Photo: Pete Souza/White House — Ex-Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush attend a news conference with President Barack Obama. 01/16/10
Former President Bill Clinton is leaving for quake-ravaged Haiti tomorrow to deliver much needed aid supplies and to meet with local leaders. Clinton is the U.N. special envoy to Haiti. Meanwhile, Haitian officials still fear more than 100,000 people have been killed by last Tuesday’s huge 7.0 earthquake, according to CNN.
Yesterday, Former Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush joined President Barack Obama in the Rose Garden of the White House to announce the formation of a new relief effort, the Clinton Bush Fund. The two former presidents will lead this fundraising operation.
President Barack Obama:
“… what these gentlemen are going to be able to do is when the news media starts seeing its attention drift to other things but there’s still enormous needs on the ground, these two gentlemen of extraordinary stature I think are going to be able to help ensure that these efforts are sustained. And that’s why it’s so important and that’s why I’m so grateful that they agreed to do it.”
Ex-President George W. Bush:
“I commend the President for his swift and timely response to the disaster. I am so pleased to answer the call to work alongside President Clinton to mobilize the compassion of the American people…. The most effective way for Americans to help the people of Haiti is to contribute money.”
Ex-President Bill Clinton:
“Right now all we need to do is get food and medicine and water and a secure place for them to be. But when we start the rebuilding effort, we want to do what I did with the President’s father(George H.W. Bush) in the tsunami area. We want to be a place where people can know their money will be well spent; where we will ensure the ongoing integrity of the process.”
President Barack Obama:
“In the days ahead they’ll be asking everyone what they can do — individuals, corporations, NGOs, and institutions. And I urge everyone who wants to help to visit www.clintonbushhaitifund.org.”
