.
February 19th, 2008 at 4:15 pmGeldof is obviously trying to be honest. Which is more than can be said for the MSM, which has buried the story from day one. It doesn’t fit their narrative of failure and dispair. It also doesn’t fit their narrative that there is actually less war, longer lifespans, less disease and less poverty in the world today than ever. That doesn’t fit their narrative. (Not to say there isn’t alot of room for improvment.)
February 19th, 2008 at 10:16 pmOh and before any Republican starts out with “How wonderful it is that president Bush gave billions to fight AIDS in Africa, let us remember that if China or Japan or others didn’t lend us the billions, there wouldn’t be any billions to donate to Africa. Ergo China, Japan et al, are to be thanked for the billions to Africa. And we’ll have the next one hundred years to have to pay those folks back for being so kind to George. Thanks Busheney.
February 19th, 2008 at 11:24 pmHey Vigil, I’ve heard that if you use those bounce dryer sheets your panties are less likely to wad up like that.
February 20th, 2008 at 6:48 am