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Africa: U.S. Campaigns' Africa Advisers Go Head to Head

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

Obama McCain guest columns

* 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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Author: John A.
Sat Oct 4 12:47:07 2008

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 of many many examples: 1. As a State Senator in Illinois, Obama took the side of the teacher's union against the interests of black children in inner city Chicago. 2. He has taken the most pro-abortion positions of any member of the US Senate including support for live birth abortion (i.e. allowing a baby that survies abortion to be left to die.) 3. Throughout his life he has been closely associated with communists and even American terrorits (Bill Ayers among others). Despite continual denials on behalf of the Obama campaign more and more evidence cames out about his shady associations. 4. He has claimed to be a Christian but in his own words one of his books, he answers his daughter when she asked where she goes when she dies by him saying "I don't know". 5. He is a major supporter for homosexual rights.

With the current financial crisis in America, if Obama is elected President and implements just some of his economic and tax policies the American economy could well go into a depression. This would mean much less US aid for Africa.

As I have said for the last ten years when I have taught in Africa is that it is a big mistake to look to America as Africa's salvation. The nation building principles of early America can provide good insights for nation building in Africa. America today has fallen far away from these self-governing principles.

Author: oilbaron10@yahoo.com
Thu Oct 16 14:06:36 2008

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!

Author: oilbaron10@yahoo.com
Thu Oct 16 15:53:48 2008

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 rich white boys in power looking out for #1 themselves and their extravagant life styles) end of story.

Author: oneway
Tue Oct 28 05:31:43 2008

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 chairman if the House Financial Services Committee Barny Frank's mouth.

The total lies like this and selective news reporting by the main stream media are the only reason for Obama's SLIGHT lead over McCain right now.

I'm a Christian and Obama's stand on Abortion anytime anywhere at any age paid by taxpayers and voting to allow children born by botched abortions being left to die is the reason NO ONE with belief in the teachings and salvation of Jesus Christ should have anything to do with Obama whatsoever. Can you tell me anything Obama has done to protect the people of Chicago where he worked? More people die there then in Iraq!

Oh yeah...he had a gazebo built.

Author: moon88
Sat Oct 18 03:03:05 2008

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?

Author: moon88
Sat Oct 18 02:43:28 2008

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 aware that Republican policies over the last twenty years have not served them well. They have much more confidence in Obama than McCain, a Republican. They see no reason to think McCain's attitude toward East Africa will be any different than that of George Bush.

See all comments (24).


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