Obama, Bush, Clinton stand ‘united’ for Haiti
President Barack Obama on Saturday brought together his White House predecessors, Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Bill Clinton, for a joint appeal for victims of Haiti’s devastating earthquake.
“By coming together in this way, these two leaders send an unmistakable message to the people of Haiti and to the people of the world,” Obama said in the Rose Garden.
That’s right, Haiti. Make no mistake: We will send our best and brightest to help you in this terrible time of woe. Also, we will send the person responsible for turning a similar natural disaster into a clusterfuck of historic and epic proportions.
I know things have been looking bleak for the Haitian people, with the total destruction of infrastructure, the lack of food or clean water, the dearth of medical supplies. But you should know that President Bush is on the case, and help is on the way. Unfortunately, it’s on the way to Jamaica. But he’ll get that squared away ASAP.
This isn’t the first time America has mobilized in response to a crisis, so we’re breaking out the playbook and calling the shots that have worked so well in the past. Security forces have been deployed. Water, blankets, and medical supplies are en route. Bankers from Goldman Sachs are parachuting into Port Au Prince to help rebuild the economy, and the golf courses.
President Clinton is spearheading relief efforts by reaching out to his global network of political and financial allies to raises millions of dollars in these critical early hours. Meanwhile, President Bush will be working directly on the ground in Haiti, helping to clear brush and rustle cattle.
Here at home, President Obama has pledged to do everything in his power to make sure Haiti gets what it needs. He has also pledged to stop asking, “What else could possibly go wrong during my first year in office?” I mean, seriously. We don’t want to know.
