Elton changes tune over Bush

[emad]

By Alexa Baracaia, Evening Standard
6 December 2004

Sir Elton John is famed for his outbursts and diva-ish tantrums. So when he was invited to a presidential reception, hosted by George W Bush, the organisers must have been praying the Rocket Man would not explode.

Two weeks ago Sir Elton hit out at the US president, saying he was "the worst thing that has ever happened to America".

"I just wanna scream," he said. "It's a nightmare. These idiots think they can get away with anything ... it enrages me that people can just smirk their way through it."

But the 57-year-old entertainer managed to keep his cool when he met Mr Bush in person. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that the party had been organised in his honour.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/showbiz/articles/15128792?source=Evening%20Standard&ct=5

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. I hate to say it, but I think he's getting Alzheimers.

Because he seems like he's walking around in the dark lately.

[Pirate Smile]

7. LOL, I love your banner. It should be a bumper sticker.

[piece sine]

2. but there he was at the White House

eatingt Bush goodies by the all-white Christmas trees and carrying-on like the election never happened. I wish air-headed celebrities would totally stay out of politics because they just don't get it!

[Sterling]

4. They have as much right as you to have an opinion.

nt.

[wtmusic]

18. And when that opinion reverses over the course of two weeks

they have a right to be criticized

[Laughing Mirror]

6. Was the reception at the White House?

It sounds like it was at Kennedy Center. It was America honoring Elton. Bush's role in this reception would be mostly ceremonial. He was representing the US. He was not there for Elton John.

Also, I don't see anywhere in the article where it says Elton John retracted his previous statement on Bush. The headline is misleading.

On edit: Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis were there accepting awards too. It is hard to imagine either of them having nice words to say about Bush either, but I bet they too shook the presidential hand.

There are subtleties in the way you can shake a person's hand to let him know what you think of him. Ruby and Ossie and probably Elton probably offered up very cool pefunctory hands to the president. No elaborate African-American handshakes for Bush.

[grumpy old fart]

15. thanks for inviting me, and by the way, could you be a little less Fascist

in the next four years? Then watch the Chimp's face curl up as he tries to remember what Fascist means.

[MatrixEscape]

14. And drinking

the Kool-Aid? That's Kool-Aid Elton! You drink it and you change, dude! Didn't anybody warn you?

Oh, don't let the Son go down on you!

[neweurope]

3. How very disappointing!

I would so love it if somebody told Bush to his face what we think of him... *sigh*

[Mike Daniels]

5. Or it could be that the Kennedy Center Honors are an artistic award

that has nothing to do with politics. The only political involvement is that the First Lady traditionally has a ceremonial seat on the board and that one of the reception events is held at the White House.

To refuse to be civil would be tactless and reduce the dignity of the ceremony of the Kennedy Center Honors.

I suspect Sir Elton John or Reginald Dwight was merely following form and custom vs. experiencing any change in his belief of George Bush.

Seriously, if you can't leave politics at the door on an occasion like this then don't go to the ceremony and refuse the honor.

[grumpy old fart]

11. Yep, and he should have refused it....but as we all know,

some folks just can't see past their own egos to the real world.

[demnan]

8. The Beatles declined to be knighted

in protest to Britain's support of the U.S. in the Vietnam war. It's too bad artists today don't show the same sort of principle. But then those days are over.

[Benhurst]

10. Yeah, but this is the Kennedy Center, after all.

There is always a certain desperation to their award-giving. Who's going to be next? Joan Rivers?

[Mike Daniels]

13. Uhh, the Kennedy Center honors life-time artistic achievement

It's not the People's Choice Awards and the awards have typically honored those who made significant contributions to their particular fields regardless of political affiliation.

[Benhurst]

17. Yeah, and if Charlton Heston (a past recipient) meets their standard

as an actor, then Joan Rivers is more than up for an award as a comedienne.

Desperate is as desperate does.

[wtmusic]

16. No kidding

Everyone folds in the clutch. Elton used to be a fighter.

Wha hoppen'd?

[grumpy old fart]

9. kinda like Sammy Davis hugging Nixon.....

Only worse. Would have been nice if Elton had the stones to turn down yet another meaningless accolade, but ego overrides all I guess.

[grumpy old fart]

12. Warren Beatty for God's sake...They're just handing...

these things to anybody. What is the criteria for getting one of these honors anyway?