29 September 2008
Foreign policy advisers for the campaigns of the principal protagonists in the U.S. presidential election, Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama, have spelled out their respective policy proposals for Africa.
J. Peter Pham, director of the Nelson Institute for International and Public Affairs at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Witney W. Schneidman, who served as deputy assistant secretary of state for African affairs in the Clinton administration, debated one another at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.
Pham spoke for the McCain and Schneidman for the Obama campaigns.
In his presentation, Schneidman said Obama would pursue three "fundamental objectives" in Africa:
* Accelerate the continent's integration into the global economy;
* Enhance the peace and security of African states; and
* Strengthen relations with African governments and bodies committed to deepening democracy, accountability and reducing poverty.
Pham said McCain and the Republicans believed that Americans and Africans could "promote a true renaissance of liberty, security, and prosperity" in all of Africa's nations. He added: "We acknowledge, however, that the problems confronting Africa can only be overcome in partnership with Africans." He also said McCain believed strongly in ending subsidies to American farmers which prejudiced African farmers.
Today, AllAfrica publishes as guest columns extensive excerpts from the presentations of both camps.
McCain's Vision for Freedom, Peace and Prosperity
Obama's Three Objectives for Continent
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As an American Christian who has many friends in Kenya, Uganda and many other African nations I have spent many hours researching Barack Obama. Before I became a Christian over 25 years ago I had been a communist. This background has helped with giving me some insights during my research. I have, also, noticed that those African-Americans most involved in truly helping the poor are those that are most opposed to Obama. What I have found from my research is that Obama is nothing close to what people want to believe who he is. Let me give just a few… [Read Full Text]
Listen up John A, It's the American people that will put Barack Obama in the White House not your sorry opinion of him. 25 years is not enough time for a commie to change, still sound like one and a true Christian don't cast that kind of judgement. It is the American Christian who believe in Obama's vision and competence as a President, that means mainstream America, big America,little America, midwest America and rural America. You should research Christianity and what it means,happy hunting!
John, let's take the emotion out of it and make it about facts. The current global financial crisis was triggered by that phony make believe "real estate boom" of 2002-2005 in the US real estate market. John McCain was behind the deregulation of the real estate market. Insanity followed and only the wise ones knew what was coming. Hey, Washington take care of their "boys" first. Deregulation made so much dough $$$$$$ for them + their "boys", what do they care? They layman don't understand, who's looking? You can't Tie Barack Obama to scandal of that magnitude, (the one with… [Read Full Text]
Oilbaron there are no facts in your post whatsoever. The deregulation was done by Democrats....most of this country realizes this now. Key Democrats opposed the Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005, which would have established a single, independent regulatory body with jurisdiction over Fannie and Freddie – a move that the Government Accountability Office had recommended in a 2004 report.
Top 3 recipients of campaign contributions from Fannie and Freddie: Christopher Dodd (D)- $133,900 John Kerry(D)- $111,000 Barak Obama(D)- $105,849 McCain had regulation bill 3 years ago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_FZCaKDn9k You can't question the words right from The… [Read Full Text]
Heavens, John, do i have to read through all that right-wing Christian rhetoric complete with all the talk-radio talking points... live-birth abortions, commies and terrorists... in this dialogue? How do these lies further the topic?
Obama is enormously popular in Kenya. Yes, he is half Kenyan (half white, too) and provides a sense of pride for many Kenyans. While in Kenya, I found myself in many political conversations with Kenyans from a variety of places and stations. I found myself apologizing for the actions of President Bush, trying to assure them that not all Americans are in support of his failed Presidency. The people I talked to are quite political savvy, more so that many citizens of my town in the U.S. The know what's happening. They are… [Read Full Text]
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