U2's Bono to do a fundraiser for Rick Santorum?

[Lex]

:wtf:

Teaming up with the legendary rock group U2 for a one-night only appearance will be Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Penn.).

The thousand-dollar-a-seat concert has been put together by Sean and Ana Wolfington and will take place at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia in support of Santorum’s reelection . . .

http://newsmax.com/archives/ic/2005/10/10/131502.shtml


Now granted, it is newsmax.com, so there's my disclaimer on that, but could it be TRUE?

[NVMojo]

1. huh???

[Lex]

2. That's what I thought too. nt

[johnfunk]

39. A scam partially intended to turn progressives against U2

It's a regular U2 concert.

I hope the band and their management go medieval on Senator Man-on-Dog and his minions for this possibly illegal little stunt. It would serve Rick "The Virginian" Santorum and his handlers right.

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

3. Oh, this better not be true. Can't Bono smell the stench of (P)ricky?

[Lex]

4. No kidding.

If it's true, Bono is an idiot.

[eyesroll]

5. This is a regularly scheduled U2 concert.

http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/02003A5C9EFEBF1D?artistid=736365&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=1

I bet Sean and Ana Wolfington have a private box at Wachovia Center and are hosting the fundraiser there. This isn't uncommon.

If U2 has anything to do with it, I'd be surprised. (Notice Newsmax never really comes out and says they're in cahoots, just that they'll be at the same place at the same time.)

[Lex]

7. If I were Bono I'd send a cease and desist letter if they are doing

press releases implying that U2 is fund-raising for Rick Santorum.

I knew NewsMax was a right-wing "news" site, but this twisting of the facts takes the cake!

[ComerPerro]

29. Yeah, that's the case. They just sold the box. Nothing to do with Santorum

[LittleClarkie]

57. Well there does seem to be something about Rick's chief of staff

helping Bono to connect with people of faith so that he can get help for his AIDS relief efforts. I think he's decided to play political ball if it means he can get money for his cause.

See the link I posted further down in the thread.

[samdogmom]

6. Bono lives in NY. He has to know about Santorum. If he doesn't

we need to educate him. I'm going to start pulling together FACTS to let Bono/U2 know THIS IS NOT A GOOD MOVE.

[atommom]

8. If they ARE actually teaming up, well, then,

I guess it really is the Apocalypse! Hope all the concert-goers bring umbrellas to protect them from the rain of toads.

[newscott]

9. The Governator did the same thing with the Rolling Stones show at Fenway

[mitchtv]

14. yeah only Gropenator couldn't sell

his overpriced tickets

[Initech]

34. Yeah, the gropenator was also at the Angels - Yankees game last week.

Boy, did the crowd get pissed that he was there!

[zbdent]

10. It it raising money to get him a soul?

Well, then, I'll chip in . . . a penny . . .

[RandomKoolzip]

11. Since I already hate U2, this is delicious.....

I get to say, "see, I told you they suck!"

[Lex]

13. You sound like my SO who said,

"See, I've been telling you Bono is a 'moran.'"

[MADem]

12. Could not get link to work, but think it is about AFRICA

Found this article on the web:

The Millennium Challenge Account, announced with such fanfare, now proceeded to sink to the bottom of the administration's priority list. Only in early 2004, two years from the announcement, did the president sign the law creating the body. The first executive director, Paul Applegarth, was a complete unknown who impressed scarcely anyone. Congress appropriated only $1.3 billion for the first year and $1.5 billion for the second. This year President Bush asked for $3 billion rather than the $5 billion he had once promised; and Congress may appropriate little more than half that. Why should legislators do otherwise? Since the corporation has disbursed a grand total of $400,000 to date, there's no evidence that it works.

Administration officials and legislators give various explanations, none terribly persuasive, for the dilatory pace. Senator Rick Santorum, who has been one of Bono's key conservative allies, says that he has tried to persuade White House officials that the M.C.A. is "part of our war on terror" and should be financed accordingly. But when Santorum tries to push the budget director, Joshua Bolten, he says, he hears "the 'Jerry Maguire' answer: 'Show me the money.' " Bolten is another White House Friend of Bono, and he, too, speaks of aid as "an integral part of the national-security strategy." But when I asked him what happened to the Millennium Challenge Account, he said that it fell between budget cycles.

The Bush administration, critics say, has fumbled the opportunity to transform the aid debate. In March, Paul O'Neill said that he found it "unforgivable that we and other mature nations" have refused to do something as simple as providing clean drinking water. Many of Bono's own allies have lost what little patience they had. Jeffrey Sachs, whose moral sensibilities are comparable to those of U2 circa 1985, calls the operation of the M.C.A. "a disgrace." When I asked Sachs if he thought that Bono should stop cultivating the president and start denouncing him, he said, "Even aside from him saying it publicly, I'd just like him to say it to himself."
http://www.u2achtung.com/01/articles/article.php?id=116

[Lex]

18. Hard to believe Bono would want to raise funds for Santorum's reelection

even if they do agree on one issue regarding M.V.A.

I would expect Bono to be able to see the FOREST and not just a single tree.

[SoCalDem]

20. People need to learn about the rightwing tricks and

stop playing into their hands.. This is the oldest trick in their playbook.. If Bono does go, his appearance with Little Ricky will be campaign ad fodder..and he will be used as a prop..for what?? a few dollars "promised" to Africa (and never delivered)

[Maddy McCall]

21. Does Bono know that he's doing a fundraiser for Insanetorum?

I wonder if U2 even knows that they are doing a fundraiser for Santorum.

I could buy 100 tickets for the box office price, call myself a fundraiser for Mike Hunt, and then resell them for $1000 (even though that's considered scalping and is illegal) and say that U2 is teaming up with Mike Hunt for a "save the world" concert.

The question is, does Bono know that he's teaming up with Santorum for a fundraiser for Insane's campaign?

[Lex]

22. But I think if they are advertising it as Bono giving his seal of approval

then that is actionable legally.

Bands and singers have a right to control what their image is used for commercially.

That's why I said, earlier in the thread, that Bono should send a "cease and desist" letter to those repukes if he is in fact not "teaming up" to help "re-elect Santorum."

I sincerely hope he is not.

[Zen Democrat]

66. It's "NewsMax" that's advertising it.

You don't actually believe that U2 would do a "fundraiser" concert for Santorum, do you?

[Lex]

68. It sounds like it's the Wolfingtons who are publicly saying that

U2 is "teaming up with the legendary rock group U2 for a one-night only appearance."

I bet that NewsMax pulled it off some press release issued by those repukes the Wolfingtons.

[SoCalDem]

23. Someone will surely tell him.. I hope he says something

about it..

[klebean]

24. google does not bring up Newsmax article

but several others confirming the AIDS/Africa link, as well as work against poverty,
which Santorum, Durbin and Spector are supporting. Santorum is getting behind
Bono - not the other way around.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

31. The link to the article is working and I'm getting sick here about it.

Bono has gone to the dark side.

Here is the link again.

http://newsmax.com/archives/ic/2005/10/10/131502.shtml

[Lex]

38. It might be that the repukes are lying and Bono

hasn't "teamed up" with Santorum at all.

[Oreo]

15. I doubt this...

Any way we can get word to Bono that Santorum will be there? It'd be great if Bono goes off on him during the show

[tjdee]

16. They would never do a fundraiser for him.

All of a sudden they decide to do political fundraisers....and they pick Rick Santorum?

Uh, no.

Even if Bono speaks to him due to his non-U2 work, the other three would never stand for it. And, as has already been mentioned, this is a concert date that's been on for months.

If Santorum is pimping them to his stupid friends for their money, U2 has nothing to do with it.

[bmbmd]

17. Bart

won't like that.

[in_cog_ni_to]

19. Please don't tell me I have to burn all of my U2 CDs!!!!!

Damn! Please. This just CANNOT be true!

[Ioo]

25. If true, I will be...

[Lex]

27. I'm hoping it's just another case of Repuke Lying.

It's an epidemic.

If the Repukes are lying, I hope U2 and Bono issue a statement denying they are doing a fundraiser for Santorum or send a "cease and desist" letter to them or SOMETHING.

[Initech]

35. Well, an apperance by Santorum at a U2 concert...

Could cause a concert riot of unseen proportions! Definately would not be good press for the right-wingers!

[gauguin57]

26. Well, Bono was hanging out with Jesse Helms, so should we be surprised?

Dunno how much of this is true ... Bono was just saying on Conan that he's working both sides of the political spectrum in order to furthur his agenda (helping Africa, debt relief, etc.). Helms was part of that.

If Bono were trying to get Santorum RE-ELECTED (I think he's not, though) -- he needs his head examined!

[mzteris]

28. read 'em and weep (sorta)

Bono hangs out with the enemy folks - he LIKES Jessie Helms! go figure...... though I suppose he does it for "good causes".

In re: the concert: I saw nothing at their site or the Wachovia site indicating this was a "fundraiser for Santorum" - and nothing else on the net about it either. Maybe it's a "fundraiser for Aids" and Santorum is going to be there....... I wrote U2 website asking for info - we'll see.

In the meantime - some words/links indicating connection with Santorum anyways...... draw your own conclusions. (Of course my nearly 12 yo son has this to say about Bono - "he sings okay for an old guy but why does he have to dress so funny?")

". . .Administration officials and legislators give various explanations, none terribly persuasive, for the dilatory pace. Senator Rick Santorum, who has been one of Bono's key conservative allies, says that he has tried to persuade White House officials that the M.C.A. is "part of our war on terror" and should be financed accordingly. But when Santorum tries to push the budget director, Joshua Bolten, he says, he hears "the 'Jerry Maguire' answer: 'Show me the money.' " Bolten is another White House Friend of Bono, and he, too, speaks of aid as "an integral part of the national-security strategy." But when I asked him what happened to the Millennium Challenge Account, he said that it fell between budget cycles. . ." http://www.u2neophobia.com/articles/presse_article_ext.php?id_article=599


http://www.dailytexanonline.com/news/2005/06/08/Entertainment/Bono-Doubles.As.Lobbyist.For.Humanitarian.Causes-956160.shtml

http://www.atu2.com/news/article.src?ID=3086

[mattclearing]

30. This is clearly bullshit.

The tickets don't cost $1000, for one, though I suppose they do when you buy them scalped from Santorum's PAC.

This is a fundraiser that Santorum is piggy-backing onto U2's show, and Newsmax is trying to play it up as a "Santorum is cool" press release.

I hope Bono calls him out in front of the crowd and embarasses him.

[onenote]

32. the wolfingtons

are big time Santorum backers. He's got a business that offers marketing services to car dealers. I suspect that U2 had absolutely zero to do with this.

onenote

[Bridget Burke]

33. U2 is giving a couple of shows at Wachovia Center.

Here's the Ticketmaster page:

www.ticketmaster.com/event/02003A5C9EFEBF1D?artistid=736365&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=1

I notice that there are Balcony Suites--for which no tickets are available. Unless a non-Newsmax source says otherwise, I'll bet that the fundraiser is private & U2 is NOT involved directly in fundraising for Santorum.

[BlueStateGirl]

36. Bono would not raise money for any politician. It sounds like someone

is selling seats in their private box to raise money for Santorum.

[AX10]

37. I want confirmation from a mainstream source.

"News"max is shit, PERIOD.

[davidinalameda]

40. Bono, U2 in Fund-Raiser for Senator Rick Santorum--Newsmax

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2005/10/10/131502.shtml

can anyone else confirm this

[Caoimhe]

41. Say it ain't so

I will boycott everything Bono from now on.

[eyesroll]

46. It ain't so.

It's a regular U2 concert. Someone is using tickets to that as a fundraiser. Newsmax is making a connection that doesn't exist.

[Caoimhe]

62. PHEW

that was close!!! Yeah I know he is sortof a fundie when it comes to some things but I really love U2 and have had a crush on Bono (yes the short wrinkly greasy lookin narcissistic freak) since I was about 11.

[Arugula Latte]

42. I can't bring myself to click on newsmax, but

my first thought was: "You've got to be f@#$in' kidding me!"

I hope this is not true.

I reeeeeeally hope this is not true.

[Lex]

43. Long thread from earlier today here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5025030

[TexasLawyer]

44. Whuh?

This sounds like it's news straight from The Onion.

[Ally McLesbian]

45. There is another thread on this

And I am skeptical, as Bono is a very progressive Christian. He wouldn't be caught dead supporting a neocon like Santorum.

I would look for other sources to confirm or deny this story.

[mattclearing]

47. Total crap.

This is a private fundraiser someone is putting on at the show, likely without the band's endorsement.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

48. Someone posted this earlier. It seems that on Sunday, Oct 16th

Bono is having a scheduled concert at that venue, and it is possible that Santorum bought a block of tickets as a "fundraiser". If Bono is indeed involved, he in my opinion, has turned to the dark side.

Here is the thread
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=5025030&mesg_id=5025030

Here is the link to the scheduled concert

http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/02003A5C9EFEBF1D?artistid=736365&majorcatid=10001&minorcatid=1

[mitchtv]

49. I suspect that Sanctorectum is trying what Groper tried

and failed at when he had a fundraiser at a rolling stones concert. They bought a bunch of tickets, and tried to resell them to supporters, only no one bought. Prick Santorum will be well advised to sell his tickets at a discount, rather than a premium.

[patcox2]

50. There is no endorsement, they are holding fundraiser at concert.

They own a box, are using it for fundraising, Bono and U@ have nothing to do with it. Its as if I claimed the Giants were endorsing Corzine because I held a Corzine fundraiser in a box at the Meadowlands.

[Ally McLesbian]

51. That explains it

Thanks... Looks like U2 and Bono are above the fray still.

[Lex]

52. Not if they allow their name to be used by Santorum like this.

They need to send a "cease and desist" letter because U2 has a legal right to control how their name is used by others for commercial or fundraising purposes.

[The Wielding Truth]

69. Isn't this ticket scalping? Isn't that illegal? Shouldn't Santo be

arrested for scamming a performer?What is it about this group? They are so crooked.

[jzodda]

53. As now reported this is not true

and I never believed it anyway. Bono's faith is strong as well as that scum senator from Penn. Having said that what they do with their strong christian faith is night and day and so I would never and could never believe this.

U2 has been my fav band since 1985-I have seen them in concert 20+ times including a trip to Slane Castle in Ireland a few years back. I have clipped just about every article I could find in 20 years about the band and I follow Bono's political crusades very close. I went to the UN a few years ago just so I could shake his hand and thank him for what he does for poor people around the world. I would say pigs would have a better chance of flying then any member of that band endorsing santorscum from Penn.

This is the last straw for me and newsmax. I hated them to begin with but I will never ever click a link to them ever again

I have sent a strong email to the newsmax people about their shoddy journalism and am attempting to contact a rep for the band through the fan club and the bands website

[texpatriot2004]

54. I didn't think it was true. Do you know who reported it as a lie? I

would like to see a new thread that puts this lie to rest once and for all as we now have three threads here (at least) putting this lie out.

[jzodda]

55. I agree

this needs to get debunked hardcore. I would hate to think that anybody would believe Bono would endorse this moron. Those of us who follow the band knows he slams Bush in concert, and slammed his father just as bad. I remember the 1992 tour when Bono would try to call the White House from the stage, classic stuff.

We all should send angry emails to newmax editors, and also send loads of emails to the band from their website

[sproutster]

64. Fuck that

I sent my angry email to the source. If they allow themselves to be used for propaganda it's on them.

[LittleClarkie]

56. Here is another source I found

Not about the fundraiser itself, but it does seem to explain why Bono would be getting involved and his connection with Santorum.

http://www.atu2.com/news/article.src?ID=3086

"Let's go back in time a little further, set the stage for this encounter. Let's in fact introduce a cast of characters. Bono you already know. He's not wearing his "singer for an Irish rock band" outfit but his "activist for complicated sociopolitical issues and founder of an African advocacy group" one. Charlie Peacock is a musician who, like U2, was personally signed to Island Records by Chris Blackwell; he is now a producer who has won multiple Dove Awards, the Gospel Music Association (GMA)'s answer to the Grammys. Jay Swartzendruber is a publicist for Nashville-based Gotee Records (artists in their stable: Jennifer Knapp, Out of Eden, and Sandtown); he knows Peacock well. He's also been a U2 fan for more than seventeen years. Mark Rodgers is chief of staff for Republican Senator Rick Santorum. He is one of the people who gets Bono and DATA to the most influential people in Washington, DC.

"Remember Bono's first meetings with President Bush and his administration?" Swartzendruber asked in an email interview with @U2. "As you'll recall Bush and his team really drove the point home that Bono needed to build bridges with the faith-based community on behalf of Africa. During follow-up talks on Capitol Hill between DATA's team and Congressional staff, networking with artists of faith in Nashville was one of the avenues discussed.""

[ClassWarrior]

60. Read below. There is no connection in this case.

NGU.

[blondeatlast]

58. Newmax is all I need to know about this. Until there is another source,

I call it a rumor.

FWIW, I'm hardly a U2 fan.

[onenote]

59. total BS -- did anyone actually read the article

Here's what it says: "The thousand-dollar-a-seat concert has been put together by Sean and Ana Wolfington and will take place at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia in support of Santorum’s re-election, reports NewsMax's James Hirsen."

In fact, the concert was announced and sold out at regular prices SEVEN months ago. There is no $1000 a seat concert. The concert wasn't put together by the Wolfington's. And the concert is not being held to support Santorum. What appears to be happening is that the Wolfington's are auctioning off seats in their box at the Wachovia center and giving the proceeds to Santorum. Bono and U2 have absolutely nothing to do with it.

And for those that say that Bono needs to get a cease and desist order, that would require something more than a bs newsmax article.

I think the posters on this thread that have leapt to the assumption that this story was true, or "could be true" need to think about how ridiculous they are spreading Newsmax crap.

onenote

[Lex]

67. "Teaming up w/ the legendary rock group U2 for a 1 night only appearance"

.
makes one think WHAT exactly?

If the Wolfingtons have released a public statement or a press release saying that Bono and U2 are "teaming with" Rick Santorum for raising funds, then that *is* actionable legally.

The article was confusing and many boards were buzzing about it all day long.

Apparently it was couched in such a way that the U2 boards were talking about it, no? And a local music board was discussing it too.

Even a mod here started a thread on it, so why don't you climb down off your high horse, buddy?

[onenote]

70. thanks, but I like the view from up here on my high horse

And I'll stick by my post, which (i) made the point that folks might want to check the facts before repeating garbage from newsmax and (ii) that it would take more than an article in newsmax to create an actionable claim.

onenote

[Lex]

71. Commondreams.org and Mike Malloy's show was discussing it

and legally just one the one article in Newsmax is actionable, but as my post said, if the Wolfington's are issuing press releases to that effect, then that's actionable legally too.

U2 and Bono really need to also issue a press release to counter it.

[onenote]

72. agree, in part

I agree that Bono and U2 ought to put out a statement clarifying the facts surrounding the fundraiser that apparently is taking place in connecton with the show.

I don't see any evidence that the Wolfingtons, who I will stipulate are probably fundie nutjobs, actually made any public statement indicating that U2 is doing a fundraiser FOR Santorum. While Newsmax suggests that the money will go to Santorum's re-election, the only statement attributed to Wolfington is: "It's truly appropriate for U2, a band with a purpose, to be involved in a fund-raiser with Senator Rick Santorum, a politician with a purpose. Both men are passionate about what they believe and their faith is very important to them.” That statement is fully consistent with reports that the fundraiser is for a charity that Bono and Santorum both support. That's why I was skeptical about going after the Wolfington's. What's left would be an action against Newsmax -- but trying to get a court to order a website to issue a correction of a "news story" probably isn't worth the expense or effort. As you suggested, the band ought to issue a statement clarifying the purpose of the fundraiser and be done with it.

onenote

[onenote]

61. some additional info from a U2 message board

"It's not a fundraiser for Santorum. Bono set aside a block of $1,000-a-pop seats at the 10/16 U2 concert in Philadelphia for fundraising purposes. The funds are going to DATA, his AIDS charity. Santorum (shocking though this may seem) has been one of Bono's chief conservative allies in Congress on fighting the spread of AIDS in Africa, and since the 10/16 show is in his home state, he's making an appearance and helping to promote the fundraiser. Santorum himself is getting NONE of the money."

(This is a quote from the message board, not my words.)

onenote

[psychopomp]

63. This goes under "when bad people do good"

This explanation sounds reasonable enough. Sounds like Mr. Santorum can be on the ball when he wants to be.

It just makes me think of what a waste it is to have leaders on the right squander their talents that could be better put to work if they just weren't so wrong about most things.

[applegrove]

65. Bono has admitted he would kiss the devil's ass if it meant reform &

hope for africa to have a chance at participating in middle class business opportunities & forgiveness of loans.

[enigmatic]

73. NOT TRUE

http://joetrippi.com/?p=1494

[Lex]

74. Now we know it must not be true, because CNN is reporting it as a fact.

[ClintonTyree]

75. Oh, it's true.

and yet another reason for me to dislike U2. What a fucking tool Bono is. I had no idea he was such a fundie zombie, I always knew he was a little "different" but I never figured he was THIS different. :puke:

[MADem]

76. UPDATE, courtesy of JOE TRIPPI

Today, an article appeared over on NewsMax.com about Bono and U2 doing a fundraising concert for Republican Senator Rick Santorum. My jaw hit the floor.

The Santorum folks took a little too much liberty with the facts. Here is the statement from the folks over at DATA:

STATEMENT BY JAMIE DRUMMOND, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DATA (debt AIDS trade Africa), THE AFRICA ADVOCACY GROUP CO-FOUNDED BY BONO: “Throughout the U2 tour, politicians from both sides have been organizing fundraisers at the venues or around specific shows. Neither DATA or Bono are involved in these and they cannot be controlled. The U2 concerts are categorically not fundraisers for any politician - they are rock concerts for U2 fans.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT, CHRISTOPHER LAGAN, 202-494-5755


As I have learned, it is a private luxary box at the arena and not an exclusive concert in the entire Wachovia Center in Philadelphia. Sen. Santorum . . . you may want to wipe those eggs off of your face.
http://joetrippi.com/?p=1494

[EstimatedProphet]

77. Locking

This has been debunked.