June 19, 2005

Live 8: Now with 50% Less Bush Bashing

Matt Drudge has reported that Bob Geldof, organizer of the Live 8 concerts as well as the original Live Aid, has demanded that all of the performers refrain from Bush/Blair bashing. Drudge reports: "Please remember, absolutely no ranting and raving about Bush or Blair and the Iraq war, this is not why you have been invited to appear," Geldoff said to the manager of a top recording artist, who asked not to be identified. The purpose of the event is to raise money for aid in Africa, not to push the political agendas that some musicians may hold.

Interestingly enough, Geldof was quoted in Time Magazine saying "Actually, today I had to defend the Bush Administration in France again. They refuse to accept, because of their political ideology, that he has actually done more than any American President for Africa." For the whole article, click here.

While Bush's approval rating seems to be dipping a tad here in the states (along with the approval rating for Congress and everyone else in the Capitol) his approval throughout the world has improved slightly. This can be linked to his increased support for the aid to Africa, aid that he agreed to give during a press conference with Tony Blair a few weeks ago.

Posted by MikeRubino at June 19, 2005 7:46 PM


Comments

*sigh of relief*
I'd made plans to go to the Philadelphia Live8 with a friend solely for the music (or, more specifically, for one highly excellent band) and I've been worried that some self-righteous celebrity would treat me to a political rant. This therefore is excellent news; thanks for passing it along.

Posted by: Megan Ritter at June 27, 2005 2:38 AM

As a follow-up, I'd just like to say that all the commentary I heard stuck to a pretty broad social-justice theme: didn't catch any Bush-bashing while I was there (from 1:30 till about 4:30), and I can spot Bush-bashing (and other assorted Republican-bashing) from ten miles off on a dark foggy night.

Posted by: Megan Ritter at July 2, 2005 9:59 PM