Bush Pushes for Sustained Commitment to Foreign Aid

President Bush urged against curtailing U.S. aid to foreign nations at a White House summit yesterday on global development. He spoke directly to issues of America's current economic crisis, national security and moral authority in pushing for a sustained commitment to impoverished nations. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice echoed his statements, saying: "Some will ask the inevitable question in these troubled times: 'How can we afford it?' I would ask instead, 'How can we not afford it?' "

A critical point to make here is that U.S. spending on foreign aid remains roughly one percent of the total federal budget. So while federal spending overall has proved to be a major sticking point for both presidential campaigns in the current climate, John McCain and Barack Obama have both said the current economic downturn would not have an impact on their plans for foreign assistance.

Our Confidence in Foreign Policy Index has indicated that the public generally favors global development. In fact, majorities consider helping other countries struck by natural disasters (73 percent), cooperating with other countries on the environment and the spread of disease (75 percent), and helping countries develop clean water supplies (74 percent) all "very important" foreign policy goals. Longer-term projects, like helping people in poor countries to get an education (59 percent) or helping countries move out of poverty (53 percent), rank lower. But on the whole, the public doesn't view these efforts as instrumental national security strategies; in other words, global development simply doesn't rank high as something that Americans think will make them safer.

Be sure to visit our Voter's Survival Kit on the federal budget, the economy and foreign policy for information on these key election issues.