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| The first ladies club: Obama and Bush share stage in Africa | The first ladies club: Obama and Bush share stage in Africa |
| (3 months later) | |
| Their husbands could hardly be described as political soulmates, but when Michelle Obama and Laura Bush shared a platform in Tanzania on Tuesday, they proved quite a double act. | Their husbands could hardly be described as political soulmates, but when Michelle Obama and Laura Bush shared a platform in Tanzania on Tuesday, they proved quite a double act. |
| Speaking at an African first ladies summit, the pair reflected on how the media sometimes prefer to focus on style rather than substance. "People are sort of sorting through our shoes and our hair, whether we cut it or not..." Obama started. "Whether we have bangs," Bush interjected to laughter, alluding to coverage of the cuurent first lady's change of hairstyle. | Speaking at an African first ladies summit, the pair reflected on how the media sometimes prefer to focus on style rather than substance. "People are sort of sorting through our shoes and our hair, whether we cut it or not..." Obama started. "Whether we have bangs," Bush interjected to laughter, alluding to coverage of the cuurent first lady's change of hairstyle. |
| "But," Obama resumed, "we take our bangs and we stand in front of important things that the world needs to see. And eventually people stop looking at the bangs and they start looking at what we're standing in front of." | "But," Obama resumed, "we take our bangs and we stand in front of important things that the world needs to see. And eventually people stop looking at the bangs and they start looking at what we're standing in front of." |
| "We hope," Bush joked. The event, organised in Tanzania by the George W Bush Institute, coincided with the last day of Barack and Michelle Obama's three-country tour of Africa. The participants included first ladies from across the continent as well as Cherie Blair. | "We hope," Bush joked. The event, organised in Tanzania by the George W Bush Institute, coincided with the last day of Barack and Michelle Obama's three-country tour of Africa. The participants included first ladies from across the continent as well as Cherie Blair. |
| Laura Bush said: "We all know what it is like to have your husband be president... we first ladies have a lot of things we can talk about together, that no one else really will understand. | Laura Bush said: "We all know what it is like to have your husband be president... we first ladies have a lot of things we can talk about together, that no one else really will understand. |
| "Ways to protect our children, how to make life easier when your husband is being criticised, or whatever, you know what the issues of today are." | "Ways to protect our children, how to make life easier when your husband is being criticised, or whatever, you know what the issues of today are." |
| Bush emphasised the importance of education for girls and women, enabling them to protect themselves and their families and to participate in environmental leadership. | Bush emphasised the importance of education for girls and women, enabling them to protect themselves and their families and to participate in environmental leadership. |
| George Bush was also in the country. Initially there had been no plans for him to meet his successor but this was hastily amended, prompting Michelle Obama to joke to Laura Bush: "They're learning from us." | George Bush was also in the country. Initially there had been no plans for him to meet his successor but this was hastily amended, prompting Michelle Obama to joke to Laura Bush: "They're learning from us." |
| It is believed to be the first time two US presidents have been in an African country at the same time. Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security adviser, said this sent "a very positive message that both political parties in the United States share a commitment to this continent". | It is believed to be the first time two US presidents have been in an African country at the same time. Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security adviser, said this sent "a very positive message that both political parties in the United States share a commitment to this continent". |
| Barack Obama praised George Bush for helping save millions of lives by funding Aids treatment. Obama has since cut funding but insisted the decrease has not damaged the programme because costs have been saved that make it "more efficient". | Barack Obama praised George Bush for helping save millions of lives by funding Aids treatment. Obama has since cut funding but insisted the decrease has not damaged the programme because costs have been saved that make it "more efficient". |
| Obama promoted what he called a "new model" for Africa based not just on aid and assistance but trade. "Ultimately, the goal here is for Africa to build Africa for Africans," he said. "And our job is to be a partner in that process." | Obama promoted what he called a "new model" for Africa based not just on aid and assistance but trade. "Ultimately, the goal here is for Africa to build Africa for Africans," he said. "And our job is to be a partner in that process." |
| Around Dar es Salaam, business, restaurants and pubs closed while people crammed high buildings to get a glimpse of America's first black president. | Around Dar es Salaam, business, restaurants and pubs closed while people crammed high buildings to get a glimpse of America's first black president. |
| The two presidents observed a moment of silence together at a monument to victims of the 1998 US embassy bombing masterminded by Osama bin Laden. Obama and Bush bowed their heads as a marine placed a wreath of red, white and blue flowers in front of the large stone memorial in the grounds of the new embassy. They shook hands with survivors of the attack and relatives of those killed. | The two presidents observed a moment of silence together at a monument to victims of the 1998 US embassy bombing masterminded by Osama bin Laden. Obama and Bush bowed their heads as a marine placed a wreath of red, white and blue flowers in front of the large stone memorial in the grounds of the new embassy. They shook hands with survivors of the attack and relatives of those killed. |
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