Myth: The Clinton administration actively worked to secure peace in Africa.

Fact: After the "Black Hawk Down" incident in Somalia, Bill Clinton tucked his tail and ran. Ever the paper tiger, Clinton then stood idly by as Rwandan tribes slaughtered hundreds of thousands of people. As former Democratic congressman and chairman of the House Committee on International Relations subcommittee on Africa, Harry A. Johnston told the Washington Times, "For almost five years after Somalia, the Clinton administration did not have an Africa policy. It was almost immoral how we treated that continent."

By contrast, President Bush has met with 22 African leaders, increased economic and humanitarian assistance to Africa and strongly advocated for democratic change in Zimbabwe.

Myth: the Clinton administration took an active role in facilitating democracy in Africa.

Fact: Clinton turned his back on Africa. President Bush, however, is taking an active role in brokering peace in the Sudan and Liberia. He has also earmarked $5 billion for the Nepad Strategy, a pact that rewards South Africa with debt relief and economic reconstruction in exchange for good government. Bush appropriated another $100 million as part of his Post-Sept. 11 strategy designed to keep African states from becoming incubators for terrorist groups.

Get it? President Clinton did nothing for Africa. President Bush has worked to create a new sense of possibilities throughout the sub-Saharan continent. He has done so by tripling our economic aid to Africa, providing military support, initiating a bold plan to stem the tide of AIDS and - gasp - actually meeting with the African heads of state (Something Clinton failed to do with any regularity). It would be nice if the Congressional Black Caucus could lend their support.