Haiti's President
Rene Preval, center, former U.S. Presidents George W. Bush, right, and
Bill Clinton pose in front of Presidential Palace in Port-au-Prince, on
March. 22, 2010. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) © 2010 AP
While reporting on a story about Monday's visit to Haiti by Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, AP's Jonathan M. Katz took note of the ex-presidents' differing styles and receptions.
Clinton and Bush traveled through Port-au-Prince together, but they seemed to be on totally different trips. Jointly appointed by President Barack Obama to lead U.S. fundraising after the Jan. 12 earthquake, they have distinct Haiti resumes: Bush had never been before. Clinton – the U.N. special envoy to Haiti – has been six times in the past two years, visited as president and famously (here at least) made a honeymoon trip with Hillary back when.
Bush was reserved from the get-go at the press conference with President Rene Preval. Clinton was gregarious and even aggressive – correcting the wording of an Al-Jazeera reporter's question about his recent apology for trade policies that destroyed Haitian agriculture, and assuring locals his “credentials as a friend of this country" are intact.
When they left the high green fences, the contrasts popped. Bush didn't understand the Creole chants against him from a small but loud assembly of ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's supporters -- he was flown into exile aboard a U.S. plane during Bush's presidency -- but he looked concerned enough to have gotten the gist.
Their first stop was a fenced-in area of the sprawling Champ de Mars homeless camp. There was a pungent smell and everyone, the presidents included, sweated profusely.
Bush looked nervous but went for it and approached some homeless Haitians. After two steps he was met with shouts of "No Preval!" (They'd been chanting against Bush before too, but showing characteristic politeness did not want to insult him to his face). He was pulled back to his SUV.
Then Clinton walked up, grabbed outstretched palms and dove in. He walked six tarp-shelters back and, Preval in tow, chatted with tarp-dwellers, aid workers and officials. He made time for a few reporters' questions as he left.
David Mikael Taclino
Inyu Web Development and Design
Creative Writer
0 comments:
Post a Comment