Democrats, Republicans can agree on U.S. accomplishments in global health, development

Sep 11 2012

"With back-to-back Republican and Democratic National Conventions, it's natural to focus on our differences," but "I am heartened to see the bipartisan support that exists for U.S. leadership in the world -- particularly for our global development efforts," Dan Glickman, former secretary of agriculture and chair of the Board of the Center for U.S. Global Leadership, writes in a Politico opinion piece. "Through programs like the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, initiatives started [during the administration of] President George W. Bush, nearly four million lives around the world have been saved," he continues, noting, "President Barack Obama has continued to champion and support global development efforts like PEPFAR and the Millennium Challenge Corporation, which demand results and ensure accountability for U.S. taxpayers."

Glickman writes, "I served in the House as a Democratic congressman for 18 years and was President Bill Clinton's secretary of agriculture -- and I am all too aware of how partisan politics can be," but "the American people expect Republicans and Democrats to get things done." He continues, "The accomplishments in our international affairs programs over the past decade are nothing short of extraordinary." Glickman concludes, "As the campaign season kicks into high gear and the candidates battle it out, let's remember one area that Americans of every political stripe can be proud of and support -- our efforts to build a better, safer world" (9/7).