Wednesday, July 6, 2005

Bono to Martin:"You're Infuriating"

   U2 frontman Bono has been hobnobbing with Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin again. This time, he's looking for a favour in return for the glad handing he did during last year's election.

via
AOL news.
GLENEAGLES, Scotland (Reuters) - Irish rock star and anti-poverty activist Bono Wednesday gave up his fight to persuade Canada to boost foreign aid -- but not before telling Prime Minister Paul Martin he was a pain to deal with.

Bono, like his fellow Irish rock star Bob Geldof, had openly pressed Martin to give a date by which Canada would raise its overseas assistance to 0.7 percent of Gross Domestic Product.

Martin refuses, saying it could be too expensive, and stuck to his guns during a meeting with Bono on the margins of a Group of Eight summit in Scotland. Bono reluctantly admitted he could not force Martin to change his mind.
   Bono was quoted as saying, "He's very difficult to deal with because he won't agree to things that he doesn't believe he can deliver...that is very frustrating and annoying and infuriating."
   You know, I've never thought of Bono as being stupid before, but it is blindingly apparent that these bleeding hearts and artists have no idea how the world works. Would he prefer Martin agree to something he believes is beyond his ability to deliver? Maybe that's just what he is used to seeing from politicians. I'm surprised to find that I have less respect for Bono, and more respect for Paul Martin than I had yesterday.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

So he is angry at Martin for being honest ?  Go figure.....    Tina

Anonymous said...

While it's well and good for celebrities to use their personae to raise awareness for altruistic international causes, I think they're stepping out of line by attempting to pressure political leaders into making a specific commitment.

"...he won't agree to things that he doesn't believe he can deliver..."

Well neither would I!!

Martin could certainly make more effort to step up the level of commitment for international aid, as could all the G-8 leaders, but to promise something he knows he cannot deliver on in the given time frame would be hypocritical.  And besides, he and his party are coated in enough hypocrisy after the recent Gomery Inquiry.

Bono should just accept the fact that politicians work in 'Mysterious Ways'.

Simon
http://simianfarmer.blogs.com

Anonymous said...

OK OK Dog Bono all you want but I will always and forever have a crush on this man. I love that you just mentioned his name, gave me chills... LOL

Brandi