Republican George W. Bush was a so-called “pro-life” President with a mixed legacy regarding his pro-life positions.  On the negative side of the ledger, he is remembered for his deadly war of choice in Iraq, his support of torture, and his economic polices that harmed the poor.  However, to his credit, he was also responsible for one of the most truly pro-life policies in recent history.

As the HIV/AIDS Pandemic spread uncontrollably throughout the world, especially in Africa, in 2003 president George W. Bush signed the 5-year, $15 billion President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).  The program sent HIV treatment drugs and medical personnel to 15 countries, 12 in Africa.  As reported in the New York Times, “over the next 20 years, PEPFAR became one of the most significant global health programs in modern history.”  “It saved 25 million lives and, by preventing mother -to-child transmission, allowed 5.5 million babies to be born H.I.V. free.”  Now that is really a pro-fife program and policy.

Unfortunately, today’s radical so-called “pro-life” Republicans in the House of Representatives have placed the future of this program in jeopardy.   They claim that the program somehow supports abortion although there is no evidence that ever has. This is just another example of so many other positions of the so-called “pro-life” movement, that are contradictory to actually saving lives.  The “pro-life” agenda opposes expanded health care, support capital punishment, oppose any sane gun safety laws, oppose family planning programs that prevent unintended pregnancies and abortion, oppose public health measures to control deadly diseases and oppose environmental protection/climate change measures.