Obama Adminstration Puts Politics Above Fight Against AIDS in Africa
Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson has written an important column that shows how Left Wing politics has apparently interfered with the fight against AIDS in Africa.
From the column:
During Obama's transition, Dr. Mark Dybul was initially asked to stay on as the coordinator of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) for several months until a replacement could be found and confirmed. Because Dybul was the main architect of the program and one of its guiding visionaries, few were surprised by the offer. With Ambassador Randall Tobias, Dybul organized the most staggeringly successful foreign assistance effort since the Marshall Plan--eventually helping support lifesaving AIDS therapy for more than 2 million people.That certainly seems like the right thing to do. But then:
A few radical "reproductive rights" groups--the fringe of a fringe--accused Dybul of advocating "abstinence only" programs in AIDS prevention. It was always a lie. Dybul consistently supported comprehensive prevention efforts that include abstinence, faithfulness and condom use--the approach that African governments themselves developed. In fact, Dybul was sometimes attacked from the right for defending a broad definition of AIDS prevention, including programs to address prostitution and transgenerational sex. Over the years, PEPFAR distributed 2.2 billion condoms -- hardly an "abstinence only" approach...Gerson doubts that Hillary's fingerprints are on this, but it is clear that for someone in the Administration, maintaining continuity of a policy that has unquestionably saved saving lives of AIDS patients in Africa meant less that being sexual-politically correct. Let us hope this is not a sign of things to come.
Then, the day after the inauguration, Dybul received a call asking him to submit his resignation and to leave by the end of the day. There was no chance to reassure demoralized staffers, or PEPFAR teams abroad, or the confused health ministers of other nations. The only people who seemed pleased were a few blogging extremists, one declaring, "Dybul Out: Thank you, Hillary!!!"
posted by Wesley J. Smith @ 5:41 PM
10 Comments
10 Comments:
This is just DIGUSTING and ENRAGING. How DARE people play around with people's lives like this. What's also maddening is the left's constant accusations of the right being racist, uncaring, and more concerned with politics than people. Well, the shoe is one the other foot-but it was already there, so no one should be surprised.
Ticks me off to no end. I love how presumptive the West is in assuming that our ways are always the "best" ways. We're "enlightened" because we have free sex, so we have to ensure that other countries have it, too.
I know exactly what you mean, T E Fine. So much for the dogma of "not imposing our values" on others.
T.E. I thought the other countries were spreading aids all on their own by following their own modes of behavior and we were trying to help. However it really is, it doesn't sound as if Hillary's fingerprints aren't on this, she can't keep her fingers off anyting, Obama is showing his nature and agenda, and thus far things are no better than I expected them to be with him as president. Pelosi floated the idea which got rebuked but they'll bring it up again, I'm sure, and I find his attitude toward the disadvantaged abroad telling. The birth data I have for him does yield the exact indications of what we can see happening with him re abortion, children, women, life issues, etc.
You're all assuming that Dr. Dybul's programs will be scrubbed simply because Dr. Dybul is being replaced by some other political appointee. That doesn't make much sense.
Electing Obama and having Hillary as Secretary of State didn't make sense, but it's happened. Let's see what Dybul's replacement does.
lanthe: Electing Obama didn't make sense? Omigod, I suspect we have a Sarah Palin fan here.
Given 8 years of George W. Bush's failed economic and domestic policies, I think anyone who voted for John McCain, a Bush clone, is a certified masochist.
As for Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, why second-guess the president? I know lots of Republicans hate the name Clinton, but as I recall we had eight years of relative peace and prosperity on Bill's watch. Ohhh, I forgot: the Clinton administration's approach to the REALLY important stuff --- "don't ask, don't tell," the Mexico City Policy and "abstinence-only" sex-ed --- wasn't entirely to the liking of the American Taliban. But that somehow disqualifies Hillary to be Secretary of State?
As I recall Sarah Palin thought Africa was a country. I suppose that qualified her to be Vice President? Wait: I'm jumping to conclusions. Maybe you didn't vote for McCain/Palin. Maybe you voted for some nut case like Ralph Nader or Ron Paul?? Or some Libertarian?
Getting off topic, History Writer. This isn't an opening for a general political topic, and Sarah Palin was never discussed. Thank you.
Ralph Nader is a nut case?
The column makes it clear that Dr. Dybul expected to be replaced, but was first asked to stay on until a replacement was named and an orderly transition was assured.
Apparently, someone then decided that a cheap political gesture was more important than the smooth running of the program, and Dr. Dybul was fired that same day. The sudden change is what caused the outrage, HistoryWriter - though I'm not sure someone who considers 45% of the American electorate "masochists" is the best judge of what is or is not proper.
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