Obama Enlists Clinton, Bush to Confront Haiti Suffering With Compassion

Jan. 16, 2010— -- Amid growing despair and desperation in Haiti, President Obama today enlisted his two presidential predecessors to lead an ongoing American effort to help that country recover from Tuesday's devastating earthquake.

Obama, flanked by Bill Clinton and George W. Bush behind a podium in the White House Rose Garden, said Americans must "do their part" to see that Haiti gets help.

"Every day that goes by, we learn more about the horrifying scope of this catastrophe -- destruction and suffering that defies comprehension, entire communities buried under mountains of concrete, families sleeping in the streets, injured desperate for care, many thousands feared dead," Obama said.

"Those wrenching scenes of devastation remind us not only of our common humanity but also of our common responsibilities," he added. "This time of suffering can and must be a time of compassion."

The "most effective way for people to help the people of Haiti is to contribute money," former President Bush said, and they can do so via a new relief Web site set up to help fund the ex-presidents' effort, www.clintonbushhaitifund.org.

"That money will go to groups on the ground who will be able to effectively spend it," Bush said. "I know a lot of people want to send blankets or water. Just send your cash. One of the things that the president and I will do is to make sure your money is spent wisely."