U.S. Presidents past and present put aside their differences and unite for the betterment of Haiti during the aftermath of last week’s quake that has left that Nation rattled beyond belief.
WASHINGTON (AFP) – 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, flanked by the two former leaders.
“In these difficult hours, America stands united. We stand united with the people of Haiti who have shown such incredible resilience, and we will help them to recover and to rebuild.”
The United States was launching “one of the largest relief efforts in our history” to bring aid to Haiti following Tuesday’s devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck the heart of the poorest nation in the Americas.
Bush, who congratulated Obama for his “swift and timely response to the disaster,” said he was pleased to work with Clinton “to mobilize the compassion of the American people.”
The challenges in Haiti “are immense, but there’s a lot of devoted people leading the relief effort,” he said.
“The most effective way for Americans to help the people of Haiti is to contribute money. That money will go to organizations on the ground who will be able to effectively spend it.
And you can give by texting “Haiti” to 90999. After texting, you will be asked to confirm the donation. The charge turns up on monthly cell phone bills, which can be used for tax-deduction records.
