What Does Bono Gain by Praising Bush?
"He's been very honest in his business dealings with me," says Bono. "As has Secretary of State (Condoleezza) Rice, and we did an awful lot of work."Last July, Jeanne at Body and Soul addressed the question:
"George Bush's pose as the great humanitarian -- increasing foreign aid, standing up for human rights -- has always bothered me far more than his military posturing. If Georgie wants to do costumes and codpieces, let him strut his stuff, for all I care (although I'd prefer he kept his fetishes out of my face.)
But pretending to give aid and to care about human rights when you're actually making things worse, is not only hypocritical, it risks making people cynical about the possibility and process of helping others. I've been obsessed for years with the supposed money for AIDS relief in Africa, which even people who dislike Bush sometimes give him credit for. It's an obvious sham. The money has never been allocated in the promised amounts, and what has been spent is frequently wasted on name brand drugs and grants to inexperienced religious groups.
I knew that. But it's worse than I thought.... How in the world do Bush and Company have the nerve to claim to be supporting AIDS treatment, when they're not coughing up any funds? Well, it depends on how you define "support."
To people who define "supporting the troops" as sticking flags on their bumpers, I guess that makes sense.
But keep it in mind when you see headlines about Bush proposing "New Spending to Assist Poor Africans."
And while we're on the subject, could someone please tell Bono to stop being such an enabler?"
Considering this administration's dismal human rights and environmental record and the damage done to our world, like Jeanne, I'm wondering what benefit Bono derives by providing pro-Bush sound bites to the press.
posted by Peter Daou at 5/24/2006 08:51:00 PM
3 Comments:
In all fairness, the praise in Bono's quote is pretty faint, and speaks only to his own experience with Bush. I don't see his quote as disputing the laundry list of Bush's lies, crimes, blunders and follies. As to whether he should address that list, Bono has long said that it is not in the interests of those he's seeking to help for him to tear down those in a position to provide that help. It's easy for a socially conscious rock star to raise a fist against our venal leaders, but much harder to nudge them, however slightly, toward supporting (read: funding) good works. Whatever other criticism he might merit, Bono has done that, and it is not an overstatement to say that he's the only one who's been able to pull it off.
Everytime Bono poses with Bush, some dumbass U2 fanatic sees Bush as a kinda hip dude--yeah, Republicans are cool. They help Africa.
Well, Bono needs a boot up the ass reality check. Everytime he pulls that quasi-sycophant routine with Bush, he is interfering with OUR political problem. And what really pisses me off is that his near messianic myopia won't let him see the truth that he is accomplishing nothing here is the US but helping to prop up the image of a failed president and his regime. I am sick of BO-NO. Eire Go Home.
Did it occur to you guys that maybe Bono was just telling the truth as he sees it? Does every utterance have to have an ulterior motive or a utilitarian justification? Must every comment be cleared for political utility? "My party" before "my country"?
Post a Comment
<< Home