BONO: 'I MADE BUSH VISIT AFRICA'

[sabra]

http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/bono%20i%20made%20bush%20visit%20africa

BONO: 'I MADE BUSH VISIT AFRICA'



U2 star BONO has credited himself and other campaigning rockers with inspiring US President GEORGE W BUSH's visits to poverty-stricken Africa - and hopes this will persuade the leader to support the Make Poverty History crusade.

The Irish singer boasts Bush and his family were inspired to visit Africa after stars like SIR BOB GELDOF and MIDGE URE raised awareness of the deprivation suffered by its inhabitants through events like 1985's Live Aid extravaganza and Saturday's (02JUL05) historic Live 8 concerts.

And he hopes the experience will prompt Bush to persuade other G8 leaders to cancel debt in the developing world, double the aid budget and rewrite global trade laws.

He says, "Bush is a Republican Conservative. He had hardly seen the rest of the world when he first became President and knew little of the suffering in Africa.

[stevedeshazer]

1. I hate to rain on Bono's parade

But NO ONE makes King George do ANYTHING.

I applaud his activism, but come on. Bono seems to think a great deal of himself. He's a rock star.

That is all.

[Sabriel]

5. Go ahead and rain

You can lead a horse to Africa, Bono, but you can't make him think.

[ScotTissue]

11. Correction

Horse's ass.

[Wetzelbill]

8. He does have an ego, that's for sure

Bono is not just a rock star though. The man works damn hard to do a lot of good things. He's taken seriously for his knowledge of international economics, I heard a right-winger even say that. Bono in many ways is a great man, I'm sure he'll even be the first to tell you it himself. :)

[insane_cratic_gal]

14. Huge Bono Fan myself

He's on par with Jolie, but been at it a hell of alot longer then she has.

[stevedeshazer]

31. Hey, I like the guy

U2 is great, but it's a band. I'm glad he's out there.

[unblock]

12. aw, c'mon. let's give credit where credit is due

do you really think shrub would ever set foot on that continent if it WEREN'T for live8 and the efforts of bono, geldof, et al.?

now, the real question is, will any good come from it beyond creating a photo op for shrub. THAT'S the real question.

[0007]

28. junior was indeed surprised that Africa wasn't a town in Mexico

[stevedeshazer]

32. That's a fair question

I do believe Shrub would have gone to Africa, Bono or no Bono pro Bono. :)

I give it up to him for trying, though. Live 8 was great, but I'm afraid it will be overshadowed because of today's sad events. :(

[BayouBengal07]

2. God Bono kicks ass

Sure he may be a little full of himself, but c'mon, he's working for change.


Now I have to go listen to Achtung Baby. :headbang:

[tuvor]

9. Ah, their last good album.

Still sounds fresh. Maybe one day they'll do it again.

[gorbal]

24. I know

I wonder how many people on here have saved thousands from starvation and death?

You kinda have to follow Bono's carreer to know what I'm talking about, but he is no simple rockstar poser.

[iconoclastic cat]

3. Cool. Now make him resign.

[CrazyForKucinich]

19. Post of the day!

:rofl:

[tuvor]

4. Good for Boner.

When will he take bush to task for not following through on bush's $multibillion pledge to address AIDS in Africa (SOTU 1993), as he did with Paul Martin?

:eyes:

Damn, I'm getting tired of him. And you'd never have found a bigger U2 fan 23 years ago.

[Auntie Bush]

6. "When he first became President and knew little . Period!!!!!!!!!!

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

26. the first time he'd ever left the country was on his trip to China

Never been outside of the country before he was selected by the SUEpreem Cort...didn't even know where Afghanistan was during the debates.
Lucky for him git'n to play Commander een Cheef or he'd have never got to travel at all...unless he one day got invited to go with bruther Neil on one of his annual Sex tours in Thailand.

[Kerrytravelers]

7. I love Bono!

He has really put so much of himself into this cause. It's like it's his calling, more than singing. It U2 broke up tomorrow (plese, God, no) he'd not bat an eye but continue on the DATA/ONE cause.

I wish more people would use their celeberity in such a worthy way.

[joeunderdog]

10. The final sell was when he told them there were some deep pockets

there and they wanted to find a rich politician to donate to.

[warrens]

13. Go fuck yourself, you sanctimonious creep

Bush went there because he wants to show his daughter is serving the country, to take the heat off why no Bushes are dying in Iraq. Period. The whole AIDS thing is a scam. What a pretentious, gullible twat.

[sjdnb]

15. I wanna puke

Will these elitist politicians, celebrities, sports freaks, and/or obscenely wealthy/big business fat-cat's EVERY get over themselves, for Christsake! The PROOF is in the 'pudding' not in the photo-op.

It's the people you'll never hear the names of, nor, who are ever recognized/rewarded equitably, who are making the real difference in Africa and around the world.

He and his kind are nothing but pompous buffoons!

[deacon2]

16. You have no idea what you're talking about

Bono has been going to Africa since the 80s and twisting arms in the halls of power for years to get people's attention. Far from being a pompous buffoon, he is a man who acts on the things he believes in and uses his position to make a difference for people.

[ConfuZed]

18. Make sure to record it when you puke I hear your freerepublic

buddies are into that stuff :)

[FlemingsGhost]

17. How many U2 members does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

One.

Bono holds the bulb up, and the world revolves around him ...

[thebigidea]

20. yeah, well who made you dress up like the goddamn Village People, then?

[Minstrel Boy]

21. That's not a direct quote!

Here's what Bono actually said:

"But now he's visited Africa and saw first-hand the suffering experienced over there. The First Lady has also gone over there, as well as one of their daughters.

"How did that happen? I think our campaigning had a lot to do with it. People like Bob (Geldof) helped make that happen. We know how to dramatise the key points. Politicians are sh*t at dramatising major issues like that, they need us."

Bono can be an ass, but "I made Bush visit Africa" are not his words.

[OneBlueSky]

22. memo to Bono . . . "Get Over Yourself!" . . . that is all . . . n/t

.

[Solly Mack]

23. Dear Bono: Get a Clue. Bush doesn't care. Never has. Never will.

You could show him children dying and he wouldn't care.
You could show him women being raped and he wouldn't care.
You could show him men wasted away to nothing and he wouldn't care.

He. Just. Doesn't. Care.

[Eikon]

25. What a self absorbed asshole. Only he would announce something like this.

[roguevalley]

27. he said 'our' efforts made it happen among other things. I love

Bono and U2 since 1980. He can do and say what he wants because unlike lots of people including most of the people on this list, he goes and does things about poverty, illness and despair. Hang on, Bono. You do good work.

[Skypilot 18]

29. U 2

Never liked them and have never spent a cent on any of their records and I turn the station when one of their songs come on. But that has nothing to do with them personally. That said, being a musician myself I can tell you there are as many wine snobs as there are musicians that think their doo doo don't stink. ( I'm also a wino)

Hey if the guy does some good, then good on him. I do things for complete strangers all the time. From being polite on a regular basis to actually going out of my way to help the less fortunate. So what. It's my way. If he can drum up support with his position of notoriety then it has to be a good thing. Lets support his intentions. He does not have to do anything or care about these matters. He chooses to get involved. He deserves a pass until he screws up in some way
.

[amazona]

30. I wouldn't take credit for that

I read some heart-breaking stories about Bush's visit, such as hundred-year old trees being cut down because the Little Caligula thought they would conceal assassins or something. Seems to me the visit did more harm than good. Or is this another visit, where they can arrange to cut down any trees remaining?