President George W. Bush visited Connecticut today on a two stop tour of the Nutmeg State - first to the Boys and Girls Club of Hartford and then a private fundraising event at the home of Dr. Henry Kissinger in Kent, Connecticut.

In recent days, the mainstream media (MSM) had previously dismissed the President’s visit to the Boys and Girls Club as a sham event, deriding the President’s commitment to fighting malaria and helping those in need.  These derisions are callous to the concerted effort put forth by President Bush to dramatically reduce malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. 

The President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) sets an ambitious goal - reduce malaria deaths by 50% in 15 target African nations.  The cause for this Initiative is clear.  According to the Center for Disease Control, “In areas of Africa with high malaria transmission, an estimated 990,000 people died of malaria in 1995 – over 2700 deaths per day, or 2 deaths per minute” (CDC).  Since the beginning of the PMI, there have been discernable results in combatting malaria in sub-Saharan Africa.  According to the White House, “In Zanzibar, following the distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITN) and indoor residual spraying, the percentage of infants infected with malaria has dropped from about 20 percent to less than one percent“. 

The media can ridicule the President’s efforts on Africa as mere charade, but the President rightly cited Luke 12:48 as a proper reference point: “When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.”  The assembled crowd, estimated at 150 people, listened intently to the President’s comments on malaria.  Those in attendance noted the President’s obvious commitment to the issue and the passion with which he spoke about fighting malaria. 

From the Hartford Boys and Girls Club, the President headed back to Bradley for a helicopter ride out to the home of former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in Kent, Connecticut.  Kissinger hosted a private fundraising event for the joint committee of Connecticut Victory ‘08-Cappiello for Congress.  The event, attended by 450 people, raised over $700,000 for the two organizations.  The President was very relaxed and seemed to very much enjoy his time at Dr. Kissinger’s estate. 

His speech left many in the audience talking about just how compelling the President is in his element.  Gone were the malapropisms and halted phrasing that are common criticisms of the President’s oratory - replaced by impassioned, smooth rhetoric about America’s collective need to be guided by the better angels of our nature.  Bearing witness to the President’s speech today was to see the work of a master craftsman - an orator - who used the English language as a palette to express his views in a manner far different from the television caricature. 

Meanwhile, #43’s “englightened” critics wrote “No More Bush” in magic marker on their forearm.

You can view the photographs from the event by clicking here.