Economic Blues Don't Stop Bono From Lobbying

It was that time again on Capitol Hill Tuesday: Time for Bono to show up and push for funding for debt relief and the fight against global poverty and AIDS. Only this time it was not such a fine time for the rock star/lobbyist to be pitching foreign aid -- smack dab in the middle of an economic crisis.

Bono lobbies one of his biggest fans, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, for expanded foreign and humanitarian aid. (Photo courtesy Ros-Lehtinen's office)

Maybe that's why Bono wore rose-colored glasses, the same ones he wore to this past weekend's Sundance Film Festival for the showing of his wildly popular "U2 3D" movie.

Foreign aid is a tough sale in this climate. But when it's Bono (who is, without question, universally admired by members of Congress) doing the selling, well, it's different. Lawmakers were happy to see him, including U2 fan Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Fla.), the highest-ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

She told Bono she expects Congress will approve legislation this year to renew the U.S. assistance program known as PEPFAR, which supports HIV/AIDS treatment in the developing world. (What else was she going to tell him?) For the record: Ros-Lehtinen has seen U2 in concert twice, says her spokesman, Alex Cruz. Her favorite tour was Elevation and her favorite U2 song of all time -- "Sunday Bloody Sunday."

The rock star legend also met with Senate budget leaders, as well as with House Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt (D-S.C.), whose top aide says the congressman was immensely impressed with Bono's grasp of the issues and the budget situation.

"Bono understands we're in an economic slowdown right now and he knows our budget is tight," House Budget Committee staff director and chief counsel Tom Kahn tells us. "But he also a makes a very strong case why funding AIDS prevention in Africa is an important priority. "

Bono met earlier in the day with Defense Secretary Robert Gates to discuss "the connection between fighting poverty and peace and stability," according to Bono spokeswoman Kathy McKiernan.

Comments

will bono go to china, india and any other investor and ask for debt relief for the USA, no, didn't think so...

Posted by: Dwight | January 23, 2008 10:35 AM | Report abuse

if things are so bad, why are there h1b visa holders taking jobs away from Americans in the USA?

Posted by: Dwight | January 23, 2008 10:37 AM | Report abuse

How can I get a job where Bono wants to talk to me? And do you think I could get him to bring the Edge along?

Posted by: h3 | January 23, 2008 12:35 PM | Report abuse

Ooh man Bono is not aging gracefully in that photo.

Posted by: WIDTAP | January 23, 2008 1:56 PM | Report abuse

Dwight:

Why the hatin'? How do you know Bono hasn't pushed other countries for help?

Posted by: Hillman | January 23, 2008 2:40 PM | Report abuse

Of course did Bono push other nations to help. He is always on it. Last year he was on full force on and in Germany. This Summer he'll be pushing Japan for the G8 meeting and the africa conference in Tokyo.
He's doing this with all G8 Nations and the EU.
Tomorrow he'll be in Davos on the World Economic Forum. Guess what he'll be doing there...

He has a worldwide impact. Just because some people in the US don't notice it, doesnt't mean it isn't happening.

Posted by: reason | January 23, 2008 4:47 PM | Report abuse

Everyone seems to be missing Dwight's complete message: the USA needs debt relief from China, India, and other major US debtholders. Will Bono lobby on behalf of the US?

Posted by: jake3_14 | January 23, 2008 5:51 PM | Report abuse

Let me get this straight, you think Bono should lobby China and India to forgive America's debt? LOLLOLLOL

Posted by: Kell | January 24, 2008 2:25 AM | Report abuse

You HAVE to give Bono HUGE RESPECT for his CONSTANT lobbying of the USA and other wealthy nations,on behalf of the forgotten poor,sick,and war torn African nations.This awesome HUMANITARIAN is so much MORE than a rock star.He sees this huge planet as a community of people.Some of them starving,shelterless,diseased.Some of them healthy,educated,and prosperous.He REFUSES to sit back on his vast riches and fame and do nothing.He sacrifices his time for a great cause.

Posted by: kubzkid | January 24, 2008 6:40 PM | Report abuse

will bono go to china, india and any other investor and ask for debt relief for the USA, no, didn't think so...

why would developing country relieve the debt of the largest economy in the world? the US has enough resources to solve poverty itself, we just choose to spend our money on other things...

Posted by: amil | January 25, 2008 12:34 PM | Report abuse

Good grief, will somebody tell that old woman to grow up and act her age? Slobbering all over an aging rock star is demeaning to her.

Posted by: Jan | January 28, 2008 1:23 PM | Report abuse

Every country that helps fight HIV will make the world a better place in the end. There is no time better than the present to attack this problem. The economy should not play a role in this issue.

Posted by: James Klich | January 30, 2008 10:56 PM | Report abuse

This nasty group grudge grievances behavior inflamed by the Party Liberals to craft a faux sword of racial victimization and injustice and launched by the liberal Kennedy media and wing of the Party is in for another surprise Feb 5 just like NH... the Real Base will vote and are not the sheepeoples to be puppeteered. The real base of the Party Clinton Dem needs will stand up and fight this onslaught from the leftist Liberal media rants trying to turn the election left and away from our families and our hopes this election..

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